Baltimore Orioles

Much is being made about the New York Yankees’ terrible start to the season, specifically the epic fail of their top two pitchers in their opening series against the Baltimore Orioles.

I get that the Yankees are the flagship franchise of Major League Baseball, so their struggles become instant ammunition for angry white journalists to fire off in prematurely-damning columns.

But is this really a question of the overpaid Yankees being that terrible, or the Baltimore Orioles being a much-improved club?

Today, I attended FanFest located at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore. There, Orioles players - current and past - signed autographs for thousands of O's fans. Since the season is just two days away, I will give my preview of the O's season.

Additions: LHP Mark Hendrickson, RHP Koji Uehara, C Gregg Zaun, SS Robert Andino, SS Cesar Izturis, 3B/1B Ty Wigginton, OF Ryan Freel, OF Felix Pie.

With Opening Day of the 2009 baseball season just around the corner, it is time for the obligatory comments about how the start of the season is so great, because every team starts at the same place, with a renewed sense of optimism and hope.

The folks at Right Off Russell sum up the Baltimore Orioles trade of Hayden Penn:

The Orioles made the move, in all likelihood, because they felt Penn had not pitched well enough to secure a bullpen spot and felt he would claimed by another team if he was waived. 

The Orioles were able to secure a middle infielder, who appears to be a younger upgrade over Chris Gomez, and can play both the SS and 2B positions. 

During the 2009 season, Luke Jones will present Nine Orioles Innings every Monday, sharing his thoughts on what’s happening with the Baltimore Orioles. It will feature a mix of serious analysis and the lighter side of Orioles baseball.

1. It’s hard to believe it was only two years ago that Jeremy Guthrie was an unknown heading to Baltimore on Opening Day 2007 as a long man in the Orioles bullpen. The Opening Day starter now represents the only safe bet in a rotation that is still deciding on the three starters to fill the back end.

Well something strange happened. It is actually pretty funny, too. I'd like to talk about it. This is the talk. The Orioles Talk, that is. Isaac Barrow, I hope you enjoy this one. Laugh your heads off on this one.