Baltimore Orioles: The Time is Now
By Nate Wardle
Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports
Spring Training 2014 starts next week for the Baltimore Orioles, and that brings hope to each Orioles fan mired in a cold and snowy winter.
Yet, many Orioles fans also are rather upset at the lack of action this offseason. And there is good reason for that. Your starting LF, Nate McLouth, 2B, Brian Roberts, and closer, Jim Johnson, are all gone, as well as two of last year’s starting pitchers (Jason Hammel and Scott Feldman.)
The replacements include David Lough, Francisco Peguero, Jemile Weeks, Ryan Webb, and well, Liam Hendriks. Not exactly the signings Oriole fans were looking for.
That list did not include the large number of other OF candidates that the Orioles will have in Florida either in minor or major league camp. I’m talking Xavier Paul, Julio Borbon, Jack Cust, Delmon Young, Matt LaPorta, Scott Savastano, Quintin Berry. No breakout stars there, that is what O’s fans hope Nolan Reimold and Henry Urrutia can be.
So who does this give big opportunities to? Guys who want to prove themselves.
Weeks, Ryan Flaherty, Alexi Casilla, Lough, Nolan Reimold, Zach Britton, T.J. McFarland, Brian Matusz. These are all names of people who could use a chance to succeed. And for several, namely Reimold, Britton and Matusz, it could be their last chances to be a successful player in the majors.
Now the fans are cranky, upset and desperately want the team to make a big splash. And I feel that come April, either A.J. Burnett, Ubaldo Jimenez, or Ervin Santana (in that order) need to be a black and orange. But several players are going to get the opportunity to prove their worth, worth the Orioles will need to ride if they want to be a playoff team.
Spring Training starts in just a few days Dan Duquette, it is time to make your move.