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Thursday Thoughts: Gallardo, Machado, Promotions, & More

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This is a weekly column that dives into eight random thoughts about the Orioles/MLB. Why eight? It’s a nod to Cal Ripken Jr. of course. That, and doing 2,632 of these would be a little overboard. – A.S.

1. Another week is upon us and the Yovani Gallardo watch is still on. I keep hearing from each writer that covers the Orioles on a regular basis that the deal is all but done, but I’m curious as to why the team hasn’t said so. I’ve seen the idea floated that the O’s are waiting until they have deals with both Gallardo and Dexter Fowler in place so that they can announce them both at the same time. I’ve also read that with spring training upon us, the Orioles just want to wait until everyone is settled down in Sarasota to complete things.

Call me a skeptic, but I am not penciling Gallardo into the rotation until he has a uniform on his back. There’s something sketchy about the way this has been negotiated for so long. I’m not saying we have a Grant Balfour situation on our hands, but I’m not counting my chickens until they hatch.

2. While Gallardo watch continues, we get to hear what some consider the four best words in the English language today: Pitchers and Catchers Report. Players are starting to arrive in Sarasota and the first official workout is set for tomorrow. I may be in the minority, but I don’t get overly excited this week. It’s all very procedural. I am eager to see some position battles work themselves out throughout camp, but spring training is a big long tease in my eyes. I start getting excited when we’re about a week out from the regular season. I understand the need for six or seven weeks of spring training. Players have to get their bodies, and frankly their minds, prepared for the long grind of a full season. But it all drags for me. I’m ready for April already.

3. Speaking of Sarasota, if you’ve never been, make a trip. It’s a beautiful city and is well worth it. The only thing I’d suggest is taking some extra money, because it can get expensive. I’d also suggest doing a spring training trip to Arizona over any Florida trip.

If you want to cram as much baseball into a trip as possible, Arizona is the way to go. Unlike in Florida, there are some times you can catch two games in one day in the Valley of the Sun. All of the teams play within less than an hour of one another. You can drive from Mesa where the Cubs play to Peoria where the Mariners and Padres train in that span. There are some times where you can get a day game and a night game in and go to bed with plenty of baseball in your head. You simply can’t pull that off in Florida. All of the sites are such a drive.

(Ed Note: I second Andrew’s recommendation to go to Sarasota if you’ve never been – it’s gorgeous. However, I do believe it’s possible to catch a day game and a night game both in one day. For instance, Ed Smith Stadium and McKechnie Field in Bradenton, where the Pirates play, are only about 12 miles from one another. In general though, the sites are indeed more spread out in the Sunshine State. And driving in Florida can be a bit…hairy. What’s with those folks down there?)

Mychal Givens pitches for the Baltimore Orioles in Spring Training.GulfBird Sports/Craig Landefeld

4. MASN’s Roch Kubatko wrote a piece earlier this week that in my eyes, was basically something that was known but no one wanted to say. In it, he discussed the fact that while Mychal Givens is expected to be a key in the Orioles bullpen this year, he has options, which means he could be riding the Norfolk shuttle. I fully expect this to happen. I understand why it will happen, but it will frustrate me if Givens has done nothing to deserve it. The O’s pull these moves constantly. It’s how they manipulate the roster. The Orioles aren’t going to have a ton of flexibility in the bullpen with the likes of Dylan Bundy, Brian Matusz and Brad Brach back there. T.J. McFarland has options, but he’s a valuable lefty. The way the bullpen shakes out will be very important to watch.

5. Everyone started losing their collective minds this week when many of the so-called “pundits” began coming out with their yearly projections & predictions. Newsflash: No one thinks the Orioles are going to be that great. “USA Today” has the O’s finishing last in the AL East. PECOTA says much of the same. Over the next few weeks, many more “experts” will be picking the races, and virtually none of them will include the O’s near the top.

I just encourage everyone to remain calm. Don’t freak out if there are “people in the know” who don’t think much of the Birds. This happens every year. It’s also important to remember it goes both ways. I know a lot of people who had the Seattle Mariners winning the American League last year. Some (cough, me, cough) even had the Mariners and Orioles playing in the ALCS. These things are just predictions, and they mean absolutely nothing. They are talking points for talking heads.

[Related: Thursday Thoughts – Awakening from Winter’s Slumber]

6. There is one thing about the Orioles roster that makes me worry quite a bit. It’s the same concern anyone might have going into a season, and it has nothing to do specifically with the rotation or on-base percentage. The Orioles are one major injury away from disaster. There simply isn’t a ton of depth on the roster or in the minor leagues. Many of those “experts” have the Orioles farm system rated down near the bottom of baseball. The cupboard is virtually barren. There are some really nice players on the roster, players that could very well contend. But beyond that it looks grim. If there happens to be an injury to one or two key players, it could be a slippery slope indeed.

7. The Orioles recently announced their long list of promotional items for the season. July 9 is expected to be a packed stadium as the O’s will give away a Manny Machado gnome. I’m looking forward to seeing what the 1966 replica jersey looks like, to be given out July 24. The O’s are celebrating 50 years since winning their first World Series this year. Many of the regulars return this year like the floppy hat and the flag hat.

I’ve said this in the past, but the Orioles have done a fantastic job over the last few seasons with their promotional items. It’s not something everyone (myself included) gets too jazzed up about, but it means something to others. With an increase in ticket prices this year, it’s nice to see that the O’s are at least keeping up the tradition of giving out some fun gifts for fans who show up.

8. In case you missed it, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show was held earlier this week in New York. A German shorthaired pointer was named Best in Show, but there was another pooch that caught my eye – Manny Machado. Yes, Manny Machado, a two-year-old Xoloitzcuintli was named best of the Xolos. That’s the national dog of Mexico, in case you were wondering. We’ve seen things like this in the past, and it’s always charming. There’s a horse named Showalter owned by Peter Angelos, too. Perhaps the only thing left to determine now is which Manny Machado has the bigger ears.

One Response

  1. Topic number 5 is legit. Everyone is picking the them for last because that’s what they will be LAST! Can’t Bust A Move over a 70 win team. Non competing baseball in Baltimore is back in full swing!

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One Response

  1. Topic number 5 is legit. Everyone is picking the them for last because that’s what they will be LAST! Can’t Bust A Move over a 70 win team. Non competing baseball in Baltimore is back in full swing!

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