What is a frustrated Oriole fan to do without something to be frustrated about? For years we’ve been waiting for our team to catch up to the rest of MLB and realize that, eventually, you had to spend money in order to contend.
Either they did that, or the front office just got tired of hearing the complaints and just gave all of us a big….HUGE….shut the H*** up! Whatever the case, the team will enter 2014 with the highest payroll they’ve ever had.
So, will Ubaldo Jimenez and Nelson Cruz be our number one starter and number four hitter? Who knows….and you know what, who cares?!? These moves show not only the fans, but Matt Wieters, Chris Davis, JJ Hardy, and probably most importantly Manny Machado, that this organization will spend money in order to contend for a World’s Championship. And I believe that’s what we are, contenders. Did anyone expect to see Koji Uehara to throw the final pitch of the Sox’s championship season in 2013? If you did, you probably should be in Vegas.
So what will we have to complain about this year? Jim Johnson is gone, so there last year’s patsy. Maybe it will be Jemile Weeks, if he makes the team. Maybe it will be the fact that we have nine second basemen in camp and none of them are named Brian Roberts?
Do we rant about the Danny Valencia trade, which was a head-scratcher at the time? He got us a 28-year-old, second year, fourth outfielder. Still, complaining about that trade would be misguided; there’s probably a very good reason Valencia is on the fourth organization of his career. Being able to hit is great, but not having a real position hurt. I know he played third base, but I’m also sure he wouldn’t make anyone forget Manny Machado.
Speaking of Manny, I really hope he isn’t starting on Opening Day. As a matter of fact, I hope we don’t see him until May. That knee injury was really scary, and we got really lucky that it wasn’t a lot worse. And I for one – and I’m sure I’m not alone – am still breathing my sigh of relief.
So what do all of these moves mean for 2014? Are we going to make the playoffs, or win the division? I don’t have a crystal ball so I cannot foresee the future. But I do know one thing, whatever happens, if I do complain about anything this season, it will be about what happens on the field, not in the front office. For that, I’m thankful.
