The Loss Column — Baltimore Sports Blog and Community

No surprises here: Kevin Millar has been named the cleanup hitter. Or maybe that ought to read “cleanup” hitter, since the absolute maximum expected production out of Millar would be .280 with, say, 18 HR and 85 RBI. But we all knew it was coming, so, eh.

– For some strange reason, it seems that Dave Trembley still hasn’t decided between Guthrie and Trachsel for the Opening Day start. This is a giant no-brainer, isn’t it?

– According to Miguel Tejada, “It was tough to be the losers every day.”

– Say what you will about Melvin Mora, but if he’s happy and content then I think it goes a long way towards keeping this season somewhere near respectable.

Crazy as it seems, we’re just under two weeks away from Opening Day. And as Roch Kubatko points out, there are still plenty of decisions left to make.

As far as I can tell the only surprise of spring so far has been the demotion of Hayden Penn to the minor league camp. As surprises go, that’s fairly mild. Which means that the last two weeks of camp figure to be active as hell. I fully expect at least one waiver wire claim and at least one trade — though I don’t expect that trade to involve Brian Roberts. I still say he starts the season as our leadoff hitter, and I hope he stays that way into next spring.

I also have a hunch that Brandon Fahey will earn the initial nod at shortstop, with Luis Hernandez making the team as a reserve infielder. Poor Freddie Bynum.

Yes, I realize that’s basically the same as what Roch said.

– I find it kind of amusing that the solution to our spring training venue problems might end up being the 60 year-old “Dodgertown” facility. When moving into another team’s ancient castoff looks like a substantial upgrade you know the current situation is bad.

– If you’re wondering about Sam Perlozzo, here’s a chance to catch up. He would like another chance to manage, and I think he’ll get it somewhere. The game owes him at least that much.

I had also forgotten that he turned down an offer from Peter Angelos to remain with the organization this year. Interesting.

– According to BetUS.com, the Orioles are baseball’s biggest underdogs. It’s kind of a useless thing, because while the odds on the O’s and Devil Rays might be different it’s still a virtual certainty that neither of them will win the division.

– Catching up with another former Bird: Tim Raines, Jr. I have a funny story about a sign I once took to the ballpark in celebration of Raines.

I’ve been loving the way these “Spring Notes” posts have taken on a life of their own in the comments. Keep it coming.

And by the way: take a look at that old logo up there. Anybody mad that, from ‘54 to ‘64, the official logo didn’t say “Baltimore”?

Sorry. I couldn’t help it.

– Yes, yes — it’s finally going to be Daniel Cabrera’s year. I like the big guy but I’ll believe this if, and only if, it’s still true in June.

– The Blue Jays have added former Oriole Armando Benitez.

– More info on once and future closer George Sherrill, including the wtf quote “I’m ready to close but I just need to be ready to close.”

– No need to jump the gun, but it’s certainly possible that we’ve stumbled onto something special in Dave Trembley.

“I’m not intimidated by anybody. I’m not intimidated sitting across one side of the dugout from another guy. I don’t think anybody is particularly better than anybody else because of the uniform they have on or the organization they represent,” he said. “I think it comes down to game by game, inning by inning, if you can get the most out of the players you have.”

If attitude = wins then we’re in much better shape than we thought.

Jeff Zrebiec is on the line at WBAL right now, talking about (among other things) how Luis Hernandez has looked bad so far this spring. Zrebiec speculates that the Orioles might look for a veteran infielder to fill the starting SS spot, relegating Luis to a utility role. Peter Schmuck also has more on Hernandez’s struggles in his latest piece, but I don’t like to link Schmuck.

With no other major league-ready shortstop in the organization (I’m not counting Brandon Fahey), we are in deep if Hernandez is so bad that he can’t go north as the starter.

I’m OK with signing a veteran under those circumstances. That wouldn’t be a situation where we’re blocking a younger player or soaking up a roster spot. Somebody has to play shortstop, and we’re just woefully thin at that position. There are worse things than bringing someone in on a one-year deal.

That said, my hunch is that Hernandez will be fine. Maybe not particularly good, but fine.

On the pitching side, there’s been talk that the O’s have interest in free agent Kyle Lohse (career 63-74, 4.82) to fill the role of fifth starter. Ahead of Albers, Penn, etc.

This smacks of Scott Boras gamesmanship, and I’m confident there’s virtually zero chance Lohse ends up here. Unless, of course, Steve Trachsel gets cut and Lohse comes in to fill the “veteran presence” role. That’d be a wash.

Notes

– Speaking of Penn, he seems to be staking a case for the fifth spot.

– Sidney Ponson has landed (beached himself?) in Texas.

– What the hell is this?

There’s speculation that Orioles rebuilding process will feature Sherrill as a closer. And if he does well, look for the Orioles to flip Sherrill for more young talent after the All-Star break.

OK…

Two things out of Chicago with regard to the much-rumored Brian Roberts deal:

First, some actual reporting that indicates how far off a deal might actually be.

Second, more Angelos hate.

– Steve Trachsel is willing to help the young guys. Which is good because they will need it.

– The Mets are looking for a right-handed power hitter who can play first base and the outfield corners. What are the odds we can convince them that Aubrey Huff isn’t a lefty and that this is 2005?

– Interesting article here about Wally Bunker, who tasted greatness once or twice with the O’s in the sixties.

Rough start to the Grapefruit League schedule yesterday. But, really, who cares? Adam Loewen returned to the hill and appears to be fully recovered, so that’s good enough for me. Cross your fingers that a shaky first outing is the worst news we get about him this spring.

– Could Brian Roberts possibly be more of a pro? I hope the Cubs continue to balk at AndyMac’s demands. We’re better off — not just this year but going forward — with Roberts in the fold. I say this knowing full well that he’ll be gone before August.

– Cal Ripken has attached his name to an online video game. Dude’s busy.

– I said last year I would do this, but I didn’t. Maybe this time around…

Keeping up with the Birds as they kick spring training into gear…

– Don’t miss Dan Connolly’s excellent column on the Orioles’ renewed focus on international scouting and development. From Andy MacPhail:

“This franchise has spent the money,” MacPhail said. “To me, it’s not a question of how much but where.”

People tend to forget that Baltimore’s payroll last year was nearly $100 mil. Teams have won with much less — they do it by making smart decisions. So far, so good on that front for MacPhail.

– If you’re wondering what Sam Perlozzo is up to, here you go. I think it’ll be kind of nice watching him and Erik Bedard succeed up in Seattle.

– Matt Wieters appears to be making the impression we all hoped he’d make. Let’s just hope he doesn’t stumble and/or get hurt in the minors this year.

– Former Oriole Kris Benson has landed with the Phillies. And with that we have what may well be the last mention of Benson around these parts.

Javy Lopez has become the first former Oriole to flame out in Colorado. The Rockies cut the erstwhile bird today, and there’s a good chance he’s done for good.

It’s pretty amazing how far and quickly Lopez fell. He joined the Orioles off a career year (43 HR and a .328 average with the Braves in 2003), and when he took Pedro Martinez deep on opening day I really thought we had found something. It was all downhill from there. In fact, aside from that one hit I can’t really remember anything he did here. But catchers are kind of like running backs — when they hit the wall they hit it hard. There’s usually no going back.

Meanwhile Jay Gibbons won’t be playing first base this year, a fact which surely means a sigh of relief from O’s fans everywhere. Gibbons was born to play DH, and I won’t even mind much if he gets a handful of outfield starts. He, at least, knows how to play there. Perhaps not at an elite level, but still.

Despite what Mike Flanagan says in the article, I’ve got a hunch the team is shopping Gibbons. Maybe not actively, but I doubt they’d say no to a prospect or two.

– Here’s an interesting article on J.R. House, who’s battling for the backup catcher spot. Did you know he played backup QB for West Virginia as a 25-year old freshman?

– ESPN joins the list of national media outlets who think the O’s might have something with their young pitchers. I think so, too.