Here is the Orioles’ roster breakdown as we approach the midway point in Spring Training games. I totally disagree with certain rumors and speculation on who will make this club.

First of all, I believe that the O’s will trade Brian Roberts next week. The trade would send back at least 2 players that would be on the Birds 25 man roster.  So this is kind of premature.

The biggest issues right now are the 5th starter spot, 2 or 3 open bullpen spots, plus a couple of bench spots, and a back up catcher.  So it’s about 5 or 6 players according to manager Dave Trembley. That’s a lot for any ball club. But that’s what happens when you rebuild.

Someone you will not see on my 25 man roster is Jay Gibbons. I have been anti- Gibbons long before he admitted to using performance enhancing drugs. The truth is he epitomizes Orioles losing baseball over the last 10 seasons.  Take away that his major league success has probably come from using performance enhancing drugs, he is a bad baseball player.  He misses the cut off man. It never looks like he hustles. He has zero defensive insticts. And he complains when he does not  play, even when he is being out performed.

In my view, there is just no spot for Gibbons on this club.  He can’t help the team now or in the future.  And he has zero value in the trade market. And worst of all he may negatively influence the young, energetic ball players.

Sorry Mr. MacPhail and Mr. Angelos… you have to swallow that 12 mill you owe Jay. He can’t come north with this club!

Pitchers today… postion players tomorrow.

Rotation: Locks-  Guthrie, Loewen, Cabrera, Trachsel  Bubble- Burress, Albers, Olson, Liz

Bully: Locks- Sherrill, Walker, Bradford  Probably- Safarte  Competing (they’ll take 2 of these 4) - Bierd, Cherry, Aquino, Hoey.  Then they will use probably Burress as the long man… and the spot in the rotation is for Albers, Liz, or Olson.

Posted on Thursday, March 13th, 2008 at 11:26 am.
Categories: 1300 News.
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