Are they taking a step toward respectability, or will this be another in a long line of disappointing seasons? Is the end in sight, or will another generation of prospects flame out without making its mark in Charm City.
The Orioles added some pieces, such as Mark Reynolds, Derrek Lee, and Vlad, in the offseason that will hopefully make this year more entertaining than the last 13 but are unlikely to be long-term solutions for the Orioles.
If you ask me, and if you're reading this, I guess you did, that's ok. I want to see this team be the perennial contender it was in the days of Weaver, halcyon days that are mostly before my time or beyond the reach of my memory. But in the short term, I feel like the string of 13 straight losing seasons has taken on a life of its own.
Obviously, I do not want to see Andy MacPhail mortgage the future -- whatever that means -- just to get to 82 wins. It's not worth trading away Zach Britton for the difference between 78 wins and 82, for example. But Lee and Vlad aren't blocking any great, or even especially promising young prospects. There was not much real risk to the Orioles in signing them, but if it helps them get to 82 -- even 81 wins, I think the reward will have been great. The beast must die.
If the O's do improve their record, however, it likely will have more to do with the growth of younger Orioles like Matt Wieters, Adam Jones, Brian Matusz, Jake Arrieta, and Chris Tillman, and (currently AAA-bound) Nolan Riemold. Will these guys take the next step?
If they do, I think this is an 82-win team. And right now, that'll do. The Orioles played well last year once Buck Showalter was hired, maintaining the best record in the division over that time. It's probably a stretch, though, to believe that they can play that well over a full season.
But, it's Opening Day, and who knows? Why not...
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