The Official "Im pumped for the season" thread

[the burgundy and gold]

I'm soooo pumped for the season. Who else is feeling the excitedness.

[mbraun2]

in the words of Leeroy Jenkins... "LETS DO THIS!!!"

Go O's!!

[TheDoyler23]

I bought my package just a few minutes ago!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mini plan D, sec 15 behind first base and juuuuust under the overhang of the second deck. I'm in the front of the section for the home opener.

The brand spanking new New Era game caps go on sale this friday as well. I work in management for a sporting goods store, and our Nick Markakis jerseys (at my insistance) should be in any day.

[oriolesfan93p]

I am getting there, I have been playing my baseball game on my PC getting myself pumped up and trying to watch every spring game I can except the quality of the games themselves suck....GRRRRR

I will have to set my TIVO to record the hope opener and hope that nobody spoils it for me as I try to get home without hearing about it....

[GOSKINS_08]

Im ready!! I'll be coming home from Detroit next monday which is opening day, so hopefully I am back before it starts!!

[Cooley4President]

I just bought a 6 game pack to wet my whistle a little bit and make sure I get to opening day. I've been spending the last 3 weeks playing MLB 07 and following spring training box scores. It's time.

BRING IT ON!

[skinfan2k]

i watch both the nats and orioles and i cant wait til both teams blow leads in the 9th like its their job

[GOSKINS_08]

i watch both the nats and orioles and i cant wait til both teams blow leads in the 9th like its their job

With the nationals starting rotation, I dont think you have to worry about them even having leads to blow in the 9th.:laugh:

[Walking Deadman]

Whoo Hoo Basball in the MidAtlantic is back.

Another year of under .500 ball :point2sky
Another year of watching Camden Yards fill with Red Sox and Yankee fans

Another year of watching the Nats struggle.

Yeah, I'm bitter!

[skinfan2k]

With the nationals starting rotation, I dont think you have to worry about them even having leads to blow in the 9th.:laugh:

both the orioles and nats wont win 70 games:doh:

[GOSKINS_08]

both the orioles and nats wont win 70 games:doh:

nationals wont win 65, Orioles will finish atleast .500

[skinfan2k]

nationals wont win 65, Orioles will finish atleast .500

ill bet you any amount of cash.. the orioles are already fighting for the 4th place team in the east and the devil rays offense is getting better each year

[Walking Deadman]

nationals wont win 65, Orioles will finish atleast .500

Nope will be battling with Tampa for last place.....*sigh*....again.

I hope they'll prove me wrong.

[boysetsfire]

LETS GO SOX!!!!

[oriolesfan93p]

i watch both the nats and orioles and i cant wait til both teams blow leads in the 9th like its their job

See this comment I can't get, one of the brightest spots on both teams bullpens over the past couple years has been the closers...

I know you are pessimistic, but honestly the O's bullpen is much improved and you can't believe that their pitching staff overall is not way way way improved from last year. I think that we have a legit shot at 3rd place in the AL East, and an outside chance at the wild card if the Sox or Yanks tank for either pitching or injury problems....

Honestly, there is every reason to be excited about the Orioles pitching staff this year.

As for the Nats, I know they are your team now, and yes I know you claim to still be an orioles fan but you have proven that you are happier when they are losing and angry when they are winning so you aren't, The nats pitching is a bunch of unknowns and non prospects with a couple decent guys mixed in...

I have to say that the Nats are doing a good thing building for about 3 years from now, but that doesn't mean that there is anything to be excited about.

But as for your comment abou the Orioles not winning 70 games, please tell me one area where the Orioles are actually WORSE than they were last year, please, because I can see either steady or improvement in every facet of the team, there is always room for improvement but they are much improved from last year.

[skinfan2k]

See this comment I can't get, one of the brightest spots on both teams bullpens over the past couple years has been the closers...

I know you are pessimistic, but honestly the O's bullpen is much improved and you can't believe that their pitching staff overall is not way way way improved from last year. I think that we have a legit shot at 3rd place in the AL East, and an outside chance at the wild card if the Sox or Yanks tank for either pitching or injury problems....

Honestly, there is every reason to be excited about the Orioles pitching staff this year.

As for the Nats, I know they are your team now, and yes I know you claim to still be an orioles fan but you have proven that you are happier when they are losing and angry when they are winning so you aren't, The nats pitching is a bunch of unknowns and non prospects with a couple decent guys mixed in...

I have to say that the Nats are doing a good thing building for about 3 years from now, but that doesn't mean that there is anything to be excited about.

But as for your comment abou the Orioles not winning 70 games, please tell me one area where the Orioles are actually WORSE than they were last year, please, because I can see either steady or improvement in every facet of the team, there is always room for improvement but they are much improved from last year.

it was just a joke.. I know the orioles spent the majority of their offseason upgrading their pen and it looks to be a good one.. The Redsox and Yanks will continue to be atop of the division and the blue jays are much better offensively and have a healthy aj burnett to start off the year

While i think the orioles pitching is better off this year, their offense simply cant stay up to par with the big guns in the division.. I like markakis, roberts, tejada, and gibbons(if healthy). I dunno if ramon can repeat what he did and mora is just getting told.

Regarding the Nats, i was always mroe of a NL type baseball fan and never a true diehard orioles fan.. Just watched them since they were the local team.. Yes i did get into baseball when the orioles were successful with alomar, ripken and palmerio.

The nationals wont be good this year but they have the best player in this area.. Ryan Zimmerman

[the burgundy and gold]

The nationals wont be good this year but they have the best player in this area.. Ryan Zimmerman


i wouldn't call him the best player in the area yet, ill take Tejada over him for one more year. give him a year or two and he'll be known as one of the top 3rd basemen in the business.

[TheDoyler23]

5 Days away!

[Spaceman Spiff]

I'm pretty amped, too. For once, I think we might be able to win more than 75 games.

[mbraun2]

I agree that Zimmerman isn't the best player in the area....yet. Lets see him make an all-star team or two. That said if he can hit .300-25-100 with that lineup around him and still put up gold glove caliber D then he should definatley be considered the best in the area.

What do you think about a Zimmerman at those stats or a Bedard with 20 wins 2.50 era and 200IP? Whos the better player? Or does it come down to which team has a better season?

[TheDoyler23]

I agree that Zimmerman isn't the best player in the area....yet. Lets see him make an all-star team or two. That said if he can hit .300-25-100 with that lineup around him and still put up gold glove caliber D then he should definatley be considered the best in the area.

Except that .300 25 100 is what Tejada brings to the table every year, and for the next few years. Though Zimmerman is like what, 23? Great numbers for a guy who is going to mature even more in the next few years and be a leader.
We'll also have to see how his power changes in the new park next year. Coule have his homerun numbers increase and his doubles decrease. He's def a star in the making.

An X factor for THE premier baseball player is also Adam Loewen. He has a higher ceiling than Bedard! Hopefully he takes his ST numbers into the season, cause he's been dominant with an era around 1.5! :applause:

[oriolesfan93p]

Look also at the power numbers Markakis put up at the end of they year, he is younger than Zimmerman with the possibility of having higher power numbers and higher average and more rbi's with Mora and Roberts batting in front of him... I think Markakis might have him beat if we are waiting for him to develop... as for his possition, Zimmerman might just become one of if not the best 3rd baseman in baseball but we will have to see if that does indeed occur...

[TheDoyler23]

4 Days away!

[oriolesfan93p]

I don't know why but I am so used to the opening day game being during the game that I was preparing for a day game, this year we start at 7pm and apparently on ESPN2, that means I will actually get to watch it live :D :D :D :D

[Cooley4President]

I don't know why but I am so used to the opening day game being during the game that I was preparing for a day game, this year we start at 7pm and apparently on ESPN2, that means I will actually get to watch it live :D :D :D :D

Live and in HD! Speaking of, does anyone know if MASN will have HD channels on DirecTV.

[TheDoyler23]

Live and in HD! Speaking of, does anyone know if MASN will have HD channels on DirecTV.

Not this year, but hopefully next.

[twenty-eight]

Lets get those 79 wins fellas!!!

[Cooley4President]

Not this year, but hopefully next.

Thanks for the info. That sucks, but I guess things could be worse.

[oriolesfan93p]

Lets get those 79 wins fellas!!! You have either not been paying attention to the team or you are a Nats fan....

This team is much better(pitching staff wise) than we have had in several years, I would put them in the catagory of a couple years before we hit the playoffs.

I am pumped, last year I wasn't so pumped, but this year I am, especially with what we have seen out of our young pitchers....

[TheDoyler23]

Lets get those 79 wins fellas!!!

Add 3 to that total and I wouldn't be all that upset. In fact, I'd be pleased very much. Gotta stop the losing season streak. I'd be rocking in my chair harder than Mazzone if they were 81-80 (or 80-81) going into the last game.

[TheDoyler23]

3 Days Away!

[twenty-eight]

You have either not been paying attention to the team or you are a Nats fan....

This team is much better(pitching staff wise) than we have had in several years, I would put them in the catagory of a couple years before we hit the playoffs.

I am pumped, last year I wasn't so pumped, but this year I am, especially with what we have seen out of our young pitchers....

I'm not a nats fan (Well....I take that back, I am a fan. I follow them, but of course the O's are my team)...been an O's fan since I was a youngin!

Dude we're still the FOURTH best team in our division!!!

So how many wins do you think we'll get?

and also...a couple years before we hit the PLAYOFFS???? I think you meant to say that we're a couple years away from having 85% of our roster available through free agency

[twenty-eight]

I'm pretty amped, too. For once, I think we might be able to win more than 75 games.

2 days away!!!!

:)

[oriolesfan93p]

I'm not a nats fan (Well....I take that back, I am a fan. I follow them, but of course the O's are my team)...been an O's fan since I was a youngin!

Dude we're still the FOURTH best team in our division!!!

So how many wins do you think we'll get?

and also...a couple years before we hit the PLAYOFFS???? I think you meant to say that we're a couple years away from having 85% of our roster available through free agency

the couple of years before we hit the playoffs comment had to do with the fact that we were contenders for the AL pennant, even if we didn't win it, we were in contention and playing meaningful games in september...

As for how many games I think we will win, I really think we will win over 90, I know its a bit of a strech, but I think so.

I don't think we are the 4th best in our division, I think we have a ligitimate shot at the wild card this year, not the division but I think we will contend for a while there too, The Jays are gonna fall flat because of their pitching, and the sox and Yanks are really good but I think the orioles can be just as good....

My accusations about not being a fan or paying attention is that you haven't been watching the way that our pitchers have been performing thus far, they have been phenomenal as a staff in spring training and they were much improving at the end of the season last year, we have a fully revamped bullpen and you can't hold last year's bullpen record on this year's team. The pitching staff looks to have the potential of being the best in the majors this year and the offense is improved from last year for sure.

Sure some of my reasoning is based on spring training and should be treated as such, but this is still pre-season and I have been seeing things that make me very optomistic, its not like the preseason with the skins when we kept saying "wait till the regular season and you will see them looking good" they are looking really really great now, and I bet it follows through to the season.

[twenty-eight]

I agree with a lot of what you're saying. I could see us being better than the Jays.....

Like most O's fans I'm definitely jaded, look no further than my die angelos thread:) We could have easily had 10-15 more wins last year if it wasn't for our bullpen blowing so many games. The fact that we went out and shored up that position gives me hope.

We also have a ton of young talent in the rotation and of course the best pitching coach in the majors....I'm expecting a HUGE year from Daniel Cabrera, this is his year!!!

I hope we get 90+ wins, I know what you're saying about us playing well at the moment but it's a looooooooooong season. Weren't we in contention for first place for the first couple months last season? or was it the year before? or did i just completly make that up?!

Anyway...here's to successful, entertaining year and 90+ wins:cheers:

[TheDoyler23]

One Day Away!!!

[skinfan2k]

what channels are the games for both teams?i know masn but which masn

[TheDoyler23]

http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/schedule/broadcast.jsp?c_id=bal

http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/was/schedule/broadcast.jsp

Just bookmark them for quick reference.

[Spaceman Spiff]

I'm...

not as pumped as I was.

3 man bench with ****in Bako, and Bynum. Trax and Wright. A bunch of hitters that don't do a good enough job of getting on base.

Hey, I think we're better than we used to be. Thats not a stretch. But there are still some weaknesses that need to be addressed for this team to make the leap.

[TheDoyler23]

3 man bench with ****in Bako, and Bynum. Trax and Wright. A bunch of hitters that don't do a good enough job of getting on base.

Yea, the bench is Bynum, Bako and Gomez. I'm OK with this since Ramon Hernandez never wants a day off and Payton should be good to go in a week or so. A trade for a 4-5 OF type can happen pretty easily.

Trax and Wright can't possibly be as bad a Lopez and Chen were last year, so that has to be some kind of plus. Wright has been a winner for a good long time, although Trachsel scares the crap outta me out there.

I will agree that this team has 2 flaws that hopefully will improve this year.

1. They SUCK against left handed pitching. Seriously, when have they hit lefty's well? Hopefully they'll run into a few pitches on OD and Bedard goes lights out.

2. They don't draw enough walks to keep the pressure on opposing pitchers, and raise their pitch counts. Miller walks all the time and Miggi gets pitched around often (although sometimes he'll swing at the pitch around pitches anyway). But besides Millar, Roberts, Mora and markakis, the rest of the guys are up there hacking like its a video game.

[oriolesfan93p]

I agree with a lot of what you're saying. I could see us being better than the Jays.....

Like most O's fans I'm definitely jaded, look no further than my die angelos thread:) We could have easily had 10-15 more wins last year if it wasn't for our bullpen blowing so many games. The fact that we went out and shored up that position gives me hope.

We also have a ton of young talent in the rotation and of course the best pitching coach in the majors....I'm expecting a HUGE year from Daniel Cabrera, this is his year!!!

I hope we get 90+ wins, I know what you're saying about us playing well at the moment but it's a looooooooooong season. Weren't we in contention for first place for the first couple months last season? or was it the year before? or did i just completly make that up?!

Anyway...here's to successful, entertaining year and 90+ wins:cheers:

I got ya, I get full of optimism in ST, sometimes it only lasts a month.... as for the 1st place thing, we were in contention all the way to the all star break and a little beyond in 2005, then Javy got hurt and the whole Palmiero garbage led to a 4-20 streak that sent us under 500 for the remainder of the season.

I certianly hope that Angelos has turned things around, I know that may be hoping for too much, but he actually went out and spent some real money on the weakest part of our team and the FA class for hitters wasn't as big as it looks to be next year so we will have to see what happens then, Honestly looking over the past couple years at the big FAs signed the orioles were in there up till the last 2-3 teams on quite a few so some of his critisism may have been a little overboard, some but a very very small amount as he has earned the ire of many a baseball fan from the general DC Metro/Baltimore/VA area

[TheDoyler23]

Tonight!!!!!!!!!!!

[oriolesfan93p]

ESPN 2 and likely the only good broadcast of the year quality wise if the ST games are any indication, the announcers sounded like they were on vacation half the time and bored me to tears and I just hope that now with them back in Baltimore they will start acting like they are on the job again...

Bedard Vs Santana and Orioles lineup vs Twins lineup... both teams got their work cut out for them, Traditionally (recent history) the Orioles have managed to beat the staff ace but lost most if not all the remaining games of the series.

Orioles history on opening day, overall 66-44-1 Recent 6-0 since 2001 7-2 since 1998 (when the losing season streak began) won last year

Twins history on opening day, overall 58-48 Recent 4-2 since 2001 5-4 since 1998 won last year

The Orioles are 1-0 lifetime on opening day vs the Twins. That game on April 11, 1967 in Baltimore. Baltimore lead off that game with a 4 run 1st inning including an RBI by Frank Robinson and a 2 run HR by Brooks Robinson, followed by a double by Boog Powell. The starting pitcher McNally was taken out in the 5th after giving up 3 runs in that inning and denied the win as he was replaced with reliever Drabowsky. The losing pitcher was Kaat who went on to win 16 games that year after winning 25 the year previous. Mcnally only won 7 games that year in only 22 starts with an era of 4.53 his worst since his rookie year and his worst untill his final season in 1975, he went on to win 20+ games the following 4 years with an era in 1968 of 1.95 his best ever also logging 202 strikeouts both being career bests.

[the burgundy and gold]

so pumped for tonight, my buckeyes are in the championship and my O's get to finally play baseball.