bulldog
December-20th-2003, 09:26 PM
shortstop, catcher and center field secure your defense and the Orioles are certainly moving to address those needs.
however, the state of the pitching staff is such that without major strides to add some tested arms, this club is still looking at a fourth place finish in 2004.
resigning Ponson is a step in the right direction. At 27, Ponson is a player the club should have done a better job of locking up before last season's emergence.
but that move, welcome as it would be, leaves the team with just one veteran starter.
the others currently on the roster are untested youngsters and guys coming off poor 2003 seasons.
Omar Daal and Rodrigo Lopez were awful last season.
Ainsworth was hurt most of last season and at 24 has not yet cemented a major league career.
Bauer and DuBose are guys that have come up in the organization but are again not proven.
Moss and Johnson were declined arbitration, although I agree with Orioles' management that these guys are not worth a long term investment by the club.
however, the state of the pitching staff is such that without major strides to add some tested arms, this club is still looking at a fourth place finish in 2004.
resigning Ponson is a step in the right direction. At 27, Ponson is a player the club should have done a better job of locking up before last season's emergence.
but that move, welcome as it would be, leaves the team with just one veteran starter.
the others currently on the roster are untested youngsters and guys coming off poor 2003 seasons.
Omar Daal and Rodrigo Lopez were awful last season.
Ainsworth was hurt most of last season and at 24 has not yet cemented a major league career.
Bauer and DuBose are guys that have come up in the organization but are again not proven.
Moss and Johnson were declined arbitration, although I agree with Orioles' management that these guys are not worth a long term investment by the club.