While more snow falls today here in Indiana, those four words reminds me that baseball season is just around the corner. I got my Spring Training Preview issue of the Sporting News yesterday. I've been reading the O's articles on baltimoresun.com. Summer is close!
I have been and will continue to be critical of Peter Angelos and the way he runs the Orioles. But this time of year is a time of optimism. So I'm putting on my orange-colored goggles and drinking orange Kool-Aid. I'm beginning my season-long "Quest for 82", the O's journey to finish with a winning record.
It appeared the O's would have a major setback before Spring Training even started, with Kris Benson going down with a season-ending rotator cuff injury. How could the O's replace his 11 wins? Steve Trachsel! I actually have to give the O's credit for acting so quickly. Trachsel did win 15 games last year for a division champion. (Because I'm drinking the orange Kool-Aid, I'll ignore his 4.97 ERA playing in a league without the DH and in a home park bigger than Camden Yards.)
So how do the O's find 82 wins on their schedule? Well, I've done a simple analysis. The O's play 93 games against the AL powerhouses - Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Twins, Tigers, White Sox, A's, and Angels. They need to go 42-51 against those teams. It's a pretty big task but with the assistance of orange googles, it can be seen. Then the O's need to go 40-29 against the rest of their schedule - Devil Rays, Royals, Mariners, Rangers, Indians, Nationals, Rockies, D-backs, and Padres. Heck, if they can just go 18-7 against the Devil Rays and Royals, they can go .500 against the rest of the rest.
Let the Quest for 82 begin!
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DK - Ahhhhhh, baseball. This truly is the best time of the year. Spring training is approaching, my bracket is about to double as toilet paper, and the NBA is bordering on watchable (see: not really).
I have two words for you, and any other Birds fan: Erik Bedard. If he stays healthy all year, his numbers should be eye-popping. I love that guy. As for the rest of your starters, it could be bumpy, but at least you didn't go to a strip club with Pacman Jones last night. Seriously, who takes $81,000 in cash ANYWHERE?! Pacman, that's who.
As for me and my Dodgers, let's hope the ol "pitching wins games" theory holds true, because we may not have a single guy hit 30 hrs. In fact, it would amaze me. I can't wait to stick glass shards in my eyeballs the first time I see Eric Gagne in a Rangers jersey. Bastard.
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