Slow News Day

There simply is not a lot going on right now. Nothing, nada, nil, the null-set - it is a slow news day. It will be a slow news week as the calendar changes to a new year you have to wonder about the future - so let's take a look at some early predictions for 2010 not only for the Orioles but around the league:

with apologies to Conan O'Brein

In the year 2010...

The Orioles will have an above average offense without making any other completely significant moves before Spring Training. Andy MacPhail has made his desire for a "Big Bat" well known, and the Orioles could use one. But the problem is that the biggest bat on the market is Matt Holliday who has dubious numbers outside of Coors Field has already, reportedly, turned down some pricely long-term deals to stay in Colorado at the beginning of last season. Moreover, the Orioles don't need another outfielder, unless you want to trade Pie, move Reimold to DH and trade Scott. Now all of those things could be done, and done easily I'm sure but is that worth Holliday?

Markakis had a weird season. Power vanished, but his average and doubles were fine. His walks went away too. Give Markakis a legit bat to hit in-front of and I believe you will see a nice rebound from him. Jones needs to show he can put two good halves together and stay healthy and Wieters needs to hit like September 08 for most of the season. Wieters is the big question mark here. For once it is not just Orioles fans hyping up their own prospects he has been called the "switch-hitting Jesus" by national sportswriters he needs to let that out in April and never look back.

If those things happen the Orioles will have a solid, above average offense next year.

In the year 2010...

There will be no fewer than two-hundred jokes made about Minnesota's decision to play baseball in an open-air stadium in April. The average high in Minneapolis in April is 57 degrees, the average low 36. For comparison's sake Baltimore's averages are 68 and 48, respectively. Goodbye "Homer-Dome" look for Minnesota to be playing as an extreme pitchers park for the first few months of the season until things warm up in the Land of a Thousand Lakes.

While we are on the subjdect of Target Field, it truly is a beautiful park though it looks like the offspring of Nationals Park, PNC Park and Citizens Bank Park.

In the year 2010...

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