The Relentless March

This is March in Baltimore. Sixty degrees one day, thirty the next for no apparent reason. Being in education we are in the long period of uninterrupted time between President's Day and Spring Break that just makes the kids antsy and uncooperative. Daylight Savings time means we all start getting up in the darkness again, just as soon as we were all enjoying the sunshine but March does bring us one glorious thing - Spring Training baseball.

The Orioles opened up camp earlier this month and games are under way. Early impressions:

-Chen Wei-Yin is going to be a very good pitcher for us. He has only pitched two innings but his bullpen sessions have brought nothing but good news and he is starting to turn some heads. SI's Jon Heyman tweeted after Chen's start that he could be a "sleeper". I contend that Chen would not be such a "sleeper" if he were picked up by another team, but I digress.

-Brian Roberts is done. Stacey Long over at Camden Chat posted these pictures from the 2012 photo day sessions and I agree that Roberts looks so sad. He looks like a shell of his former self. His small frame is usually balanced out with an athletic physique but no more. A Summer and a half of limited work outs he just looks small. He looks so small that I just don't see how we will possibly see Brian Roberts start in a major league game this year. I honestly predict a contract buyout before Opening Day.

-Brian Matusz isn't "back" yet, but he is rounding the corner and about to pull into "back's" driveway. Yes, he gave up three runs in his first Spring Training start but the most important thing is his velocity. Matusz' velocity was back up in the low 90's consistently throughout his two innings. Matusz' inexplicable drop in velocity last season led to his horrendous nightmare of a Summer. There is no way that Brian Matusz is a 10 ERA pitcher and getting the zip on his pitches back is step one to getting back.

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