Quick Hits...

• Orioles Arbitration: The agents for Brian Roberts, Corey Patterson and Erik Bedard traded salary figures with the teams on Tuesday in hopes of brokering a contract agreement before the startup of league-wide arbitration hearings on Friday. Under Peter Angelos’ ownership, arbitration hearings have usually been avoided, except for nine instances and the team has lost once, in the case of Ben McDonald. More Info: http://blogs.baltimoresun.com/sports_custom_roch/2007/01/exchanging_figu.html & http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-sp.orioles17jan17,0,2958581.story?coll=bal-sports-headlines
  
  
• Fan Fest: According to Sun Reporter, Roch Kubatko, Fanfest will still be on tap for the winter. He notes in his blog that Fanfest will happen sometime before spring training, just not in the usual format. I think it might be smaller, or held somewhere else, but due the NFL playoffs, a usual tradition for Orioles’ fans was postponed. In light of the lack of success from the Orioles in the past decade, fans still look forward to the annual event to see the new faces, get a perspective on the team for the upcoming season and to have a wonderful time. Hopefully the Orioles can make this year’s Fanfest as good as the others in the past.
  
  
• Yet Another Rodrigo Goodbye: Rob from Random Reality Thoughts has another tribute to Mr. Lopez, albeit very short. I didn’t he think was that horrible for the Orioles, except in ’06, but most everyone is saying good riddance to him and the goodbyes have been nothing short of brutal.

* Around Baseballl. Twin Billing: The Minnesota Twins have offered arbitration to their two young uber-stars who were the core for the team in ‘06, AL MVP Justin Morneau, Joe Mauer & Michael Cuddyer. The Twins offered Morneau $4 million, Mauer $3.3 million and Cuddyer $3 million.

In addition to being young superstars and All-Stars in the making, I think it is vital that they lock these guys now, because as the market is right now, it will perhaps be even be more expensive to shore them and their young players up for the long term.

I have a very soft spot for the Twins, as all their players are class acts, I have gotten to see them play at the Metrodome and have gotten to speak to a few guys on the team. With the economic state of the Twins and their resources right now, it may be unrealistic for them to keep the same team throughout the years, but the organization seems to know how to find and cultivate talent.

* Around Baseball: Getting Paid. The area of big contracts is now rearing its head with arbitration now around the league. Cubs ace, Carlos Zambrano, want $15.5 million for salary in 2007for his arbitration hearing coming up & the Cubs offered $11,025,000 to Zambrano. However, keep in mind that Zambrano is eligible for free agency in 2008, and where he could easily get a $150 million contract for his skills. With his numbers in 2006, he may perhaps get the highest arbitration award ever in the history of the sport.

As well, Marlins third baseman, Miguel Cabrera asked for well over $7 million in arbitration, and the team offered $6.7 million. In my eyes, Cabrera is another guy who could easily cross $100 million plateau in 2007. Due to the teams finances, he’s most likely to leave Florida and get paid, but it is amazing how much players are asking today due to the market.

Wow.

• For the Red Sox fans out there, can you all please tell me what is going on with J.D. Drew? Why is he not signed yet (scratching my head on this one...)?
  

Orioles' Fan Fest: Why no Promotion?

Hello to all out there & hope you are enjoying Christmas Eve considering the unseasonably warn weather we are having in the DC/Baltimore area.

Anyhow, does anyone out there even know when Orioles' Fan Fest is? Anyone at all?

Well, using the means at my disposal, primarily my laptop and a little patience, I went on Google and entered in "Orioles Fan Fest 2007".

What did I find?

Well, on the first page of the search term entries, I did find a reference to Fan Fest 2007. The lasting for it was the fifth link down, as the first link referred to previous years Orioles' Fan Fest! And the kicker is, the lifting was not even on the Orioles' web site or any sites affiliated with it, but on a site called "Mendy's Baseball Memorabilia". The second mention of Fan Fest on that page is the last entry and it directs to the Baltimore Covention Center asking staff what needs to be ordered!

The only other place I found a mention of the event was on Orioles Hangout, only because there was a thread devoted it. Within that thread, one poster said that season ticket holders (at least those who paid their invoice off) were only notified about it.

I appreciate those particular sites for letting us know about Orioles Fan Fest 2007, but my first question is why the Orioles are not promoting it.

Let's go to the Orioles.com website. Link: http://orioles.com.

Do you see any mention of FanFest? No. Neither do I.

Why I am searching on Google for it when I should be able to find it on the team's website? Are they holding it this year?

According to Mendy's Mendy's Baseball Memorabilia, ( Link: http://store.mendys.com/ja1420orfaba.html ) this is what is said about Fanfest:

The Baltimore Orioles will conduct their annual Orioles FanFest on January 14, 2007, at the Baltimore Convention Center from 10 am to 6 pm. This is an all-day celebration of Baltimore baseball that will include the participation of several players and coaches.

Assorted Orioles players will sign autographs and pose for photos at the Baltimore Convention Center. There will also be baseball clinics, exhibits and interactive games during the celebration.

Check back for more information as it develops.

We are going on less than 3 weeks until the event, but yet nothing has been said officially from the Orioles, either in an advertisement, on the web, on the radio and even in a press release. Do they want to no one to come, or is there a hold-up? What if the Ravens play a game that Sunday (which they probably may) in the playoffs?

If someone can tell me why there has been no promotion for this event, please let me know. Heck, if someone from the front office or promotions could let me know, that would be better.

I would like to go, take pictures and perhaps my little brother to meet his favorite players. If nothing is announced, I probably still might go, or I may not and have other plans. What about fans and families, especially those with little kids?

I love this team as much as anyone, but sometimes stuff like this makes it hard to be a fan especially in these lean years.