There's exciting baseball being played in the region, even if it's just up I-95 a bit. The Orioles pitching staff might stink, but it's the bats that are getting everyone excited.
Tonight's the debut of demi-god Matt Wieters. Wieters is a big, switch-hitting catcher who's absolutely destroyed minor league pitching.
Last year at Double-A, he hit .365/.460/.625 in a pitcher's park in a pitcher's league despite being one of the youngest players. He's followed that up this season with a .305/.387/.504 line at Triple-A. He's ready.
Wieters is giving Orioles fans some hope for the first time since May 1998. The last decade of Angelos' terrible stewardship didn't kill off all the fans; it just put them into hibernation.
Wieters is easily the most hyped and eagerly awaited prospect in franchise history. Even Cal's looking forward to it, as he told The Sun. "I'll be peeking in on Matt whether I'm there [at the park] or watching on TV. I'm an excited fan as well."
Wieters joins a reinvigorated team that's loaded with talent.
Nolan Reimold probably isn't going to be a star, but he can mash the ball with the best of him. His game-winning homer in extra innings gave O's fans something to cheer about, and served as a welcome appetizer for tonight's main course.
Adam Jones looks like he could be a superstar. A slick-fielding centerfielder, he's slugging over .600, and, with Nick Markakis, is giving the O's two-thirds of a championship outfield.
It's not hard to see this Orioles team contending in a year or two. The offensive pieces are in place; they just lack the pitching. While there are a few interesting arms down on the farm, the buzz and renewed interest in the team should be enough to convince Peter "C. Montgomery" Angelos that opening the wallet for a starting pitcher (like John Lackey) might be worth it.
There's hope in Birdland -- at last.
Chris Needham used to write Capitol Punishment. He held himself back from ripping Jim Hunter.
