Some thoughts

The Orioles seem to think that they need Chris Gomez or Jolbert Cabrera on their roster "just in case" Cesar Izturis gets hurt. Well how about this, if Izturis gets hurt during the game, put Ryan Freel, Ty Wigginton, or even Brian Roberts or Melvin Mora at short until the game is over, then call up Gomez or someone who can play shortstop after the game. Who would choose Gomez or Cabrera, who will hit less than .250 with all singles, instead of having a real option off the bench like Lou Montanez or Scott Moore (who also could play shortstop if needed), or giving another pitcher a chance to prove himself.

Also, I'd really like to see the O's give Hayden Penn the benefit of the doubt and allow him to pitch, whether it's in the rotation or the bullpen, at least until some of the other young prospects are ready or he proves that he really isn't a major league pitcher. The idea of choosing Mark Hendrickson, Adam Eaton, AND Brian Bass over Penn makes absolutely no sense to me. None of those pitchers will be with the O's after this year, so why invest in them?

A lot of people are upset about Felix Pie making the team over Lou Montanez, and I understand why. Pie has been awful this spring, while Montanez has done all the right things, both this spring and last year. But the truth is, Pie is not the problem. The problem is that the O's came into the spring with 5 solid major league ready outfielders: Nick Markakis, Adam Jones, Luke Scott, Montanez, and Nolan Reimold. But they traded for Ryan Freel and Pie, and signed Ty Wigginton. I like Wigginton and Freel, but they have no place on a rebuilding team. Pie is a legitimate prospect who deserves a chance this year. But acquiring both Freel and Wigginton (even though I like both of them), cost several players, mostly Montanez and Reimold, a chance to make the team. This is another example of poor Orioles' management. And in all reality, Garrett Olson is starting to sound like a nice option for the rotation. Heck, Daniel Cabrera isn't sounding so bad.