Opening Day
That’s right, it’s finally here! I’m realistic about the Orioles’ chances this year (as in, they have a chance to win 65-70 games), but they’re starting out even with everyone else at 0-0. There’s something refreshing about the feeling, however small, that anything is possible.
The final roster spot was claimed by Scott Moore, who will see time as a backup at the corners of the infield, and maybe even some second base. This meant that the O’s took another mildly surprising step in the rebuilding process by releasing #31 Jay Gibbons and treating the two years and $11.9 million they owed him as a sunk cost. The move isn’t surprising based on merit: as I stated last week, Gibbons has been chronically injured, has declined as a player in recent years, and is limited defensively. But it is surprising that Peter Angelos gave Andy MacPhail the green light to dump him and to eat all of that money. Although I (and most Baltimore fans) have been rough on Jay recently, this is still a bittersweet moment. He had been the second-longest tenured Oriole behind Melvin Mora, having spent his entire seven-year MLB career in orange and black. He seemed like a nice guy and a good teammate, and he was once a productive power hitter. But there’s just no room for him on this team any more, especially not at his current level of play. Best of luck to Jay wherever he goes from here.
I’ve been eager to update the site for the 2008 season ever since new players and new numbers started trickling into Fort Lauderdale nearly two months ago, and now that the roster is official, that’s just what I’ve done! There are updates to all of the number countdown pages where applicable, and of course the All-Time Roster. Let’s summarize the new guys, as well as a few number switches:
#9 Scott Moore - Last seen in #43 in 2007. By my count, the 22nd player to wear Brady Anderson’s old number.
#10 Adam Jones - The new center fielder should be the 23rd to suit up in one-zero.
#17 Aubrey Huff - Once again, he’s jumped over from #19 in order to pay tribute to former Tampa Bay teammate Joe Kennedy, who passed away in November. Huff is the 25th #17.
#24 Guillermo Quiroz - Adam Loewen’s new battery mate is the 23rd O’s player to wear this number, and the 6th catcher.
#30 Luke Scott - The left fielder is the 27th Bird in #30, and the first position player since Tim Raines, Sr.’s cameo late in 2001.
#34 Matt Albers - The long reliever upgrades from the #78 he wore in Spring Training, becoming the 22nd thirty-four in club history.
#35 Greg Aquino - Taking the number vacated by Daniel Cabrera (see below), the reliever is the 25th Oriole to wear it.
#40 Daniel Cabrera - Let’s hope jumping ship from #35 symbolizes a smarter, more controlled Cabrera. He’s the 26th to sport #40.
#45 Dennis Sarfate - Another new face in the bullpen, and just the 15th player to take on these digits.
#51 Randor Bierd - The Rule 5 draftee from the Detroit organization will make his major league debut in the O’s pen. He switched from the #77 he wore in Fort Lauderdale because #51 is his lucky number; it’s also been worn by 15 other Orioles before him.
#52 George Sherrill - With Jon Leicester back in Norfolk, the new closer reclaims the number he’d worn in Seattle. Sherrill wore #51 this Spring, but now he’ll be the 15th #52.
Of course there are some new coaches, too:
#36 Alan Dunn - The bullpen coach is only the second O’s coach to wear this number.
#38 John Shelby - “T-Bone” wore #37 as an Oriole outfielder (1981-1987), but currently-injured reliever Chris Ray has that number. Believe it or not, John’s the first coach to ever wear #38 for the club.
#39 Rick Kranitz - The new pitching coach is breaking ground as the first Baltimore coach to ever wear this number.
#50 Dave Jauss - Last but not least, we have the bench coach, who is the second O’s coach to sport #50.
Now let’s play ball!
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