More photos » by Ed Zurga - AP

5 months ago: Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Zack Greinke throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday, June 17, 2009, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

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The BBWAA got it right today as they voted Zack Greinke the 2009 AL Cy Young Award Winner. He seemed a lock for many all year but I never quite trust those guys to vote as they should.

I have a major soft spot for Zack Greinke and the Kansas City Royals (as evidenced by my road trips...we're already discussing where the 3rd Annual Impersonate a Royals Fan weekend should take place in 2010), so even if the numbers were close I'd probably favor him. But the numbers weren't close, not the numbers that counted. Royals Review is celebrating, of that I'm sure.

Well done, Zack. I hope you are second in the voting behind Brian Matusz next year.

More photos » by John Froschauer - AP

Your Offseason O of the Day: Aubrey Huff. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

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Orioles FanFest in Sarasota
Heath from Dempsey's Army attended the Sarasota FanFest and gave a great account. Sounds like the Birds are going to have a lovely new home. -Stacey

Reds Re-Sign Ramon Hernandez
I guess they like him better than the O's did. Plus they don't have Matt Wieters. -Stacey

BaseballAmerica.com: Bell, Snyder Upgrade On Defense
Great article by Ben Badler on the Bell and Snyder and their improving defense. -Stacey

Winter Leagues: Arizona Fall League: Statistics | MLB.com: Events
Speaking of Bell and Snyder, they continue to rake in the AFL. Sure, it's just the AFL, but it's nice to see both guys among the league leaders in hitting. It's better than both of them sucking in the AFL, right? -zk

If I Were a Rich Man: On the Baltimore Orioles | FanGraphs Baseball
Carson Cistulli at FanGraphs points out that the Orioles are starting the offseason with only $40M committed to payroll, and they are in a position to spend, spend, spend. He'd start by throwing a butt-ton of dinero at Nick Johnson.-zk

PressBox: Trembley Warns Pitchers: 'Get Tough'
As soon as he found out he would return in 2010, Trembley began the process of speaking to core players, guys like Markakis, Jones and second baseman Brian Roberts, to set the stage for what he hopes will occur next season....The skipper pointedly called out his starting pitchers, telling them he expected them to be physically ready to pitch when spring training begins in February in Sarasota, Fla. He also put on-the-bubble guys like right-handers Matt Albers (whose conditioning has been called into question) and Dennis Sarfate (recovering from injuries) on notice that they have to pitch better. -zk

SimonOnSports: Blogging the Offseason: Baltimore Orioles
Jeff from ROR answers 10 off-season Qs about the Os.-zk

MASNsports.com
Injury updates on Reimold, 3E1N, and Dr. Jones. -zk

Leave the gun. Take the Open Thread.

Every starter for the O's since 2007, with number of starts in parentheses. Only Guthrie has survived. 2010 is the list of starters currently in the O's system who could make the rotation at some point. I didn't include Koji or Hendo as they'll hopefully be in the bullpen the entire year. One thing I'll say for the O's in 2009 is they cut down on the slop (Adam Eaton excepted).

2007 - Pre-MacPhail. 2010 - Based solely on current players. How much have we improved, really? Discuss. Is it fair to say that the only position where the 2010 Orioles are worse off than the 2007 Orioles is shortstop?

All lineups are based on who played that most games at that position in each year.

More photos » by Tom Olmscheid - AP

Your Offseason O of the Day: Chris Tillman (AP Photo/Tom Olmscheid)

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Orioles get big surprise: a very warm welcome | HeraldTribune.com 
"That was cool,'' Baltimore Gold Glove winner Adam Jones said, "but it's too much for me. I'm laid back and low key.'' Jones, then, should love his new spring home, particularly if its people, both residents and visitors alike, engage in the level of bird watching witnessed Saturday. A meet and greet at The Ed the Orioles hoped would attract 1,000. An estimated 2,500 showed up. Looking around, Jones knew he wasn't in Lauderdale any more. "Nobody cares about baseball over there,'' the Baltimore centerfielder said. "I think this is more people than came to all of our games.'' - The FanFest was reported yesterday, but here's a refreshing take on it. Nice to see fans clamoring to see the O's -zk

Critics of baseball in Sarasota County suing over e-mails | HeraldTribune.com 
And yet some folks still reeeeeeaaaaaally don't want the Orioles in Sarasota. -zk

Free-agent watch: Good year to go bargain-hunting - Chris Bahr, Sporting News - MLB - Sporting News
Free agency officially starts Friday. Here's TSN's take on the pickings. -zk

Keys Donate $375,000 To Local Causes - OurSports Central - Independent and Minor League Sports News
rederick, MD - The Frederick Keys, Class-A Affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, are proud to announce that in partnership with its marketing colleagues and fans, have donated $375,000 to local charities, causes and schools in 2009. -zk

Odds look good for O's return to Cuba -- baltimoresun.com
Schmuck waxes nostalgic about the last time and likes Angelos' chances of making another Cuba trip happen. -zk

MASN Online: One Liners from Lunch with Dave Trembley
Dave has his share of witticisms, including my fave: "The toughest three outs to get in Yankee Stadium are the six you have to get." -zk

You see, there's a certain amount of life wisdom I give these boys. I can expand their minds. Sometimes when I've got a ballplayer alone, I'll just read Emily Dickinson or Walt Whitman to him, and the guys are so sweet, they always stay and listen. 'Course, a guy'll listen to anything if he thinks it's Open Thread.

For over three years people on this blog have complained that the Orioles have lacked a true ace for years.  At some point two seasons ago, many believed that Jeremy Guthrie might be the closest this team has had since the migration of Moose and were rebuffed by a subpar performance this passed season.  The reality is this team has two, maybe three, aces in the making in Chris Tillman and Brian Matusz (also, Jake Arrieta), but whose to say they will ever be as good as #2 on a good team.

This leads us to the question that has waved around the FanPost comments since the offseason: Should the Orioles trade for or sign an ace this or next season to solidify their rotation?  If so, whom and who would it cost?

The Detroit Tigers, Cincinnati Reds, and Houston Astros need financial relief; the Toronto Blue Jays have an ace in the final year of his current contract; the Seattle Mariners might not be able to sign their ace to a contract extension; and the Atlanta Braves need a big bat.  Every indication points to a few of these teams trading their aces.

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More photos » by Rob Carr - AP

Your Off-Season O of the Day: Chad Moeller (AP Photo/Rob Carr)

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Sarasota welcomes the Orioles 
About 2,500 Sarasota residents welcomed the Orioles to town during the team's FanFest activities yesterday. -duck

Premilinary and incomplete Spring Training dates available
One of Roch's readers sent him the link 4sarasota.com and it appears many, but not all, of the home Spring Training dates are starting to be filled. -duck

Update on injured O's minor league pitchers
Steve Melewski talks with David Stockstill about Orioles' minor leaguers rehabbing and recovering from injuries during 2009. -duck

2009 Tides pitchers in review
Steve Melewski talks with Gary Allenson, manager of the Norfolk Tides, about the starters he had this year that weren't among those called up to Baltimore. -duck

The Schmuck Stops Here: Orioles: Is Uggla the answer?
Peter Schmuck attempts to solve the age-old debate "Is it OK if a piece of plywood would play better defense that your third baseman?" -duck

AFL Orioles - Week 5
Jay LeBlanc of The Washington Times reviews the week in Arizona. -duck

Umpire John Hirschbeck forgives Robbie Alomar, but will Hall of Fame voters forget?
"Longtime umpire John Hirschbeck would like to put to rest any lingering controversy about Robbie Alomar on the Baseball Writers Hall of Fame ballot. Despite the infamous 1996 spitting incident the ump says Alomar is absolutely a Hall of Fame player." -duck

Nick Markakis deserved a Gold Glove: Carroll County Times
"Congratulations, Adam Jones. You just accomplished something rare by being named one of the three best defensive outfielders in the American League even though you’re not even the best on your own team." Gee, Josh Land of the CC Times, tell us what you really think. -duck

You're a French aristocrat, she's a simple girl of the people, and she won't even give you a Open Thread. Hah!