Happy Holidays Birdland.

The snow is still blanketing the greater Baltimore Mtreo-plex and I have received the early girft of a nice long X-Mas vacation from Santa, or Father Christmas, or whomever you choose to think gives gifts at times like this.  Myself, I celebrate Christmas and the twiggy tree in my den right now has neatly and tastefully wrapped presents resting beneath it, but what is under the Orioles fan's tree this year?  Let's take a peek and see what is there.

The first box is a long heavy box propped against the wall, is it that Red Ryder BB Gun?  No, you'll shoot your eye out kid - why it's TWO BATS!  Homerun bats to be precise for Matt Wieters and Nick Markakis.  Starting in April they will need these bats because without them the Orioles will be in real trouble.  I know that O's fans out there had Alex Gonzalez sugarplums dancing in their heads but you can't get everything you wish for and A-Gon is just too expensive.  Besides, if Markakis and Wieters use these shiny new homerun bats (obviously felled by a strike of lightning) then they will gladly fill in for a lack of A-Gon and be the "big-bat" that Andy MacPhail wants so badly.

This next box feels like clothes - ugh.  Opening it you see a brand new Orioles Jersey!  The name on the back: "TOP OF THE ROTATION STARTER".  But who is it for?  Well, no one knows yet.  Maybe Kevin Millwood steps into that role, Guthrie is the elder statesman of the rotation and is capable of much more than last year's debacle.  Chris Tillman and Brian Matusz arguably have the best "stuff" and "potential" to fill that jersey though Brad Bergesen was the best pitcher last year before his injury.  With John Lackey and Rich Harden off the market there are no clear "TOR" starters out there through FA anymore so the four top candidates will have to settle it out over the course of the spring.  Don't let the fact that Millwood will probably get the ball on day one fool you Orioles fan - Tillman or Matusz will be wearing that Jersey by the end of July.

What else is there?  Hey look its a CLOSER!  But we peaked, we saw that already.  The box in the back is for Koji, its a gift certificate to Whole Foods and an organic holistic massage and healing center.  They are all the rage don't you know.  Yeah, Koji, bet you almost forgot about him didn't you?  Well he is still an Oriole but he is hurt.  Injuries hampered what could have been an exciting and successful first year with the Orioles.  Word has it he has started a throwing program in Japan and will be ready for Spring Training and his health is important to the team.  A healthy and conditioned Koji could be in the fight for the last rotation spot or even the closer spot.  He has said that he will do whatever the Orioles want him to and that is certainly the right attitude to take in his situation.

The Orioles want Koji to be happy and successful.  We want our first step into the Asian baseball world to be at least a moderate success so we can more easily establish our presence over there.  It would be a shame to see Koji fade away without ever really getting started.

Looking in the stocking there is a card - Addressed to all Oriole fans! From none other than Peter G Angelos himself.  Wow it has been awhile since we have heard from Peter.  Opening it up you see a nice Winter scene - Hallmark, how nice.  Written in the card is a note:

I really wanted to get you a winning team for Christmas, but unfortunately it hasn't come in yet.  No worries though, here is the "tracking number."

All the best holiday wishes,

Uncle Pete

I have had this happen more than a couple times in my life, as I am a technology native and many of my family could be called tech immigrants.  The question always is - when will it actually show.  I will find myself refreshing the USPS or FedEx site multiple times a day to track my most desired package from afar.  It becomes almost addictive.

So, when will Uncle Pete's present get here?  Tough to say.  If everything goes well and we get projected production out of key people I think the Orioles do have a more than legitimate shot at a +.500 season.  And that would go such a long way for the psyche of this fanbase.  All we can do is keep hitting refresh until we see it happen.

Happy Holidays O's fans.

I was working on an Orioles all-decade team as I wanted to follow up what James started with his top ten Oriole moments of the decade; however, I was beat to the punch by Shotgun Spratling from the Blue Workhorse, who put together an immaculate list of talent on their blog.

• Catcher, Javy Lopez
• First Base, Jeff Conine
• Second Base, Brian Roberts
• Shortstop, Miguel Tejada
• Third Base: Melvin Mora
• Left Field: Luke Scott
• Center Field: Corey Patterson
• Right Field: Nick Markakis
• Designated Hitter: Aubrey Huff
• Left-Handed Starter: Erik Bedard
• Right-Handed Starter: Mike Mussina
• Reliever: B.J. Ryan
• Closer: Chris Ray

I like their list as written (and it's very solid); however, I do have some changes and recommendations.

I'd go ahead and insert Adam Jones onto the team in place of Patterson by virtue of his Gold Glove and All-Star nod in '09. Patterson, with all his athletic gifts, never lived up to his potential and trying to be a power hitter killed his career. I think if he had cut down his swing and bunted more, he would have been an everyday .280-.300 hitter easily with his speed.

I'd also go ahead and place Sherrill onto the team as the closer instead of Ray by virtue of his All-Star nod in '08. In the end, Sherrill'snumbers weren't that great due to shoulder issues after the All-Star Game that year, but I am also throwing in his remarkable numbers in '09 to merit inclusion on the list.

The list might want to include Rodrigo Lopez as the right handed starter rather than Mussina. Mussina left the Orioles after 2000 (he had an 11-15 record that year), and Lopez had three solid winning seasons in a Baltimore uniform before losing 18 games in 2006 and being sent on his way out of the organization.

In addition, I would make a place for Jay Gibbons -- perhaps he replaces fan favorite Luke Scott in left -- despite the feelings of his steroid use in Birdland. Gibbons did have a few productive years, looked like a potential cornerstone of the franchise and was a nice guy off the field.

Here we are readers.  The two most important events of the last ten years of Oriole baseball.  We can argue all we want about the position of the last 8 things, and you can argue that Wieters should be on this list, but I don't think that anyone can argue about these next two events.

2) Andy MacPhail Hired

The Orioles have a General Manager, ONE GM. Gone are the two-headed monsters of Duquette and Beattie and Flanagan. Andrew MacPhail grandson of glory-days Oriole GM Lee MacPhail, Andy MacPahil was brought into the troubled Orioles inner-circle during the tumultuous 2007 season.

Manager Sam Perlozzo was fired on June 18 and, then bullpen coach, Dave Trembley was installed as interim manager. Two days later, Andy MacPhail was installed as “President of Baseball Operations” Jim Duquette was let go and Mike Flanagan has been lost in the either of the Warehouse ever since.

The question that dogged Andy MacPhail from day one was about his level of autonomy in hos job; would he have any? Orioles owner Peter Angelos has been a notorious meddler since he took over the team in 1993; he had famously killed major trades of the Jim Duquette era (most notably the deal that would have sent Brian Roberts to the Braves for Andy LaRoche) would Andy be any different?

When asked that question MacPhail came right out and blatantly said: “If that were the case I would not have taken the job.” And you know what, I truly believe that. Andy MacPhail did not need this job, he did not need this headache. MacPhail is a guy on the short-list to be Commissioner of Major League Baseball when Selig finally retires, and he was on that list prior to taking the Baltimore job, why would he go anywhere where he did not have all the autonomy he wanted?

Still, the proof is in the pudding – so why is the hiring of MacPhail number 2 on this list? Because it signaled a change. It has signaled a change in direction of the Baltimore Orioles franchise. Finally we have a GM allowed to do his job, moreover a smart GM with ties to the glory days of the organization as well as the community (there is a reason why there is a MacPhail road in Harford County, Maryland). MacPhail is a proven commodity and a respected name in baseball. He understands the fanbase and he understands the situation the Orioles are in as a mid-market team playing in the same division as the behemoth AL East. He simply gets it. He knows that the way to contention for a team like the Orioles is not by playing Yankee-ball, they needed to rebuild the farm system, long-neglected, and focus on young pitching.

Which brings us to number 1

The Erik Bedard Trade

This is the trade. Now, you can argue that this trade would have never happened if MacPhail had not been hired and, therefore, the hiring of MacPhail is the most important thing that has happened the last ten years. And you have a point there “Captain Semantics” but this trade takes the cake for this reason:

This trade was promise made real. This trade was the manifestation of Andy MacPhail's effect on this team. This trade took “What MacPhail could do” to “Look what MacPhail did”.

In the Winter of 2007 there were rumors and innuendo. The Orioles and Mariners went back and forth over the deal. Rumors that got published as fact more than a couple times signaled the deal was done. The internet and blogosphere was on fire with the amount of information on this trade that was being passed around. But finally, on Februrary 8, 2008 Bedard was sent to Seattle for five players, FIVE!, in one of the biggest deals in recent baseball history.

Erik Bedard was shipped out for center fielder Adam Jones and pitching prospects Chris Tillman, Troy Patton, Kam Mickolio and George Sherrill. Jones and Sherrill automatically became the Orioles starting center fielder and closer respectively the rest were stowed away in the minors for future use, that would come shortly for most.

With one move MacPhail had done more to restock the orioles minor league system than any GM in the last decade. Some saw the move as raising the white flag in the AL east for the next two years, but others saw it for what it was – a complete steal.

Seriously, the Orioles robbed the Mariners here. Sure it is not Robinson for Papas level, but still it turned out to be highway robbery.

Bedard's fragile shoulder sidelined his career in Seattle playing in two injury plagued seasons. The now depleted Mariners farm system had no one who could really come in and take his place so they struggled. Meanwhile, Adam Jones found a nice home in Baltimore, he has become one of the premiere center fielders in the game, George Sherrill was the Orioles lone representative in the 2008 All Star Game as he proved his prowess as a closer.

Andy wasn't done yet – in 2009 MacPhail moved Sherrill to the Los Angeles Dodgers for third base prospect Josh Bell and pitching prospect Steve Johnson (son of former Oriole pitcher and MASN commentator Dave Johnson). So, in essence, MacPhail turned one Erik Bedard into six players three of whom are either on the team currently or have a chance to make the team easily in 2010.

Meanwhile, in Seattle, the trade was considered one of the worst deals in team history and GM Bill Bavasi was fired.

And to add insult to injury, Erik Bedard is a free agent that no one is very interested in due to his injury history and current health. The Orioles could pick him up at a huge discount thus completing one of the greatest fleecings in the history of the game.

This single move is the best event of the Orioles' decade because of one thing – its symbolic of competent leadership moving forward. Since this deal we have seen MacPhail demonstrate reasoned and fair leadership, we have not heard a peep from owner Peter Angelos and we have seen a plan laid bare for all the fans to see. Some fans don't like the plan and that is fine because the key difference here is that there IS a plan not to like. There is a goal, there are steps to this goal, that sort is a kind of reason and effectiveness that we have not seen in Baltimore in a long LONG time. And it is all wrapped up in this one move that sent a pitcher to Seattle in exchange for a farm system. The best trade of the decade and the most important event of the Orioles' decade.

Let it snow, let it snow...

Yesterday, closer Mike Gonzalez met the scribes in Baltimore yesterday in an introductory press conference and from what I got from him, I really enjoy his attitude. His deal is for is two-years, $12 million; however, it could climb to $16 million with some incentives.

Did the Orioles perhaps pay a tad above sticker price? Perhaps.

Sadly, the Orioles needed some help at the back-end of the bullpen and with Gonzales's numbers the past few years, plus the lack of quality pitching, they were going to pay. He looks to be ready to compete, likes the situation with Baltimore and really wants to close...

From the Baltimore Sun: The Orioles were, "Definitely on my radar, just seeing the talent alone that these guys have," said Gonzalez during a news conference Friday afternoon after he passed his Orioles physical. "But not only that, also looking at the lineup, seeing our team, seeing the core, I mean, the guys are not just young, but very talented."

-- snip --

Yet president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail stopped short of officially anointing Gonzalez as closer Friday.

"That is a possibility, probably likelihood, but it's not something that is guaranteed to him," MacPhail said. "There will be a competition."

Orioles manager Dave Trembley added in a telephone conference: "I would say he is at the top of the list [to be closer]. I think that's why we got him."

Go get em' Mike.

• Baseball America has released their top ten picks for the Orioles and Brian Matusz is the number one prospect in the organization. Third baseman Josh Bell -- acquired in the Sherrill trade -- is the second ranked prospect and other names includes are Zach Britton (LHP), Jake Arrieta (RHP), Matt Hobgood (RHP), Brandon Synder (1B), Brandon Erbe (RHP), Kam Mickolio (RHP), Mychal Givens (SS) and Caleb Joseph (C).
• MASN is still looking for a replacement for Buck Martinez (who left for a position with the Blue Jays). Peter Schmuck's blog on the Sun notes that, "the network reportedly has talked to Mike Flanagan -- who would seem to be an obvious candidate -- but continues to consider a number of other options", plus adds that, "Among the tantalizing names that are being thrown around behind closed doors are Bill Ripken, Brady Anderson and even Yankees broadcaster Ken Singleton, depending on his interest and contract situation.

After a lot of chatter about the Orioles potentially going after Matt Holliday and Adrian Gonzalez, the rumors of the team going after them are probably untrue (but who knows).

In the Baltimore Sun this evening, the Orioles flat out said they are not currently making any overtures for either player. As is it, the article also noted that the organization does not plan any potential moves at all until after the holiday period.

Then again, all this could be a game of brinkmanship too; however, I'd think the chances of getting one, much less both are pretty remote.

But hey, Mike Gonzalez is happy to be an Oriole and get things started in the next few months.

Plus, B-Rob likes the moves made according to Roch's blog...

5. Ripken's 3000^th hit

The decade started out with some history for the Orioles coming from a familiar source. On April 15, 2000 Cal Ripken Jr. collected his 3000^th hit in Minnesota off Twins reliever Hector Carrasco.

2000 had started off slow for Ripken, whose 1999 season was cut short due to back spasms, he was barely over the mendoza line coming into the game that night and people were questioning whether this was his last season in the game. But Ripken would break out of his funk that night, going 4-5 and playing a solid third base, as everyone was used to seeing.

In the seventh inning and with one out Ripken stepped to the plate. With Albert Belle on third and the game tied at four Ripken came up to face Carrasco. Everyone on Minnesota knew that Cal was one hit away from history and the crowd came to their feet. Suddenly, Carrasco uncorked a curveball that got away from catcher Matt LeCroy. Belle would score on the passed ball – no RBI for Cal that night. The next pitch was laced into CF for a base hit. Cal's 3000^th. The crowd stood and cheered and the Metrodome scoreboard made not of the historic line-drive.

With that hit Ripken became just the sixth player in baseball history to collect 3000 hits and 400 homeruns. That single solidified Ripken's name in the history books next to the likes of Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and former Oriole Eddie Murray.

The rest of 2000 would not be as kind to Cal. Injuries began to derail the Ironman as he played in only 83 games that year the fewest number of games since he became a full time player in 1982. Ripken would soldier through though, but everyone knew that Cal, The Ironman, and the most identifiable Oriole of a generation would not be long for the game.

4.  Cal Ripken Jr.'s last game

What else needs to be said? Cal Ripken Jr.'s last game. There is a serious part of me that wishes this to be number one. How often do players like Ripken come through the game? How often come through your team? How often do they stay on the same team for their entire career?

Every team will have a Hall of Famer at some point. Every team will have a great player/ leader come through their ranks. But Ripken was a legend. Ripken was a symbol of what baseball was, is and should be. He is the Gold Standard by which other shortstops are judged. He is the type of players that fathers want their sons to become.

Ripken was able to say goodbye to the game in Baltimore, but only because the September 11^th attacks postponed a Baltimore-Yankee series in New York. Through that horrific bit of irony the city of Baltimore got to say farewell to their native son.

Ripken's career is simply one of legend. The streak aside; Ripken (as mentioned above) is one of only seven players in history to have collected 400 Hrs and over 3,000 hits. No shortstop has hit more homeruns and he is largely credited for revolutionizing the position. Prior to Cal shortstops were “all glove, no bat” type players (Think Mark Belanger or Ceasar Izturis) but Cal's superior bat and defensive agility quickly made him one of the best at his role.

Today, the Orioles are still suffering from an era without Ripken. I call it “hero-withdraw”. We are still waiting for “The next Ripken,” much like Yankees fans will eventually search for “the next Jeter” and the entire NBA is still looking for “the next Jordan”. Orioles fans still debate “the face of the franchise” and we are desperately hoping for someone like Markakis or Roberts or Wieters to step up and try to fill the whole that Ripken left with his retirement. But the reality is this Orioles fans – there will never, NEVER, be another Cal Ripken Jr. He wasn't just a Hall of Famer he was a legend and we are forever blessed that we had the privilege to cheer for him.

3.  Palmeiro Steroid Controversy

After writing that section it literally makes me ill to write this next story. Rafael Palmeiro, Oriole first baseman and DH, was signed in 2003 with Tejada and catcher Javy Lopez during a flurry of activity that offseason to really make strides the following year. And things were looking good. 2004 was another losing season but the Orioles got really hot in the Spring of 2005.

The Spring saw the Orioles in first place well into May. Miguel Tejada was having a fantastic year with the bat and on the field, Raffy was chasing history, he would become just the third member of the 500 HR – 3,000 hit club that year. But it all came unraveled.

Jose Canseco released his book Juiced that year in which he named Raffy as a steroid user. That would lead to Palmeiro's now famous finger-pointing denial of ever using steroids in front of a Congressional Oversight committee. That was in March.

On August 1 Palmeiro was suspended by MLB for testing positive for a banned anabolic steroid. Orioles fans were crushed. In the mean time the team was crumbling after their hot start and the added distraction and turmoil of the Palmeiro investigation did not help matters.

The Orioles would go on to win only 23 of their final 58 games crashing from a first-place spring to a fourth-place fall. Palmeiro's controversy was not the sole reason for the Orioles' collapse but it was just another hard punch to the gut of Birdland. Raffy was the type of person people defended, no one actually believed Canseco's claims – no one believed Raffy could do that. He did not look like someone who would have gotten wrapped up in that. But he did, it was true, we were not clean and neither was Raffy.

Palmeiro was the first superstar that got tagged for using PED's he showed the baseball world that no one was safe and that even potential Hall of Famers must obey the new, tougher laws. Palmeiro has since vanished from the public eye. Last word on him was that he was still maintaining his innocence and saying that he never “intentionally” injected steroids into his body. Raffy always said he would tell his side of the story, we are still waiting to hear it – but at this point I don't think anyone will be listening.

Stay tuned for the NUMBER 1 and NUMBER 2 moments of the Orioles' Deacde.

According to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of Fox Sports, the Orioles have 'jumped into the Matt Holliday sweepstakes'.

I don't think that the Orioles will seriously land Matt Holliday. I mean, why would he want to come to a team that has lost for 12 straight seasons and despite improvements made will not be a contender in the AL East. Furthermore, what would happen with Nolan Reimold and I'm sure Luke Scott is dealt to another team.

In addition, if Holliday signed with Baltimore -- he'd be very expensive; however, he'd perhaps awaken the fanbase and be quite a presence in the lineup.

He'd be a good fit for the dimensions of Camden Yards (despite his Oakland experience) with his power. However, his stats over the years might have been affected by playing in Colorado, but Holliday has one of the better bats in all of the game.

If I were in the Orioles front office (they've been bold so far), I'd say take a chance, make an offer to Holliday, and see if he would accept.

Sadly, though, I see him back in St. Louis in quite a desirable situation with Albert Pujols and the fanbase they've got.

Unlike the past few off-seasons where the Orioles got the Ryan Freels of the world, December 2009 has been a lot different.

Did we get the big names on the market, um no; however, it looks Baltimore is taking steps to improve their product for the better in order to compete in the AL East.

Now, the Orioles may have found a solution at third base -- Garrett Atkins. Although he struggled last year and his numbers may have been inflated somewhat because of playing in Colorado, Baltimore believes that he's the answer at the plate in 2010..

Filling two of their biggest offseason needs, the Orioles on Wednesday agreed to a two-year deal with free-agent left-handed reliever Mike Gonzalez and a one-year pact with third baseman Garrett Atkins, according to industry sources.

-- snip --

Atkins, 30, was nontendered by the Colorado Rockies on Saturday and immediately became a fairly hot target, drawing interest from 10 or more teams, according to his agent, Jeff Blanks.

He intrigues the Orioles because he can play both first and third base, and the club has openings at each spot - at least until minor league prospects Brandon Snyder and Josh Bell are deemed ready.

But what most interests the Orioles about Atkins is his right-handed power bat, something the club sorely lacked in 2009. Atkins had a down year last season, hitting nine home runs with 48 RBIs and a .226 average while playing half his games at hitter-friendly Coors Field. He temporarily lost his starting job and registered just 354 at-bats, the first time since 2004 he didn't have at least 500 at-bats.

From 2006 to 2008, however, Atkins was one of the National League's better young sluggers, totaling more than 20 homers and 99 or more RBIs each season. His best year was 2006, when he batted .329 with 29 homers and 120 RBIs.

I have really liked what the Orioles have done to improve the squad, getting some bonafied major leaguers to mix in with the young up-and-comers with the Orioles. It looks like the future is now promising in Baltimore, but more can be done. Anyhow, I don't see the team being done quite yet wheeling and dealing.

Some want the Orioles to go for the jugular and get Adrian Gonzalez (that would be amazing),  However, right now let's give Andy MacPhail and the brain trust all the praise in the world for going out and being aggressive. Who knows if the Orioles will shape up to be contenders this season it not, but certainly, they look a lot better now than they did in 2009.

Also, it looks like the city will have a statue erected of Brooks Robinson at a site near Camden Yards. Great news and a deserved honor for a legend...

Note: Mike Gonzalez was signed yesterday evening by the Orioles. According to the Baltimore Sun, the reliever will earn $12 million over two years with escalator and incentive clauses allowing him to make an additional $4 million.

***

For those wishing the Orioles would do more on the free agent market to keep up in the AL East, it looks like they are closing in on a deal to acquire reliever Mike Gonzalez. Although Gonzalez has one of the craziest deliveries I have ever seen on the mound, the man's results for the past few seasons speak for itself.

As much complaining as we've done as fans for the past few years, it looks like Baltimore is being proactive for 2010 and trying to fix the problem areas.

If the Orioles do nail Gonzalez, it's a risk worth taking to solidify a part of their staff which was decent when Sherrill was around, and then drove off a cliff. One can assume that Jim Johnson will return to being the setup man and Gonzalez will close.

According to Roch's blog, Gonzalez's deal will be a two-year one.

From the Baltimore Sun: Looking to solidify the back end of their bullpen, the Orioles are nearing an agreement on a two-year deal with free agent left-handed reliever Mike Gonzalez, according to industry sources.

Terms of the contract are not known at this point, but Gonzalez -- who spent last season with the Atlanta Braves -- will have to pass a physical before the deal is complete. He's scheduled to take a physical in Baltimore within the next couple of days. The signing of Gonzalez, who is a Type A free agent, will cost the Orioles their second-round pick in the 2010 draft.

It's also unclear if the Orioles view Gonzalez as their full-time closer or whether he'll be part of a closer-by-committee approach that includes right-handed relievers Jim Johnson and Koji Uehara.

Gonzalez, 31, was 5-4 with a 2.42 ERA, 17 holds and 10 saves in 80 appearances for the Braves last year. For much of the season, he served as a setup man for Rafael Soriano. He struck out 90 batters in 74 1/3 innings and opponents hit just .209 against him.

His best season came with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2006 when Gonzalez converted all 24 of his save opportunities and had a 2.17 ERA in 54 appearances.

Gonzalez has a sub-3.00 ERA in five of the past six seasons and a 2.57 ERA over his career, which spans part of seven big-league campaigns.

According to the Baltimore Sun and MASN, it looks like Fan Fest will be on Jan. 23 at the Baltimore Convention Center, rather than the weekend before the season at Camden Yards.

The Orioles announced Wednesday that they will hold their annual FanFest on Jan. 23 at the Baltimore Convention Center and will begin selling individual game tickets for the 2010 season that day.

Current and former Orioles will sign autographs and take questions from fans at the event, which includes several other activities and is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Early entry for Orioles Season Plan Holders will begin at 10 a.m.

FanFest tickets cost $10 for adults and $5 for children 14 and under and adults 55 and over, and can be purchased in advance by calling 888-848-BIRD or online at orioles.com. Tickets can also be purchased on the day of the event at the Convention Center and the Orioles' box office. Free FanFest parking will be available in Lot B/C.

2010 game tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Jan. 23 at the Convention Center and the Orioles' box office. Game tickets can also be purchased by calling 888-848-BIRD or online at orioles.com