Last Sunday night I had the opportunity to go to M&T Bank Stadium to see my beloved Washington Redskins get their butts handed to them by the upsurgent Baltimore Ravens.  Monday morning while walking from the Holiday Inn at the Inner Harbor (the one who see in left field across from the Legg Mason building at Oriole Park) towards the bus station, I cut through Oriole Park Eutaw Street and took a look at the park.  They were watering the field.  My heart was pumping then.  I am ready for a new season.

          Then again, they way things are looking at the Winter Meetings we are going to be looking at another disappointing season.  First, we trade Ramon Hernandez for Cincinatti outfielder Ryan Freel.  I am not saying that Freel is a bad player but why do we need more outfielders with the platoon of players that we already have.  Obviously this a move to bring up Matt Wieters but why not a quality pitcher?

           Last night came the word that the O's have signed SS Cesar Izturis to a long term deal.  Again, with all of the shortstops that we played last year why do we need another shortstop.  If I am not mistaken, folks like Freddie Bynum, Luis Hernandez, and Brandon Fahey can also play 2B.  We need pitching, not infielders.

          The one thing that have I always respected the Orioles Front Office is the fact that they like to groom their minor league talent for the big club.  The thing is that when it comes for chances to get free agents they end up getting stupid players.  I just hope and pray that we get a quality starter this offseason.

Mike Mussina's last stand at Camden Yards was a Friday nite affair with the O's with the Yankees coming out with a 9-4 win in the end.  It was duel between him and Rhadmes Liz but in the end Robby Cano hit one off of Boog Powell's cook shack on Eutaw St. and Jose Molina hit one right after that to left center.  Xavier Nady hit one in the ninth followed by a toweing shot by rookie Cody Ransom.  The thing I can remember about that night is how Mike was still hitting that breaking pitch for strikes.  He can still pitch.  He was still hitting the high 80's that night.  He is by far one of the best five pitchers in Orioles' history.