This Seems Like The Longest OffSeason Ever!

[MagicBird]

Is it time for pitchers and catchers to report yet?

I keep checking in here at the OH to see if there is any big news. Seems like this off season is dragging on forever. I guess that is what happens when you have realistic expectations for a good team as you eagerly anticipate ST.

I cant wait for baseball to start!

[Frobby]

The funny thing is, it's actually our shortest offseason in many years. Our season ended on Oct. 12 and pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 12, so exactly four months. 77 days down, 46 to go!

By the way, I know some people hate the early part of spring training, but I can't wait to read about how all the pitchers are in the best shape of their lives, blah blah blah.

And oh yeah, three weeks until Fanfest.

[Rake]

Every year, even during the dark times, I had hope. Far too many years I looked like a fool with my yearly optimistic outlook. Exciting that spring training this year will arrive with realistic expectations of a good team and a memorable year.

[tilgaham]

This may have been posted elsewhere but does anyone known who is working with Brady in this short off season?

[isestrex]

Last off season seemed longer. We felt we were spinning tires just in listening to the FO hunting down a GM (and having several be interviewed and decline). Once more, there was very little hope around the OH and many posters were droning on like the living dead. We were going through the motions but our hearts were numb and our expectations were minimal.

At least we're seeing the team accomplish things (even if they are small), and most importantly, we haven't seen any major disasters yet.

[scOtt]

The funny thing is, it's actually our shortest offseason in many years. Our season ended on Oct. 12 and pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 12, so exactly four months. 77 days down, 46 to go!

By the way, I know some people hate the early part of spring training, but I can't wait to read about how all the pitchers are in the best shape of their lives, blah blah blah.

And oh yeah, three weeks until Fanfest.

See lovely GREEN pictures of Sarasota. Especially when it's 20 degrees here.

[DrinkinWithFermi]

See lovely GREEN pictures of Sarasota. Especially when it's 20 degrees here.

I always get so jealous watching ST games, and seeing the fans there. Short sleeves there when it's 20 degrees here- the gall!

[BrunoCherrytown]

See lovely GREEN pictures of Sarasota. Especially when it's 20 degrees here.

And here I'm moving from Florida to MD next week looking forward to snow and cold.

Grass is always greener and the snow is always whiter on the other side.

Lack of seasons just hot, warm, hot again, hades heat - makes time fly in Florida. This offseason just started in my eyes because every day is the same down here. You literally can forget the month or season quite easily in Florida because of the monotony of the weather.

[weams]

And here I'm moving from Florida to MD next week looking forward to snow and cold.

Grass is always greener and the snow is always whiter on the other side.

Lack of seasons just hot, warm, hot again, hades heat - makes time fly in Florida. This offseason just started in my eyes because every day is the same down here. You literally can forget the month or season quite easily in Florida because of the monotony of the weather.

Permanent MD? We'll be lucky to have. you.

[BrunoCherrytown]

Permanent MD? We'll be lucky to have. you.

Thanks. Im really looking forward to coming back home.

First 20 I did in MD (Westminster than Frederick). Last 14 in FL (Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Delray Beach). Coming back to MD. MD is infinitely better in my eyes. I always tell people Florida has a lot of cultures but no culture. In MD you have great schools for the kids - not the case in FL. You have easy access to Washington DC and the museums. In South Florida you have "Butterfly World," strip clubs, and bars.

I flew up to BMore for the playoffs decided to look at some homes in Ellicott City/Clarksville before the game and I bought one. Called the wife and told her she may want to get on a plane at that point to see the new purchase. Frankly the Orioles makin the playoffs was the final catalyst to get my wife to okay it. I was arguing better schools and what not - Os being actually relevant though was the gamechanger.

So I have DD to thank for the move and cheapskate Angelos to blame for why it didn't happen sooner.

Edit: Plus Weams, thanks in large part to you and Tony-OH I have a bird icon now - so really there is no excuse for staying in Florida. I'm coming to OH Hangout nights at the park this coming season.

[Frobby]

Thanks. Im really looking forward to coming back home.

First 20 I did in MD (Westminster than Frederick). Last 14 in FL (Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Delray Beach). Coming back to MD. MD is infinitely better in my eyes. I always tell people Florida has a lot of cultures but no culture. In MD you have great schools for the kids - not the case in FL. You have easy access to Washington DC and the museums. In South Florida you have "Butterfly World," strip clubs, and bars.

I flew up to BMore for the playoffs decided to look at some homes in Ellicott City/Clarksville before the game and I bought one. Called the wife and told her she may want to get on a plane at that point to see the new purchase. Frankly the Orioles makin the playoffs was the final catalyst to get my wife to okay it. I was arguing better schools and what not - Os being actually relevant though was the gamechanger.

So I have DD to thank for the move and cheapskate Angelos to blame for why it didn't happen sooner.

Edit: Plus Weams, thanks in large part to you and Tony-OH I have a bird icon now - so really there is no excuse for staying in Florida. I'm coming to OH Hangout nights at the park this coming season.

You bought a house before your wife had seen it? You are a brave man! I look forward to seeing you at Hangout Night next season.

[BrunoCherrytown]

You bought a house before your wife had seen it? You are a brave man! I look forward to seeing you at Hangout Night next season.

My wife's a black belt and I am not - the distance between me in MD and her in Florida with the kids was the best defensive position I could take in that situation. She's cool with it. She's a Florida girl but she understands the benefits of raising kids in MD over FL. It's night and day. Unfortunately since they let anybody be teachers in FL and the bar is higher in MD - my sons have very little chance of dating their teachers during their high school years. In FL you have like a 25% chance of that - and those FL teachers are regularly ex models and swimsuit competition winners. So there are some trade offs.

Since you and Drungo have probably given me more insight into the analytics side of baseball than I could ever hope to learn on my own - the feeling is definitely mutual on those OH nights.

[MagicBird]

Different perspectives.

I lived in MD for 30 years and would never move back. Love Florida by comparison. The only thing I miss about MD is the O's and crabcakes.

I love the warm weather year round. No snow or ice to deal with. No raking leaves and living 6 months out of every year inside with gray skies and everything looking dead.

I have NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA all w/in an hour. Its a 2 1/2 hr drive to Daytona for the best NASCAR races. GatorNationals in Gainesville and now the Top Fuel guys come to Palm Beach County in Jan for a show and testing. I have ST. I have the beach 10 mins from my house and can go anytime - all year.

I can go over to Palm Beach anytime for culture.

Change of season is overrated. Who wants the change when you can have good all year round with palm trees.

Private school for the kids is the way to go IMO. Since my parents sent me to private school I guess bad public schools is nothing unusual from my perspective.

If I want snow, changing leaves, or museums, I can take a trip and visit w/o having to deal with winter.

I look at MD as a great place to be from, and to visit.

[BrunoCherrytown]

Different perspectives.

I lived in MD for 30 years and would never move back. Love Florida by comparison. The only thing I miss about MD is the O's and crabcakes.

I love the warm weather year round. No snow or ice to deal with. No raking leaves and living 6 months out of every year inside with gray skies and everything looking dead.

I have NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA all w/in an hour. Its a 2 1/2 hr drive to Daytona for the best NASCAR races. GatorNationals in Gainesville and now the Top Fuel guys come to Palm Beach County in Jan for a show and testing. I have ST. I have the beach 10 mins from my house and can go anytime - all year.

I can go over to Palm Beach anytime for culture.

Change of season is overrated. Who wants the change when you can have good all year round with palm trees.

Private school for the kids is the way to go IMO. Since my parents sent me to private school I guess bad public schools is nothing unusual from my perspective.

If I want snow, changing leaves, or museums, I can take a trip and visit w/o having to deal with winter.

I understand your take on this. Im thinking more of my kids than me in the decision. If we didnt have kids chances are I'd be staying in FL because my main argument for the move wouldnt hold water.

IMO Palm Beach isn't culture it's a caricature of a bad 80s movie. For example I was with a client who was a member of Mar a Lago (spelling is probably off on that) - Trump's CC in PB. So it's basically the middle of summer and its "Music Night" there. I think that's Tuesdays. They have one of the four tenors as the musical entertainment. So you have all of these 70 year old women in fur coats (the fur protected them from the 100% humidity i think) elbowing each other to get to the crab legs and caviar at the all you can eat "Buffet" - and in another room there is a painting of Trump in short short white tennis shorts, a white tennis sweater and white tennis shoes and socks (oh and a full head of hair) standing in the foreground and the Revolutionary War being fought behind him in the painting - that is Palm Beach to me.

[kyleott]

Every year, even during the dark times, I had hope. Far too many years I looked like a fool with my yearly optimistic outlook. Exciting that spring training this year will arrive with realistic expectations of a good team and a memorable year.

I tended to be the same, although it is funny, last year was the year that I was holding the least amount of hope for the Orioles.

After the whole mess with the Hangout and Bader, I had felt reminiscent of a loyal patriot betrayed by his own country.

Obviously, winning cures all ill will; however, I was teetering as close to the edge of letting go of my obsession of black and orange as ever.

Boy am I glad that both myself and the Hangout are still here.

EDIT: And, yes. This does feel like the longest offseason ever.