In regards to guys like Pie and Penn....

[Sports Guy]

..and others like them...Why are some of you so against give them a true chance?

Seems like their is some angst towards these guys being on the roster...Why?

[McNulty]

Impatience gets my vote.

[tywright]

How many chances does Penn need?

[freethebirds]

How many chances does Penn need?

If by chances you mean major league starts, I would say about 10 more.

[wildcard]

Why? Cause neither one is earning it.

That is not to say they won't make the team or shouldn't. But that is why I think many posters are not hot on either making the team.

If they were tearing up ST then everyone would be behind them IMO.

[tywright]

If by chances you mean major league starts, I would say about 10 more.

If he was on any other team, he wouldn't deserve a chance based on the last year plus.

[Sports Guy]

How many chances does Penn need?

He really hasn't had any to begin with, especially sustained chances.

And who cares anyway?

That is a terrible thought process to begin with.

[Sports Guy]

Why? Cause neither one is earning it.

That is not to say they won't make the team or shouldn't. But that is why I think many posters are not hot on either making the team.

If they were tearing up ST then everyone would be behind them IMO.

They have earned it over their pro careers...you know, in an actual sample size.

[tywright]

He really hasn't had any to begin with, especially sustained chances.

And who cares anyway?

That is a terrible thought process to begin with.

The only reason why Penn is getting a chance is because the rotation choices are sliiiim. If this was 2010, this discussion wouldn't be happening.

[Sports Guy]

The only reason why Penn is getting a chance is because the rotation choices are sliiiim. If this was 2010, this discussion wouldn't be happening.

Who cares???

The point is we have a spot for him now and we should be seeing what he can give us.

[amateurfan]

What I don't understand is how spring training is viewed as two different circumstances entirely, and it depends on who you are. For some players, ST is the chance to prove yourself. For others, it's a chance to get ready for the season. There's really no consistency whatsoever, by the Orioles or by many fans.

If contracts and salaries and options weren't an issue, there would be a completely different team going north.

So many players have struggled this spring (and this isn't peculiar to the Orioles). The decisions about the roster really needed to be made, or at least with a solid idea, long before ST. I was never comfortable with the idea of bringing in a million pitchers so that they could compete for a spot. It doesn't allow players a solid frame of mind to approach their jobs. ST should be for one purpose only: getting ready (for whatever level).

The Orioles treated the pitchers and the position players in a way that couldn't be more opposite. I wonder why. To me it doesn't make sense. Penn never should have had to fight for a job. It should be his, whether in the rotation or the pen. He was treated strangely this spring. At times he was a starter, then a reliever, then a starter again. It just blows my mind that the coaching staff or front office didn't have a better idea of what type of players they had before ST. Makes no sense. Have a contingency plan for injuries, but that's different than an open competition.

[Sports Guy]

What I don't understand is how spring training is viewed as two different circumstances entirely, and it depends on who you are. For some players, ST is the chance to prove yourself. For others, it's a chance to get ready for the season. There's really no consistency whatsoever, by the Orioles or by many fans.

If contracts and salaries and options weren't an issue, there would be a completely different team going north.

So many players have struggled this spring (and this isn't peculiar to the Orioles). The decisions about the roster really needed to be made, or at least with a solid idea, long before ST. I was never comfortable with the idea of bringing in a million pitchers so that they could compete for a spot. It doesn't allow players a solid frame of mind to approach their jobs. ST should be for one purpose only: getting ready (for whatever level).

The Orioles treated the pitchers and the position players in a way that couldn't be more opposite. I wonder why. To me it doesn't make sense. Penn never should have had to fight for a job. It should be his, whether in the rotation or the pen. He was treated strangely this spring. At times he was a starter, then a reliever, then a starter again. It just blows my mind that the coaching staff or front office didn't have a better idea of what type of players they had before ST. Makes no sense. Have a contingency plan for injuries, but that's different than an open competition.

Yep....It is the typical Dave Trembley double standard.

[Moose Milligan]

I'm gonna venture to say that "earning a spot in ST" is a thought from the 40's and 50's.

It's not that simple anymore. Factors other than who has the best ST are in play here, especially with Pie.

With Penn, whats the big flippin deal? Would you rather have Adam Eaton out there, someone with absolutely NO upside or Penn...who hasn't done well, but at least has an opportunity to improve himself?

It's such a no brainer.

[Can_of_corn]

..and others like them...Why are some of you so against give them a true chance?

I have a bias against "toolsy" players who do not know how to actually play the game. Pie has reportedly refused to shorten his swing, has bad plate discipline and is a bad basestealer. It offends me that simply because someone is more physically gifted they can get away with not learning how to play the game properly.

Now I am not promoting grit over ability here but if Pie has not fixed these issues with his game by now, I find it very unlikely he will with the O's.

[wildcard]

They have earned it over their pro careers...you know, in an actual sample size.

I don't know what business you are in but in the business I am in if you are brought in on a trial basis and do not perform, then they really don't care what you did at your last job. They tend to say next and move on.

There is a time to stand up, step forward, and be counted, if you really want people to support you.

Small sample? Life is full of small samples. It is sometimes all you get and you better make the best of it before the door hits you in the butt.