Spring Training Autographs- Roster Long Shots

Today's autograph all feature guys who are/were with the Orioles in Major League camp but are long-shots to make the trip north with the Orioles at the end of the month. 

Oscar's had a very up and down Spring, with some very good games and a few ugly appearances. 

Tolleson and Antonelli have both been solid for most of the spring but are likely left out due to Ryan Flaherty's advantage of being a Rule 5 guy. 

O'Day has been struggling with a groin injury which could earn him a ticket to the DL. 

The next four guys were extreme long-shots to make the team and would have needed to do something ridiculous to start the season with the Orioles. They should all provide depth at AA & AAA and a few could make their way to Baltimore at some point during the season. 

 

My Spring Training Autographs: A Few at Least

So I finally found some time last night to scan all of the autographs that I got during my Spring Training trip last week. It takes quite a bit of time to scan 139 autographs!

Here's the breakdown of who signed for me, in case you missed it over the weekend.

Since I'm not really sure how to display all my autographs, I figured that I would start by showing the postcards that I got signed.

One of my main autograph focuses, as you will see, was to ask the players for personalized autographs. I always prefer the personal touch it adds to my collection.

I'll start out with the only player of the group who has already appeared in a game for the Orioles, Blake Davis.

Unfortunately, Blake's stock has dropped in the system and he didn't receive an invite to the big league camp this year.  He's spending all his time at the Twin Lakes minor league camp and I missed him the first day since he was running late for practice, but luckily got this signed on my second trip to Twin Lakes.

Next up are three upgraded Orioles coaches postcards, all very nicely personalized.

Thanks to Rick, Wayne, and John for taking the time to sign. The other three coaches, Jim Presley, Bill Castro, and DeMarlo Hale weren't as accommodating to us autograph seekers.


Matt Antonelli seems like a nice guy, but he seems to be facing an uphill battle to become the O's utility player since Ryan Flaherty has the advantage of being a Rule 5 draftee whom the Birds can't stash in the minors.

Multiple 'graphers were also gawking at the Matt's car. It's pretty sweet.


While I traded for Darren's signed Orioles postcard following FanFest, this was my first in-person success with him.

Up last is this extra signed Blake Davis postcard, up for trade to anyone who might need him for their collection.

Who Will Be the First Player To Make Their Orioles Debut in 2012?

One thing that we all know is that some players will make their Orioles debut during the 2012 season, but what he don't know is who will be the first. My assumption, which generally has been proven true in past seasons, is that multiple players will make their Orioles debut on Opening Day. And if multiple players debut in the same half inning, I use the position numbering system (pitcher- 1 through right fielder-9) to break any ties.

I don't believe that the Opening Day starter will be Wei-Yin Chen, Dana Eveland, Jason Hammel, or Tsuyoshi Wada, although Chen and Hammel are remote possibilities.

I'm confident that Matt Wieters will be behind the plate on Opening Day, but, God forbid, he tweaks something in Spring Training, Taylor Teagarden is the most likely guy to fill-in as the backstop.

Looking around the infield, Wilson Betemit is a lock to get regular playing time, but his position is up in the air; he could play first or third, DH, or pop up somewhere else on the field. He's definitely on the O.D. roster though.

Nick Johnson is a wild card, but will likely make the team if healthy. Ryan Flaherty and Matt Antonelli seem to be in direct competition with one another for the utility infield spot, with Flaherty having the edge since he's a Rule 5 guy that would have to be returned to the Cubs if he drops off the 25 man roster. Even if either of them make the team, it seems unlikely they would start on Opening Day. 

My money is on Endy Chavez to be the fourth outfielder, and I think that's a safe bet, but again, it's unlikely he would start the first game of the year. Jai Miller and Steve Tolleson are in the discussion too, but likely only can make the team if someone gets hurt.

If no position players make their debut on Opening Day, which is a possibility, then a relief pitcher very well could be the first O's debut of the season. I have no idea how Buck will use the guys out of the 'pen this year but I know that Luis Ayala and Matt Lindstrom are both near locks to make the team. Darren O'Day, Pat Neshek, and Armando Galarraga are also posibilities to break camp with the Birds.

 

 My guess is that Wilson Betemit is the first new player to debut for the Orioles at Camden Yards on April 6. Think I'm wrong? Who do you think will become Oriole #911?

2012 FanFest Pictures

My family and I all took a bunch of pictures at Fanfest. Not too surprisingly, mine were mostly of the players at the autograph stations. Sorry that some of the pictures are blurry but my dad's camera was having problems getting it's focus on.


If only we had a kid with us, we could've gotten free autographs at the kids only station of (l to r) Zach Phillips, Chris Davis, Ryan Flaherty, and Pedro Strop. I'm still trying to add signed O's postcards of Phillips and Strop to my collection, so maybe I should have seen if I card borrow a kid from someone else; anyone have one I could rent for next year?

Here is a picture from yet another station that I didn't have a ticket for. While waiting in line for the 3:20 signing to begin, (l to r) Chris Tillman, Chris Hoiles, and Matt Wieters were still signing for fans from the previous group.

And for my last picture of players whose autographs I didn't get, here are Rick Krivda (l), and Zach Britton leaving the station prior to my next group signing.

Now HERE are some players whose station I went through; (l to r) Jai Miller, Taylor Teagarden, Troy Patton, and JJ Hardy.

A few minutes before the above picture was taken, I got to see Miller and Patton introducing themselves to one another. It was a unique thing to see since frequently teammates know each other prior to being in public. And it's because of this that I know Jai's name is pronounced "Jay", not "Jeye" as I had thought.

And here is some proof that I actually went through the line. First up is me and Miller...

and Teagarden...

and Patton...

Here is my dad helping me out with Brady.

And Kalina with Matt Wieters (lucky Kalina!)

 I tried to get a picture of Kalina and Matt Antonelli but only one of them was looking. Guess which one?

Lastly are a few pictures from the previous station I went through. Below are Oliver Drake (l) and Dana Eveland.

And HOFer Jim Palmer. It's pretty cool that he still attends FanFest, but he didn't seem overly personable this year.

Tomorrow will be my last FanFest post, as I still have a few trades and purchases to show off.

My 2012 FanFest Autographs

So I spent about four hours at Orioles FanFest at the Baltimore Convention Center on Saturday and was able to get autographs from almost everyone I wanted, thanks to some major help from Kalina and my parents. I think that everyone in my group had a pretty good time, I know that I sure did! Thanks for your help guys!

Since I added so many autographs to the collection, this will be an information short and scan heavy post.

Probably the coolest autograph that we got all day was this Markakis struck foul ball that my dad snagged at a game late last season.

And he also got Kakes to sign this orange uniform card for me!

I also added signed items of many of the new Orioles to my collection. Since I like to have signed cards as well as postcards of the players, I got both whenever possible. 

A few other players had their first Orioles postcards available...

My dad was able to get a few cards personalized to me...

I was able to add a few more autographs of my favorite Oriole...

And I was able to add some trade stock too... the following are all available for trade (minus the Patton minor league card which was obtained for a fellow collector)

 

   

I will share some stories, trade items, and pictures tomorrow.