MLB

If you have paid attention to the Orioles this spring, you know it hasn’t been pretty.

After crushing the Tampa Bay Rays in the opening game to spark Oroles fans’ excitement, the Orioles have look mediocre.

The Twins new shortstop, J.J. Hardy, spent his entire professional career with the Milwaukee Brewers organization, including most of the past five seasons in the majors. He was an All-star in 2007, when he had career highs in almost every offensive category, including 26 home runs and 80 runs batted in.

He had a similar season in 2008, but slumped during the 2009 season, and was eventually sent to the minors. During last offseason, he was traded to the Twins for speedy outfielder Carlos Gomez.

With so much talk in Cubs' camp this spring training surrounding top prospect Starlin Castro, I decided to take a look back at so of the top rookie performances in team history.

I went back as far as 1947, which was the first year that the Rookie of the Year Award was handed out. I only looked at the stats that the player posted during their rookie season when ranking them.

...It's spring training .

No, I'm not trying to pull an Eeyore and lament in perpetual negativity, but this is the time of year other teams evaluate players, trim their rosters and work to get their starters into baseball shape.

"Duh, Zowie!" you're probably saying. "Who doesn't know that?"

Well, probably not many. But I feel the need to issue this reminder for those over-excited Houston Astros fans who look at the team's 11-9 spring training record and are already preparing to buy tickets in October for Minute Maid Park.

From season to season, players are faced with the task of repeating or increasing their previous season's statistics. However, fantasy baseball throws this same task at millions of fantasy owners.

Roaming through numerous mock drafts and expert opinions on draft day throws many players and stats in your face to try and decipher. When you are finally on the clock, the pressure is on.

Los Angeles Angels (Last Season: 97-65)

The Angels have lost key players over the offseason such as John Lackey, Chone Figgins, and Vladimir Guerrero.

These are players that have contributed so much over the years towards the Angels’ success. Because of this, many might think that due to these players departing, the Angels will not be nearly as good as they have been over the past eight years. But for some reason, I’m thinking the opposite.

The Red Sox seem quite comfortable spending liberally to bring players into the organization from other teams while simultaneously refusing to give their own players similar consideration when negotiating new deals.

The question is—why?

If you are unfamiliar with Baltimore Orioles left fielder Nolan Reimold , listen up.

In 2009, Baseball America ranked Reimold as Baltimore’s fifth best prospect, saying the Bowling Green State alum possesses “the raw power to compare with just about anyone in the minors, rating a 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale.” They also acknowledged his potential to “be an average overall hitter if he continues to make adjustments.”

This article was originally published at TheDailyCub.com , my blog covering all things Chicago Cubs.

Sorry for the three-day delay with posts, there is just very little going on. With that in mind, I will try to squeeze out whatever stories are happening and give you some updates on the Cubs.

Here are a few stories that have happened over the past few days.

Aramis Ramirez returns to the diamond

With Phil Hughes likely the team’s fifth starter and Curtis Granderson firmly in place as the team’s center fielder, the Yankees are just about set for the season.

Now we just have to find out who the utility infielder is, exactly how the bullpen is going to be set up, and wait...

Until then, here are some news items to hold you over.