win tOtal

yes. there are like 5 million season previews. they all say Os are going to stink. let's focus on two of them:

peter schmuck of baltimore sun, he of shooing away pesky parrots and whatnot, says Os will win 78 gameZ. but he allows for more, or fewer. t.w.O. likes p.schmuck.

murray chass, a very nasty man who writes for the new york times, says:

The Baltimore Orioles have fortified their bullpen with the addition of Danys Báez, Jamie Walker, Chad Bradford and Scott Williamson, but the additions to their starting rotation are New York castoffs, Jaret Wright from the Yankees and Steve Trachsel from the Mets. Little wonder that the Orioles are headed for their 10th consecutive losing season, a period the franchise last experienced when it primarily played as the St. Louis Browns.

no link for you! murray chass hates orioles with a bitterness that only belies his age; he clearly remembers the most recent bygone era and fears its return.

wayward O finds his "preview" insulting because it's not a "preview"; it's a perfunctary dismissal Os offseason signings -- some of 'em -- followed by a nasty remark. wasn't trachsel like 15-8 last year? didn't Os get wright straight up in a trade for chris britton? seems like a steal where we sit. just to save you the time: britton doesn't appear on janquis opening day roster. it's a wonder the murray chasses of the world still have work; even great papers forgive laziness after a while t.w.O. guesses.

wayward O says maybe Os win total will be around 78 (he thinks it will be higher) but entire AL East will be a grindhouse this season. division winner may have a low 90s win tote. in 2005 a weaker Os squad had its way with division until injuries hit (hard, damn hard) in june. it might happen again.

in the meantime, please help wayward O think of a nickname for murray chass...