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During Orioles FanFest, southpaw and one of the newest acquisitions in the offseason, Dana Eveland spoke with the media for a couple of minutes.

Evaland answered questions about his preparation for Spring Training, his experiences in the minors.

In addition, he spoke about the rotation, the additions to the roster and a few other things.

Here are some quotes and notes I was able to pick up from him.

His expectations heading into camp:

I like my chances. You know, there’s a lot of talent, but I like my chances; just that they need to quit signing lefties.

Normally, I am coming into spring training as one of three – maybe; now, there’s like twelve of us I feel like. I am not even sure, but … it’s all right, I’m ready, looking forward to Spring Training and just getting ready to go.

I don’t feel like they (the Orioles) would have traded for me, and gone through the effort to acquire me and sign me to a contract, if they if didn’t have serious interest in keep me around, you know?

As long as I perform – if I go into Spring Training and can’t throw strikes, and getting hit around, then they’re going to move me.  As I long as I go and do what I am capable of doing and try to ride out the way I finished last year, I should be in good shape.

Pitching last year in the minors:

I had to pitch in Albuquerque last year – which is one of the hardest places in all of baseball to pitch – and learned a lot.

I really had to pitch; you can’t make mistakes there, so um, my command got a better last year, I was able to sink the ball a little more, I was able to add and subtract off my fastball a little bit – whatever I could do to keep hitters off balance. I learned a lot in Albuquerque.

His pitching style after his surgery in 2010:

That helped a lot; it didn’t hurt when I threw breaking balls last year – which is nice. I had to battle, and it hurt for a couple of years, so it felt good to have it taken care of.

Facing the lineups in the American League East:

Definitely; I’ve done it before. I’ve been everywhere. I pitched against everybody; it does not matter anymore.

I feel like as long as I got out and make pitches, it doesn’t matter if it’s a two year old in the box, or the greatest hitter of all time, I feel as if I make a good pitch, I can get them out.

About being a starter versus a reliever:

Not necessarily. I would prefer to start, but I also prefer to be in the big leagues and do whatever I can do to help the team win, rather than sit in the minor leagues. I’ve done that too many times, and I’m done with that.

I want to be a big leaguer; I feel like I am a good enough pitcher to be in the big leagues and stay in the big leagues. If they want me to be in the bullpen, I’ll take that role; if they want me to start, I’ll take that role.

More on his thoughts about Spring Training and if he expects a job:

Well, every Spring Training I’ve pretty much ever gone into – maybe besides 2009 – I’ve had to go in and try to win a job. It’s always been a competition for me. I always take Spring Training seriously.

I am not as fortunate as some guys who go in and maybe get ready in Spring Training. I’ve got to go in from day one and I’m used to being in that situation.

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Congratulations to Ryan Wagner. He's now the new public address announcer at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Wagner will replace Dave McGowan.

Of course, if the name sounds familiar, Wagner also took part in MLB's Fan Cave in 2011.

Ryan Wagner selected as new voice of Oriole Park

Former MLB Fan Cave resident is a life-long Orioles fan

The Orioles today announced that Ryan Wagner has been selected as the new Voice of Oriole Park. Wagner was chosen to be the club’s new public address announcer out of a field of 670 applicants.

An Orioles fan originally from Baltimore, Wagner spent last season as a resident of Major League Baseball’s Fan Cave, watching over 2,450 major league games at a 15,000 square foot space in Greenwich Village in New York City. He also co-hosted a series of interactive sketch comedy skits and conducted interviews with MLB players and celebrities as part of his Fan Cave responsibilities.

As a lifelong Orioles fan, being named the Voice of Oriole Park at Camden Yards is indescribably amazing,” Wagner said. “I spent my childhood attending games at Camden Yards, often pretending to be Rex Barney or David McGowan announcing Orioles legends. I will never forget the happiness and excitement I felt when I became a member of the Orioles organization, and I promise every Oriole fan that they will hear my very best effort, every time they come to the greatest ballpark in professional baseball."

“From a vast and diverse field of well qualified applicants, Ryan distinguished himself as the clear choice to be the new voice of Oriole Park,” said Orioles Director of Communications Greg Bader. “Ryan’s traditional delivery is a style familiar to Orioles fans, and he brings an energy and freshness that we know people attending a game at Camden Yards will enjoy. The authenticity of Ryan’s voice and his smooth delivery are what stood out the most to us.”

Wagner received his Bachelor of Science degree in Theatre from Frostburg State University and also attended the Broadcasting Institute of Maryland.

The search for the New Voice of Oriole Park at Camden Yards attracted over 670 applicants.  A committee of Orioles front office staff members narrowed the search to the top 25 finalists prior to selecting Wagner. To see a video of Ryan Wagner's audition, visit the Orioles Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Orioles.

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Congratulations to Ryan Wagner. He's now the new public address announcer at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Wagner will replace Dave McGowan.

Of course, if the name sounds familiar, Wagner also took part in MLB's Fan Cave in 2011.

Ryan Wagner selected as new voice of Oriole Park

Former MLB Fan Cave resident is a life-long Orioles fan

The Orioles today announced that Ryan Wagner has been selected as the new Voice of Oriole Park. Wagner was chosen to be the club’s new public address announcer out of a field of 670 applicants.

An Orioles fan originally from Baltimore, Wagner spent last season as a resident of Major League Baseball’s Fan Cave, watching over 2,450 major league games at a 15,000 square foot space in Greenwich Village in New York City. He also co-hosted a series of interactive sketch comedy skits and conducted interviews with MLB players and celebrities as part of his Fan Cave responsibilities.

As a lifelong Orioles fan, being named the Voice of Oriole Park at Camden Yards is indescribably amazing,” Wagner said. “I spent my childhood attending games at Camden Yards, often pretending to be Rex Barney or David McGowan announcing Orioles legends. I will never forget the happiness and excitement I felt when I became a member of the Orioles organization, and I promise every Oriole fan that they will hear my very best effort, every time they come to the greatest ballpark in professional baseball."

“From a vast and diverse field of well qualified applicants, Ryan distinguished himself as the clear choice to be the new voice of Oriole Park,” said Orioles Director of Communications Greg Bader. “Ryan’s traditional delivery is a style familiar to Orioles fans, and he brings an energy and freshness that we know people attending a game at Camden Yards will enjoy. The authenticity of Ryan’s voice and his smooth delivery are what stood out the most to us.”

Wagner received his Bachelor of Science degree in Theatre from Frostburg State University and also attended the Broadcasting Institute of Maryland.

The search for the New Voice of Oriole Park at Camden Yards attracted over 670 applicants.  A committee of Orioles front office staff members narrowed the search to the top 25 finalists prior to selecting Wagner. To see a video of Ryan Wagner's audition, visit the Orioles Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Orioles.

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This weekend, the official start of Spring Training kicked off as pitchers and catchers had their first workouts in Sarasota, Florida.

Ok, so it has been a mild winter up in the Mid-Atlantic. In fact, it is supposed to be in the 60’s this week. It snowed once from what I can recall over the past few months, but I’m glad baseball is back

However, this is a time of optimism, drawing out lineups, and figuring out the pitching staff. There will be debates on how many wins the Orioles will have this season, if they have improved (seriously) and will the moves made will pan out.

The grass is green on the baseball fields; plus, players for the most part right now are laid back and ready to get to the business at hand.

We’ll see the same old faces, some new ones and those wanting to make a lasting impression in camp despite already knowing their fate.

For most fans, much as myself, the next few weeks there’s pretty much very little of importance on a news front – at least for me.

We should be thankful for the press and bloggers that are down in camp relaying the latest news, tidbits, insight and of course players quoting that, “they are in the best shape of their lives”.

In addition, this year, we have a lot of new players to follow, prospects and we’ll check in on Dylan Bundy – the team’s 2011 1^st round draft pick – who is in major league camp by virtue of being on the 40-man roster.

I know most are picking the Orioles to finish last and have a 15^th consecutive losing season. My tag team partner James hopes for better, as so do I, and legions of Orioles fans. The poor play has gone on too long – we just need something, anything to show that the Birds are righting the ship.

I’ll be heading down to Florida early this time (again) – in about two weeks – as part of my annual spring vacation. I won’t be down there as long as I ordinarily am due to work and other events, but it’s good to get away from Maryland for a bit.

I’m sure we’ll have more to say on the blog as time goes along, but baseball is officially back.

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Looks like Manny Ramirez is going out West to see if he can resume his playing career. Once again, the Oakland Athletics are in the headlines when it comes to signing a free agent player.

Of course, the Orioles did engage in talks with Ramirez; however, they backed off -- wisely -- on the slugger.

OAKLAND, Calif. — Former All-Star slugger Manny Ramirez has agreed to a minor-league deal with the Oakland A’s, ESPN reported Monday.

CBSSports.com also reported that Ramirez, who abruptly announced his retirement last April after testing positive for banned substances for the second time in his career, will join the A’s organization.

Ramirez’s deal, worth $500,000, according to ESPN, is a far cry from the slugger’s more than $22 million salary earned in 2004 with the Boston Red Sox.

Ramirez still faces a 50-game suspension for violating the league’s drug policy, meaning the earliest he could suit up for the A’s is June 2, just days after his 40th birthday.

At this point, I don't know why a team would consider signing Ramirez. I'm sure he can still hit; however, why give Ramirez at-bats that could be used to develop a younger player?

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The Orioles have opened Spring Training in sunny Sarasota, Florida this weekend and the fans have responded with a resounding yawn. It is hard to blame them, the Orioles have not done much this offseason to generate a lot of positive buzz going into the 2012 campaign. Despite the thrilling end to the Orioles 2011 season fans were subject to the following: An embarrassing debacle of a GM search; international sanctions; injuries to Nick Markakis, Jim Johnson and now Zach Britton and messy useless PR brushfire on the internet's biggest Orioles fansite.

Instead of "making 162 count" the Orioles enter Spring Training with far more questions than answers. Let's cover the biggest three.

Question 1: How does the rotation shake out without Jeremy Guthrie.

Fan favorite Jeremy Guthrie was traded rather surprisingly in January to the Colorado Rockies for Jason Hammel and Matt Lindstrom. Hammel is basically a slightly younger version of Guthrie and Lindstom is an okay bullpen arm but all in all the move seemed like a lateral move. The real question is this; without Guthrie what does the starting rotation look like? Guthrie brought a solid arm and 200 IP to a young rotation that is filled with uncertainty. GM Dan Duquette went across the Pacific to find Wei-yen Chen and Tsuyoshi Wada and both offer intriguing possibilities in the starting five. Chen himself was guaranteed to make the rotation coming over here, but many felt Wada would find his way to the bullpen. Now with Guthrie gone it seems wide open.

Then there are the "cavalry" pitchers in Britton, Arrieta and Matusz. Matusz' nightmarish 2011 has tarnished expectations surrounding him and many fans are questioning whether or not he will even start the season in Baltimore. Britton had a quietly decent rookie year, save for a couple absolutely disastrous starts around the All Star Break, likewise Arrieta was solid before being sidelined with bone spurs in his elbow. Those three young pitchers really hold the key to 2012, if they pitch to the level which they were expected then the Orioles may actually make some noise in the AL East; if not, then we will probably be seeing an improved team but still one that is very far from legitimate contention.

Tommy Hunter is likely your opening day starter. Don't put too much stock into that statement even if it does come true. But for those that are worried by such things that is how I see it standing on President's Day.

Question 2: Will Mark Reynolds defense improve to allow him to stay on third base?

Mark Reynolds was exactly what everyone expected last year. He struck out a ton, but also led the team in homers, walks, OBP and RBI. What was unexpected was the butchery on third base. Simply put Reynolds had one of the worst defensive seasons I have ever witnessed at the major league level. Fangraphs has Reynolds defense at -28.2 WAR for 2011. I really never thought a number like that was possible. Reynolds seemed to handle first base much better, though still not ideal. Apparently manager Showalter and the Orioles want to give Reynolds another chance at third and he has been working very hard to improve his defense for 2012. According to reports from camp Reynolds has seemingly dropped about 20 lbs. of weight and that actually makes me a little nervous.

Reynolds needs to hit homers, that is what the Orioles need him to do. Even if he becomes a league average thirdbaseman if he isn't hitting 35+ homers every year than his value to the team takes a big hit.

Question 3: Will Nick Markakis return to his pre-contract self?

Since signing his contract extension Makrkakis has fallen off. his power has dwindled, his on-base percentage has dropped and he seems unlike the player that brought so much promise with him when he burst onto the scene. It was revealed in the fall that Markakis was struggling with an abdominal muscle tear for much of the end of the 2011 season. Markakis underwent surgery this winter to correct the issue and he is on track to be ready for opening day. Markakis, like Adam Jones and Matt Wieters, is supposed to be a superstar but as it usually goes for the Orioles he has been solid, but unremarkable.

Markakis, Jones and Wieters all have immense talent and more than enough ability. Like Britton, Matusz and Arrieta on the pitching staff if those three players can play closer to their expectations dictate then the Orioles could surpirse a lot of people.

It was an unremarkable winter and Spring Training is starting off with an equally unremarkable buzz. It is always good to know that somewhere in the country professional baseball is being played. The Orioles will have six weeks to answer some of the many questions surrounding this team but right now even the warmth of Florida sun is having trouble supplying the requisite hope that comes with the start of a new baseball season. But who knows, in a sports-year that has brought us Tim Tebow and Lin-sanity perhaps the Orioles can be the next unlikely heroes of the sports world.

They have zero chance to many, they have zero talent to some - Just call them the ZerO's. Perhaps it will be their turn to shock the world, they better because that is what it will take.

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It looks like A.J. Burnett - who had a rocky tenure with the Yankees - is heading to Pittsburgh as a member of the Pirates.

I mean, I know the Orioles and Yankees probably would be hesistant to do business with one another considering they are in the same division and are rivals; however, with the lack of effective, consistent starting pitching in Baltimore, could he have been a option via trade?

That is, if the Orioles even pushed that notion.

Burnett has got good stuff, can be an effective power arm -- if he could ever be consistent.

Burnett has family from Maryland ... you know, I'm just saying.

The Pirates and New York Yankees have agreed to a trade that would send right-hander A.J. Burnett to Pittsburgh and are awaiting approval from the commissioner's office Friday, sources said.

The Pirates will send right-handed reliever Diego Moreno and outfielder Exicardo Cayones to New York in return, sources said. Moreno, a 25-year-old from Venezuela, has split the past two seasons between the Class A and Double-A minor league teams. Cayones, who is 20, spent 2011 in Class A.

The approval of the commissioner's office is needed because of the money involved. The Pirates will pay $13 million of the $31.1 million remaining on Burnett's contract, sources said (Burnett is on a year-round contract and already has been paid $1.9 million in 2012).

As a Yankee the past three seasons, Burnett is 34-35 with a 4.79 ERA. He is 121-111 with a 4.10 ERA in 13 seasons with the Yankees, Blue Jays and Marlins.

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Spring Training opens up in Sarasota on Saturday, and I would not say that I’m terribly excited at the team’s prospects right now.

As it is every year, to win, you have to have pitching. I am not sure the Orioles have an abundance of it right now. In fact, I don’t know what to think. One question I have on my mind is this: who in the world starts on Opening Day?

There are a lot of pitchers that will be down in Sarasota. Like every year, you’ve got to wonder what will happen in the season ahead with the pitchers on in camp.

Last year, the young arms faltered and once that happened, the Orioles were doomed. Depending on pitchers who lack major league experience is risky; however, when the vast majority of them suffer, the results are disastrous.

Jake Arrieta was hurt, but had his own issues; Brian Matusz – well, we all know what went on; Zach Britton had his ups and downs, Brad Bergesen was just bad & Chris Tillman could not pitch with any consistency. As well, Tommy Hunter started off a bit shaky, but steadily improved towards the end of the season.

That being said, Dan Duquette signed a few arms from Asia, but also looked for cheap solutions out on the market. He didn’t bring any marquee pitcher like a lot of fans – including myself – hoped, but a bunch of low-risk, high-reward guys.

At this point, considering how much the Orioles have to do to rebuild their system, Duquette is obviously taking a roll of the dice and hoping something develops from the sheer numbers of pitchers in camp.

Who knows what will happen. Spring Training results often don’t translate to the regular season, but the only thing we can hope is that a competitive team can be built for Baltimore in 2012.

As well, the youngsters are now on notice. They all will be competing for jobs, and have to prove their worth. The so called ‘Calvary’ got stuck in the mud last year, and they have to pull themselves up.

It’s this simple: the Orioles will only go as far their pitching takes them in 2012 – or any other year.

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Every year, fans hope for the best with the Baltimore Orioles. For the last fourteen years, they have finished below .500 and well out of playoff contention.

More than likely, the Orioles will have a fifteenth consecutive losing season. With that being said, a lot of fans are frustrated by the poor record of Baltimore’s baseball team and frankly want a new owner.

Yesterday, 106.7 the Fan, a radio station  in Washington, reported that the Orioles are ‘quietly discussing a sale’, according to the Baltimore Sun.

The Baltimore Sports Report has more on the rumor (a tip of the cap to them), as I read it first on their site yesterday.

However, later on that day, the Orioles refuted news of a potential sale.

From the Baltimore Sun:  An Orioles official said today there is “absolutely no truth” to fresh rumors that owner Peter Angelos is shopping the club.

Eric Bickel, a radio host on 106.7 The Fan in Washington, said Tuesday that he had heard Angelos was quietly discussing a sale of the Orioles. Bickel said Angelos was looking to sell the team but not his majority share in the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, which broadcasts Orioles and Washington Nationals games.

MASN is probably worth more than the team, and the Orioles would be a significantly less appealing purchase if the network was not included, according to investment bankers familiar with the baseball industry.

It is pretty obvious that Angelos, his family, along with the other investors with the Orioles are not going to sell.

One would think that despite the sorry record of the Orioles and declining attendance at Camden Yards throughout Angelos’ tenure, the team is probably profitable thanks to revenue sharing, and MASN.

Of course, no major league baseball team opens up their financial books anyway, so who knows.

I would think anyone who would want to purchase the Orioles, would want MASN and everything related to it.

Perhaps this latest rumor may have validity to it; however, it is more than likely untrue.