For us, spring training fun has always come in two parts. We get to see prospects going all out to win roster slots, so that they can show what they can do. Of course, unless you've been in prison for the last few years, you know that the Orioles rob their fans of this fun. Jobs are predetermined.
Spring training is fixed.
And this year isn't really much different, despite the propaganda being put out by the Orioles and their party newspapers, the Post and Sun. There aren't many roster fights, and most of the drama surrounds the question of which young player will be lost in a roster squeeze so that the Orioles can keep some player that should have retired five years ago. And sadly, when the Orioles do select a youngster to promote, they do so on the basis of some strange set of criteria which don't involve age, potential, past performance, or projected future performance. Well, manager Mike Hargrove intends to carry 12 pitchers, for some silly reason. That leaves just 13 roster spots for position players.