Daily Archives: February 20, 2010

One of the least compelling Hot Stove dramas in recent memory has come to a close. According to a report, Johnny Damon has signed a one-year deal with the Tigers.

Ballet Dancer Standing, by Edgar Degas (1886-90)

Baltimore Museum of Art

I caught a link to the following article on Baseball Think Factory.

According to Brian Cashman, the Baltimore Orioles are a sleeping giant:

“I remember a few years back when Tampa Bay was perennially losing. Everyone in the industry was following them and saw all their young talent brewing and slowly getting refined. You don’t know, because prospects are suspects until they declare themselves at the Major League level.

“Andy is doing the same thing. Everybody kind of sees the collection of talent. Players with big tools and high ceiling. When you are athletic and have those kinds of tools, when it all comes together, it comes fast.

“The Orioles are a team that has closed the gap, without a doubt. And Andy is showing the patience. I think their fan base will be very, very pleased. All the sudden, before they know it, they’ll have that foundation in place. They just haven’t seen it pop yet at the Major League level.

As much as I feared and loathed the Orioles when they were good, it has been depressing to see them for the past decade. Be cool to see them improve. It’s only right.

The Times Magazine has a good photo slide show of Jeff Bridges in the latest issue. Bridges, unless something goes horribly wrong, is going to win the Academy Award for Best Actor this year. What goes into an Oscar campaign? Mark Harris provides the unsavory answers in this profile for New York magazine.