By Jim Henneman

Random remarks, observations etc. while waiting for baseball's opening bell, a Masters weekend and Anthony Davis' declaration for the NBA draft after a Bill Russell-like performance during Kentucky's win against Kansas in the NCAA hoops final:

Peter Schmuck's story in The Sun on the 20-year anniversary of Oriole Park at Camden Yards was so good you'd have thought a native wrote it. But then, Schmuck's been a resident so long he qualifies as a local -- just don't be calling him a Baltimoron. He doesn't deserve that (nor does any of us).

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Memo to the NCAA: You don't need the money, and although basketball is meant to be played indoors, it's not meant to be played under the roof of a football stadium. They found out a long time ago (like moments after the first pitch of the first exhibition game) that the Superdome wasn't even any good for baseball -- and it surely isn't good for anything except wasted dollars when it comes to basketball. The game, especially the shooting, suffers in these types of venues, which add nothing to extravaganza.

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Inasmuch as Dylan Bundy is slated to pitch only about 120 innings this year, I was hoping the Orioles would just let him stay in extended spring training this year and then let him break in with short-season Aberdeen. It seems as if the O's owe the Ripken gang a favor or two after having so many lousy teams play in the Harford County stadium.

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I'm amazed at the number of people that think Mike Mussina might get anything other than a favorable reception when he's inducted into the Orioles Hall Of Fame. It's the age of free agency. Baltimore fans are lucky to have had three Hall Of Famers play their entire careers here, and it's time to recognize that they are the exceptions, not the rule.
 
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The best basketball I saw during the NCAA men's basketball tournament was the first half of the Kentucky-Indiana matchup, which was reminiscent of some of those classic Bullets-Knicks playoff matchups.
 
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What I like most about Oriole first baseman Chris Davis is that he hangs in well against left-handed pitching. He also has a great swing, which is why his minor league power numbers are so intriguing. What's not to like: he also misses some pitches by what appears to be the length of his bat.

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Most of Mark Reynolds' throwing errors come when he has plenty of time. When he's on the move or has just made a good defensive play, it's all reaction and usually on the money. Maybe the O's can get Cal Ripken to relate to Reynolds the advice he got from Earl Weaver after being installed at shortstop: "Make sure you catch the ball, and throw it straight -- the worst thing that can happen is there would only be a man on first base." Almost half (14) of Reynolds' 31 errors last year came on errant throws. He has the defensive skills to be much better than that.

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Of all the preseason predictions I've seen, the one most off the mark (it says here) is the one that has Toronto's over-under win total at 80. I would not be shocked to see the Blue Jays make a reasonable run for a wild card spot.

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You wouldn't have thought it six weeks ago, but the key to the Yankees' pitching staff could rest on the left arm of Andy Pettitte, their out-of-retirement ace.

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Look for Kansas City to make marked improvement this year.
 
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The National League Central Division is the most wide open, and the AL West should produce the best two-team race between the Rangers and Angels.

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Prediction: Prince Fielder's power numbers will be down in Detroit, and those of Albert Pujols will be closer to what he posted last year than to the average of the previous 10.

Jim Henneman can be reached at JimH@pressboxonline.com

Posted April 3, 2012