http://tinyurl.com/4whe7b Mailbag: Has Wieter's time come? MLB.com reporter Spencer Fordin answers O's fans queries By Spencer Fordin / MLB.com Will Matt Wieters be starting for the Orioles on Opening Day? And will there be any other significant Oriole prospects that may have a role on next year's team? -- Mike V., Rochester, N.Y. Wieters, who's on the short list for best prospects in baseball, represents an interesting quandary for the Orioles. If they bring him up on Opening Day -- and he's provided every indicator that he'll be ready by then -- they run the risk of losing him to free agency a full season earlier than they would if he spends the season's first month at Triple-A Norfolk. That didn't bother the Orioles when their previous top prospect, right fielder Nick Markakis, took the team by storm in Spring Training. Baltimore elected to start Markakis in 2006 despite the fact that he had never played at Triple-A, and had just 33 games at Double-A under his belt. And after some initial struggles, he became one of the team's best players. With Wieters, the fifth overall pick in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, the Orioles may elect to play it safe. The catcher didn't sign until moments before the deadline to come to terms or go back to college, and Baltimore can expect a similar tussle when free agency rolls around. In this case, it pays to be careful, even if it means waiting an extra month. Service-time issues aside, Wieters may be helped by the delay in his promotion schedule. The switch-hitter could use a month to face upper-level pitching at Triple-A, an experience that could even help his game-calling ability. Wieters is regarded as a special talent, and whenever he gets promoted, the Orioles will become a lot more interesting to watch. Can we go ahead and spray-paint Markakis' glove gold? Do you see any outfielder beating him out in right field for the Gold Glove Award? -- Greg B, Richmond, Va. Markakis led all Major League outfielders with 17 assists last season, but the Gold Glove balloting doesn't save a spot for a right fielder. The league's voters can choose to reward three center fielders if they like, and Markakis may not have the league-wide reputation yet to garner a Gold Glove vote over more established outfielders. Two current American League outfielders -- ballhawks Torii Hunter and Ichiro Suzuki -- have won the Gold Glove for seven straight seasons. Vernon Wells has joined them three times in the last four years, and Grady Sizemore won his first Gold Glove last season. All of those guys are near the top of their game, which could make things hard for Markakis. Defense is notoriously hard to rate, and there are no definitive statistics to use like there are for batting and pitching. Voters judge with their eyes and with their ears, using their own subjective indicators to compare the league's elite defenders. Markakis is certainly serving notice that he belongs, but he may not be quite there just yet. Didn't Lou Montanez come up as a shortstop? Why not put him there? -- Paul M., New Haven, Conn. Montanez did come up as a shortstop, but there was a reason he was moved off the position early in his career. The former first-round pick struggled with his erratic throwing arm, a problem that has since followed him to the outfield. Montanez made more than 30 errors for three straight years as a young infielder, delaying his ascent through the Minors. The problem peaked in 2003, when Montanez made 11 errors in 33 games as a shortstop, and 19 more in 82 games at second base. His manager that season was none other than current Baltimore pitching coach Rick Kranitz, and the year before, current Baltimore manager Dave Trembley presided over Montanez and his struggles in the middle infield. In short, if either Kranitz or Trembley felt he could do it, he'd still be an infielder. The Orioles worked Montanez hard through the second half last season, having him come out early for throwing practice down the stretch. And his consistency in games seemed to improve, but that doesn't mean he's suddenly turned the corner and is ready to mimic Ozzie Smith. Trembley has said several times that Montanez will go as far as his bat will take him, and the youngster gave some added perspective by becoming the first player in 30 years to win the Triple Crown in the Double-A Eastern League. Montanez will get a chance with the Orioles as a spare outfielder and designated hitter, but his infield days are behind him. Do you think Kevin Millar will be back next year? While he does not have a high batting average, he has shown some power this year. I think the Orioles could use him. -- David Shumway, Rockville, Md. Millar is probably a long shot to return, thanks to the re-emergence of Aubrey Huff and the potential availability of a superstar like Mark Teixeira on the free agent market. Teixeira, a native of nearby Severna Park, has long been a local favorite and may be high on Baltimore's wish list once the free agent season opens, a developing story to watch this winter. Huff, meanwhile, has played designated hitter for most of his two seasons as an Oriole and may prefer playing the field. The veteran had a career year with the bat in 2008, spelling Millar at first base and Melvin Mora at third base from time to time. With Mora still under contract and holding a no-trade clause, first base would be the easiest spot to place Huff. All of that may leave Millar, one of Baltimore's clubhouse leaders, on the outside looking in at the Orioles. The veteran has held down first base for the last three seasons, providing a steady glove and a patient batting eye in the middle of the order. Millar will likely be available late in the free agent process, giving the Orioles extra time to evaluate his status. Millar has said he wants to come back and help the Orioles achieve their first winning record since 1997, but he also understands the business aspects of the game. He'll weigh his options and look around the league for a starting job, but if he can't find one, he'll likely hold out hope that Baltimore will miss out on Teixeira and opt to keep Huff as a DH. --

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