ESPN Buster Olney Blog

The cavalry is coming for the Baltimore Orioles, Dave Trembley said, sitting at the front of the club's team bus as it rolled along to another exhibition game Sunday morning.

The help probably will not arrive in April or May, and it might not all get to the Orioles this season. But rest assured, help is on the way. Trembley says this confidently because he has seen it with his own eyes. He has watched Brian Matusz, Chris Tillman and Jake Arrieta pitch, and he has visions in his mind about what they will be in the major leagues, some day.

But not today. Some day. "You're talking about three legitimate top-of-the rotation talents," said Trembley.

All spring, Andy MacPhail, the man in charge of the Orioles' baseball operations, has continued to make it clear to everyone in the organization that the team will be patient with the three young pitchers. They need more time to develop, and they will not be rushed for the sake of the club's needs at the major league level.

And the Orioles do have needs. Their rotation is a puzzle with some pieces missing, as they prepare to embark on a rough journey through the American League East. You could argue that baseball's three best teams inhabit the AL East, and as the Orioles prepare to face the Rays, Red Sox and Yankees, their rotation is comprised of Jeremy Guthrie and Koji Uehara and … well, we'll see.

But the cavalry is coming, Trembley is sure, and the Orioles already have some excellent pieces in place for their every-day lineup, with Nick Markakis established in right and Adam Jones set to begin his second full season ("I think Jones is ready to step up and have a better season," says Trembley) in center. With Felix Pie sharing a platoon in left field, the Orioles should have excellent outfield defense.

The Orioles basically ran a tryout camp at shortstop last year, but Cesar Izturis should stabilize that position this year.

Matt Wieters likely will be sent to the minors soon, but there will be a day this summer, perhaps in June or July, when he will be called up, and Trembley believes he will be a high-impact player, with his bat and with his mind.

Last summer, Trembley called Wieters and asked him about some of the young pitchers he was working with, and what the catcher may or may not have realized was that Trembley was actually quizzing him, testing his knowledge. Trembley asked Wieters about the various strengths and weaknesses of each pitcher, about the evolution of their command and their secondary pitches, about how they held runners.

"He was right on with all of his answers," Trembley said. "This is a guy who is going to be something special."

Some day. The cavalry is coming.

It has been more than a decade now since the Orioles made the playoffs, and almost that long since they've been truly relevant in the AL East race. Their goal this year, he says, is to play meaningful games in September.

They are making strides; Trembley sees it, and he feels it. The club's culture has changed, a tone rooted in the words that MacPhail spoke to the team on the first day of camp. "Do you know how fortunate we are to be doing what we're doing?" MacPhail asked the Orioles. "People are going to be making sacrifices to come out and see you this year. There should be no excuse for a lack of energy and enthusiasm as you do your work."

They will do their work this year believing that there are better days ahead, and within reach.

Once the Orioles are playoff contenders, Peter Angelos says, the team will be looking to make a big deal, as Peter Schmuck writes. The Orioles' rotation is not set.

The rest of Buster's blog -- stories on which players are fighting for jobs, news on the latest moves and deals, and which pitchers are rounding into form, among tons more -- is available exclusively to ESPN Insiders.