Nick Markakis, 2012 Bowman Gold #131

I have many hopes and dreams for the Orioles' 2014 season. I hope that the positions of second base, left field, and designated hitter are not the gaping holes that they currently seem to be. I would very much like for Dave Wallace to be the pitching coach who finally says the magic words that turn Brian Matusz and Zach Britton (and maybe Kevin Gausman) into quality big league starters. I'd prefer it if Mike Bordick never utters the phrase "good piece of hitting" during another MASN telecast. But perhaps most of all, I would like the shambling, singles-hitting undead creature who took over Nick Markakis' body in 2013 to go away, and for the real Markakis to return with a vengeance.

Mark Reynolds, 2012 Bowman Gold #52

This card showed up in a package that just arrived from across the Atlantic Ocean, courtesy of Jack Plumstead of The Pursuit of 80's(ness). We haven't traded in a few years, so it was nice to hear from him...even if I do hope that my Orioles trounce his Red Sox in the three-game series that just got underway an hour ago. It would be especially nice if Mark Reynolds could reverse his near-season-long struggles and crank out a few home runs against Boston pitching. Although this photo appears to have been taken at a Grapefruit League game in Sarasota, it's nice to see an Esskay sign making its blurry presence felt in the background. As a true O's fan, naturally I buy only Esskay chicken and pork franks. Whenever I check the receipt from the Food Lion, I always get a chuckle: the shorthand from the scanner reads "Oriole Meat Franks". I choose to believe that no Baltimore Orioles have been harmed in the production of my wieners, but if they have, they are quite delicious.