In a series previewing the A.L. East, Boston Globe writer Scott Lauber listed the 2011 Orioles as “potentially dangerous” in baseball’s toughest division. Lauber discussed the Orioles having the best record in the east over the last two months of the 2010 season, detailed their revamped infield and of course talked about the Buck Showalter effect on the O’s.

Mainly, though, general manager Andy MacPhail has tried to copy the San Diego Padres’ out-of-the-blue success by collecting a cadre of proven relievers. The Orioles re-signed incumbent closer Koji Uehara and added free agent right-handers Kevin Gregg and Jeremy Accardo to holdover Jim Johnson and lefty Mike Gonzalez, both of whom were slowed by injuries last season.

“Nobody dreamed the Padres would do as well as they did last year, and obviously their bullpen was locked in,” Showalter said. “They were playing six-inning games.”

Are you surprised to hear the Orioles receive some recognition from a writer in Boston?