Here is the bottom line about the Norfolk Tides’ prospects for the first part of the new season: the bench depth right now in Baltimore means that the Tides are going to field a team that could beat many major league teams. Take a look at the players that have been sent to us over the last few days:

• Jurrjens (RHP)
• Hendrickson (LHP)
• Dickerson (OF)
• Garcia (RHP)
• Hoes (LF)
• Pridie (CF)
• Jackson (RF)
• Robinson (OF)
• Gausman (RHP)
• Ishikawa (1B)

They are joining what was shaping up to be a strong roster earlier in the spring. This is the best team we’ve seen since at least 2005. The other good news is that I don’t believe we’re going to see the “revolving door” that we came to know last season, with 75 different players and 25 different pitchers coming through Harbor Park during the course of the year. All in all, we Tides fans have a lot to look forward to in 2013.