Find MASN on your cable or satellite provider.

Sounds like a positive development...

Just what I wanted to see when I refreshed your blog at my lunch break.

After he signs and gets that fat check is he springing for beers for the whole school?

This isn't as bad as last year but I will never understand why these things take so long. We pay guys like Payton, Walker and Bradford 4-5 million a year but we have to play cat and mouse with Wieters & Matusz while they will be under team control for however long they are in the minors plus 6 years. Even if Matusz wants a major league deal, then that is fine. Everyone screams about Loewen but there are major differences between them, Loewen was younger and needed longer to develop while Matusz is projected to only need a year in the minors with a call up coming in 2010. I also trust our scouting department and Joe Jordon to make better drafting decisions than any previous decision makers. I guess it's part of the business but I'll never understand and you only have to look at Boston and their farm system to see the rewards or drafting the best player available & paying him to get on board while other teams (Kansas City & Pittsburg to name a few) refuse to go over slot.

Good news Roch. Hopefully the physical is routine and the ink is dry by the end of the night. It should be a good battle next spring for all spots behind Guthrie in the rotation.

Satyr3206,

I'm confused. Why would Matusz get a fat chick after he signs?

Hell, with all that money he could probably lure Anita away from Roch!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In your dreams! - Roch

Hey Roch,

I just now found the blog. Anyway, great to read your words of wit and wisdom again!

I think its a good sign Matusz is in town, perhaps they are a bit closer than we all think.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome! Glad you found it! - Roch

Check or chick, Dave T.?

Better not become like Peter Schmuck. That's all I'm saying.

HEY ROCH, WHAT HAPPENS WITH BRADY, LANDERS, MARTIN

Dave T. said:

Satyr3206,

I'm confused. Why would Matusz get a fat chick after he signs?

Hell, with all that money he could probably lure Anita away from Roch!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In your dreams! - Roch
August 14, 2008 12:54 PM

MAYBE he is a Chubby Chaser? In any case, I am sure Markakis can take him under his wing.... as for Anita, I doubt either of them want to go Cougar. Now if Amber gets involved, that may be another story.... no doubt Roch will cover that for us. :-)

When we get him (yes when we do b/c we will) where will we put him?

Hey Roch,

Do you know if this will be a major league contract, similar to that of Loewen?

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we get him signed, but NOT for a major league contract.

Thanks,

Chris
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------He hasn't signed anything yet, but if they're this close to a deal, I have to think the major league contract isn't in play. - Roch

Roch, maybe I'm late to the party, but was your response to Dave T. a public confirmation of You + Anita?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nah, just playing along. And funny that I just accidentally typed "alone" before changing it to "along." - Roch

He should be a good addition in 2010 or so. We have some nice arms in the system now for a change. Has anyone offered us anything for Payton? He has played way better than anyone could have expected. Huff as well. Any rumors about them going in the next few weeks?

Nah, just playing along. And funny that I just accidentally typed "alone" before changing it to "along." - Roch

I had forgotten what throw-up tastes like.

Law chat O's related info
Is Guthrie becoming a #1 starter?
A: No. More of a 2/3. Doesn't miss enough bats.
Q: You said the M's should completely rebuild. Who besides Felix should be untouchable?
A: Adam Jones. Oh, never mind (editors note:LMFAO)
Q:Who will be the #1 prospect in baseball in your rankings?
A: Wieters
Q: How many O's in the top 100?
A: Wieters,Matusz,Tillman and Reimold. Arrieta just misses. Not enough upside.

The Sun is reporting it's probably a major league deal. Sure does cut down on the flexibility. And I think it's bad karma with what happened to Loewen this year.

Chubby chaser, too funny. I remember one time at Hammerjacks.........................nope, not going there.

Mussina mentioned that he had no problem going straight to AA from NCAA and that at that time the two were considered on par. I don't believe that this has changed and one would expect Matusz to be short stay in Frederick and quick to AA a la Wieters. Still plan on suffering tomorrow night but I hope not.

Maybe he can finish the physical and hop the next Southwest flight to CLE.

Dylan,

I say we BUSTED him!!

Personally, I think Amber's the way to go there:
1. She's uber-hot.
2. I love those goo-goo eyes she makes when interviewing Luke Scott (careful Roch, he packs heat).

And then there's Rule #7:
Never date a girl with a better arm than you.

But, I'd bet Roch's not above a twin-bill, or even day-night doubleheader.

(doubleheader? Not going there ... )

Hey Roch looksd like your blog is starting to resemble something that DEAR ABBY would have. Tell Dave t to write that stuff to the dear amy column in the sun.

There was that time that a girl came to the press box at Camden Yards to see Roch ...

She had "I love Roch Around The Clock. Roch Kubatko is the best thing about the Baltimore Sun." written on her T-shirt.

The thing was, it was all on one line across her chest!

You recently mentioned that the O's were preparing an offer for 19th rounder Jarret Martin, a Calfornia HS pitcher who fell from a Top 50 prospect due to a miserable senior season.

Martin, who was committed to Cal State Fullerton, had a major falling out with the CSF coaching staff. His choices are down to accepting the O's offer or going the JC route and risking re-entering the '09 draft. Wherever he ends up, it won't be at Fullerton.

Any scoop on the odds of getting a deal done with Martin?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sorry, no. Nothing since I mentioned the pending offer. - Roch

Could it be? Yes, I finally agree with Bob Iancione about something. Dave, take the teenage slumber party bullsh** elsewhere.

Speaking of O's pitching, is there any chance the orioles make a competitive offer on C.C. Sabathia?

NO, NO, NO, to free agent pitchers. Think Zito, or Pavano, or Schmidt, or Hampton. If they blow money on anyone make it a position player. At least they have a reasonable shot at fufilling their contract.

I don't reallt care about the joking around. This is a blog, not a brain surgery symposium. Do you like the big word?

Matt -

I would appreciate the thought of the Orioles making a competitive offer to C.C. Sabathia, but I don't think MacPhail is gonna make a big splash for a free agent big pitcher. I recall him saying he's not gonna do that.

I mean, it's either C.C. or Mark Teixiera, because the Orioles do not have enough cash resources to land BOTH of them. It would be great to see C.C., Guthrie, Cabrera, and two young pitchers (Bergesen, Olson, etc). That would be a very good rotation.

What are your thoughts, Roch, as well as the people?

THIS is NOT me.... I have a "ghost writer" apparently

Brian said:

Nah, just playing along. And funny that I just accidentally typed "alone" before changing it to "along." - Roch

I had forgotten what throw-up tastes like.
August 14, 2008 1:54 PM

Dave T.... you had me laughing in my office....

I can see Roch working both bills of a doubleheader.

Dave T. said:

Dylan,

I say we BUSTED him!!

Personally, I think Amber's the way to go there:
1. She's uber-hot.
2. I love those goo-goo eyes she makes when interviewing Luke Scott (careful Roch, he packs heat).

And then there's Rule #7:
Never date a girl with a better arm than you.

But, I'd bet Roch's not above a twin-bill, or even day-night doubleheader.

(doubleheader? Not going there ... )
August 14, 2008 2:24 PM

Maybe it's the Brian in town for the physical.

This is NOT me . . . I have a "common name" apparently
Brian said:

THIS is NOT me.... I have a "ghost writer" apparently

Brian said:

Nah, just playing along. And funny that I just accidentally typed "alone" before changing it to "along." - Roch

I had forgotten what throw-up tastes like.
August 14, 2008 1:54 PM
August 14, 2008 3:44 PM

Common?

Hey Terpfan, i know it was tough for you to admit that i was right for once, i think Roch went to the girly blogs over here at Masn. Man what a disappointment. I couldn't stand if he got as bad as the Anita Marks show. Before you know it he will be the head waiter down at RUTH CHRIS that seems to be the local masn hangout.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What's your main gripe, Bob? The blog content or the comments? Because I don't write the comments, I just approve 'em. And people are free to express themselves and give their opinions, as long as the language is acceptable. And so far, it has been. - Roch

Give me a break, Bob. Please don't get Roch involved in this. Anyway, even i agree with terpfan, i still like to know who that girl(the T-Shirt girl) was? Was it Jennifer?

Bob gripes all over the web. He was doing on Schmuck's the other day. He's just awnry when he's off his Med's. And that's most of the time.

"i know it was tough for you to admit that i was right for once"

Priceless facility with the English language!

Ugh...what's with the schoolgirl cliquey crap? Bob said this and Roch likes Anita and...weak.

Glad to see things are progressing. Can't wait to see him in action (but not with the fat chick). Whoever put the Law chat stuff up...thanks. Nice little addition for kicks. I was a bit surprised- no, not surprised, just disappointed- not to see Erbe OR Arrieta (not enough upside? What am I missing? Guy throws in the mid-90's, supposedly has a wicked slider, a promising change, and a perfect pitchers frame. What more do you need? Seems to me that with improved command and a little more work on the secondaries, Jake could become a front line candidate. No?) And, while I didn't expect Hernandez, Bergeson, or Britton to make the list, I think all three are very promising, esp. Britton (though he's a ways off).

Also, I know Roch addressed Martin, but I wondered if anyone- Roch included, of course- had heard anything with regard to any of the high school arms: Landers, Martin, and Brady. Seems to me this would be a darned good draft class if we got 'em all. Hoes and Avery- esp. Hoes- look good. I'm particularly impressed with Hoes' patience at the plate, which is downright amazing for a high school kid (considerably more walks than K's). Hope Bundy joins them soon.