MacPhail touches on a variety of topics
Team president Andy MacPhail just met with reporters for 25 minutes in the interview room that's normally used by manager Dave Trembley before and after games. It was the standard end-of-season stuff. I doubt that anything came out of it that will knock your socks off, but the access was appreciated.
A few quick hits:
- MacPhail believes the organization's "base" is better than when he arrived last year. "I'm happier where we are now than when I first got here," he said. He noted the additions of Matt Wieters, Jake Arrieta, Brian Matusz, Adam Jones and Chris Tillman as examples. "I think the prospects for the future are better," he said.
- Like executives before him, MacPhail mentioned the lack of depth as a big issue. Pitchers got hurt and the Orioles couldn't cover for them. That's been going on for how long?
- When I asked how many veteran starters he'd like to add, MacPhail said, "It's really a game of inventory for me. As many as you can. You're going to have certain disappointments, you're going to have some pleasant developments. You've just got to work with numbers and try to build up the base as best you can and add as much to the inventory as you can." (I was hoping more for a specific number, but I won't gripe).
- MacPhail blamed the record-low attendance at Camden Yards on two factors: High-profile players being traded, which led to the perception - and an accurate one - that the Orioles were rebuilding, and the construction of "a brand-new park 45 minutes away."
- He doesn't anticipate anything "dramatically different" unfolding in the front office, which would indicate that he expects Mike Flanagan, Scott Proefrock, David Stockstill and John Stockstill to return next season, unless they choose to go in a different direction.
- When it comes to signing free agents, he coyly mentioned "exploring geographic ties," which could be seen as a reference to Mark Teixeira and A.J. Burnett. But he didn't mention whether $200 million was too much for a first baseman, and $15 million for a starting pitcher.
- The reports he's receiving on Troy Patton in the instructional league have been promising.
We are getting the game up here in the frozen north. It looks like there is nobody there. Do they announce the attendance or just the names of the ticketholders ?
The Patton tidbit is good news . Maybe he can get left handers out. Bass looks like long relief potential . i know that we are saying that about the whole starting rotation , but he does look comfy in the stretch and his stuff looks ok when he locates it.
Though AM has done a great job in the 2 trades he did, short of signing them, both Weiters and Arrieta (and Bascom) were drafted prior to his arrival. So cudos to Joe Jordan for his work. Guess AM likes his ability too since he just got renewed.
Can't see either AJ or Tex signing here. Too much to spend at this point, and they figure to want to go to a contender. Plus, if they do sign 2 veterans starters, they figure to be short term deals, given the pitching depth the O's have that is close to ready.
But it will be interesting to see if Albers and Johnson can make the switch to starters, which could ease the need for 2 veterans. One could be enough if they are healthy and can do it and one of the kids (Liz/Olson/Tillman/Bergeson/Hernandez) that seems ready as #5 to continue the "growing process". Bye Bye DC. Matusz probably comes in June or July, replacing the vet, the kid, or an injury.
Roch, lots of good gossip and conjecture this winter as the restructuring continues. Who should get signed, released or traded will keep AM, and you, quite busy. Some "off" season.