O's pitching troubles could impact Teixeira chase
There are a number of reasons to anticipate the Hot Stove season this winter. For one, the O's won't be giving up ten runs a game, since it'll be the offseason. For two, the O's may make a run at free agent slugger and local product, Mark Teixeira.
I'm all for that, but not at any cost. I could see the O's making the hometown kid a whopping offer but not a record-breaking offer. I don't see an 8-year, 160 million dollar deal in his future, at least not from this club.
But now, with the O's pitching fading again down the stretch, here's a big question for this winter. Where do the O's really need to put their resources, meaning dollars?
Can the O's justify paying Teixeira 10-15 million a season over a long-term contract instead of putting that money where it is clearly needed most - the starting pitching.
The O's have always been reluctant to sign pitchers to big bucks, multi-year deals. But don't they need to sign at least one frontline starter this winter?
We can't put all our eggs in the Bowie rotation basket; and ultimately, the likes of Bergesen, Hernandez, Tillman and others may not be ready in 2009, at least not by Opening Day.
We've seen this team put up major numbers on offense this year, more than anyone could have expected. But the losing continues. Tampa made its major leap up in the standings this year because its team ERA went from 5.53 last year to 3.70 now.
It's all about the pitching, pitching, pitching. Hasn't this season shown us that in no uncertain terms?
Sure Teixeira could become the face of this team for the next several years, and he could give the O's a legit middle of the order threat. He's also great with the glove. But this team has led the AL in runs scored since the All-Star break and all it has gotten us is a 17-28 record. Think about it - six runs a game and 17-28.
We all know where the O's need to improve, and for the first time, I have reservations about throwing a lot of money at Teixeira when the pitching staff is screaming for reinforcements.
What do you think?
Here's a partial list of free agent pitchers and their stats this year so far. I've left off the list 40 somethings like Maddux, Clemens, Glavine, Mussina, Wakefield and Smoltz.
AJ Burnett, Tor: 16-10, 4.48 (can opt out after this year)
Paul Byrd, Bost: 10-11, 4.58
Matt Clement, SL: 5-5, 6.61
Ryan Dempster, Cubs: 15-5, 2.95
Shawn Estes, SD: 1-1, 3.33
Josh Fogg, Cincy: 2-7, 7.29
Jon Garland, LAA: 12-8, 4.54
Livan Hernandez, Col: 11-11, 6.16
Jason Jennings, Tex: 0-5, 8.56
Kyle Lohse, SL: 13-6, 3.89
Braden Looper, SL: 12-11, 4.27
Derek Lowe, LAD: 11-11, 3.69
Pedro Martinez, Mets: 5-3, 5.07
Oliver Perez, Mets: 9-7, 3.90
Mark Prior, SD: 1-6, 7.21
CC Sabathia, Milw: 15-8, 2.82
Ben Sheets, Milw: 12-7, 2.97
Personally I would much rather win that have a hometown hero on a losing club. I'll grant you that Mora and Huff are unlikely to duplicate their stellar years but there are four reasons why our offense won't be hurting next year. Jones, Wieters, Reimhold and Scott. Jones will be a more mature hitter next year and will have more power. Scott will get more playing time and with that will probably come close to hitting 30 homeruns. Wieters will be up here if not on opening day, at least by May or June and Reimhold is proving right now that he has little left to prove in the minors. Also, I don't care how good your offense is you're nothing without pitching. The Yankees are living proof, as are we.
How can you think the O's won't need hitting? Coming into the year everyone thought they would have to manufacture runs. Do you think Mora(37 next season) is going to be a 25 HR 100 RBI third basemen next year? Or will he just go back to the .270 15 HR 65 RBI pace from the last 2 seasons. How about Huff? Is he the .310 30 HR 100 RBI guy from this year or the .275 20 HR 75 RBI guy of the last 2 seasons? Millar hit 20+ HR 70+ RBI but all of his other bnumbers are still going down (Ave, OB% and Slug%).
Offense is always needed. Especially in the AL East(Tor and TB #1 & 2 in MLB in ERA). A switch hitting gold glove 1B is never a bad thing. He has averaged .290 .377 .539 102R 37HR 122RBI per 162 games. How many MD born MLB players can say that?
I agree with everyone that Teixeira would be an exciting addition to the team. A local boy who can really hit. But, but, but! Our problem is not hitting. We need pitching and I think it would be the height of stupidity to spend the money that he would want and not address our pitching problem.
I have a lot of respect for McPhail and I am strongly hoping that he thinks hard and long before he does that. Our previous GM dug the pitching hole that we are in with the like of Walkers, etc. McPhail needs to stick to his guns and stay on pitching, pitching, pitching!
I Think The Orioles Should Go After Lowe And Lohse.I Don't believe They Will Demand A Huge Contract.They Will Give The Young Pitchers A Couple More Years To Develop.
Oh and yes those guys will make big bucks. Carlos Silva is getting about $12 mil per year and he was just an average pitcher. He went to Seattle and now is below average.
Gotta love it. The Rays are the idea of success. But what most don't seem to notcie is that their starters aren't big free agent pick ups. Kazmir, Jackson and Garza were aquired in trade. Shields was developed. Just like what MacPhail wants to do. Develop pitching.
I remember some people wanted the O's to go after Zito. Good thing they didn't. O's went hard after Pavano. Glad we missed out on that too. Look over the last 2-5 years when it comes to Free Agent pitchers: Pedro Martinez(NYM)? Bartolo Colon(LAA)? Jason Schmidt(LAD)? Adam Eaton(PHI)? Vincente Padilla(TEX)? Jeff Weaver(SEA)? Russ Ortiz(SF)? Kris Benson(NYM)? Eric Milton(CIN)? All guys that were considered solid to good pitchers. All flamed out over the last few years. Once and awhile you get a Lilly or Meche who turn out to be solid pitchers. Most of the time its a crap shoot. Is it worth spending $14 - $20 mil on something like that?
I tell you if the Orioles pay to get free agent pitchers they will regret it soon after.
CC? Guy has too many innings on his arm. He will be good for 2 more years but not too much longer.
Sheets? Already known to be injury prone. Who knows how many starts he will get each year.
AJ? 1.40 WHIP and 4.47 ERA aren't reassuring. Or how about the fact he has started 30 games in a season twice(including this years 31).
Garland? 1.46 WHIP and 4.64 ERA are less reassuring then AJs. Also he has the low 4.03 K/9 total. So he is a solid #3 or 4 starter. Not the guy to help Guthrie.
Oliver Perez? 1.36 WHIP, 3.86 ERA, K/9 over 8? Only 27 years old? Sounds good. Oh but he also averages less then 6 innings per start and is very inconsistent.
Out of all of those I'd only like to see the O's go after O.Perez. He's a left hander and is still young. And as you can see he hasn't been over worked. He has never pitched 200 innings in a year.
But I think MacPhail knows what he wants to do. Give it the time it needs. Give all of the AA pitchers some time. Give Matusz some time to develop. Don't forget the O's were counting on Innings from Trachsel and Loewen this year. That is a lot to deal with.
I was hoping last season the O's would have dealt for Brett Myers from Philly. He had a down year and might have been a cheap pick up. Now after his 2nd half it would take a lot to get him. Oddly enough I was also thinking Cliff Lee or Ervin Santana would have been fine cheap pick ups during spring training to eat some innings.
Get Teixeira. Build the offense of the next 5 - 10 years around Jones, Markakis, Teixeira and Wieters.
Winning in baseball has always been about pitching. Starting pitching covers up for all kinds of deficiencies. However, there's no other area in baseball - not defense - not offense - that covers up for a deficiency in pitching. Take the $20 million for Texiera, and hopefully another $20 or $30 million and go after pitching, pitching and more pitching. If you can get 2 near front liners - Sabathia and Sheets would be my choice with this money - slot Guthrie in as a number 3 then put Jim Johnson and Cabrera as 4th and 5th starters where they should be. If you put Cabrera in the 5th slot get the innings he eats up, take the pressure off him - I think he still has time to blossom - not the time to give up on him yet. Get 5 good to great starters and everything else on the team will take care of itself.
I know Teixeira is one of the best hitters in the league but come one we need some pitching i give the orioles jeremy guthrie and some great future pitching but key word future. We need to make a run at C.C. or Ben sheets, A.J, or even John Garland. Heah, they may feel there better teams out their but really if you think about it with the hitting which i think will carry over why not join us and if they put up decent numbers we can win some ball games. I tell you if the orioles get pitchers to help Jeremy the orioles will make a run at the playoffs.