If not Wieters...
I was convinced that Matt Wieters would be the Opening Day catcher, and the organization is keeping a collective open mind until spring training. It's too early to know anything for sure. But I'm wavering again.
At least two team officials have indicated that Wieters would benefit from a little more time in the minors, mostly to hone his skills behind the plate. His technique and arm are very good, but he's still learning to call a game. And he's adapting to having pitchers give him absolutely nothing to hit. It happened in Frederick and Bowie, and it happened in the Arizona Fall League.
The people who defend Ramon Hernandez point to his offensive numbers and say they rank favorably to other catchers in the league. Then they talk about his defense and hustle, and voices are lowered.
The Orioles won't go out and sign Pudge Rodriguez, but there are people in the organization who believe a similar-type veteran would be useful in helping the young pitchers develop while also giving Wieters needed at-bats and innings at Triple-A Norfolk. If Wieters pulls an Evan Longoria and forces his way on the roster, the Orioles could deal the veteran or cut ties.
Pull an Evan Longoria? You mean get held back in AAA for enough time to push back arbitration a year? You sure you don't mean pull a Nick Markakis?
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No, pull a Longoria and send him to Triple-A to start the year, then call him up soon after while people are asking, "Why is he still in the minors?" - Roch
The only reason to keep Wieters in the Minors to begin the season is the FA clock. He has very good plate discipline so taking walks and laying off the junk won't be an issue. And I don't think ML pitchers are going to pitch around him until he proves he can hit them and win games with his bat. As for calling the game, you could always have the pitching coach watch him the first few weeks. It's not brain surgery. Hopefully.
BTW Roch, what odds will you give me on the O's signing Teixeira?
I'll never forget a couple of years ago when Greg Zaun was doing the tween innings commentary on the playoffs..and Oakland was playing I can't remember. He mentioned after the Big Hurt had gone down swinging on three straight fast balls that in Toronto, the book on Thomas was that he had "slider bat speed". Lo and behold , the next year , Thomas is a Jay.I wonder if they chatted much in the club house.
The appeal of Zaun is that he is on the backside of his career, he is a thinker and he knows AL east hitters.
He strikes me as the type of guy who would welcome the opportunity to tutor a Wietes as his last duty.
He can't hit his weight however and was called out on Steroid use, but he handled it all quite well.
This would be my choice.
i've said it before, and i'll say it again..... zaun
I'm with you BC Mike. I like Zaun because he thinks like a hockey player. He's done a terrific job as an analyst on TV up here in Canada. He's candid and he calls guys out when they aren't doing the job on the field. And I actually think he could still hit .260 with a bit of pop. He won't cost big bucks, and the team would acquire a guy with a bit of warrior in him. I like the idea.
As for the Olson for Greene debate, a good point has been made. I'd hate to see another John Maine-like trade. Now is not the time to give up on Olson, especially not for a guy who is likely a one-year rental.
You mean pull a Longoria by keeping him in the minors under the guise of delaying his FA clock and then immediately after his call up signing him long term thus rendering the delay moot?
Little late weighing in on supposed Olsen for Greene deal, but here goes.
Greene is one year removed from a year where he hit 27 HR's, with 97 ribbies, and committed only 11 errors in San Diego's not so hitter friendly, Petco Park. I'll assume that he was hurt, as someone mentioned, this past season with less than 400 abs.
If SD asked for Garret Olsen and we refused, that's totally befuddling. Olsen is not Jim Johnson and never will be. As I've stated before, he's a high ball pitcher. You can't win in the AL East throwing 91 mph fastballs when you are a high ball pitcher. Yes, Greene is a free agent after '09, but if he's Type A the Orioles get a top pick in return. I seem to remember Andy MacPhail saying, at some point, the stockpile of young pitching would be used in trades to meet other needs. This would have been a great time to pull the trigger.
Roch,
If we are truly in a rebuilding mode, why wouldn't you want to start Weiters? He will hit just as much if not better then Jones who is also a young player learning as he goes. If there is all this talk about eating Hernandez's contract, why not get something out of it and use him as the backup this year? Play him twice a week and DH him twice a week. One other player I would like to see them carry this year is Montanez. The boy can flat out hit when he plays regulary.
My guess on Tex is they make a half hearted offer at him for say 5yr/80 mil. They will then hold a press conference and say " Guys we tried." Forget about Burnett, they wont even put in a bid now that there is talk of 5 year contract demands. I hope I am wrong, but remember Angelos is running this team and he likes to spend little while raking in the big bucks with his Mid Atlantic Sports Network.
Having Wieters start in AAA like Longoria makes the most sense long term. I think Zaun would be the perfect mentor. Unless we get a good offer for Ramon, I'd gamble that he'll hustle more in 2009 (option $$$ year). Sooner or later, someone will need a veteran catcher with a decent bat. I'd rather have Greene than Izturis, but you don't have to give up any talent or draft picks for Izturis, and you will very likely get a shot at Greene next winter.
You never know about young pitchers (remember the Maine) so I think it's too early to give up Olson.
Sign Jason Varitek. You have two Georgia Tech guys, same position. A great transtion to Wieters and move Hernandez. Won't cost much and still have Varitek as a back up when Wieters arrives.
I have no problem with bringing in Rick Dempsey's nephew Greg Zaun as support for Matt Wieters. But the trade I would make is Ramon Hernandez for Aaron Heilman. The change of scene and giving him a chance to start as he did at Notre Dame would be a boost for Heilman and the Orioles.
Greg Zaun.
Roch,
You've said a couple of times that Wieters is still learning to call a game. These days, don't the manager or pitching coach call all of the pitches, and even the pitchouts and pickoffs? If so, what does Wieters need to learn?
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The catcher is responsible for most, if not all, of the pitch selection. It's an adjustment for any catcher joining a new team. He has to learn what each starter throws. Hernandez went through the same thing after signing as a free agent. It's not a concern with Wieters. It's just part of the process. But he also has to learn the hitters and their weaknesses.- Roch
Yes, lets hold onto all of the guys who can't get people out. And never make a trade because John Maine became a good pitcher in the NL. Lets forget all the other pitchers who could not pitch in the majors. Because they made a bad deal one time.
Glenn Davis was a bad deal. Albert Belle got hurt. So no trading or signing a free agent middle of the line up hitter?
I'd take Greene, 29, for a LHP who doesn't even project to be on the ML roster in '10. Olson has what looks like 1 full season under his belt.
10-13 6.87 ERA 1.818 WHIP 33 Starts 165 Innings 210 H 90 BB 111 K
Makes D. Cabrera look good.
XD23 -
I get your fondness for Olsen. So if he's got no game, why would you think SD would be interested in him? You guys all kill me. You want to trade off pitchers who don't perform here, who you basically think are minor league fodder, then think that other teams will trade for these guys. Sure, why don't we just offer Cabrera to Colorado for Tulowitzki! Maybe we can send Burress to the Cubs for Derek Lee.
Who knows whether Olsen will ever be a serviceable starter, but we invested in the kid, and I think we give him a little more time to see if he turns the corner. After all, that's what rebuilding teams do.
What is this sudden infactuation with Garrett Olson? I could not believe my eyes when I read that we passed on a power hitting SS in his prime for a young unproven 4th starter at best pitcher. What has Olsen done to make everyone so terrified of trading him? He just doesn't have the makeup necessary to compete each time out. I don't care how nice of a guy he is, right now he's no better than Bruce Chen when he was here (look at the stats).
Greene would have been a huge upgrade at a low price. Who cares if he would be a free agent? Why do we always assume that the O's can't re-sign any of their own players?
33 Starts is hardly enough time in the majors to have a judgment on Olson. It actually sounds silly.............after one years worth of starts, people are ready to give up on this guy?? The O's will give him more time, which they should.