Tim Bascom
I'm taking a few minutes out of my busy day to update my shopping list. I've already decided to give Donavan McNabb a tie for Christmas.
McNabb referred to Ravens coach John Harbaugh as "Jim" during yesterday's conference call with reporters.
It's been a tough week for McNabb, who also let it slip that he thought the Eagles were playing the USFL's Baltimore Stars on Sunday.
It appears that Tim Bascom, a fourth-round pick in last year's draft, will return to Single-A Frederick to start the 2009 season. Bascom was 6-5 with a 5.78 ERA in 19 games with the Keys this season after staying back at extended spring training because of an injury. Opponents batted .303 against him.
"I think we'll make that decision a little bit later on, but it's not unexpected to see him start out at Frederick," said David Stockstill, director of player development. "When you miss that much time your first year, it's difficult to push a guy too fast."
Bascom tossed five perfect innings against the first-place Honolulu Sharks in a Hawaii Winter League game, but finished 1-3 with a 7.78 ERA in six starts for the West Oahu CaneFires. He didn't pitch in November.
"Last year was his first full year of pro ball and he came into spring training out of shape and got hurt and missed the first half of the year," Stockstill said. "We sent him to Hawaii to get more pitching in and he went out there and struggled at first, then started pitching much better and had a couple really good games. Then he pretty much reached the end of where we wanted him to be, and not because he was injured. I just think he had enough at that point. He was getting better, but you've got to remember that he's a guy who hadn't pitched much in the last couple of years before we signed him, and he had knee surgery, and he was getting used to being in a professional routine. This being his first year, that was a lot to ask of him."
Bascom isn't getting mentioned much these days because of our collective obsessions with Brian Matusz, Chris Tillman, Jake Arrieta, Brad Bergesen, etc. But keep an eye on him this season. He could join the fray, which would be a nice development for an organization that's trying to stockpile young pitching.
I've had this one question always dogging me like Adam "Pacman" Jones with his incidents....
When do teams usually talk about salary figures, deals, and the actual process of negotiating with a free agent such as Mark Teixiera or so-so?
If I could get this answered, it'll be like a Christmas gift!
But on the real, though, Peter Angelos should give Andy MacPhail the checks and let MacPhail spend the money on the players we all think should be here. Forget Albert Belle or other free agent busts. They were in different times, different situations, and they are different players with different histories.
Mark Teixiera is the perfect example of a free agent signee. He's in his prime, excellent defense, productive offense, and a switch-hitter. He helps us in many ways. I know we want to go the pitching route, but we can go both ways (sign Teixiera, Burnett, etc).
But I bet a certain team will try to blow everything out of the stratosphere and hoard these free agents for themselves. Which is very stupid and idiotic to do. And that is exactly the reason Major League Baseball needs a salary cap or some kind of serious penalty for going over $200 million or something. How can small-market teams compete with that? It's just stupid when you see that certain team involved in EVERY free-agent race.
Anyway --- could you please answer the question, Roch?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Teams operate differently. Nobody can negotiate with another organization's free agents until after the World Series. After that, it all depends on the GM, the agent, etc. One team might aggressively make an immediate offer (see: Yankees), while others are a little more deliberate, careful not to be used simply to drive up the price. There isn't one set of blueprints. - Roch
Roch,
Any word on where Bergesen may start this year? Don't forget David Hernandez who just keeps putting up numbers and rarely gets mentioned
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nothing official yet, and much depends on who makes the big league roster (Olson, Liz, etc.). But Bergesen is expected to be assigned to Triple-A Norfolk. - Roch
Roch - you said it plainly so I now believe it:
Mussina wanted to stay an Oriole and was angered at the lack of attention showed him as he went through the market.
I had never had a reliable source tell me that before, so I had been giving Mussina the benefit of some doubt.
But now, I am really sure I don't like him. The millions were not enough. The fans were obviously not a factor. The fact that we brought him to the majors and made him a star? Who cares! His teammates? Screw 'em.
Baby needed more loving attention. What a prima donna crybaby. Sheesh. Maybe Angelos should have bought him a pacifier and a blanky instead of just saying, "look, Mike, when you feel you have your sense of the best of the market, let us know so we can match it and keep you here for life with no questions about whether you took less than market rates to stay."
So now we know. The main factor in Mike's decision was that he didn't feel enough front office types showed him the proper respect and adulation. That is the worst reason I have ever heard for sticking it to your fans and your teammates and making a career decision. Holy crap. Does he have any frigging idea of what bosses and owners are like in the real world? Are you kidding me? Money and contracts and fair treatment are not sufficient?! He wants love and attention. Give me a break. They were the bosses and owners, not his mumsy and daddy. What a head case.
Yeah, I know, some of you will say that Angelos would not have matched the Yankees offer and you will use his after-the-fact off the cuff comment to reporters to support this theory. I don't buy that. Angelos is a bit petulant, had just been screwed over in public, was going to lose this ugly PR battle. So what else would he say. Peter is Peter.
But Mussina is Mussina. What a needy little crybaby. He must have been an Al Franken disciple and figured this was the Mike Mussina decade. What can the world do for me, Mike Mussina?
You know what? Here is my answer to what cap he should wear if he scrapes his way into the Hall: screw him, screw the horse he rode in on, screw the horse he rode out on! He should wear the little boy beanie cap, short pants and knee socks like the 8 year old he still is.
Roch, thanks for your perspective on Mussina and his departure, which coincides with what my take on the situation has always been. Factor in that several years before he accepted a below market (though still good paying) deal to stay with the club, which didn’t sit well with members of the players union (I recall Tom Glavine, I believe, publicly berating him for accepting it). So, do you stay on with a team that won’t show you’re a priority—a losing team that was showing serious dysfunction at the time, had dealt away many of its best players, and had little hope for quickly improving—or do you sign on with the Yankees, the reigning world champion at the time that had won its third consecutive title, who basically rolled out the red carpet for you? Hardly a decision.
Who knows what would’ve happened to the O’s if Mussina had stayed here. Maybe he’d have suffered any of the various O’s pitching maladies that have been rampant since he left: a strained oblique, Tommy John surgery, or a torn labrum. Perhaps more good players would have wanted to come here and the team would’ve been better, but the front office dysfunction wouldn’t have magically disappeared, so you could probably say, no, they would’ve still been terrible anyway.
What is the relevant lesson now about what happened with Mussina? Take care of your best homegrown players as soon as you can. I fear we’re watching it all over again with Roberts and Markakis, and it’s really unfortunate if that's the case. Yeah, technically you can take these things up to the very last minute, but you risk burning a lot of good will along the way, allowing the price to escalate, and also allowing the player to get comfortable with the idea of becoming a free agent, and none of these things are optimum for a perennial loser with little leverage. For this team’s long-term good, signing free agents should be secondary; locking up its best current players now should be the priority.
I can't see them going 5 years on Burnett given his health history. Or any other starter that will command a significant contract since the kids are close, and others like Bascom and Beato in the wings. Just a few retreads to be temporary fill-ins is my guess, ala Odalis Perez last year.
Do you have any sense that the Orioles will do anything of consequence before the beginning of 2009 since AM is so deliberate with any major move? Signing Roberts or Markakis would count, but they both are far from any deal it seems.
"They did take care of Scott Erickson..." that one made me laugh Rocco... potter sure had the golden touch didn't he? P1sses off Moose & keeps that butthead... Is Erickson still married to that "reporter" , a 1 year wonder on the MNF slidelines? Can't recall her name.
I LIKE that McNabb joke... I guess you are getting Mussina a ring?
Bascom is lucky he isn't going to be summering in Salisbury with numbers like those at Frederick....
I have a question about the here & now though.... if potter wasn't willing to take care of his own stars back in the day, what makes anyone think he will go out now & spend even more $$ on salaries? Old fossils don't change & I doubt he will be visited by 3 ghosts this offseason & change his tune...
Hey Roch besides Paul Byrd (whom we all know you love!) who do you want the O's to get? Just wondering. Oh and don't say Manny.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I want 'em all - Teixeira, Burnett, Manny... That's not realistic, but hey, I still want 'em. - Roch
I said don't say Manny! But he's pretty good.
Can someone explain the Teixiera craziness to me? He'll be 29 at the start of next season. Why would anyone give him an 8 year contract at the prime-of-career premium? He'll be at a peak for approx. 3-4 years, during which he will undoubtedly be "worth" $20 MM per season, but after that his power numbers will inevitably decline...35yo designated hitters are NOT worth that money. Why isn't it insanity for the O's to even consider trying to sign him?
brian... re: erickson... i recently saw a show on (don't judge, i'm a girl) HGTV about ridiculously huge and stupid homes in nevada/arizona/wyoming/wherever and his home with whatshername was "featured". i almost canceled my cable subscription upon that very episode. but one channel up, duff was making a cake in the shape of a moose.
who doesn't love cake(s)?
A little off topic... but have you and MASN had any discussions about doing a podcast? If not, *nudge nudge*. I was thinking today how awesome that'd be.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I've heard that word tossed around, though I'm not sure exactly what's in store down the road. I'll pass along your "nudge nudge." Good hearing from you! - Roch
The West Oahu CaneFires has to be the worst name of any team in any league in any sport.