For Brad, adding more pitchers could be the pits
Former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue didn't make it into the Hall of Fame again this year.
Nothing can upset me today.
Maybe Tags can take the money he saved up for a speech writer and build himself a museum.
It wasn't long ago that I chose invitee Brad Hennessey as my camp surprise. I predicted that he'd be the fifth starter in the rotation.
Is it too soon to hedge?
I'll stick with my original pick, but Hennessey's chances keep shrinking each time the Orioles add another pitcher who's out of options.
Rich Hill could be the latest addition next week who fits that description, joining former Boston Red Sox right-hander David Pauley. And while I still expect Braden Looper to sign elsewhere, the Orioles retain serious interest in him.
Manager Dave Trembley says Hennessey is going to "get a shot," a point he's made very clear to the former first-round draft pick through emails and phone conversations.
"When Olson was traded, I e-Hennessey and told him, 'Well, you're going to get your chance now,'" Trembley said.
"He's a guy who's going to have to pitch early in camp. That's the thing Kranny is trying to do, get guys we feel have a legitimate shot of being on the club to see what they can do early. They need to pitch early."
Trembley stays in touch with his players, old and new, throughout the winter.
"Most of the new guys, I call and ask if there's anything I can help with - housing, flights, anything big or small," he said. "Ryan Freel calls me just about every other day."
You can never accuse Trembley of being detached from his players.
 |
Categories (click for archive)Roch Kubatko | Roch Kubatko Orioles |
Hey Roch,
What do you think are the chances that the Orioles get both Hill and Looper? I'm all about aquiring as much pitching as possible going into spring training and letting them duke it out but to a certain point (as mentioned earlier) if you get too many arms than no one gets enough innings to really prove themselves. If the Orioles get Hill will they abandon all efforts on grabbing Looper?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
They'll still pursue Looper, even if they acquire Hill. - Roch
You still hold it against Tags for letting the Colts go? I do, but there was nothing he could do to stop the fat little idiot from going to Indy with our team since the courts backed Al Davis in the suit.
I vote for Quiroz and Moore to be let go so we can sign Wigginton after we get Hill.
I figure that only 2 of the 4 out of option pitchers that are "on the bubble" make the roster, after adding Hill. Penn and Pauley get the nod. Hill and Bass go to Norfolk, though someone might pick up Bass for their 'pen. I figure that Hennessey gets caught in the numbers game. He gets sent down since he has an option left even if he pitches well. He might be the "sleeper" but it may not happen until the others screw up and need to be replaced.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I hold it against Tags that he didn't give Baltimore the expansion team it so richly deserved, instead telling the city to build a museum. That led to the Browns moving here. We didn't want to take a team from another city. We wanted our own. But Tags thought Carolina and Jacksonville were more deserving. I guess Baltimore hadn't done enough for the NFL - besides, you know, helping to put it on the map. - Roch
Stay off the Boardwalk today - cold and windy as hell!
Did you stop and see my mom Roch?....she is in Fenwick not far from Ocean Pines...tell her it is cold in FL too and supposed to be 38 tonight and she is not missing any good weather...better warm up in 2 weeks for you and the O's though...I still agree with Hennessey too but if they trade for Hill..and have Pauley..and Penn...and Albers..to go with Guthrie and Uehara.....and still go for Looper and a couple of other guys too...Patton, Baez or even Hendrickson.....crazy....they would be overwhelmed with starters and relievers too...all I know is they better be ready to pitch and pitch good cause their chance is coming and the spots are ready to be seized. It is starting to seem more and more like a trade needs to be made really...I just love Dave Trembley...he is a good guy and good mgr...you bring guys in to a new team and have talked to them lots and made them feel really wanted and comfortable and know that they seriously have a chance...hopefully that makes them perform better because they will know they have a legit shot to make the team especially the pitchers....and those 3 or 4 bench spots...I am so ready for ST.....I know you have to be excited to get it going and come to FL and get out of that cold....you have a great job Roch...and you have earned it. You do a damn good job of it in all aspects.
Taking pleasure from Tagliabue not making the Hall is just meanspirited and vindictive,.......... feelings I share and could not agree more with, my day has been brightened considerably as well. Maybe he can call Bob Trumpy for some sympathy
Roch,
Is it possible next time you talk to Andy M. you could ask him would they consider extending Matt Wieters now? or perhaps you already know the answer to that. Goldstein at Baseball Prospectus calls him our best player right now. My concern is being a Boras client in all maybe this is the only way to get him to extend...is to offer 8 years now at like 10-12 per. I just hate this inevitable feeling of getting dumped in 6 years.
Roch,What other team do you see looper going to the brewers say their done and the pirates are worse off than the o's so who else is there?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
He's also Plan B for the Dodgers. Maybe a team swoops in at the last minute. Do the Yankees have any money left? - Roch
The O's will take the Guthrie, Uehara and whatever other 3 guys show the best stuff in spring training, right. Just because Hill and Pauley are out of options doesn't mean that the O's will put them in the rotation. They will have to show that they have a good shot at winning games, or at the least not killing the bullpen. There's no reason to believe that Pauley or Hill, if he does get traded will show anything in the spring. Hill was awful at every level in 2008. At lease Pauley was pretty good at AAA last year. Hennessey has shown the ability to get major league hitters out in several stints with the Giants. I still agree with your original assessment that he has the best shot to be in the starting rotation when the O's break camp.
Roch,
Let's hope the Orioles reward Trembley with the same patience he shows the players and organization by letting him hang around to see his efforts result in a winner. Seems like a fantastic guy. I don't know how they could ask for anyone better.
At least we know who the kiss ass on this roster is...
"Maybe Tags can take the money he saved up for a speech writer and build himself a museum."
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! You are something else, Roch.
Its great to hear Freel starting up a good rapport with Trem. I'm sure he'll provide some good quotes during the season.
Roch, Did you make it okay to Ocean Pines? Car keys?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I made it in 2 1/2 hours. Thanks. And - don't jinx me here - but I haven't had car key issues since I sold the Cavalier. - Roch
Hey Roch,
So evidently people think 2007 was a pretty good while ago, eh? Is it considered that much of a long-shot that Brad and Rich could duplicate their '06-07 stats because of last year? Perhaps (and probably) I am naive, but it just seems odd to me that guys who this time last year were rather coveted are hoping to beat out guys who either haven't had a chance to do anything, or who haven't done anything with previous chances.
For a team in the position in which the O's find themselves, Hennessey strikes me as a Godsend. He has been an up-and-coming starter, as well as a more-than-serviceable closer. Good stuff.
I'll buy Hill as a long-shot, but I wouldn't change your pick for Hennessey just yet.
Some people take sports-related jobs just a little too seriously. Looks like they call him Nasty for a reason:
http://www.txcn.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/tv/stories/wfaa090130_ac_keith.2993fb1.html
You know, I can take a lot being a die-hard fan of the Orioles. God knows 11 straight losing seasons has been demoralizing enough but I'll remain an ever-optimistic Orioles fan, even if they lost another 11 straight years.
The one thing that would instantly disillusion me, however, is if the team moved to another city... and I'm not even from the area. I can't imagine how unfair it is for any community to have their team ripped out from under their noses. It should be a last resort only.
Baseball did a great job and had no franchises move between Washington in the early 70s and the Expos. And unlike many cities that have lost their teams, Montreal didn't seem to skip a beat so the damage was minimal. I guess in the end, I can't blame people - Roch included - for holding a grudge because of the Colts debacle.
Hey Roch, you should come up to the Lewes Polar Bear Plunge Sunday morning since your down here! Although, it's actually off the boardwalk in Rehobeth, it's going to be an insane crowd.
Hey roch...i feel like we have to many righty starters what do you think? I feel like all the good rotations have at least 2-3 lefties. Do you think we can get away with just one?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One lefty is fine if it's one good lefty. - Roch
I'm thinking that if Penn, Pauley, and Hennessey all have desent spring, and if the O's make the deal for Hill, don't they have to cut Burris and Beaz? Does anyone in Baltimore still believe Beaz can pitch?
It is a shame that Art Modell is being blocked from the Hall of Fame. The city of Cleveland should be ashamed. He waited and waited for a stadium to be built while a Rock Hall of Fame went up, the Indians get a stadium and still nothing. As I understand it, he was a great benefactor to many charities in Cleveland. He was no Al Davis moving teams continually a challenging the NFL continually. He helped build the league form the 60's to where it is today. He was in the mold of the Rooneys, Maras, and yet he is denied. It is just wrong. I hope the NFL gives this man his due before is 6 ft deep in the ground.
It's a shame that pitchers with options left may be punished even though they might pitch the best in ST.There's already too many pitchers coming to camp for anyone to get a fair evaluation,yet here we are trying to get 2 more.Why bother signing all these players if they aren't getting a shot? Hill is a waste of time,he's no different than DCab.I like Hennessy also along with Pauley.We would have been a lot better off going after Garko instead of Pie.This team has done nothing to replace Millar and Hernandez's power.
Jack,
Here's a reminder: You're still an idiot.
If we get Hill from the Cubs and he doesn't work out we could trade him to the Mariners who are also interested and get Olson back. He could get traded three times in one off-season and wind up right back where he was to begin with.
Hennessey will be the man. The guy has great stuff!! His mind is clear , I believe he is a cancer survivor!! Now that Guthrie is officialy our ace and not a good story anymore, he is the new Guthrie!!
Wouldn't it be ironic and fitting if Art Modell and Tags got voted into the HOF in the same year?????
Tom C....... I second that.
Roch,
What is it that you and others see in Hennessey that makes you think he has a good shot at a spot in the rotation? His numbers aren't impressive at all. Am I missing something?
TOM C......&......VINCE......Instead of making personal atacks, ie. calling Jack an idiot, why don't you tell us what it is that you disagree with concerning his comments !!.......You just look lower than Jack with such attacks & nothing else to say.
I don't think Hennessey makes the rotation simply because he's not on the 40 man roster so we don't lose him by sending him to AAA. In terms of who gets bumped from the 40-man, Baez is definitely a candidate because he is coming back from a major injury and is making a huge sum of money for a RP ($6MM?) making a waiver claim unlikely. I'd jettison Simon before Burres because as bad as he was as a starter, Burris really wasn't that bad as a reliever. Let him start the year in Norfolk's bullpen. Simon, OTOH, hasn't shown enough to warrant keeping him over the other 12 RHRP we it seems we have. Burres may have to come off eventually, but rather later than now.