Glove me two times
I love how soft and mushy athletes get during their retirement press conferences.
Jeff Kent looked at the reporters who gathered yesterday and said, "I'll miss you guys, too." Meanwhile, Kent was regarded as one of the least media-friendly players in baseball.
If I covered the Dodgers, I wouldn't get too sentimental over it. Kent also said that he'd miss the scarecrow most of all.
Alonzo Mourning also announced his retirement yesterday, though I'm pretty sure he's done that already.
New Jets coach Rex Ryan tried to announce Brett Favre's retirement, but was told that's not in his jurisdiction.
Being part of the old Oriole Way meant you preached pitching and defense. The current regime is waiting patiently for the young arms to hold down spots in the rotation. In the meantime, it's making sure that all the plays will be made behind whichever starter takes the ball.
There might not be a better outfield defense than the Orioles' alignment of Nick Markakis, Adam Jones and Felix Pie - all plus-defenders with plus-arms, though Jones is working to achieve the same accuracy as Markakis. And the infield is in good hands with Brian Roberts, Cesar Izturis and Melvin Mora. Even Aubrey Huff, the projected first baseman, is better than advertised.
Gregg Zaun won't throw out a ton of runners, but he's skilled at blocking pitches and, yes, blocking the plate. Get ready for it. He'll also call a good game. And Matt Wieters will excel at everything.
Jeremy Guthrie is an excellent fielder, similar to what we saw with Mike Mussina. I have no idea what Koji Uehara brings to the table.
At least we know that on most nights, the Orioles won't give away many runs.
A few readers here have wondered whether the Orioles should consider extending Huff's contract, especially with no guarantees that Brandon Snyder is the first baseman of the future. I'll throw it out there for everyone. Would that be a wise move?
Shameless plug alert: The Hot Stove Show returns tonight on MASN, beginning at 7 p.m. Jim Hunter and Phil Wood round out the trio.
Markakis and Nationals pitcher Collin Balester are scheduled to call us. Zaun hasn't been confirmed, but we're close.
Feel free to submit questions and I'll try to pass them along.
Are you a fan of Balester's blog? Did you know he has one?
Doesn't everybody?
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Categories (click for archive)Roch Kubatko | Roch Kubatko Orioles |
Hey Gregg, I heard you like to give your friends blank checks. Can I have one of those? I promise I won't forge your name.
Morning Roch, 39 in FL...but 71 later..I think Kent may be a bit miss-understood...but was always strange to the media..getting older has it ways of getting to you..your words on the O's defense are pretty much right on the button I think..only which other starters emerge is the question and how they pitch and field..I think the O's need to evaluate Huff as the season goes along..he had a great year last year...and if he does the same the first half of this year...you would have to think about extending him or maybe trading him at the deadline for a 1B prospect that is ready almost and other prospects...he is not that old really...has another 3-4 years in him I am sure...hard call for sure..Hot Stove Show back....can only get that in FL on Directv...darn I miss the local media coverage of the O's...if not for MASN and you..coffee and Roch news..every morning....how bad is that??
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39 in Florida? Unacceptable! - Roch
Hi Roch,
Thanks for the article. Concerning Huff, I think the Orioles should trade him now if there is a decent market for him, hopefully for additional prospects. If not, then attempt to sign him to a deal that is favorable to the team. Otherwise, let him leave and take the draft pick.
What are you hearing about the Orioles position? Are they interested in extending Huff or would they prefer to trade him if the market is acceptable?
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I really haven't heard anything on the topic, but it's widely believed they'd move him at the deadline if they got a decent offer (and they're way out of the playoff race, of course). - Roch
Let's see what Huff does through June. Last year's season was something of an aberration for him, so if we're talking about average Aubrey Huff (and given his age) there's no point extending him. Plus, if he's tearing it up through June we have the option of trading him should the right offer present itself.
Jack, I'm slightly incredulous that you think our pitching hasn't improved. I'm not saying we're even average yet, but MacPhail has added useful filler material to bridge the gap until some of our highly-regarded prospects can step in. And the best way to improve your pitching is to give it a top-notch defense. Statistically our pitching in 1989 was quite good, and who did we actually have? Outside of Ballard and Milacki, it's hard to name anyone from that rotation (a little easier for MASN watchers who see Dave Johnson regularly, and die-hard fans who remember his final start against the Jays when Harnisch was unavailable). Heck, that team was getting wins from the likes of Jay Tibbs and Mickey Weston.
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Wow, you are officially the first reader of either Roch blog to mention Mickey Weston. I feel like I should send you a prize or something. - Roch
I'd rather use the money to extend Roberts. H's a better athlete, younger, and more consistent than Huff. Huff's year last year was great, but I'm still not sold it wasn't a career year for him. I'd wiat until mid-season to see what he does because he's generally a slow starter. Hoes looks like the only 2nd baseman in the O's system who might really make it to the pros, and that'll be awhile so I'd go with Roberts for a while longer with that nice leadoff OBP and all those doubles.
I'm afraid we'll lose both which is a shame, but our starting ptiching is so question mark it's scary.
I'm very pleased w/the great defense we are going to have. To me though, Huff is a liability at first base. I think he is underrated overall defensively, but I think he is a much better 3rd baseman than 1st baseman (didn't do well w/digging balls out of the dirt). Hopefully, he can improve on that. I'm really anxious for Brandon Snyder to eventually take over the position (hoping his defensive skills will improve as well)!
Jack,
I would like to remind you, once again, that you are an idiot.
Huff and Roberts are about the same age. If one can be part of our winning future then both can. We just have to see what he does prior to the all-star break. If he plays like last year, I would definitely sign him to an extension. Snyder will be another Calvin Pickering and we all know how much he lived up to the hype. Look on the bright side, I could have thrown out Sam Horn's name. Oops, just did.
I say the O's should wait just a little and see what Aubrey shows in spring and the first month or so of the season. If he starts to show similar numbers to last year they should probably offer him an extension by early June. In that case it would pretty much be a win-win. If Aubrey has a similar year to last year extending him in June is bound to be cheaper than what they'll have to pay at the end of the season when free agency is right there. And if they extend him and Brandon Snyder does come on like a bat out of hell, then Aubrey Huff can still be a heck of a DH or he'll be a much more atractive trade piece with a non-expiring contract.
Sheets - WOW! Mickey Weston - certainly the 'lost boy', considering the other 2 parts of that trade; Brady Anderson and Curt Schilling (with Mike Boddicker going to the BoSox). Just too bad we never really got to see Schilling develop here.
How many wins did Ballard have that year? I seem to recall he was pushing 20, but I don't think he actually got there, right? It's been quite some time since we've seen a 20 associated to a pitcher, besides on his back. Here's hoping that changes with some of the talent waiting in the wings.
Cant extend him, heres why:
1) 32 Year old coming off career year(not typical production)
2) Nonathletic players who have some pop are not hard to find
3) His Defense still isn't great, I see McPhail going after a younger glove guy who has offensive potential to play first.
4) He won't have a ton of protection in the lineup for the next 2 or 3 years
5) It locks up money that should be saved for the guys coming up (signing them to extensions somewhat quickly if they demonstrate at the pro level theyre the real deal).
Roch, If you do sign with the Orioles for that "right handed first baseman" slot, how would it effect Roch Around The Clock? I can't blame you if you up and sign at 20 mill a year for 8 years, but we still want your blog man!
Also if you do talk with Zaun on the Hot Stove Show that returns tonight on MASN, beginning at 7 pm, could you ask him if he's going to be in the broadcast booth with his uncle Rick to analyze games on his off days.
I read he did that with the Blue Jays, minus Dempsey of course.
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Oooohhh, did you just type the old blog's name? The Sun wants a royalty check, pronto. - Roch
Oh, before anyone tries to rip me up, I am well-aware that no one has sported the number 20 for this organization in many years, and no one will again. My apologies for any heartburn this may have caused you.
In this market there will be little in return for 30+ 1B, plus no one seemingly is available to replace him at that position this year.
On the FA market he may be a compensation player which would really drive down his worth to other teams. My guess is that if he came back next year it would be for less than an extension would cost them this year.
Wait it out and see what happens.
Roch...
Let's say Huff puts up a .290/.350/.540 line this season. I believe we'd have a type A free agent on our hands, would we not?
Which 1st baseman off this list would you prefer?
Carlos Delgado NYM
Ross Gload KC
Aubrey Huff BAL
Nick Johnson WAS
Adam LaRoche PIT
Robb Quinlan LAA
Matt Stairs TOR
Hmmmm, me neither.
Whatever shall we do about 1st base?
I'd extend Huff, but only if his contract requires that he embarras himself and the Os on the Bubba the Love Sponge show. It worked last year.
Drumbo - Ballard had 18 wins in 1989 to go along with 14 wins out of the rotund Bob Milacki. Still my favorite season of Orioles baseball. Long live Phil Bradley.
We should keep Huff Daddy, he can still DH, and do a heck of a job!
We also need to sign Roberts! and then they can start plastering his image on everything O's, along with Markakis...I noticed last year with the trade rumours that B Rob wasn't on much of anything...
question or comment for Markakis.... Back in the 07 season, he was batting 3rd with Millar batting 4th, on a sunday that i was at the park...
anyway...
Millar must have been trying a new walk up song...and it was Foreigner's 'Cold as Ice'...and twice Markakis struck out, and they immeadiately played the song which starts off with the chorus.."You're as Cold and Ice......" and to some it might have been misconstrued ...does anybody else remember this??
speaking of that, didn't Millar's song last year suck??? what a downer
I think it would be smart to extend Huff for 3 years along with BRob.
There is nothing in the pipeline for 2B and 1B/DH.
Snyder won't be ready till 2011/12 IF he pans out.
Roberts 3yr 33M w/ a club option for 13M.
Huff 3yr 24M w/ a club option for 10M.
Thanks to Andy McPhail for trading for Felix Pie just before National Pie Day!
http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/January/nationalpieday.htm
Roch, it’s encouraging to read MacPhail’s words on Markakis. It appears that MacPhail “gets it.” Yes, it is possible that a 25 year old can be one of the better players in the game and, yes, should be treated in terms of a contract like he is such a player. The team still has serious deficiencies—not unexpected that they wouldn’t be rectified—but the Markakis deal is a reason to be optimistic about the club’s future.
It’ll be interesting to see if the projected defense pans out and helps this club. Can it make some of these young pitchers better? A good defense can’t stop home runs hit well beyond the fences or prevent walks, but perhaps the young pitchers have a bit more confidence if, say, three-run home runs become solo shots, and they can truly not be afraid to throw strikes since the guys on the field can make plays. Having an outfield of Markakis, Jones, and Pie is exciting. It’s reminiscent of the Anderson-Devereaux-Finley days (wasn’t there a defensive highlight every night back then, or am I just imagining that?). Maybe we can package one of these outfielders with a couple of our young pitchers and make a deal for a power-hitting first baseman—oh, wait, never mind.
Right now, I’d say no to extending Aubrey Huff. I know it’s tempting to want to do so after last season, but I’d still have to see which Huff is real—the 2007 or 2008 version. His career is a mix of both so it’s hard to tell. If he were an exceptional defender, or even five years younger, I’d say go for it.
The Orioles have over $42 million coming off the books next year (Huff, Roberts, Mora, Hernandez, Gibbons, Walker, Baez, Freel). This gives them a lot of payroll flexibility and a lot of holes to fill. Huff is a good player to have because of his ability 1st, 3rd and DH. If you can get Huff to sign a two year deal than you can ease Snyder in during 2010 and Rowell in 2011.
Hey Roch.
It's looking like we're not getting what we're looking for back for Roberts and Huff. Do you think the other GMs are hesitant to trade with AM after the Bedard and Tejada deals?
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Not at all. MacPhail didn't jump at Bavasi's first offer during the Bedard negotiations, and he eventually pried Mickolio and Butler from the Mariners' farm system. He isn't going to make any deals if he isn't completely satisfied. - Roch
Extend Huff for no more than two years. Ask Markakis about his hair and if he is in touch with Wieters.
Roch:
See what Huff does at the beginning of the season before we try to extend him. To me, the jury is still out on him.
Is there any truth the rumor that BRob turned down a 3 year, 30 million offer? I find that hard to believe.
About the Hot Stove. Watch or listen every week and haven't known one of the National players or coaches yet and really don't care. I understand what they are doing but what I heard about their ratings in DC doesn't surprise me. No baseball team ever survived in DC despite what Phil Wood believes.
I'd advocate trading Huff at the deadline if we're out of it rather than extending him.
If he finishes the season with us then look into a new contract.
Less D-Cab = More D
I would extend Huff for a few years if it is for the right price and if we can use him as a DH in the future. Age is not a great concern at this point. Edgar Martinez was a great DH until late in his career. Last year Huff showed that the potential from his early career is coming full circle. I really like the make-up of our roster, but people cannot forget that a huge part of our offensive success last year was because of the resurgence of Huff and Mora. The year Huff had last year is not something that is easily replaced.
I would think Huff's trade value would be higher now than at the break due to his typical slow start (last year being the exception). The 2010 free agent market for 1B is not that great, Adam LaRoche and Nick Johnson namely. These options are not that much younger or more productive than Huff. I would consider an extension, if a better first baseman comes along Huff can always serve as DH.
Dayum Roch..... are you predicting a winning season ? That rhetoric is impressive as all get out.
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Solid defense = winning season? Unfortunately, no. Not until the starting pitching improves, for sure. - Roch
I'm in the camp that says no extension for Huff until after the season, if at all. Remember that there was very limited interest in Huff prior to signing with the O's, and that was back in the good old days before the financial meltdown scared most teams wallets shut. Ideally, Huff will start the season with his swing carrying over from the end of last season and we'll be able to flip him for a valuable prospect or two.
I also think that the O's potentially have several candidates who can replace Huff internally, such as Snyder (who may not be fully ready by spring 2010), Reimold (if Pie works out in LF, Nolan will need to find a new place to play), Rowell (probably needs at least two more years in the minors, but has more upside than either Snyder or Reimold), and finally, Wieters. I know it's a huge advantage to get plus offense from the catcher spot, but I don't think the O's will want to have their best hitter on the bench for 30-40 games a year because he needs a break from catching. Catchers are also far more susceptible to injury than 1B, and they tend to have far shorter careers.
Re: Huff - anyone who says last year was an aberration or a career year needs to check out his 8 year career in the AL East. I will take his average year (26 HR, 92 RBI, .287 ) any time. And 32 years old for this season means he likely has 2 or 3 PRIME years left and then another 2 or 3 that could go either way.
Re: Jack - I am not seeing the reason for such heaping insults on a fellow poster. I tire of the 'MCFAIL' references, but I do not recall Jack ever calling any other poster names, or ridiculing them or their opinions. To the extent that there are personal attacks going on, I have seen dozens of personal attacks on Jack and none from Jack to any other poster.
Jack's last post was correct, by the way. Our starting pitching entering this year is not even as promising as it was entering last year, in my opinion. Surely it is no better. That is not blaming anyone for Loewen's injury, but the point is that anyone (even, God forbid, Guthrie) can go down with a season-ender. We simply are not any better at starting pitcher than we were in April. Uehara is a good pickup. I do not expect him to do what I had expected from Loewen last year. Hennessy or Hendrickson or whomever sounds to me a lot like a Trachselesque solution. None of our younger guys have the upside that Cabrerra had (and fulfilled for the first third of the season). That is not to say it can't be better. It can - if things go right. But it can be worse if things go wrong.
The point is we did not improve starting pitching AT ALL compared to last April (nevermind 'doing everything possible). Maybe we filled a couple of the biggest holes, but we left too many others. And I don't buy the argument that no one would come here. There are several still waiting for spots that would be an upgrade. I am partial to Perez, but there are others. And trades were another route to try, but we used trades to give up a starter instead (not that I didnt like that trade - Pie MIGHT be a puzzle piece, so you go for it.)
So I would hope that:
1. other posters reduce the personal attacks
2. Jack recognizes that the McFail line is tired
3. Andy gets us at least SOME starting pitching improvement.
too much to ask? probably.
Oh yeah - one more thing - Albert Belle and Sammy Sosa were a long time ago and I think they represented the anomoly , not the typical for the current O's ownership. It has not ever been, despite those egregious examples, our approach or policy to sign over-the-hill and way-too-overpriced free agents. Our first big splash into free agency was Fred Lynn, Lee Lacy and Don Aase. They produced. You can debate Tejada. Palmiero produced until the postive test result. Javy Lopez produced until injured and Charles Johnson produced and so did Ramon Hernandez.
I don't want to be Mr. Negative (he's already posting on this blog somewhere...), but I don't want to resign Huff. I unfortunately believe it was just a great season, and his numbers are going to decrease slightly each year. After '08 (and hopefully a nearly as good '09) Huff is going to be looking for a 3 or 4 year deal, and I don't think I would be willing to give that to him. If we can lock him up for another 1 or 2, however...
If the O's do trade Huff, that essentially means Luke Scott and Lou Montanez will share first base and DH, unless Chris Gomez becomes superman. I doubt they will get a MLB 1B of any type in the trade, because if a team has that they likely will not need Huff except at DH.
If they keep him after a good year, he will be a type A free agent, which may bode well and give the O's another first round pick.
So, it could really go either way.
Hey Roch,
Who is Collin Balester anyway? I guess he is just the token National's player that has to be there because Phil Wood is there.
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Former fourth-round pick of the Expos, made major league debut last year. Was 3-7. You'd think his name would be spelled Colin Ballester. It's like the "L" shifted. - Roch
We'll be looking for Kent to come out of retirement when AM makes a blockbuster trade involving B-Rob during Spring Training...
re Zaunie's defense: it will be a pleasure to see a solid
cather for a change. Javy, Gill, and Ramon wore out a path
to the backstop---the grounds crew is still trying to repair.
Hey roc whats up... Hey I was wondering if you have the hot stove show that I was one.. just wanted to see when it was going to come up on the website and if not then if you could send it to me. let me know..
Collin
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Hey Collin, I'll definitely make sure you get a copy of the show. The wheels are already in motion. Thanks again for calling in. You were a huge hit! - Roch