Zaun update and the Ravens
I was able to reach Gregg Zaun earlier tonight, and as a follow to what my friend Peter Schmuck wrote in The Sun, the former Orioles catcher says team president Andy MacPhail and agent Dan Evans have been able to "bridge the gap a little bit better, and recent conversations have been encouraging."
It sounds like Zaun will have a new team sometime next week. The Orioles aren't alone in negotiating for his services, but his apparent willingness to accept a one-year deal puts them squarely in the driver's seat.
"I know that we were a ways apart to begin with, but we've had some pretty meaningful conversations and it's been encouraging. It's definitely a lot closer than it was a few weeks ago," he said.
"It's been really, really positive. They've had some truthful discussions and I think both sides are very willing to compromise. And I give them a lot of credit as far as creativity on their part, trying to make this happen.
"They made it very clear that I'm an important piece of the puzzle for next year and that's very flattering. Regardless what my role is and what my salary is, to know you're important to them and they value my presence on the club is a big deal to me. I'm not a guy who wants to just feel like he's taking up space and filling a spot. I want to be a big part of things, and they made it clear that I'm very important to them. And they've made every effort to demonstrate that during negotiations. I'm very pleased with the work being done on both sides."
Zaun loved his time in Baltimore, but he also knows that the Orioles can give him the opportunity to play a lot early in the season while Matt Wieters is in Triple-A.
"Obviously, I have a lot of fond feelings of my time in Baltimore," said Zaun, who played for the Orioles in 1995 and 1996. "I spent a lot of time there growing up. It's a fun place for me to go. I still have a lot of friends in the community, and my uncle (Rick Dempsey) being there is nice, having him around to help me in certain aspects of the game. Baltimore remains an extremely appealing situation.
"I'll just let the process continue and let Danny do his job. I certainly would say Baltimore would have to be right up there at the top of the list as far as people who are stepping up and making offers that are realistic and we can work with. At least there are meaningful exchanges going on. That's always a positive thing."
Switching to football...maybe the Ravens really are a team of destiny. Maybe the stars really are aligned for another trip to the Super Bowl.
Three turnovers by the Titans, including two when they were within easy field goal range. Chris Johnson gets injured on a day when he was constantly running free into the Ravens' secondary. No call when the play clock expired on the Ravens' final drive.
Maybe it really is better to be lucky than good.
Not that the Ravens played a terrible game, but they couldn't run the ball and couldn't prevent the Titans from marching up and down the field. But the statistic that counted most was illuminated on the scoreboard.
Ravens 13, Titans 10.
Bart Scott was a beast out there today, and his timing was impeccable with Terrell Suggs on the sideline. And Joe Flacco was his usual cool self, again going an entire game without a turnover. Forget the rookie talk. He no longer qualifies.
 |
Categories (click for archive)Roch Kubatko | Roch Kubatko Orioles |
As usual it was an ugly win but a win. Shows how many games you can win without turnovers, no sacks and making your field goals. Throw in 3 critical passes (TD, one inside the 10 for the FG and Heap's catch) and play defense.
Scott did have one embarrassing moment when he left his jock on the field while trying to tackle Johnson.
The coaching and team deserves a lot of credit. Not having a bye week, having a rookie coach and QB and still hanging in there.
Nothing like having a consistent FG kicker who doesn't miss easy FGs and makes some clutch ones.
They easily exceeded my hope of a 7-9 season. As for the people who don't like Raven's talk here, too bad. How much more complaining about the Orioles can anyone handle? SOS.
Great blog Roch - Good news on Zaun. Not only have the Orioles made it apparent they would like to have him, but he seems whole-heartedly interested in returning. Hopefully, they can get it done.
As for the Ravens. Only saw the 2nd half due to my son's b-ball game, but what a punishing football game. Was afraid that their inability to score first and goal was going to come back to haunt them, but hey survived.
Ironically, my kids were just playing American Idol and singing the song "Halfway There" by Bon Jovi.
Roch
Whoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!! Baby what a game. Your right the stars sure seem to be alined. I't Karma I'm telling you. The last 3 weeks from Jacksonville, Miami, and Tennessee I have worn the same Jersy (#96 Thomas) sat in same set in my basement, an have not cut my hair... (I've needed a hair cut bad for a month) Looks like I'm going to be hearing it from my wife for atleast another month. But I can take it as long as Karma does its job! Life is good!
By the way picked up some Special K with red berrys today I'll let you know what I think (its on sale at Target for $2.24 a box).
OUT!
How could they not move up and down the field, with all the blatant holds they were getting away with ? I know it happens on just about every play, but it's pretty ridiculous when you see the ref staring right at it he doesn't call it.
I've seen afew games this year where the delay of game wasn't called. It hasppened last week or the week before in the Ravens game, I've seen it happen at least two times in a couple Steelers games and I forget which games it was but I saw in about 2-3 cother games this year. I know they say that there's about a second or so difference between when the clock hits zero and when the refs blows the whistle, but the ones I'm talking there was about two seconds before the ball was hiked after the clock went zero.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
WE WANT THE SQUEELERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lucky...they earned every inch of that game. It was a hard fought battle & nothing came easy. Competition like this is something the O's know nothing about. Just b/c your an Oriole employee doesnt mean you have to bash the Ravens...respect the real team in town. These guys are for real...there are no smoke & mirrors.
(If I come off as curt, please blame the Natty Bohs!!)
Go Ravens
Roch,
There for a while I thought Brian Billick had a headset on. The clock management and play calling was a little to conservative.
What is the report on Matt Albers, can we count on him or is he most likely headed for the DL for the year?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I've been told he's throwing and is full-go for spring training. - Roch
Being an O's fan has been tough at times, I love my team and look forward to all the young talent arriving (and maturing) in the next few years. But, if there is one thing that has kept me going, it's watching my Steelers! After tomorrow I'll be looking forward to them kicking the crap out of the Ravens AGAIN! :)
Go O's! . . . and Steelers!
You know, I'm starting to get confused about the Orioles when compared to the Ravens.
The Ravens took a chance this season and gave their starting quarterback job to a 23-year-old unproven rookie.
The Orioles won't bring up any 23-year-old pitcher after 2-or-3 years in the minors because they need more experience. The O's decide that guys in their mid-to-late-30's and past their prime are the way to go to field a team and please their fans.
The Ravens are in the AFC Championship game with their 23-year-old unproven rookie.
The Orioles' 23-year-old professionally-proven pitching prospects still need more seasoning and are maybe 2 years away...????
Perhaps the Orioles should just take a page out of the Ravens' book and let a few of these pitching prospects try it at the Major League level..."Life is like a box of chocolates...you never know what you're gonna get."
Ah, what am I saying...the days of the "Baby Birds" pitching the O's to 90+ win seasons and a World Championship are over. Bring on the old guys with 5.00 ERAs!!!! They're like plain ol' Hershey's Kisses...we know what we're gotta get and that's what's most important to the Oriole franchise.
That game sets up the possibility of have my two least favorite teams play in the championship game next week. I'm a Skins fan, and I have not like the Ravens at all, especially now because their defense is full of guys that play dirty and try to win by taking out the other team's best player. (They almost snapped Chris Johnson in half after he was already down.) And I hate the Steelers because I lived in Morgantown, WV when they had their last SB run and the amount of fans who jumped on that bandwagon and never hopped off is staggering.
Nonetheless, it would be a good game. I'd rather have the Steelers win, but I don't think an AFC team will win the big one this year because the NFC teams remaining are just too good. The Giants are a complete team on both sides of the ball, even without Plax...Brandon Jacobs is going to have a good postseason.
And Zaun would be a great addition. One of the few things that I agree with the FO on this offseason. I generally don't like the two new pitchers, and I hope that the market goes down enough for whats left out there and we get someone else.
I've been reading that Boston has had trade talks with Arizona about Miguel Montero so that option may not be open for Zaun much longer. I really hope he does land with the Orioles. He strikes me as an intelligent guy, a warrior behind the plate, and someone who cares about the integrity of the game.
Roch,
I am new to this whole sports blogging thing, and I wanted to let you know that out of all the ones I read...I think yours is the best!!
Just out of curiosity, do you think the Orioles will resign Kevin Millar? I always liked him, and I think he has a good attitude (on the field and off the field) which is really something a struggling ball club needs.
Thanks,
Johnny C
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Millar is a possibility leading up to spring training if another right-handed hitting first baseman isn't acquired, but right now, the Orioles are looking to move in another direction. - Roch
Whooooo let the dogs out !!!!! ...........Go Ravens
I think Troy Smith should start next week. I have this bad feeling Zaun will sign with the Red Sox.
As John Harbaugh once said, "Was it perfect? No! Was it pretty? No! But it was us!"
Enough said.
MacPhail has said many times that he wants guys who want to be Orioles. I think Greg Zaun fits the mold perfectly, and he'd be an excellent mentor for Wieters. Let's get this deal done!
Rochy Baby!!!- Whats Up Brosky? Anyway, 1st time here since you came to MASN. You hearing anything on the Daric Barton situation?
You have to figure, if its true the O's are building up the youth that you would love a guy like that. Amazing Defense and Offense at 1b?
Whats the Scoop???
Wowsers. AL East better run for ze hillz.
Zaun would be a solid signing but i just dont feel they have a clue about pitching
What was the deal with the Titans' Chris Johnson after he got knocked out of the game? As he stood on the sideline wearing the coat & hood he kept jerking his head back and forth every few seconds. At first I thought he was just trying to flip his hair out of his face, but then it didn't seem so.
Trying to clear his melon after a big hit? Facial tic?
Did anyone else see this?
Rich, there's reason to complain about the Orioles? Please explain. After all Steve Melewski explained that they made the "solid move" of bringing back Chris Gomez. Haven't you called the ticket office yet?
As for the Ravens, the biggest play of the season was the Johnson injury. But, that's football baby.
30 second play clock.... what a joke. Let the purple kool aid drinkers bellyache the next time a call goes against them......
Um, not a Raven fan one in this house!
GO CHARGERS!
GO CARDINALS!
These 2 teams are exciting to watch. They would make a great Super Bowl game.
The Ravens are a boring team to watch, (yawn). They can't score touchdowns, They always get the calls their way, (did you watch the game today?) and Ray Lewis is an egotisical idiot! Enough said!
Ravens rock,,,,,,,,,,,what a year it has been and continues on................Roch , in all sports you must be good and lucky both to advance in any playoff system , the Ravens are both..................you must prepare to be good and if luck follows WOW , look what happens...............The O's can only dream of seasons like this , playoffs seem so far away for O's fans its a wonder they even care any more............I guess the ware house has a large supply of Kool-aid..............Go Ravens , Go Ravens , Go Ravens...........Bischiotti turned out to be a great owner like Model , Peter the Great is a joke.............
I want to echo what Spy said about Bischotti as a first-class owner for the Ravens. I am good friends with the widow of a starter on the '58 Colts, and she was part of the 50-year celebration the Ravens held fot the Champs two weekends ago. The Ravens paid her airfare. Bischotti's limo and driver picked her up and took her back to the airport. She and other out of town guests had their rooms paid at the Hyatt-Regency, and she said Bischotti and Harbaugh and the rest of the Ravens people did everything they asked, and went beyond what anybody expected, from the receptions to the banquet and so on. "I am a fan of the Ravens," she told me when she returned. Angelos has a lot to learn. A LOT to learn.
Roch, Zaun has always impressed me as a fine student of the game, someone who pays attention to the subtlties of his position. Do you know whether he's considered coaching -- or whether others in baseball management have considered it -- after he retires from playing?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I've never asked him. My guess, given his bloodlines, is he'd be interested. - Roch
Zaun, Chris Gomez? Maybe Glen Davis could play first base for the O's until they are in contention. Look, I understand signing Mark Tex. might have cost too much at the wrong time but the O's have got to be able to at least compete. Less people will be traveling because of the economy so signing a player that would get fans into the seats would be a good idea. The Orioles are at least 5 years from being from being a competitve team so either they need to go all out young or sign a player or two that will keep the fans interested instead of just signing cheap players. It is a business and few people want to spend money to watch their team get hammered. Even WalMart sells a few Sony products.