A little more from MacPhail
My interview last week with Andy MacPhail, president of baseball operations, included the following topics:
• Felix Pie:
"It's unfortunate that Felix didn't get off to a better start because our guys still believe that it's in there. I know Terry Crowley really feels like he's going to hit, and I think he's a better player now than he was in the beginning. It's just that there aren't the at-bats for him based on who's playing in front of him. But the landscape's always changing in this game. An opportunity probably will present itself over time and he'll probably get another shot at it due to whatever unforeseen circumstance. He's not getting through outrights. I can just tell you that right now. That's not going to happen. He's not going to get through. For us, I just look at our outfield and it's a very positive thing. We've got (Nolan) Reimold, (Luke) Scott, (Adam) Jones, Pie, (Nick) Markakis. They're young, they're talented. It's kind of a good situation."
• On how long it's taken Cesar Izturis to recovery from his appendectomy:
"Richie (Bancells) laid it out for me the night that I got the call that (Izturis) was going to go to the hospital that it was a four-to-six week situation. That's just all there was to it. Thank God for (Robert) Andino."
• How to grade the job that manager Dave Trembley has done so far:
"I think what's important to our franchise now...I always go back to that press conference when I first came here. You really want to create an identity and you want to become an organization that stands for something and does things fundamentally sound. The kind of place that becomes more attractive to other players. I think Dave helps us do all those things. That, and trying to create a foundation of talent to build on for the future. Those are the things that are essential to us. Obviously, we want to win as many games in the meantime as we can."
• On taking high school pitcher Matt Hobgood with the fifth overall pick:
"It distresses me and annoys me that, because the kid wants to go out and play baseball, somehow that's a strike against him. Like all of a sudden, this was a signability pick. They loved the kid. He's immensely talented and they just loved the kid. He wanted to pitch for the Orioles and he's a great, mature kid and Joe (Jordan) just, all things being equal, fell in love with the kid. But it's somehow a detriment that he wants to sign. It really annoys me. It's really, really repugnant that the guy who you have to beg to come play is somehow held in higher regard. I just don't see it. I'm delighted we got the kid, and so is Joe, and that's what matters."
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Categories (click for archive)Roch Kubatko | Roch Kubatko Orioles |
And repugnant it is. Stick it to the so-called experts Andy. Hobgood looks like he's gonna be a bulldog. I wish him the best of luck.
I think Andy is right about Hobgood. There is zero room to criticize anyone in the organization after the drafts we've had the last few years and the money they spent. I trust that Hobgood was the player they wanted and I think they picked him because he was the best player on the board. I do think it's better to take college kids this early in the draft but they've seen this kid play and Joe Jordan has an excellent track record for finding the right guy.
looks like Mr. MacPhail has been reading the blog about Hobgood.
What I will never understand about the O's management is how personal they take any criticism directed at them. The Ravens are a model franchise and it seems they handle their PR totally differntly. It must bleed down from the top.
Ok, what say you Trolls?
I still don't think that someone would claim Pie other then the Nationals.
Just to get it out of the way, "liar", "reactionary", "profit before wins", "golf course".
Let's move on.
Seriously, I know that some people thought Hobgood was a reach, but I do have confidence that Jordan liked what he saw and, unlike the NFL, you can't trade back. The FO proved they had stones two years ago with Wieters, so I don't believe they are afraid to draft a "tough sign".
Man, I wish Andy would communicate with the "shareholders." ;-)
I hope you are enjoying your "day off" Roch. Looking forward to the guys getting back on the field and continuing the NL East dominance.
Excellent interview, Roch and solid responses from our man in charge. In Andy I trust.
All things being equal, I know what it's like to fall in love too Andrew. Jack and I have been together for six months now, since Tex signed with the Yankees (inevitably it now seems), and we decided to haunt this place together to express our frustration. Even though the team continues to improve based largely on Andrew's decisions (WTG, BTW), Jack and I have never been closer. Except for that time the paramedics had to come. Cheerio!
Its not because he wants to sign, its because he was not rated in the top five prep arms going into the draft. Folks (myself included) find it remarkably convienent that JJ just happens to fall in love with maybe the 6th best prep arm and thinks he is a better prospect then the top five, four of which, at least, would have wanted more money then Hobgood would be signing for.
I'm really liking what I hear from Andy in your last two posts, Roch. I love the fact that he wants the organization to stand for something, whether you call it The Oriole Way or not. Without that, being a fan is pretty meaningless. Along the same lines, in the earlier thread Steve J preempted me in focusing on the “We’re not the other teams’ farm system” comment, which totally struck me too. Andy probably wanted to add, “So they’d damn well better watch their butts, because the party is about to end.”
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On a totally different topic, west coast O’s fan (and Ray): I was going by Bergy’s starts when I assumed Guts was going on five days’ rest, but you’re absolutely right that it was four, which lends further credence to Ray’s point that Guts doesn't do as well with the extra rest. I stand humbly corrected. Thanks!
Glad to see Andy trying to stand up and take responsibility for his pick. Attitude can be as much of being successful as talent at times. I know the trolls will go crazy though because this is exactly what they wanted McPhail to say.
Haha, that was pretty much a big fat $& to Jack.
The Orioles have only ONE worthy all star - ANDY McPHAIL!
MacPhail also deserves credit for getting Robert Andino, who has been the team sparkplug ever since he took over the starting SS job, for Hayden Penn, who is back in the minor leagues.
Roch,
Nice interview. I agree with Andy on most of his points. Felix Pie is a nice 4th OF with upside. There's nothing wrong with that. I totally agree with him about Andino, too. Andino is a perfect example of why you can never have too much depth. I agree with him about Trembley, too. My only question is what happens when you get to the point where the team is talented but not quite over the hump? Then I think you might see Andy make a move.
It's also my sincerest hope is that we extend Aubrey Huff for 2 years (if we don't trade him at the deadline). My other hope is that we sign a 3B in the offseason. My personal preference is Chone Figgins, who would make a great leadoff or #2 hitter. Here's my 2010 lineup a little early:
2B-Roberts S
3B-Figgins S
RF-Markakis L
1B-Huff L
CF-Jones R
C-Wieters S
LF-Reimold R
DH-Scott/Wigginton L/R
SS-Izturis/Andino S/R
That's bigtime.....
Roch, here's a mini-version of a Since You Asked post, as there’s been lots of conversation here lately about Class A and B free agents and the compensatory picks Huff would yield should he sign with another team in the off-season:
Class A free agents are ranked in the top 20 percent of players at their position and return the signing club’s top pick (that’s not in the top-15, otherwise second round) plus a sandwich pick between the first and second round. I believe the Yankees signed three Class A free agents last off-season, which cost them first, second, and third round picks rather than three firsts -- smart of Cashman to do them all at once.
Class B free agents are ranked between the 20th and 40th percentiles at their position and yield a sandwich pick.
Free agents not in the top 40th percentile do not yield compensatory picks.
Steve D and west coast O's fan, I’m not sure how exactly they calculate which percentile a player is in, but I definitely would not assume that Aubrey will be a Class A free agent. If you happened to read my OPS+ post from a few days ago, you know that Aubrey so far this year is an average offensive player (and a relatively weak defensive player) at a position where his peers produce lots of offense. For instance, the four teams ahead of us in the AL East all have much better players at 1B by this metric. Sorry to repeat myself, but here are the updated divisional standings for OPS+ among first basemen as of today:
Youkilis: 160
Teixeira: 155
Overbay: 146
Pena: 140
Huff: 105
Obviously I didn't research how Aubrey fares compared to all MLB first basemen, but I seriously doubt he’s in the top 40%, much less the top 20%. The computation is based on the most recent *two* years, which helps since Aubrey ended last year at 135, albeit as a DH. If Aubrey has another hot second half, he might end up a Class B free agent by the end of the year, but I’m having trouble imagining how he could be a Class A free agent, at least as a first baseman.
Now, how they decide whether Huff is a DH or a 1B, I have no idea. Anybody?
I met some Cubs scouts when I was in the Dominican and they all felt strongly that Pie would put it together. They said all he cares about is winning, if he goes 0-5 and the team wins he's happy, if he goes 5-5 and they lose he's upset. Good mind, good work ethic. I think the rumors of his makeup must be wrong, some guys just need more time to adjust. Lucky for us, Reimold was not one of them, but I definitely see Pie capatilizing on the next opportunity he gets.
"It's really, really repugnant that the guy who you have to beg to come play is somehow held in higher regard."
...is that a little jab against Wieters?
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Not at all. He was just speaking in general terms. - Roch
Don't be fooled you Kool Aid drinkers. This is just ANDREW being ANDREW pulling the wool over your eyes. We all know how his secret, ulterior motive is to pound this team into the ground as far as he can. Because when he's the GM of a last place team, that looks great on his resume.
Just look at the what he has (NOT) accomplished since he came here 2 years ago:
-He was only able to deal our ALL-STAR ss Miguel Tejada, one of our best bats this decade for five mediocre players, such as Scott who is currently leading the team in HR (with more power than Miggy) and some damaged goods SP named Patton who completely dominated AA and is now ready for his final leg of the journey before the majors. Like we need ace pitchers, please. Tejada is hitting around .350 this year! If we still had him we would no doubt be in playoff contention.
-He was only able to deal the Canadian wonder pitcher Bedard to the Mariners for an all star center fielder of the future, a lights out closer (or situational lefty), and ANOTHER ace caliber SP currently dominating in AAA.
Wouldn't you rather have a moody starter from Canada who can't be relied on to make more than 3 starts in a row without having to go on the DL? I know I would.
-He gave away our top pitching prospect Hayden Penn for a mediocre backup shortstop who just happens to be playing amazing defense right now and can handle the bat also. Why would you want that when instead we could've had a washed up prospect who was recently released by the Marlins?
-He signed some cheap free agents that have made valuable contributions to the 2009 squad already such as Izturis, Uehara, and Wigginton but are not locked up beyond 2010 so they are unlikely to block any of the guys currently moving up the rungs of the organization.
-and need i even mention how he decided to lock up faces of the franchise in the last offseason to make sure our talent stays in Baltimore where it belongs?
O's fans should be FURIOUS at this man, and calling for arms to run him out of town. Our team actually has hope now which is hasn't had in a long time.......shame on ANDREW.
Earth to Andy MacPhail...they're not calling it a signability pick because you signed a guy that wants to play baseball...they're calling it that because you seemingly passed up better talent to take a guy who would require less of a signing bonus or who would be more agreeable to a contract with the O's. It's what bad teams do. They pass on greatness because they don't want to risk the money.
I think certain people need to understand how trades and signings work. A team doesn't just decide that it wants to make a trade and, bam, it's done. The other side also has to agree. Luke's stock is high right now, but who's to say that what other teams are offering is going to be better than having Scott for the next 2.5 years? I can only think of two teams that would really be willing to overpay for outfielders: The Braves and The White Sox. The Sox don't make sense because they need a CF more than anything else, and The Braves just sent most of their decent talent to Pittsburgh for McLouth. I just don't see a major deal being lined up that would make it worth it. Same for Sherrill at the moment. Even if he doesn't keep the closer job, he's still way too cheap and valuable as a lefty out of the bullpen.
Huff and Baez, I agree, need to be moved. There are a ton of teams that need a first baseman, and everyone can use a good arm out of the bullpen. I think The Mets would be willing to overpay for a Huff rental, given their injury situations right now. The Angels come to mind as a team that might want Baez pretty badly if their bullpen situation doesn't shape up quickly.
Ladda da da da Andrew.
You signed Hobgood because he would come cheap and would not present an embarassment to you and your staff trying to sign. So dont feed us bull.
You took the easy way out......ADMIT IT!
And yes Andrew is an All Star
He belongs in the Hall.....OF SHAME
It is a shame to have him and Ole Peter at the head of OUR team.
I don't see this as Andy or the FO taking criticism personally, I just think he's sticking up for Hobgood, who has had to hear for a couple weeks that he's a lesser player than the guys who got picked after him. Which he might be... but that's Andy's job, to stick up for his players. He owes them more than he owes us.
I still don't believe Dave T is our guy for a championship run. The comments that you made on the Anita show convinced me even more. You have to be more flexible than that. If a guy is hitting, you don't sit him down because of some rigid principle.
Get your head out of the book and manage the durn team based on events!!!
I'm sorta of surprised Macphail is upset about what fans are saying in regards to the draft pick. Most of these people wouldn't know the difference between a fade slide and a hook slide. Come to think of it,I don't think a lot of the players know the difference or know how to execute them.
Roch on Andy! You're doing a great job. (Yes, that's how I spell 'rock'.
Man Andrew is arrogant (and DEFENSIVE). He was right about Hobnob and right about Pie, blah blah blah.
Hobnob was a BUDGET pick. Many many draft boards had him as a late first rounder or early second rounder but Ole Joe drafts him at #5 when consensous picks like Crow and Wheeler were still on the table. Watch this kid flop in the minors. Unfortunately, he'll be given 4-5 years by which time Andrew will be wrecking another baseball team.
SO Andrew is distressed and annoyed? Well we are distressed and annoyed that we had to watch your stellar rotation dig this team in a deep hole early in the year. We are distressed and annoyed that our starting catcher for the first 40 plus games couldn't hit .200. We are distressed and annoyed that Pie couldn't catch a cold or hit slow pitch softball.
OCJ -- you're right, I may have assumed too much about Huff being a type A, but I wouldn't rule it out. It will probably come down to how he finishes this year.
Apparently 1B/OF/DH are all ranked together -- not each position individually -- and they use the last two years of stats. Ibanez was a Type A with a two-year OPS+ comparable to Huff. Milton Bradley was a Type B, coming off a monster year that was preceded by an injury-plagued one (but a much higher OPS+ than Ibanez). In other words, I think durability/counting stats may play more of a role than advanced metrics (not surprising), and that might help Huff get into Type A. Like I said, depends how he finishes.
That said, I don't think Dunn was even offered arb last year, so he wouldn't have cost anything besides money -- and he still settled for 2/$20MM with the last girl at the bar. This is why I don't think the demand will be that high for him via trade during the season, or via FA afterwards. I still see no need to extend him.
Don...I seriously doubt Seattle will want to trade w/ us anytime soon.
OCJ...Here's the dilemma...Luke and Aubrey are really DH's that can fill-in when needed. That being the case they are probably too similar to remain on the team together next season. The O's are going to need a 1b and 3b depending how you view T Wigg...I personally see him as a RH DH that can fill-in, though I've been impressed w/ him at 1b.
So, there's really no doubt the O's will need at least a 3b next season.
I think the O's will trade Baez and probably hold Huff to get that compensatory pick.
The O's are currently not eliminated, so the next month will decide what AM does.
I certainly do not want him to rush into anything. I just want him to be smart as always.
They are a lot of wanna be 'sellers' out there who are not yet out of the race enough to give up on their fans, but also not necesarily a lot of buyers yet either.
Sooo glad that the team is in his hands. I like the way he does the trades. He makes sure he gets value not just trading to trade. The Andino deal looks like a real steal. Waring and Turner look like potential big leagues for Ramon. Freel was just a salary they had to take on to get prospects..I guess some people thought they actually wanted the guy. Tejada and Bedard trade obviously were very good to great. Pie and Hill were deals were we didn't have to give up much for high upside guys giving them a chance to play. I like to know where the bad moves where that the trolls hate Macphail so much? Omir Santos?? LOL
Wow, first time I have ever agreed with Jack (you still come off as a schmuck even when you make a good point though). The pick was a signability pick; they valued Hobgood as a player worth slot and they knew he would sign. They didn't think that any of the other pitchers were that good to be worth signing for millions over slot. Still the right decision by the FO though.
Roch is there a chance we go for Chone Figgins?
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The Orioles don't discuss players currently on other teams. That's tampering. But I'd assume, and I'm only assuming, that there would be some interest. - Roch
Brummie and Jack are idiots. Didnt your mother ever teach that if you did not have anything nice to say do not say it at all. They are kind of like my little brother; they say the most ridiculous things to get attention.
I really do not understand how some fans do not realize that this year is not about wins and loses, but about developement. The plan is for next 2010 or 2011 and from where i am sitting it looks pretty bright. So the many real fans here that actually like to the orioles can just sit back and watch our budding young stars develope for, hopefully, many interesting divisional races of the future.
Keep up the good work Roch!!
The comments at 3:29 and 3:58 were not me. Get a life BMS! So what if I don't like the job Andrew is doing. It's my opinion and its not hurting you.
If you got something to say, post under your own name.
I agree with most of what McPhail says and his plan overall. However, the jury is still out on Pie--not that G. Olsen was going to pitch well at Camden Yards so I don't regret that part. Next year it may be between Pie and Montanez as to who stays.
I'll have to admit, Pie has 9 lives. He was going to get demoted but Montanez, then Scott got injured and he was saved. He is fast, but I don't see the baseball instincts. And I don't think it is necessarily true that someone would pick him up if DFA-ed.
While I root for Trembley, a guy who has paid his dues and earned his chance, I still don't see him as the manager who guides them into the Promised Land. I hope I am wrong. Until he has the team that can compete, he deserves to stay.
In looking to the future, I don't see a big trade happening this year. Huff and Sherill are the only big chips, Baez, too, but unless they are all packaged together in one big trade you won't get that much back for them individually. I would keep Sherrill and Huff. After the all-star break, make Johnson the closer and Sherill the lefty specialist/set-up man. Need to find out this year if Johnson can do it.
I later July, Uehara goes to the pen, Hendrickson is released and Tillman comes up.
Poor Brummie and Jack are distressed and annoyed - that they're talking about themselves in the third person. You can't make this stuff up. They're perfect for a comedy show.
Anyways, nice read of that interview. Thanks, Roch.
Why is he so in love with Felix Pie, he is a AAAA player at best.
On the Pie note do you think they will send him down when Izzy gets back. It does not make sense to loss Salazar who has been hitting and always has hit for a guy like Pie when you already have 4 outfielders.
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Brian, you know that Pie is out of options and can't be sent down without clearing waivers. And Andy is convinced that he won't clear. - Roch
Now I suddenly realize why they never win. The Cub scouts are Cub Scouts. Probably have trouble with knots, too.
I don't care about signability.
If Joe Jordan fell in love with Hobgood he should have taken him #5 in the second round and felt like a thief doing it because he knew better than everyone else. I just want the O's to take the best talent on the board with their high pick. Consensus nationwide before the draft was that there were several better pitching prospects available at #5. Maybe Jordan knows better than everyone else, and I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt on this. But I would have been happier if he'd taken Crowe or Wheeler.
I asked Keith Law last week in a chat where on a scale of 1 to 10 I should be worried the O's blew their #5 pick by taking Hobgood and he said "1" because Hobgood is legit, though wasn't ranked that high, and drafting is such an exact science that it wasn't something to be concerned about.
That's okay OCJ . . . . I still love ya. Not in a Brummie/Jack kind of way . . . . I just love what you post here!
Question For Roch:
I went to my first, opening game of a series last week, so I expected Trembley to make the O's take infield practice. I thought he said he would have the team take infield in the opener of every series. Do the Orioles take infield once a series? Did Trembley back off from this statement?
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Don't know if it's the opener of every series. I honestly haven't bothered to check each time. - Roch
Ok, bash MacPhail all you want (even if it's tired and redundant, and even if you'll find a way to twist around everything in a negative light regardless of outcome), he's an executive and a decision-maker. When those decisions fail, by all means let him know how you feel. But seriously, don't talk trash on a kid who was just drafted who wants to play and perform his best for the team.
Regardless what you think of the pick, Hobgood has done nothing wrong and isn't in control of anything in this situation. Besides, none of you knew a single thing about the potential draft picks other than what you read from mocks, so stop pretending to know more than anyone else. The day of the draft at least five of the major mock drafts had Hobgood moved into the top 5-10 picks. It's not like he wasn't on the radar and came out of nowhere.
I don't care for McPhail in general but I don't have a problem with the Hobgood pick. He wants to play here,that's a bonus in and of itself. He has an .095 ERA last year and has a bulldog personality. I see him as a possible Josh Beckett.Aaron Crow is a headcase and prrobably wants 5.5 to 6 million.If you couldn't get Ackley the next few were a crapshoot and not worth the strees of contract haggling.Scouts jump on bandwagons about players all the time. They read other scouting reports and reword them in their own words.Hobgood lost his dad young and that's a character builder.I sure as heck wouldn't have spent 40-50 million on Strausburg,who's no gaurentee at all.The Nats are going to be sorry they didn't take Ackley,he's going to be good.
What scares me about what McPhail said about Pie is it wouldn't surprise me if he traded Reimold to make room for him to get another try. If Pie won't clear waivers,then he should be tradable for something. Gathright can do everything he can plus he's and experienced base stealer,bunter and polished defender,not to mention hit better. I think what sticks in McPhail's craw is players he didn't get are popular and succeeding.I think he's more ego driven that success driven.He somehow wants to prove how slick and brilliant he was for getting Pie.
Bergy said the other day that he pitches every game like he might get sent out if he has a bad game. Obviously no one has given the kid any assurances he's going to get a long look regardless. That's because Trembley never knows what's in McPhail's head and doesn't want to speak out of turn.So it wouldn't surprise me if Reimold plays scared to some extent also because they could pull the rug out from under for Pie at any time.Bergy and Reimold have become fan favorites because they play the right way and they stick out like a sore thumb because the rest of the team doesn't.Even Salazar moved a runner from second to third yesterday,one of the vets like Mora would have grounded to short.I just hope Berken can hang in there because I'm afraid he'll get thrown under the bus instead of Koji or Hill being moved out of the rotation.
We had two botched steals yesterday with Roberts and Reimold and then another with Jones getting picked off on a botched attempt.Mora running into an out at third with no outs.
KyleProBoller said: Earth to Andy MacPhail...they're not calling it a signability pick because you signed a guy that wants to play baseball...they're calling it that because you seemingly passed up better talent to take a guy who would require less of a signing bonus or who would be more agreeable to a contract with the O's. It's what bad teams do. They pass on greatness because they don't want to risk the money.
Just like they did with Wieters and Matusz? They drafted the guy they liked, period. There where a lot of people, including some commentators, that liked what they did.
Hey Brummie, give it a rest. We just swept the World Champs on the road so you must be the only O's fan that is distressed and annoyed today (that's if you are actually a fan).
If a trade could be made sending Baez (and a good portion of his salary) to the Angels and Matthew Sweeney to the O's, I'd be for it. The Angels are most likely to have Brandon Wood at 3rd for a good portion of their future. Sweeney is 21 and hitting .307 at high A and has good power, plus, he's a Maryland native! His fielding percentage is apparently not so hot, but that could possibly improve or he could be shifted to 1B. With Baez's salary, it's not likely that we would get something astounding in return.
As for the Huff to the Mets talk, I don't know what they've got that we'd really want. They don't have anything special at 3B (I was just looking through their minor league rosters, Buffalo is their AAA affiliate) and nothing else really stood out either.
It is repugnant that the GM has to say things like this when it is obvious that Hobgood is a signability pick - that is not a slight to his talents (a top second tier, lower first tier HS pitcher), his work ethic or his wanting to get his career started. No one has that I have seen attacked the young man but, have questioned the Orioles on why he was chosen over talent rated higher. It is what it is - the Orioles wanted a good talent that they could sign at slot and in short order and not necessarily the best available player. Both Wieters and Matusz were not. Now, Givens looks like he might be the one who doesn't sign quickly and he may not sign at all unless the Orioles are willing to go over slot.
My hope is that Hobgood becomes the pitcher he is capable of becoming and the Orioles sign lower round draftees such as Berry and not try to "low ball" them. It has not been that long ago that the Orioles were accused of just that with their first round pick (which, was also a signability choice). That draft has turned out so far to be abysmal.
As for Pie - I strongly disagree with McPhail and hope that he trades him and is talking him up for that reason. Pie has been used so infrequently that it really doesn't matter as far as production, it is only somewhat of a wasted roster space (that said, the 25th man is usually not that much to worry about any way). I sure hope that none of the OFers get hurt and the Orioles have to rely on Pie - it will be shown again that he just can't hit.
Brummie you can't say Andy distroyed our team, if I recall our team was pretty bad before he got here.
Remember when Nick Markakis was a rookie and we were so short in the outfield we had Brandon Fahey playing everyday in left field. And it seemed like we did not have a reliever with an ERA under 5, then we had Corry Patterson playing center field, a note Corry Patterson has been in the minors almost all year he only got recalled for a few games for the Nationals.
Things are getting a lot better
To All the Doubters of the Way:
Get out and never come back. All MacPhail has done since he has gotten here is improve the team. Are you oblivious to that fact?
For those questioning the draft of Hobgood. We had NO NEED for an additional pitcher for the Calvary, what are we going to do, waste him? He will arrive with the second wave.
roch i'm sorry to have to read some/most of this horsecrap. how people can knock macphail is beyond me. has he been perfect, no, but what gm or person is? as far as i can see pie wasn't a good move but thankfully they aren't playing him much and koji to me is a guy who should be in the bullpen. but i know why koji and eaton and others were signed and what their role was to be and they did what was needed to be done until the younger players gained some valuable experience at triple a. but take a look at the farm system..from nothing to a good number of quality prospects. look at the major league team..wieters, reimold, jones, andino, izturiz, bergen, bergesen, sherril, albers, johnson, hill. what do people want from the guy. he's only been here for less than 3 yrs. i guess roch, you have to read this otherwise you're unemployed or working for the weekly reader, though i hear they have a sports section that isn't bad. sadly the newspaper business is a dying industry. but this dummie guy and jack o and some others. no clue on 90% of this stuff. i'm sure if they were alive and following the '27 yankees they would have complained the team needing more hitting or why is gehrig playing every game or babe should bat 8th. years ago don rickles had a album called "hello dummy". i think it was meant for some of the people who write in to your blog. these same people would probably say secretariat really wasn't that good of a race horse.
You gotta hand it to Boston's and Yankee's managers for benching Ortiz and A Rod.How about some benching for bungled running,throwing and not making the pitchers work?
Just getting caught up . . . . .
Drewdy - I think you are new here, so we'll cut you some slack. Consider this your only warning. Next time you suggest that Reimold be sent down to make room for Itzturis or anyone else, you will have to stay after class and write on the board 500 times . . . . Nolan Reimold is a legitimate candidate for American League Rokiie of The Year.
Terpfan - As someone reminded you earlier. Matt Wieters is untouchable and to add to that, I'm not sure there are "lots of guys who play 1st base who have decent power" and will be available to replace Huff next year. Remember, he won a Silver Slugger Award in 2008 and is notoriously a 2nd half guy.
Huff will be a free agent after the season. He is not available for arbitration as several have suggested here.
JPA - What's with your annointment to the Troll Club and how do you feel about it?
No pats but, who has been the the most Oscar fan on your blog in 2 years?
KyleProBoller/Jack/Brummie,
Drafting Hobgood was a cheap move, just like Wieters, just like Matusz. Why would the Orioles spend all the money to sign Wieters and Matusz and then go cost saving. does Wade Townsend ring a bell to you idiots, and Mr. MacPhail wasn't with the Orioles when we drafted Townsend. So I guess the top 20 by Baseball America always make it to the Majors.Does You obviously do not know a thing about professional baseball, or you would be managing or the GM. Mr. MacPhail got Wieters to sign, and Matusz too. He got Andino, got rid of Ramon Hernandez who was lousy last year. He signed Markakis and Roberts to long term, He got Adam Jones, Tillman, Patton, Scott, Izturis, should I go on??? Your hate affair with Mr. MacPhail is running thin with all of us. No one agrees with you. Your just attention whores.
ocj asked: Now, how they decide whether Huff is a DH or a 1B, I have no idea. Anybody?
From "Baseball Prospectus" -
Starting and relief pitchers are considered separately from each other. Position players are divided into three categories: catchers, infielders (shortstops, second, and third basemen), and outfield/first base/designated hitter.
Ok, let me preface this by saying I'm a McPhail fan, he has brought order, direction and hope to the team. The Bedard, Tejada, Hernandez and Penn deals brought in talent and gave up troublemakers, and injury-prone aging talent. The Bedard deal will go down as one of the greatest heist of all-time, Dillinger would be proud. I like Joe Jordan, and where our drafts have been going, and he has added talent and hope. I actually look forward to watching the Os play again.
That being said, the Hopgard selection was not one of the better decisions we've made lately. I don't even blame McPhail or Jordan, I believe this decision was directed by Angelos. I think he made it clear that he wanted to spend a certain amount, he did not want a long drawn out affair and if possible he didn't want to see Boras again this year. The latter I can even sympathize with. They work for Angelos so in the end they have to abide by his wishes. But this pick makes no sense. I must have looked at 3 dozen mock drafts, read everything Baseball America was putting out, and any other draft reports I could find, and no one and I mean no one had Hopgard rated anywhere near that high. He might make it and become something, and I hope he proves me wrong, but there were much better risks on players with higher ceilings than picking the 40th best player on BAs list at the 5th spot. Even if you want to argue where BA had him rated, I find it hard to believe they were off by 35 spots. This was about signability. He has talent, but there were better players than this kid and it came down to money.
I have hope again in the Os and the front office, but this year's draft makes me wonder if Angelos is back and interfering again. If he is all of the good work by McPhail and Jordan will be flushed down the toilet. Remember the Pirates passed on a player recently due to signability concerns and drafted a lesser player, and the guy they got is going nowhere and the guy we pickd is named Wieters.
Roch,
Please tell me none of your loved ones were on that Metro collision today. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of that terrible tragedy.
Jason
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They weren't. And amen. - Roch
Lucky Horseshoe...that's precisely what I've meant to say many times, but the only thing that ever comes out is 'buttheads'.
Scroll the trolls do not feed them anything. Andy is a Great GM and 99.9% of baltimore thinks that.
I 100% agree on Pie....he works hard and he never complaians and he is a good player...god part time role..D replacement and PR...and 1 injury from playing more..I would trade himor release him and would never dream of it.
Izturis...sounds like he has a ways to go and Trembely likes Andino...twop good SS on one team...how wise was that move at the end of ST...antoehr example of McPahil and his wisdom.
Trembely's job....well condsidering his player revolving door and pitching ...he has done a good job..I prefer a bit more fire but that is just me...lets ee where they are in th end of Sept.
Hobgood....that is some dumb crap abotu taking him only for sign-ability. The guy is a good young high school stud pitcher. We have lots of younf straters that are close and we need more that will not be ready for 2-3 years..or so and this was a good choice..seems peiople just run their mouth on here a ttime sna dhave no c.ue what the whole story is..and McPhail kinda says that here..cause it is true.
Don...I doubt the Marines will trade w/ the O's any time soon.
OCJ...as for Huff, his value will be compared to the compensation pick the O's would receive if he leaves via free agency. I frankly view him and Luke as virtually the same: LH DH's who can fill in for awhile. I don't see how the O's can keep them both on the roster next season...they're overlapping now, and it especially shows in NL parks.
Who stays...probably Luke, unless you trade them both and resign Huff.
T Wigg is also a DH who can fill in, but I have to admit, I'm surprised how well he has handled 1b. I don't see him as the answer a 3b, maybe 1b. So the O's need a 3b for next year, maybe a 1b.
The O's have been filled w/ DH's disguising themselves as fielders for the last 10 years. The O's actually have real OF's for a change.
Bottom Line...I like AM's line about not being afarm system for everyone else. Keep the good players under your control (it's not being cheap, it's just good, prudent baseball business), trade away your expiring assets(Huff and Baez).
Why give up good plyers like Sherril and Scott? Because their value is "high"? Yes maybe it is, but it's also high to the O', unless you think their talent is a fluke. I don't think either Sherrill or Scott are flukes...keep them...and keep adding to the roster.
Trolls are entitled to their opinions, no matter how wrong.
John, I don't think you need to worry about MacPhail trading Reimold to give Pie another opportunity. I also think that Bergy said what he said because it motivates him. He better than anyone knows that the cavalry is coming. He also knows just how good these guys can be. Hence, he has elevated his performance and understands that everytime he goes out there he's being evaluated, not so much for now, but for the future.
Trust me, MacPhail understands too that Bergy and Reimold have quickly become fan favories and he understands why. He's not going to move either because of that!
Brummie=Turd. Go learn something about baseball you pathetic pile
Why am I the first to mention that as of right now... We are only SIX games out of the wild card!!!!
"But Ann Marie, you silly girl, it isn't even the break yet!"
Who cares???? When was the last time we could say that in a month not named "April"?
I'm all for Hobgood, previous opinion be damned. I've talked to a couple of kids who played against him and they said we were pretty lucky he'd been so under-everyone-else's-radar. Signability pick? Who cares? Really, who, not in Jack's Gang, cares? Kid wants to play = bonus. Kid is happy to be an Oriole = way bonus. Not a Boras client = SCORE! While there are a few here who seem to WANT this kid to fail, do they really want me to spend my spare time finding stats on "sure thing, can't miss" #1 picks that DID fail? And how many of those guys did these armchair GM's clamor for? Idiots.
Funny you brought up "tampering", Roch... We had the annual MLB memo re: tampering sent around our FO today. My boss immediately yelled "NOW what'd you do to get THIS sent out? From the GENERAL MANGER. What are you UP to????"
And nothing. Really.
Unless Milb is wrong, they have Arrieta getting pulled after one inning with one hit. Is this a mistake or did he get hurt?
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Check my latest entry. - Roch
Hi my name is Brummie_Orioles and I have no respect for the game of baseball, nor do I know how a GM (MacPhail) is supposed to do his job. Sorry guys, it's all my "opinion"...
The O's should use Pie the way the Phillies used to use Michael Bourne. They used him sparingly, always putting him in situations in which his speed and athleticism would shine through, thereby showcasing him to other teams and getting the most out of him in the meantime. They ended up parlaying him into Brad Lidge, if I'm not mistaken.
Roch I'm one of the Orioles biggest fans I know Pie is out of options and so is Salazar out of options. Out of the two I'd take Salazar because a pinch hitter and good hitter is better then a pinch runner.
OCJ,
If you Google 2008 Elias rankings, you'll find out that Aubrey Huff was ranked #20 amongst 1st baseman/outfielders/DH last year, I guess they lump them all together. That makes him a type A free agent last year. I really don't know how they rank them, they have some kind of formula that adds ave, HRs, and RBI's. But this is how it came out last year. So I would think that if huff has a year close to what he had last year, he would be ranked at least type B, if not type A free agent.
Google is a wonderful thing, I wish I had thought of it.
Go Orioles!
What happened to Arrieta?
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Check my latest entry. - Roch
Thanks for the support , Ray. It's just the numbers game when Izturis comes back and Andy MacPhail's reluctance to part with Pie. I love Reimold, but two weeks or other brief time until a roster adjustment / trade can be made. I don't want it to happen, just speculating about possible moves and options.
1. trade talk is useless until we have the other side of the equation and know, or at least think we know what other teams are offering. My personal guess is that our crop of trade bait is not highly coveted and not much will happen because the return wont be enough to offset what we lose.
2. Pie is around because his athleticism and skills give him a potential upside worth keeping him around. Same reason that Cabrera was given so many chances. Same reason Steve Howe got 7 chances. You have more patience with a guy whose upside is all star than you do with a guy whose upside is utility player. Just doesnt seem so hard to understand to me. Nothing sinister. Nothing ego driven. The biggest ego boost for Andy would be winning and completing the turnaround he is overseeing. Playing a lesser player because you drafted him is silly when what you are ultimately graded on is . . . winning.
3. The disdain for the Hobgood pick comes largely from Baseball America's pre draft rating. However leading up to the draft, Baseball America was reporting that his stock was rising, and after the draft one of their guys who rated him said flat out that he got it wrong on Hobgood. Add in that they said early on that the draft was one or two stars and then 30 guys who all rate similarly. So either they admitted that they made a mistake in their original assessment, or they admitted they are clueless and changed their minds when it became clear that REAL scouts thought higher of him than they did. Either way the fools like Jack who stated unequivocally that the pick was wasted, not that it could have been better but that the pick of Hobgood was a total waste, yet he has never seen the guy and is basing his disdain for the pick on the guys who admit to being mistaken on their early rating of Hobgood.
BMS- There is only one shareholder that counts and that is Peter Angelos. You and I are not shareholders in the Orioles. We are consumers of their product.
Brian - Montanez and Salazar are AAAA players too but many are enamored of them. Difference is that they are both basically finished products and dont have the star upside that Pie does. They might contribute more today. They might end up being more accomplished players if Pie doesnt reach his potential. But if all three achieve their ultimate upside, Lou and Oscar are major league reserves and Pie is an all star. Granted it is looking less likely that Pie will get enough of a chance to ever develop to that level here but he cost us little and the potential return is huge. Whether it works or not, you have to love the risk/reward on the move. Like all such moves it might work and it might not but the move was worth making.
Beau Brummels and Coyote Jack would be whining about the six in ten at bats where Ted Williams didn't get a hit back in '41. All of MacPhail's moves have been at the least defensible. Most have been clearly good moves improving the team. Some have been stunningly successful. But I say again, ALL of his moves have been sound, understandable baseball organizational moves. This doesnt mean they will all work out. But they have all, without fail been sound moves completely understandable on purely baseball reasons. Not fiscal. Not golf related. Not bending to Angelos' meddling. Baseball logic.
Admittedly he only got Andino for a useless throwaway pitcher and not the next Cal or Honus Wagner. I will take him. AND I will take Izzy instead of the SS by committee of last year. People are actually daring to opine that SS is solid for a few years now. I would not have dared to hope for that before the season. Admittedly Freel didnt work out but the prospects who accompanied him here from ATL were barely mentioned and now seem to have a future and let's not forget that if no one took Ramon we would have cut him before bringing him back. Yes, Koji has not been Ichiro. He might be the reliever most teams saw him as instead of the starter we needed him to be. But he has been useful and broke the ice for the O's in Japan. And all he cost us was cash. And on and on. There is a baseball logic to everything Andy has done. Signing cheap pitching to let the kids come up when the team thought they were ready and there was little pressure instead of at the beginning of the season to high, if unreasonable expectations? Smart, good baseball. This stands in stark contrast to the two fools who just hurl personal slights and insults and misquotes and illogic and spin. It doesnt take any great genius or special inside baseball to see the positive changes in the Orioles organization since Andy took charge. It is prima facie, obvious on the surface. Stop looking at the nit picking details and look at the overall organization. WORLDS ahead of where we were when Andy came in. It just isnt even arguable.
I wish Roch had asked MacPhail who is going to play 1st and 3rd for the Orioles next year.