Still talkin' about Reimold
Chris Hoiles conceded that it was a "tough question," but that didn't stop me from asking it, or the former Orioles catcher from trying to answer it.
Could Nolan Reimold play first base if the Orioles decided to move him?
(They haven't, by the way. It's also a hypothetical question).
"Nolan comes from a family of athletes," said Hoiles, a coach at Bowling Green when Reimold was one of its outfielders. "Nolan is a tremendous athlete himself, so he does have that going for him. But moving from the outfield to the infield, things are a lot faster, a lot quicker. There's more technique involved. Lots of things go into it.
"You're playing pretty much a hot corner, no matter which way you look at it. It's more of a reaction position. There's more footwork.
"Me, personally, I think he could do it. Athletically, I think he could do it. It's just that, at the major league level, asking a kid to go from one position to another has some downside to it. I think Nolan could do it, given a whole off-season. If they wanted to send him somewhere to try it out and then he had all of spring training to get himself ready, I think he could probably make that transition."
Reimold is expected to undergo surgery after the season to repair some fraying in his Achilles, so his winter will be spent recovering and rehabbing. And the Orioles view him strictly as a corner outfielder, unless his health dictates a change in positions. But that doesn't mean we can't kick around the idea.
On another topic, you might want to swing by the Under Armour Retail Specialty Store at the Annapolis Mall on Saturday. You'll run into Nick Markakis, Ryan Zimmerman and Jeremy Hermida.
Markakis and Zimmerman will go head-to-head in a video game home run derby competition, and all three players will be signing autographs. It starts at 11 a.m. and runs until 1 p.m., though Markakis will have to leave at noon because the Orioles' game has been moved up to 4 p.m. to accommodate the Fox broadcast.
I'm not done jumping topics, so it's a good thing I stretched first. Tom Sedlacek, who does an outstanding job as the head of public relations for the Double-A Bowie Baysox, conducted a lengthy interview with pitcher Steve Johnson. You can check it out by clicking HERE.
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Categories (click for archive)Roch Kubatko | Roch Kubatko Orioles |
Nice work, Roch.
Darn, I thought Markakis and Zimmerman were going to have a debate....
(Nick) "Yes.............."
(Ryan) "No..............."
(Nick) "Yes.............."
(Ryan) "No..............."
This is a bad free agent year - particularly if you're the Orioles and looking for a top flight first and third baseman. They'll have to look for trades if they want an upgrade there. And it'd cost them a lot of young talent to get somebody like Adrian Gonzalez. If Reimold can take to first base, then it'd save O's a lot of money and prospects. So it's an experiment worth pursuing. He certainly has the frame for it. I'll tell you this that Nolan has a better chance at being a good first baseman than Luke Scott.
Another thing the O's should look at is the shortstop position. Marco Scutaro has turned into a good offensive player with a high OBP, and a couple of commentators recently have praised his defensive skills as well. If that's also the O's opinion then they should try to sign him, and trade Izturis. O's are in the AL EAST and they could use offense from all nine positions.
Thanks for the great info from Hoiles, Roch! But I still don't understand why so many people want to move Nolan to 1st base. He's done really well in the outfield, and although Pie's hitting has improved the past month or so, I'm certainly not ready to crown him our left fielder of the future - he makes me nervous when he's out there, pretty much all the time. I respect what Pie's done to get where he's at now, but I'm just not a big fan - I must be the only one in town who's not enamored with him, huh? :) To me, Reimold is a better all-around player, who's also worked really hard to get where he's at, so can't we just leave it at that & let him play LF? ah well...
Roch-
You know me and the censorship stuff. I saw today a guy ask you to not post Jack and Brummies comments. Another guy ask not to post comments not relevant to that particular blog. And a 3rd guy say you should delete post that make fun of people.
See, Jefferson, Adams, Washington, and the like new, what is garbage to 1 man is gold to another. It isn't popular speach that needs protecting, it is unpopular.
You know I am just breaking you bag a little bit, right?
I still wish I could get you on my side in regards to Figgins. He is a good player, I'll give you that. But he is NOT the player that the O's need.
We have plenty of that type. We need to hit more HR. Look at what the Yankees do. Look at the other 4 teams in the AL Beast. I am not gonna go through it again cuz I'm developing carpal tunnel. He is gonna be 31 or 32, and we just can't waste what little money Angelos gives Andy on a player that is not gonna compliment what we have.
Maybe the could sign Garret Atkins for a 1 year deal. Hank Blaylock? They need HR.
Roch,
I think a couple of days ago you mentioned that Pie was POSSIBLY being auditioned to be a part of an offseason package to land a prime hitter ala Gonzalez or Prince Fielder.
My question is: after seeing what the Red Sox were supposedly offering for Gonzalez wouldn't it be more likely that either the Padres or Brewers would want Reimold in a package of say 2 top pitching prospects and Snyder for example. It's a serious haul to give up, but that's what it takes. It'd be like being on the other side of the Bedard trade for example. Except neither of those guys seems to be too brittle.
I like Pie staying an Oriole, I think he's going to be great. I just think it's unrealistic to think even if he lights it up the rest of the year that he'd be a critical piece of any trade package for a serious hitter.
So my question is do you think Reimold is untouchable in a trade for an established hitter? I don't think he should be since although he's incredible, he may be injury prone.
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He isn't "untouchable," but not like the Orioles are looking to move him. They really like this kid. - Roch
Roch,
Reimold to first base is a great hyotheical question, but I also believe it would be the answer to much of what ails the Orioles.
For the past couple of weeks, with all the talk about Reimold and his Achilles, I think the natural move for him would be to first base.
As Hoiles pointed out, playing the infield has its own set of standards/issues for someone accustomed to playing the outfield. However, having played the outfield and first base through college, I have a feeling Reimold would be quite successful at first. Also, once you factor in body type and height, he would be more of a natural for the position than Luke Scott or Ty Wigginton.
In the end, taking stress off his ankle from the running required in the outfield benefits Reimold.
Another factor, which is the part I think would cure the Orioles woes, is that moving Reimold to first opens up another opportunity for the team.
Plain and simple, with the growth of their young pitching, there needs to be a point where they give them confidence. Confidence not only comes from individual performance but from wins as a team.
The team is dreadfully deficient in three areas -- a number one starter, a number four hitter (a complete package of average, OBP, RBI guy and HR threat) and a reliable reliever (or four).
I've come to the conclusion that trying to get Matt Holliday would be the best option for the Orioles. A guy who is a career .319 hitter, is nearing 100 RBIs for the third time, a 20-plus HR hitter for the last four seasons and he is still 29, although he would be 30 by next season.
While I don't mind the idea of getting a guy like Adrian Gonzalez to play first, the idea of trading the three or four prospects needed to obtain him just isn't feasible at this point.
Use free agency the way it's intended, fill in the gaps with nothing more than the pocketbook.
With the money Baltimore will save from Mora, Huff, Baez, Walker and Gibbons, all of whom are coming off the books, it's possible even with the raises do to Roberts and Markakis, to bring in the likes of John Lackey (#1 pitcher), Holliday (#4 hitter) and a competent late innings reliever.
In the end, with the combination of the youth movement with a couple of free agents who've been there (World Series) and done that (individually successful and have been on winning teams) the Orioles can start moving toward .500 starting next year.
Whoever is tabbed as the next Orioles manager, you give him a Holliday and a Lackey (with a healthy rotation of Tillman, Matusz, Bergesen and Guthrie -- Guthrie until Arrieta is ready) then you got the start of something special.
Third base may be the position that takes the hit until Josh Bell is ready for the majors, unless the Orioles foresee Brandon Snyder making the move there until Bell is ready.
I'm willing to live with Wigginton at third (too bad Pie or Scott can't play third), until Bell is ready, if it meant Reimold at first and Holliday patrolling left field to maximize the team's offensive potential, which in turn helps the pitching staff.
I believe this offseason is an important one for the Orioles, more important than the one that turned Tejada and Bedard into 10 players. This offseason should be about adding pieces to the youth puzzle, and stopping the hemorrhaging that 12 years of losing does to a fan base ... and Reimold moving to first would be a great initial piece of it.
Roch-
Maybe you can help me with this one too.
If the O's average payroll from 1995 thru 1998 was 92 million. And there average payroll from 1999 thru present day was just 63 million, then that is 11 seasons and saving $29 million a season.
A total of $319 million that was not, but could have been spent.
Where, in your opinion does that money go?
Does the team keep it and use it to operate above what they could afford for a few years? Or is it just extra profit for ownership?
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It helps to pay for my salary. - Roch
Roch,
Have a wonderful Labor Day holiday. Best to you and yours, and the same to all my schoolmates.
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Thanks much, and same to you and yours. - Roch
Do you think they'd make Reimold the full time DH next season with Luke Scott at first base and Pie in LF?
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Only if they had to do it for health reasons, which isn't expected. - Roch
Ryan said:
Roch-
Maybe you can help me with this one too.
If the O's average payroll from 1995 thru 1998 was 92 million. And there average payroll from 1999 thru present day was just 63 million, then that is 11 seasons and saving $29 million a season.
A total of $319 million that was not, but could have been spent.
Where, in your opinion does that money go?
Does the team keep it and use it to operate above what they could afford for a few years? Or is it just extra profit for ownership?
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It helps to pay for my salary. - Roch
September 4, 2009 1:57 PM
OK, so that leaves.... $318 M then....
Hmm, a team in the hunt for a wild card spot against a team heading for 100 losses.
This Rangers series is going to be PAINFUL!
Ole Brummie will be in left field tomorrow. Section 84 or 86, not sure where my mate got the tickets. I won't be hard to spot. I'm sure the other 10 fans in those sections will all be Rangers fans who now work in DC or Philly.
Holy Gone with the Wind, Schoolman!
I now know all there is to know about young Steven Johnson. I wouldn't say that the interview was longer than lengthy, but I hope Steven won't have to miss his next start because of laryngitis.
http://www.section336.com is a new blog, which just looked at Reimold vs Pie, if Pie continues to play this way what do you do with Reimold?
It lines the pockets of Peter Angelos. That's where it goes, since he refuses to spend the money necessary to compete. "we are creating this tv network to generate the revenues necessary so we can spend the money necessary to compete with the other teams in the division" (Peter Angelos). Yet from the networks inception all we have done is cut payroll and have yet to sign a legitimate free agent. Instead we have signed the likes of (Ty Wiggington, Greg Zaun, Adam Eaton, Mark Hendrickson, etc). Angelos has the ability to handle a payroll large enough to compete but refuses to do so because the team is still making large profits. Unfortunately, until he starts losing money or has a change of heart, the franchise will always be in this state.
Roch,
What about the Cubs Jake Fox for 1B?
We have traded mostly with the Cubs since AM took over. Do you think the Cubs would deal him and would we have interest?
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I don't know the Cubs' thinking on him. Sorry. - Roch
How much pain is Nolan in now when playing? Why doesn't he have the surgery now? Could they activate Lou or are they set on ending his season when Bowie does?
I also looked at the list of free agent starting pitchers. There are few choices beyond the ones past their prime and ones who wouldn't come here.
Brummie/Jack (the same person),
Will be looking for you at about 3:30 on the flag court. I will be in a Murray State University baseball hat. Hope you show up. I am sure a couple of dozen from here will. Also please bring all your alter egos with you, would like to meet them too.
Ryan, above, had a great question and, Roch, you had a nifty answer.
Thanks Roscoe - Same to you!!
This Nolan >>>> 1B is getting crazy. While I for one, *like* the THOUGHT of the idea, I don't think it is a good idea. I'm left-handed, grew up as a pitcher and a first baseman. I'm no Major Leaguer obviously but just getting the mental part of 1B down is hard enough in itself. It's not like you can just catch routine ground balls that are hit to SS, 2B and 3B.
Unless this guy can play winter ball (which seems unlikely due to the injury), 1B is a fight between what we got in the organization or via free agency.
I would much rather keep the OF the way it is.
Just my opinions.
Hey Roch, the article by Mr. Sedlacek was great. Might want to pass along though that Charlie Hough is NOT in the HOF!
Easy win if Florinto plays.
Brummie sweetheart....I'm in 85 tomorrow, with a few friends...so hold up that sign, and see if I might "accidentally" spill a beer on you. You are probably a little girly man...I'll check you out tomorrow..you are probably just a straight up p***y
I don't understand why people want to move Reimold. He's a better left fielder than Pie, who often looks lost out there. I understand the logic, making room for both Reimold and Pie, but maybe they should be looking to find the latter a new position instead?
Ryan said:
Roch-
Maybe you can help me with this one too.
If the O's average payroll from 1995 thru 1998 was 92 million. And there average payroll from 1999 thru present day was just 63 million, then that is 11 seasons and saving $29 million a season.
A total of $319 million that was not, but could have been spent.
Where, in your opinion does that money go?
Does the team keep it and use it to operate above what they could afford for a few years? Or is it just extra profit for ownership?
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It helps to pay for my salary. - Roch
September 4, 2009 1:57 PM
OK, so that leaves.... $318 M then....
Brummie_Oriole said:
Ole Brummie will be in left field tomorrow. Section 84 or 86, not sure where my mate got the tickets. I won't be hard to spot. I'm sure the other 10 fans in those sections will all be Rangers fans who now work in DC or Philly.
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All the Texans went home in January.
Wait a second Ryan, I hope you are not working on your MBA. There happens to be another side of things, revenue. I see all the empty seats out there, even for the Yankee games and I don't think things are the same on the revenue side as they were. I don't really know what the income from MASN is, but with the Nationals low ratings, I don't think that is bringing in near the income that people thought. Remember, MASN is owned by Angelos and nobody paid for the rights, they have to sell advertising to make a profit and I bet ratings are down for the baseball side. I see they are starting to show Ravens, but when baseball season is over, there is so little programming, it can't make much money from that.
There are a bunch of other things to consider, but I don't think that Angelos is sitting on a bag of money -- at least from the Orioles. From his law practice, he is sitting on a big bag of money.
Hey Brummie,
I will also be in the left field lower box seats (section 82) tomorrow afternoon, with one of my many orange Os shirts on. I have been a season ticket holder for 12 years now (people think I am the curse since I started getting season tickets in 1998 due to the fact I could not get playoff tickets in 1997, and they have had a losing season every year I have been a season ticket holder), every year sitting in either section 82 or 84 (in 1998 the best I could get was row UU, but now I am in GG and could get lower if I wanted to, but I am happy where I am). I sit on the aisle, so I am constantly telling fans who have tickets in section 82 that they are incorrectly sitting in 84, as well as vice versa. This is what has happenned since regular Os fans who know how to find their seats rarely attend games anymore. In the late 90s and early part of this decade, there were tons of regulars, so everyone knew how to find their seat. The 3 million Os fans have dwindled down to less than 1 million Os fans and a ton of fans of other teams.
Roch,
Do you think Reimold would be hurt by the fact that he is on a bad team when it comes to the ROY voting?
Right now, I think I could look up Rookie of the Year in a dictionary and the definition would be Nolan Reimold. I would hate for him to be passed over for the title because he is on a losing team.
Thanks as always!!
P.S. 319 Million!!! WOW, I didn't realize you made that much!!! Is MASN hiring? I could use a new job!!!
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Worth every penny, too. As for Reimold, a lack of exposure could hurt. Cal won MVP on a bad team, but he was Cal. - Roch
jdb: The Steve Johnson article was linked several posts ago by one of Roch's commenters; I guess Roch didn't see it. I, too, was impressed by the length (I know, I know; let's not go there).
The story about the Phil Linz harmonica incident was fun to read. Jim Bouton wrote a very similar description in Ball Four. He said that Linz didn't hear Yogi, but knew enough to realize that Mickey's response was not what Yogi had really said. Apparently the comment, "Owww, you hurt my widdle knee!" was what sent the players into hysterics. Somebody (Houk maybe) said it was the worst thing he'd ever seen on the Yankees. Hard to imagine an incident like that causing the uproar now that it did then.
Counting on the Orioles to improve through free agent signings is kind of like me counting on winning the lottery to finance my retirement. When it comes to the Orioles addressing any of their top needs (corner infielder, #1 starter, cleanup hitter) through signing a top free agent, I'll believe it when I see it. Particularly with guys who are currently playing for teams that will be in the playoffs - such as Lackey, Figgins, Holliday. If the guy would be the last piece of the puzzle and he and the team both felt that with him they could legitimately have a shot at the Series then maybe he'd go for it. But nobody thinks the Orioles are less than about four MAJOR improvements away from being able to have a chance at competing for the playoffs.
That's why I think the only real chance to make a significant step in 2010 is through a trade in the offseason - swap some of that accumulated young talent for proven ML talent. "Buy the bats" doesn't mean just signing free agents, though that's one way. It also can mean swapping some of the prospects for established players. If there aren't any significant trades in the offseason that will definitely indicate that the front office is willing to wait another year and see how the guys still in the minors and currently in Baltimore continue to develop. Which means at least 2011 until we can expect to do battle with the big boys regularly.
I'm not sure I can take another year of kvetching by the fanbase if that happens. May have to give up reading blog responses altogether and just read Roch's initial entries. Though I am sure most others who don't just scroll my comments won't miss having to read my rambling responses either.
"Sean said:
Wait a second Ryan, I hope you are not working on your MBA. There happens to be another side of things, revenue. I see all the empty seats out there, even for the Yankee games and I don't think things are the same on the revenue side as they were. I don't really know what the income from MASN is, but with the Nationals low ratings, I don't think that is bringing in near the income that people thought. Remember, MASN is owned by Angelos and nobody paid for the rights, they have to sell advertising to make a profit and I bet ratings are down for the baseball side. I see they are starting to show Ravens, but when baseball season is over, there is so little programming, it can't make much money from that.
There are a bunch of other things to consider, but I don't think that Angelos is sitting on a bag of money -- at least from the Orioles. From his law practice, he is sitting on a big bag of money."
The Orioles are a private company, so a definitive picture of their bottom line is between them and the IRS. That said, Forbes magazine has made an art of assessing the income and value of private companies. They say Angelos has made more money from the Orioles in this century than Steinbrenner has made from the Yankees. Steinbrenner pays up for quality players. Angelos doesn't. He pockets the money.
No doubt, you are right that Angelos is not getting rich from MASN. He is already rich.
Owning a major sports franchise is something of a public trust. Baltimore has both extremes of ownership. Steve Biscotti wants to win. The Ravens reflect his personality and commitment to the city. Angelos pretends to want to win. What he really does is milk the Orioles fan base for extraordinary profits while fielding a pathetic excuse for a team.