A bunch of stuff
Dennis Sarfate retired all three batters he faced yesterday, striking out two, and recorded the save in Game 1 of Hermosillo's doubleheader against Guasave in the Mexican Pacific League.
Former Oriole Darnell McDonald homered for Hermosillo.
MASN's Rick Dempsey has agreed to participate in the second annual "Dancing for the Arts" on Nov. 21 at the Residents' Club at Bulle Rock. It's a dancing competition and gala fundraiser that runs from 7 p.m. until midnight, and proceeds raised will help to build a Center for the Arts in Harford County.
The public can help to choose the top fundraising award for dancers prior to the event. They can vote for their favorite dancer by making a donation to the Center for the Arts at www.CenterForTheArtsHarford.org. The votes will be tallied and will continue at the gala. The dancer receiving the most in donations will receive the Top Fundraiser Award.
Tickets are on sale now at $185 per person and can be purchased at 410-838-2177. You also can get more information by contacting gala director Lyndi Richards at Lyndi@CenterForTheArtsHarford.org.
We already knew that Dempsey had nice footwork behind the plate. I'm not as sure about the dance floor.
"There should be passion in all phases of life," Dempsey said. "The arts are one of the greatest ways to express that passion. Build a Center and they will come."
And speaking of catchers (another smooth segue), Seattle's Rob Johnson is undergoing surgery today to repair a torn labrum in his left hip. He'll also have the same procedure on his right hip in about three weeks, and will undergo surgery to repair a tear in his left wrist about a month after that one. He also might have a bone spur removed from his right wrist.
Johnson also sprained his left ankle on Sept. 18 when he stepped in a hole in the batter's box while jumping up and down after Ichiro's walk-off home run off Mariano Rivera.
So how are you feeling these days?
Did you know that tomorrow is the 20-year anniversary of the scheduled Game 3 of the Giants-A's World Series that was postponed because of an earthquake?
I bet you remember exactly where you were when Al Michaels made the announcement.
I remember the picture on my television screen bouncing all over the place, but I assumed it was a problem with my vertical hold.
Interesting note on Justin Verlander: The Tigers' ace made 11 starts this season in which he threw at least 120 pitches. According to Baseball-Reference.com, that was more 120-pitch starts than any other team in the majors accumulated for the season.
Other than the Tigers, the team with the most 120-pitch starts was Philadelphia with seven, four fewer than Verlander managed on his own.
White Sox management has talked privately about pursuing free-agent third baseman Chone Figgins, but money could be an issue. They're not expected to spend a lot of it.
The Cubs have gone through two hitting coaches since June in Gerald Perry and Von Joshua, and they're almost certain to talk to Rudy Jaramillo about the latest vacancy.
Jaramillo was represented by Scott Boras in his last contract negotiation.
Yes, Boras also represents hitting coaches.
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Categories (click for archive)Roch Kubatko | Roch Kubatko Orioles |
Hey, Roch.
Do you think the O's will make a run at signing either Jason Bay or Matt Holliday?
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I don't think they have a shot at either guy. Think the Cards will do whatever necessary to keep Holliday. If Bay doesn't re-sign with the Red Sox, I bet he ends up on the West Coast. I'd love to have either one, but I don't see it happening. - Roch
[Sigh] Silly, bitter Orioles fans, so many begrudging a rich man for his money. I hope you all DON'T know how petty (and dumb and uninformed) you make yourselves look when you cry "CHEAP".
Ryan, what of your money is "helping", beyond the SALARY CAP and operating expenses, the Ravens to spend more on the team? The shareholders feel helped, for sure, but beyond that? Roger Goodell would love to hear about this secret slush fund...
JPA, you're the only person with any brains on the "FO is CHEAP" issue. The question, as Brummie mangles the issue, "Is the FO cheap?", is important only if its not true. I hope they're the cheapest pinchpennies EVER! If the Yankees could get their $500 million offseason investment for $400 million, they would have. Being cheap is a VIRTUE. If you're not getting anything for a too-small investment, that's not being cheap, that's just not being serious about investing.
The question is, as JPA points out: Is the FO (TOO) cheap (to appropriately compete)? To me the jury is more than still out, as there hasn't been any free agents worth signing over the last couple years, so we haven't had a real good chance to assess this. Signing Looper or any other mediocre player afraid of the AL East by overpaying them so they can be proven correct about their mediocre selves and be a waste of money does not impress me as proving your mettle to contend. Then "CHEAPSKATE" would be replaced by "MORON" by those who know SO MUCH MORE about the business of baseball than those who are paid to do it.
And jedd, players won't come here just because you throw money at them, as Teixeira showed. The kind of players YOU WOULD WANT care about winning, not just the paycheck. The Toronto GM a ways back called out Adam Dunn for having no heart for winning. Dunn then took the best paycheck in a town that would let him play OF badly, instead of taking marginally less money to DH or 1B for a possible contender. The Toronto GM has been proven right -- Dunn cared more about the money and his own view of himself than about winning, so I'm doubly glad we passed on him. 15 million for a winner or 18 million for a loser often MATTERS if you're getting 15 million anyway. Ballplayers are mercenaries, but they care about winning, too, jedd. And, without a salary cap, the best teams tend to have the most cash, anyway, so...And in Melewski's blog my old friend Brian pointed out that the O's have the most "top prospects" in AA/AAA for the AL East, you know, above Billy Rowell territory. So, your complaints about the Sox and Yanks spending more but also doing everything else better (not sure how signing unproven foreigners is obviously better, but...) is simply not supported by the facts. Your despair is affecting your judgment.
(BTW, jedd, MD has a top 5 salary per worker, and even without considering that the O's have VERY competitive ticket prices. Since in your words you've seen nothing to be positive about since the Teixeira signing -- you missed Jones, Bergy, Reimold, Matusz, Wieters, Tillman, Pie by the way -- I don't see how the ticket prices should matter to you. If you have the courage of your convictions you won't be at the ballpark. I wouldn't post on a blog just to say that I'd given up on the team, which you clearly have.)
JPA, thanks for pointing out that skepticism is about THINKING SOBERLY, not about hating on whomever is in charge. I'd love some of your ideas on what to do with this money, because in the absence of giving away many of the young pitchers/players for a LEGIT cleanup hitter/ace (that'll cost an extension), and of course signing and resigning our own, I'm just not seeing anyway/anyone that the FO, to this point, could have prudently "proved they're trying to contend". Looking forward, Bay or Holliday types probably require a trade to remove redundancies, Lackey and Dye types are probably looking for a deep playoff run (but you have to try anyway). I'm interested in your thoughts, JPA, because while I haven't seen anything to make me negative (yet -- actually I admire the restraint with the last couple of FA markets), you disagree. However, you have consistently shown that you understand this is a business, with investors who expect to be paid, not a video game or fantasy league. You're not a trolling idiot, but a guy with legitimate concerns (I shared this with you before), and I think you have some good instincts, so (no gotchas, I promise), what are you seeing that makes sense for us AND for the players/teams involved (including anything reasonable, like signing Holliday but then trading Pie and Reimold plus for a decent starter)?
roch
MUST BE NICE to chose from:
number of scouts and execs tell McAdam that the Red Sox will likely pursue Rich Harden this offseason (Harden won't cost a draft pick, since he's a Type B free agent). Ben Sheets, Brandon Webb, Erik Bedard, Justin Duchscherer and Mark Mulder are also possible targets for Epstein and the Red Sox, who have Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz and Daisuke Matsuzaka in their rotation already.
Theo Epstein sees value in patch jobs
Re-arm with retreads
By Sean McAdam / Red Sox Beat | Thursday, October 15, 2009 | http://www.bostonherald.com | Columnists
Photo by Herald file
Last winter, the Red Sox [team stats] signed two veterans with shoulder issues - Brad Penny and John Smoltz - to modest deals, designed to give the team inexpensive depth.
Neither deal worked out particularly well. Penny won seven games for the Sox, but from May 9 until his release in late August, won only twice. Smoltz was even worse, winning twice in eight starts while compiling a bloated 8.32 ERA.
So the Red Sox won’t try that strategy again, right?
Wrong.
“There’s a tendency on the heels of some of those buy-low, one-year deals not working out to go in the other direction, and say we’re not going to do that, we’re going to avoid anyone who’s coming off a bad season or anyone who’s got health concerns,” Sox general manager Theo Epstein said earlier this week.
“But the reality is, you sign one-year, buy-low deals for a reason because a lot of them don’t work out, but they provide you flexibility. So when they do work out, hopefully you have an option and you can keep that player for next year. If they don’t work out, you move on and you have flexibility both during that season and in future years to address needs.
“I have a natural instinct to say ‘Let’s shy away from that a little bit.’ But the reality is, looking at our club, we want sort of a complement to (Tim Wakefield [stats]) in the fifth starter’s role. We’re probably not going to end up with a front-line free agent starting pitcher with the way we look at the market and the nature of the market these days. Could we end up with another buy-low, high-upside, low-risk starting pitcher somewhere on the roster? Sure. And if it doesn’t work out, we’ll move on.”
It’s the nature of the business that there will be pitchers with an injury history looking for work in 2010 and the Red Sox are a logical landing spot for some.
The Sox will enter next season with Josh Beckett [stats], Jon Lester [stats], Daisuke Matsuzaka [stats] and Clay Buchholz slotted as four-fifths of their starting rotation and Tim Wakefield, slated for back surgery this week, set to return as well.
But because Wakefield has broken down in the second half of each of the last three seasons, the Sox will be looking for reinforcements, veterans who missed time due to injuries last year who could be signed for an affordable base salary.
The most interesting of those pitchers is former Cy Young Award winner Brandon Webb, but the Arizona Diamondbacks have already signaled a willingness to pick up his option for 2010, taking him off the market.
But there are other choices, led by Rich Harden. A number of executives and scouts in the game maintain that Harden, who pitched for the Cubs last year, is a likely target of the Red Sox.
Harden has a mid-to-high 90s fastball and a devastating changeup that he can throw at various speeds and angles. He’s averaged more than one strikeout per inning over his career, but has had difficulty staying on the mound. Some attribute that to his relatively modest frame and his max-effort delivery, while others have questioned his willingness to pitch at less than 100 percent. For the Sox, who would not be expecting 30 or more starts, he might be the perfect fit.
Harden is far from the only pitcher from whom to choose. Ben Sheets missed all of last year with a lingering elbow injury that sidelined him at the end of 2008 and which he had surgically repaired last February.
Recovery time for Sheets’ procedure - he didn’t have Tommy John surgery - can be as long as 18 months, but the Sox wouldn’t need him to be ready at the start of 2010. If Sheets could be ready by the All-Star break, they would have a proven winner who could provide quality innings in the second half of the season.
Mark Mulder, on the other hand, is expected to be ready earlier, but that’s in part because he’s already missed most of the last three seasons with shoulder troubles, contributing just 12 innings from 2007-2009.
Mulder has done extensive work with former Oakland A’s pitching coach Rick Peterson to refine his mechanics and could be ready to work out for teams soon. His value is enhanced by the fact that he’s left-handed and the fact that he boasts a staggering .632 winning percentage over his career
Someone linked with the Orioles doing something at Bulle Rock? And Mel Mo had his charity event there earlier this month.
Hmmmmmm, sure sounds like someone established a "presence" there.
LOL
Yankees, in all probability, would rid themselves of either Damon or Matsui or both and sign Holliday or Bay. The other one would end up with Red Sox. No point in salivating over those two.
It's hard to believe that the Loma Prieta quake was 20 years ago. I live in Santa Clara and was a senior in high school at that time. I had just sat down to watch the series and remember seeing a replay of Canseco sliding into second base. Then, all hell broke loose. It sounded like our house was falling apart as just about everything that could fall off a shelf, mantle or cupboard did so. Ironically, the only thing that did not fall was my brothers baptism candle which stayed put on the mantle. We lost a few windows, some china and had to repave our driveway, but we were lucky. I will never forget the horror of the Cypress Freeway collapse or the sheer panic that most everyone felt. I will also never forget the brave people who went out of their way to help others in need.
Quakes are a part of California living and we natives are used to them. Usually they are no big deal, but that one was different. The most sobering part, for me, was the news that soon followed telling us that this quake was not "The Big One." We're still waiting for that one.
Love the blog, Roch. I rarely post but I visit it more than once a day. Thanks for your efforts.
I think Mr. MacPhail should think seriously about signing Bedard this offseason. Roch, based on your sources, is this a possibility? (Forgive me if this one ends up in another "Because you asked" post...)
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I think Bedard is a possibility, but only if he's sound physically and not asking for the moon. The club would need assurances that his shoulder is healthy. You can't make a big investment on a pitcher who's been unable to stay on the mound. - Roch
Earlier when I ripped MACFAIL for not yet asking Ole Pete about signing Cuban defectors, you guys took great pleasure in attacking me and defending Dandy Andy.
"How do you know he hasn't talked to Angelos" you cried.
Well a VERY VERY reliable source was told by ANDREW that he has yet to talk to Ole Pete about Chapman.
And I quote:
"MacPhail said he hasn't discussed Chapman with majority owner Peter Angelos, who has stated his opposition in the past to signing players who defected from Cuba.
"'I have no idea where this will go. I truly don't," MacPhail said. "I have not talked to him about it because I have no idea where this one is. I haven't broached the subject with him because I am so uncertain as to the level of interest among other clubs because there will be a certain time where you measure the risk-reward.'"
A good journalist never reveals his or her sources, but I'll give you guys a hint. His name rhymes with Lock Rubatko.
I bet you remember exactly where you were when Al Michaels made the announcement.
Yes...I was burrowed safely in my mother's womb. Is that TMI?
Hey Roscoe, great post. I'm tired of hearing the same old post { Jack, Brummie, etc} about how cheap the Orioles are. They said the Orioles would not resign Roberts and Markakis because they were too cheap. The only free agents worth signing last year were Tex and C.C., and they were not coming here no matter how much the Orioles paid them. Of course this years free agent crop is worst than last years. I still hope they don't sign a player just to sign a player. If it don't make sense, don't do it.
I think Sarfate will earn a bulpen spot for next year, he finished strong off the injury. Also, I think Koji should be given first crack at the closer job. Roch, any more word on JJ being looked at for the rotation?
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Nope. That topic won't come up again until much later, when we see if the Orioles signed any starters and how the rotation and bullpen are shaping up. - Roch
If Johnson was a horse, they'd shoot him... so he shouldn't feel so bad...
Did you know that tomorrow is the 20-year anniversary of the scheduled Game 3 of the Giants-A's World Series that was postponed because of an earthquake?
I bet you remember exactly where you were when Al Michaels made the announcement.
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I was on a plane, flying back from SF after 2+ weeks there on a business trip. I was at the Stick to see a DH between SD & SF at the start of that trip too.
Bor@ss knows no limits when it comes to screwing up baseball...
Hypothetical....considering the up and coming pitchers the current O's have and the progression of Wieters, Reimold, and Pie....if Teixeira was a free agent this year is there more of a chance that the O's would push harder to sign him or that he would give more consideration to signing with the O's?
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I don't see why Teixeira's intentions would change. As for the Orioles, if they believed that they were one player away from contending, they'd go for it. They didn't feel that way last winter and I doubt they feel that way now. - Roch
Roscoe,
Great post...
Except I mentioned the Bedard trade as phenomenal. Gotta read into those details a bit more. I said we have been drafting smarter. So those points would clear the Jones, Bergy, Reimold, Matusz, Wieters, Tillman bit you kicked out there.
And I've always liked Pie. So you got me there. Congrats!
In fact if Reimold was required (with lesser pitching prospects of course) for Prince Fielder, I'd be all for that. Only because of Pie. Guy is an ESPN webgem waiting to happen every night in my opinion. His flaws can be ironed out I believe. And as great as Reimold may be the risk/reward on his injuries vs trading him may skew more in our favor.
Couple of posts ago I mentioned I wouldn't be making the trip up to MD from South Florida this year to watch a game at Camden (as I do a few times a year now) unless they spent more to put a team on the field or drastically cut prices.
Out of principle.
I don't find the ticket prices to be expensive, in fact I think the club level prices are more than reasonable and I like the bars and food in there. But if you are fielding a very talented triple A team...charge triple A prices. You need to throw the fans some kind of bone.
So I was planning on avoiding those trips this year even without your recommendation that I do. I hope you grant me the right to get the baseball package though so I can watch the O's still.
Plus, I'll make the Sarasota trip just because I'm curious about seeing the new digs and seeing the young players that I, like most fans, are excited about.
I know Maryland is a rich state. Isn't it actually the richest state the last couple of years? I spent the first 20 years of my life there and the last 10 down here in Florida. But thank you for that state economic lesson.
I'm not begrudging a successful rich, business owner. That's a ridiculous point. As a business owner myself maybe I shouldn't call Angelos cheap. I'll call him with regards ONLY to the Orioles (as he's obviously an incredibly successful businessman and also philanthropist. Something he doesn't get nearly enough attention for) - unwise. Like I said that's only regarding the Orioles.
Look at the potential fan base. MD, DC, VA, Southern PA, WV, Very Eastern OH, NC, part of SC - that's bigger than New England. I stress POTENTIAL fan base. I'm an advertising guy so I consider potential market sizes in my thoughts on this point. If we had more fans that'd be more money in Angelos' pocket. That's smart business. And since most fandom is virally spread and performance based you spend on the field and it'll catch on. No need to dump 10s of millions into advertising. ESPN does all of that for you.
Now why does New England have such a big fanbase considering they have NY and their encroaching fanbase right there? We have the sports network and we get the lion's share of money for 2 baseball teams on that sports network. Something NESN doesn't have.
The answer: The Red Sox spend to put a great team on the field. Sure they have more history and a great stadium. But so do we. And their fans respect the fact that they go after top players in free agency, the draft, in the intn'l market...whatever. Their fans have something we don't have - legitimate hope instead of blind hope.
Hey I've got the blind hope too. I want to be wrong and all the positive posters be right. I was one of those positive posters up until Roch's interview with MacPhail. That was the turning point for me.
Back to where I left off...
Now a shrewd owner would remember how we used to lead baseball in attendance. A shrewd owner would look at the stands and be like okay we've got great prospects in the farm system and we are legitimately a few pieces away now because of the drafting and smart trades. Let's see if we can loosen the purse strings and sign/trade to get those last few pieces (obviously free agent pool is quite shallow this year - no water wings needed. So trade is best option). If I had been voted one of the worst owners repeatedly in sports...maybe everyone else knows something I don't.
And I like MacPhail. If ANY GM is going to turn us around it'll be him. I'm drinking his Kool Aid on most things as the, let's say, "more negative than I" posters like to say.
I'm just worried he's treating us like a small market team like the Twins instead of a big market one like when he ran the Cubs.
Roscoe you can choose to be excited about one trade (maybe two) that has done great things for us. You can think that just because we are always drafting high and presto those picks turn out to be what top picks are supposed to be...well that's enough.
And you can then ignore that we just brushed off seriously (I stress seriously) going after any top dollar free agent (it's not like we lose a draft pick signing them - our picks are protected) and any top international free agent (a mid 30s Asian pitcher that everyone else thought was a reliever excluded of course) and we'll be ready to compete in 2 years or more.
And I will disagree with you because I believe we could compete right now. If we made a couple of shrewd moves. Which so as not to keep saying the same thing over again, I won't repeat.
And yes players are mercenaries that like to win - but you have to start that wheel moving. And by TRADING for a top player he has no choice but to come (Fielder/Gonzalez). And if that's ALL we did next year we would get infinitely better. And it shows the fans you want to put a team on the field not trigger shy about losing prospects (something big time teams don't fear doing). You aren't content to stand pat with a team you lucked into drafting and made one incredible trade to help build. And the fans will come out to support you then.
And then in 2011 when these "mercenaries" see the improvement they may think they are the final piece. But I honestly think we could compete in 2010. Worst to firsts happen, but you need to actually try to make it happen instead of constantly building towards the future.
B_O said:
Well a VERY VERY reliable source was told by ANDREW that he has yet to talk to Ole Pete about Chapman.
A good journalist never reveals his or her sources, but I'll give you guys a hint. His name rhymes with Lock Rubatko.
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And a good journalist always assumes Andy has not spoken to Mr. Angelos in over three weeks, so there's no reason not to post a quote from three weeks ago as being up to the minute truth. Right?
"Worst to firsts happen, but you need to actually try to make it happen instead of constantly building towards the future."
Look at the Rays' offseason before 2008. What significant moves did they make?
- named a new bench coach
- exercised the option on Al Reyes (1 year, $1 mil)
- signed Troy Percival (2 years, $8 mil)
- signed Cliff Floyd (1 year, $3 mil)
- signed Trever Miller (1 year, $2 mil)
- signed Eric Hinske (1 year, $800k)
So that's 2 bargain bin relievers, 1 aging bench player, 1 aging DH, and a middle-of-the-road closer. I have a feeling if this is all we did in the offseason, people would call for Andy MacPhail's head....
Doug (from York) said:
I bet you remember exactly where you were when Al Michaels made the announcement.
Yes...I was burrowed safely in my mother's womb. Is that TMI?
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Depends... how old are you?
The night before last Dennis threw the 9th striking out the side in a 9-5 win.
Roscoe,
What you say makes sense but there's more than one way of looking at these issues.
Just because the FO hasn't spent "stupid" money on questionable free agents does not mean that they haven't been a little too tight on the purse strings. I wonder what we could have received in return for Huff last year if we would have made the trade in June AND paid all of his salary? The same thing for Luke Scott.
Why doesn't this team spend an extra 5 to 10M a year on player development? Besides signing some more (yes, risky) amateur players, why don't we spend what it takes to double the number of instructors at each level of the system. Don't you get tired of players learning the game at the ML level?
We may not be able to match pennies with the Red Sox but why do they have 50% more top twenty rated prospects than we do? Obtaining and developing amateur talent doesn't cost the 60M difference in payrolls. I agree with you that buying mercenaries is not as beneficial long term as developing talent, but YOU HAVE SPEND MONEY to develop talent. Considering the way the Sano deal was structured by the Twins, how could we not have made a little bit better offer.
Hobgood may be an excellent pitcher but, as a HS player, he's a real risk. It would have cost about 1.5M more to go after Aaron Crow, and he would have been ready for the bigs in about 18 months. Drew Storen was available also and he might have plugged the big hole we have in our bullpen.
Based on the published financials for this team, a payroll of about 100M would be appropriate, allowing for a reasonable return on investment, when you include player development costs. When the team starts spending that so that they can bring in QUALITY players through trades and development I will be less critical of ownership.
Do you agree?
Seriously good set of posts recently. I do pray one day we are talking about whether or not Matusz has the chops to win 2 games in a series or not. JDB and Roscoe- appreciate the insight and your positions. In a wierd way, some of us skeptics are also fairly optimistic indicating that we believe that the Orioles are not 3 years away from being competitive if certain actions are taken. I do want to be specific in my reply to Roscoe but need some time to be measured enough in my response that his questions warrant. I will already ruin the suspense that part of my reply will include the idea that we needed to be able to anticipate this weak FA class and sign young quality prospects for multi-year deals (myself and several other posters mentioned this long ago so I believe our FO was aware given that's their job). Long-term deals prior to our actual competiveness era works far better for position players than pitchers- I grant that. My argument is that waiting for our team to be competitive before adding the icing on the cake is not tenable in our division. Some of you say we need to "just develop" and "we've tried the spending money route". Really? Spending money on Gibbons, Mora, Baez (excellent research JDB!), Walker, and the has-beens of the late 90's should not be used as reasoning for not spending in today's game. I'll take another Robby Alomar, Raffy, BJ, Wells, etc. in their PRIME in a heartbeat. I believe if you gave a man with MacPhail's intelligence an open checkbook, he could do serious damage.
Trust me, I understand value. I am a pretty frugal dude. I would rather save than spend. But, owning a major league franchise simply can't be about the profit margin if you want a consistent winner. You aren't going to win a major poker tournament without the possibility of losing all of your chips. And trust me, the gambling analogy fits with the Orioles because they have put themselves in a position where every season is a major crapshoot (or I should say roulette with cash on an inside number). If the Orioles were willing to gamble they would not be stuck in perpetual mediocrity. Sure they have never been the worst team, but without calculated risk, they will never approach the best. So do I hate MacPhail-- not a chance. I just disagree with his risk-taking propensity.
Loma Prieta quake. Sitting in my living room in Dublin, CA, about 30 miles east of Oakland. Had stayed home from work that day, or I'd have been on I-880. I remember no power, no radio stations on either the FM or AM dial, until KCBS was up on generator power about a half hour after the main quake. The swimming pool in our apartment complex half-emptied itself from the sloshing effect, like a bathtub. When my IT contract ended in December, I headed east. Tornado weather, hurricane weather, you get warnings. Not so with earthquakes. And the aftershocks. Dozens that you could feel in the next couple of weeks. And after one like Loma Prieta, you don't know which one is going to be another big one.
Roch...Brummie is the biggest d**k in the world..I live for the day when to actually tell him that...you are thinking the same thing that over 100 people on here have said, and when you finally say it....it will be a monumental moment on the blog!!! Love your work!
jedd said,
"And then in 2011 when these 'mercenaries' see the improvement they may think they are the final piece. But I honestly think we could compete in 2010. Worst to firsts happen, but you need to actually try to make it happen instead of constantly building towards the future."
My thought exactly, which means that you are wise, very wise.
And "thanks" to Roscoe for a stimulating post; you must be popping Omega-3 pills -- you have been on fire lately.
Schoolman and Students:
- Pedro is looking very good; I know it won't happen, but I like Pedro as a closer-in-waiting.
- Jim Thome wants to return to the Pale Hose.
- Jason Marquis wants to be a Met.
- Anyone for John Schmoltz as a veteran presence? That would be the St. Louis Schmoltz.
Jack,
I really enjoy your compositions, especially the quirky construction and stabs at spelling — but, in the spirit of helping a fellow student clean up a few things that continue to mar his posts, after consulting Lisa Simpson, I offer the following:
“Almighty dollar” is the phrase for which you’re searching (“buck” is a good substitute).
“NOTTA” gets the job done but “NADA" may be a better choice.
“Takes a back step” doesn’t leave a reader wondering what you mean, but “takes a back seat” is the phrase to use in this context.
I believe that you have avoided using “rediculous” for quite some time; have you grown tired of it, or do you have a stubborn keyboard that refuses to spit out “ridiculous?”
Think about this: If you want to label an action, or decision "ridiculous" — it makes you look less than competent to misspell this particular adjective.
Which brings me to your refusal, or your inability to grasp what numerous student have pointed out in direct responses to you – Matt, our catcher, spells his last name, thus: WIETERS, not WEITERS. I find it interesting that you have avoided mentioning Matt’s name for a while, probably because we are not discussing current Orioles as much as usual.
I WISH I HAD SAID WHAT JPA JUST SAID -- I WOULD HAVE CHARGED HIM WITH POST PLAGIARISM, A PARTICULARLY EGREGIOUS MISDEMEANOR.
... owning a major league franchise simply can't be about the profit margin if you want a consistent winner. ... If the Orioles were willing to gamble they would not be stuck in perpetual mediocrity. Sure they have never been the worst team, but without calculated risk, they will never approach the best. So do I hate MacPhail-- not a chance. I just disagree with his risk-taking propensity. - JPA
The intensity of late-innings playoff games is compelling stuff -- 1-1 in the bottom of the eighth.
Chase Utley is channelling Chuck Knoblauch with his second, unhurried throw from second to first that showed up on the radar at LAX.
Another snippet from the "YOU CAN'T MAKE UP THIS STUFF FILE:" New Orleans Saints RB George Rogers when asked about the upcoming season: "I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first."
Did anyone else notice the apparent inaccuracy of PitchTrax? It seemed to be off in other games; shifting pitches to the right of the plate.
"Pedro is a legend," Cal on the TBS post game show. The man was razor sharp after not "throwing a pitch in anger" since Sept. 30th!
Vincente Padilla released an Eephus pitch (a nothing pitch), which is a very slow curve with a remarkable arc. I remember seeing film of Ted Williams connecting with an Eephus pitch in an All-Star Game:
After appearing in over 300 major league games, Rip Sewell gave up only one career home run off the Eephus, to Ted Williams in the 1946 All-Star Game. Williams challenged Sewell to throw the Eephus. Sewell obliged, and Williams missed the pitch. However, Sewell then announced that he was going to throw the pitch again, and Williams clobbered it for a home run. Years later, however, Williams admitted that he had been running towards the pitcher’s mound as he hit the ball, and photographs reveal that he was in fact a few feet in front of the batter’s box when he made contact.
STATING THE OBVIOUS: Broxton is an imposing presence in relief.
Joe Girardi's announcement that the Yankees will be using a three-pitcher rotation in the next round(s) of the playoffs was met with dropped jaws and disbelief by many pundits. Maybe there is a smidgeon of hope that wise men eventually will restore the four-man rotation.
Orioles’ 1966 World Series Three Pitcher Rotation:
McNally
Palmer
Bunker
McNally
From the YOU CAN’T MAKE UP THIS STUFF FILE:
And, upon hearing Joe Jacobi of the 'Skin's say: "I'd run over my own mother to win the Super Bowl," Matt Millen of the Raiders said: "To win, I'd run over Joe's Mom, too."
Schoolman,
Have you seen "Brother Where Art Thou?' by the Coen brothers, starring George Clooney and John Turturro. It was on Turner Classic movies last night. Very funny.
I wish I had been near my computer today, so that I could have made the prediction that B_O would use Roch's mention of Dempsey in a worthy fundrasier as yet another venomous diatribe against MacPhail pathetically disguised as humor (or satire, not sure which at this point).
I am astounded by the quality of the posts in this blog entry, and equally amused that neither of the negatroids have made an attempt at intelligent discourse in response. My most emphatic response to the conversation is that I don't want to ever see Eric Bedard (or his anger management therapist) in an Oriole uniform. I don't care how talented he us, I don't want the kids looking at him as a role model the way that Ponson looked at Erickson. I don't think that the FO will be willing to overpay Lackey enough to get him to come here. One name that hasn't come up is Ben Sheets, primarily because he missed this entire season. Roch, have you any sources who could tell us if he's going to be healthy and ready for ST 2010? I think he'd look splendid in Orange and Black (and I don't mean in SF, either) and I think he'd be a fair sight better than every non-Lackey starter on the FA market if he's healthy.
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I don't have any updates on Sheets. The Orioles had no interest last winter because of his health issues. Not sure how he's progressed. - Roch
Roch could the Orioles pursue a Micha Owings for 1B?
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I don't have any information that would make me say yes or no. Would just be speculating. That's the first time anyone has brought up his name. - Roch
Orioles game tix, Boog's BBQ, parking at the Marriot and snacks with my little buddy.....$185.00
two real good front tires for my car.....$185.00
an afternoon at Inner Harbor.........$185.00
"An Evening with Brooks".........PRICELESS
Chris in Hawaii said...
Depends... how old are you?
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Hands down, that has my vote as the funniest post of the year. Thanks for making my night!
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I agree. I should have given Chris some love earlier. That was inspired. - Roch
Returning to Roscoe's comments, I think it is very easy to complain about the state of affairs without offering alternatives. It is kind of like the people who say "Hey Roch- you are so lucky. I would do your job for free," which really pisses me off because it shows a lack of awareness of the negatives and legwork that it takes to produce the final product. Being a GM is like being a chessmaster. I think MacPhail had an amazing opening round, but seems to have stopped being aggressive.
Unless there are major physical limitations or flaws, I would have signed Sano. I watched Chapman closely in the WBC. I don't think he will be great within 5 years *if* he ever matures to match his great arm. His stuff is filthy though. I'm thinking D-Cab with better stuff. I'm disappointed that after Stockstill's major presence abroad we are holding up the Koji banner as our big catch. I was excited because I thought this was round 1 of many. Admittedly, I am being impatient. It may happen. I just feel like the foot has been taken off the accelerator.
Okay, to the real question with attempts to be efficient:
Add: Mark DeRosa or Chone Figgins 3B/utility - 2-3 year contract (negotiations will be tough for either- do it as the other options are not good other than Crede/Beltre who scare me with the injury issues)
DH/OF: This is where the FO needs to earn their paychecks. Status quo is unacceptble with the talent for hire out there and the lack of power on this team. Could add based on $ and how they project for the next 3-4 years: Matsui, Dye, Abreu, Holliday or Bay (the latter two would require longer and heavier contracts but also can be part of the "nucleus"). I like Abreu and Matsui for their maturity and LH bats at OPACY. I don't really think either would want to come to Baltimore. Our FO needs to revamp their "tour".
I'll finish pitching in a bit. Gotta tackle some things on the to do list.
I bet you remember exactly where you were when Al Michaels made the announcement.
Yes...I was burrowed safely in my mother's womb. Is that TMI?
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Depends... how old are you?
Roch,
Ewwwwwwwww......... and .......... LOL