Find MASN on your cable or satellite provider.

U r a funny guy no matter what anyone says! :)

Jack,

Just a thought ... Most often, those being censored, aren't allowed to cry about the censorship. That kind of talk would be, umm, censored.

Roch,
go to bed brother!....we won't get mad!....enjoy some
holiday season will ya!....you are going to have plenty to blog about when the calendar switches to 2010!....although I must admit that a 12:30am update was a pleasant surprise!....thanks brother!

That post actually made me laugh out loud more than once. happy holidays and keep up the good work!

Roch,

I think the quotes of Trembley and MacPhail are being mixed up by a few of our readers. Do you mind talking a look at your notes and perhaps putting together a blog outlining the statements made by the front office regarding their moves this offseason? Perhaps I'm wrong, but I don't believe Andy promised anything.

And I'm really not looking forward to a few months of "Andrew promised me Pujols, and CC, and Holliday, and Cal would play catch with me, and tickets to the games with all the cotton candy I could eat, and a BB gun".

Like always, set us straight ...

This comment is on the bandwagon for Lynn's post from the previous article:

Xavier Nady has played 117 games at 1B in his career. He averages the same stats as Johnny Damon at Camden Yards (35 AB's, 11 H, 2 HR, 6 RBI = 595 AB's, 187H, 102RBI, 34 HR). Then again, that could just be poor, Oriole pitching of the past. It's probably safe to say we could sign him for around 5-6 mil. or less(Being that he is recovering from his 2nd Tommy John Surgery).

He did put up very nice numbers in 2008 (.305 avg, 169 Hits, 37 2B, 25 HR, 97 RBI, .867 OPS) and is expecting to play in Spring Training. He has hit in the #4 hole for other teams and has a .990 Fielding % in 543.2 innings at 1B. Guess who's '09 stats have similarities to Nady's '08? Matt Holliday (Nady vs. Holliday 25v24 HR, 169v182 Hits, 37v39 2B, 97v109 RBI, 103v101 K's)

I'm not saying Nady is Holliday but for the 3-6mil. price tag, is it too much to ask for?
Bring in the right hitting, X-Factor.

Roch, you left out the Matt Holliday question. Any chance the Orioles come out of nowhere and land him? Brian Roberts and Garrett Atkins are two of his best friends, and we know Roberts has been openly campaigning for Holliday to join the Orioles, and it wouldn't surprise me if Atkins was doing the same. Atkins lived with Holliday and his wife during ST and babysat Holliday's son, Jackson. The two are really close as reported in this article:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1103887/1/index.htm

Also there's thought that Atkins missed that presence of Holliday in Colorado this season and signing Holliday could provide an extra bonus of possibly helping to reignite Atkins' bat.

With all these ties now to Holliday, not to mention the fact that Boras seems willing to talk about him with MacPhail, unlike the Teixeira chase last year, it just seems like a perfect siutation for the Orioles to grab him.

MacPhail loves to bargain shop and with Holliday likely not to get much more than $100 million, it seems like a perfect opportunity for the Orioles to land the cleanup hitter they seek at a below normal market price. MacPhail can just bide his time and wait out Boras while Atkins and Roberts try to convince Holliday to make a move.

Factor in the fact that MacPhail has brought on board two Boras clients this offseason in Millwood and Gonzalez, something that's a first for any GM under Peter Angelos who isn't known to be a huge fan of Boras.

It just seems like there is a lot of smoke here...
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I'm sure MacPhail is watching what happens to Holliday's market (among others), but I don't see him becoming a bargain. He's turning down offers higher than what the Orioles want to give him. - Roch

Roch you say that they want to add another starter, and if EB isn't going to be avalible till near the AS game, who does that leave?

Pinero
Garland
Sheets
???

Who else? Maybe another trade? I'd love to see Sheets come here...of course if the money is right, no one is crazy enough to give him 12 million per.

Thoughts? How are we going to get this pitcher and right now who are the top candidates?
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Really don't know about the candidates beyond Bedard (assuming Sheets keeps asking for something in the $12 mil range). Maybe it will become more clear as the market "plays out." - Roch

Andy isn't offering a W/L number because......

A. It won't be a number that agrees with the fans (90 plus losses).
B. There will be a direct numerical stat by which to hold Andy accountable.
C. This team has hardly improved from his offseason moves.

Like I said before, the excuses change, even the spin changes, but the results stay the same.

GO RAVENS! CRUSH THE STEELERS! Show the guys on the other side of the parking lot how to win games!

Great Post Roch.

I know it's still early but I'm in the holiday spirit, so here's my possible opening day roster prediction and the moves leading up to it

O's sign Matt Holliday (6 years 100 million) or Jason Bay (5 years 70-75 million)
If the O's get neither of them, or if they still want a proven first baseman, they'll sign Adam LaRoche to one year deal with a team option for a second year worth up to (18 million)
If they ever find out Erik Bedard's medical records, and he'll be ready by may-june, the O's will sign him to a heavy incentive laden deal worth up to (8 million) with a team option for a second year
Of Course, they'll sign Mark Hendrickson, (1-2 years 2-4 million) and that would pretty much take care of things.

*If the O's sign Holliday or Bay, and LaRoche they'll trade Luuuuuke Scott to (Atlanta?) for more pitching prospects

The O's Opening Day Lineup should look something like this:
Roberts 2B
Jones CF
Markakis RF
Holliday/ Bay LF
LaRoche 1B
Reimold DH
Wieters C
Atkins 3B
Izturis SS

The Bench would consist of:
Moeller
Pie (if he's not traded)/ Montanez (if Pie is gone)
Wigginton/ Scott (if not traded)
Andino/Aubrey

Starting Rotation:
Millwood
Matusz
Bergesen
Guthrie
Tillman
Bedard (When Ready)

Bullpen:
Mickolio
Gonzalez
Uehara
Hendrickson
Johnson
Perez/Hernandez
Berken/Gabino/Albers/Sarfate (whoever pitches best in spring training)

What do you think?
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I still don't think you'll get your wish in LF. And LaRoche's price will need to come down significantly from what he's seeking right now. - Roch

Nice piece Roch, but I'm still left wondering what the he\\ the O's are doing about a big bat. Do you think they feel that Wieters, Bell, or Reimold can fill that role?
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Eventually, yes. Right now, I don't see one in their price range. I've been asking where that bat's going to come from since the season ended. - Roch

Now you can't do any more "Because You Asked" entries... "There Can Be Only One!"

The Orioles hot stove has cooled down alright. What's the problem with signing Hendrickson ? Get it done before somebody else swipes him. Man, I sure wish you could send me some of that snow, I really miss it here. Back in the day I used to shovel out the driveway only to watch the snowplow dude drive by later and block it up again. Ah, the good old days in Minnesota.

A belated Merry Christmas to you and your daughter from me and my daughter.
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The rain and 40-something temps have melted most of the snow here. Sorry. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your girl. - Roch

I was looking forward to answering the plethora of questions but after reading about Huff in the locker room I got sick and had to barf up my breakfast. Sorry.

good morning Roch, Just know that the ballclub will probably not get a big name in a trade or free agency anymore this season.but I'm still on the Holliday bandwagon signing,my reasoning is not to lose any current arms and it seems that's impossible too,and also with the club now high on Pie and apparently untouchable, has it ever occured that he possibly could play 1st base. when you go through the lineup not many players are untouchables but we can't afford to get rid of any of them for what's available now. Really touchables that we could let go in a trade(Scott,Wiggington,Andino,Hendrickson,Sarfate, Albers etc.)aren't worth much without going with one or more of the young arms, so it would really surprise me if there are any more moves other then Hendrickson signing to give us a left handed body in the pen.Bedard and Wang might be a flyer but looks like you would have to carry them on the 60 day disabled list for a while before they are ready.maybe not a bad move because something unforseen always happens. This roster will probably satisfy some for this year but these baby steps this year are going to leave bigger steps to make up next year, sooner or later if we expect to be a winner the steps have to be bigger.

Good stuff Roch. Thanks for something nice to read this morning.

Do you believe Adrian Gonzalez would be worth one of our top pitching prospects and some additional pieces if we could sign him long term?
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Yes, as long as it isn't Matusz (and depending, of course, on how you define "additional pieces") - Roch

Fellow bloggers,
There is a pretty good article by Dan Connolly over on the Sun on the Orioles international scouting program. It turns out they signed 36 players internationally this year. I had no idea they were in with that many players. Good read.

Roch

Happy New Year! You are a funny man.

Mike
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Thanks Mike. Have a happy and safe New Year. - Roch

Too late now, but the guy who should be hitting cleanup for us is down the road in Washington - Adam Dunn. I will never understand why they didn't get him last year. So he didn't want to DH, they could have played him some at 1st and when everyone in the outfield got hurt, he could have at least stood out there with a glove. That's the one guy who they didn't go after enough (if at all) that has actually bothered me.

Great blog! I needed a good laugh this morning. I don't know why everyone wants to jump 0n these high price players for a year or two. I think we should give Reimold, Weiters, Pie, Aubrey and Jones a chance to prove what they can do.
Bell and Snyder might arrive in 2010 and they could make a difference. We might be pleasantly surprised with what we already have on the team. Sign Hendrickson, a vet starter and a big bat for one year and lets play ball. By the end of 2010 Andy will know what we need to push us over the top and he will fill the void. I really believe we will be around 500 or above in 2010. Time will tell.
Have a good day, Roch and keep up the good work.

Trying to erase the mental image of Huff in the buff from my brain...

To elock: Not only didn't Dunn want to be a DH, he didn't want to play 1B either. He only ended up there because the Nationals figured out what the rest of baseball knew, and that was that Dunn is such a bad outfielder that his defensive liabilities significantly impact the team. I'm quite certain that if Dunn was willing to be a full-time 1B last year, the Orioles would have been happy to pay him what Washington is paying him and would have told ol' HR Huffinbuff that he was going to DH.

To birdsfan66: The problem with your scenario is that the Padres have no incentive to offer us a negotiating window, and to try and find out ahead of time if Gonzalez would be receptive to signing a long-term extension is illegal (tampering). I think that if the team shows itself to be better than advertised, the youngsters (Matusz, Tillman, and Bergesen) all show that they appear to be as good as advertised, and the Padres season is already in the toilet, you might see the team make a bigger push to make a July trade for Gonzalez.

To Brummie: I'm not even sure why I respond to you, other than it's cathartic for me to do so as if I didn't respond, it would cause my stress levels to increase substantially. MacPhail didn't offer a W/L number because NOBODY IN THEIR RIGHT MIND would offer such a thing two months before spring training starts and four months before the season starts. Of course, I disagree with you about the team not being improved with his offseason moves. In particular, Millwood is an upgrade over Berken both in terms of talent and in what he brings to the pitching staff as a mentor, in addition to how he makes Guthrie better by taking the pressure off of him to be the staff leader. Gonzalez is an upgrade over Ray or whomever else might have been the #7 guy in the bullpen, as he allows everyone else to be pushed back one spot on the chain of command (i.e. Johnson goes back to the 8th). Atkins has the potential to be an upgrade over Mora, and certainly can't be any worse. Unlike you, I believe that Pie is not a mediocre hitter, and I have faith that Crowley can restore Atkins' swing to its previous state.

In addition, I believe the team will be better simply because the first and second year players (Jones, Pie, Reimold, Wieters, Bergesen, Matusz, Tillman, Hernandez, Johnson, Albers, Mickolio, and perhaps including Berken, Sarfate, and Aubrey) will be more experienced. I believe that Uehara (RP) is an upgrade over Uehara (SP). I believe that if and when Hendricksen is resigned, the same applies to him. I believe that in-shape Albers will be a significant upgrade over doughboy Albers. Unlike you, I believe that the team can (and does) get better in ways other than turning over the roster through free agent signings.

Whew. I actually do feel better.

To Omazing: Having done a little research on the Nady situation a few weeks ago, the reason you don't hear his name so much is because no one seems to know if or when he will able to play in 2010. He is definitely not an OF anymore, having had a second Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in July. In addition, look at his stats. His reputation as a power bat is not deserved based on his production.

Roscoe- well placed tweak in the last post. :) I always find it interesting how similar many of the views posted on this blog are for those who pay attention to the Birds. The bottom line (homage to Ray-Ray) is that if I didn't have hope that the O's will someday compete, I wouldn't invest the emotional energy. What frustrates me is the truth of Roch's posts when he says "the Orioles just aren't going to spend that kind of money) when in many cases we aren't even talking about the median salary at a certain position (e.g., LaRoche) or pay reliable excellence (rather fix someone who used to be solid-not exceptional). The Orioles are not "penny pinchers" in the traditional sense. They are characterized buy a tremendous push-pull to be competitive but without the full commitment to championship baseball across the board since the late 90's. Spending for spending's sake is foolish. But unlike others, I feel there is a tremendous value to paying very good players specifically because it brings the team closer to the time when they can compete for a championship. I think the Rays last to first thing is cute, but not the way it typically works (otherwise I could not give you one reference and have you know exactly what I mean). There will NEVER be another great FA year that meet this team's needs. There may be some good ones but the stars will usually get extended, traded and extended, or taken by the top guns. And although there isn't a specific reason we can't be a big boy, the O's have shown through their actions that they choose not to. Cheapness? Not really. Cheapness would indicate an unwillingness to spend. This team's owner wants to make money and a lot of it. So maybe self-interested fits better. The funny thing is, I want him to make a fortune too but unfortunately I want it to be through ticket sales and merchandise but that doesn't do it these days... The likelihood of the O's making the playoffs without a few really big signings I feel is small. As always with this team, I hope to be way off base. Happy New Year!

How many Orioles fans does it take to understand they aren't going after Holliday?

So Roch,
What do you think it will take to get Jacoby Ellsbury, sign Matt Holiday, convert him to be our star first baseman, then make at run at Adrian Gonzalez, then build a time machine, go back and add Steve Johnson to the roster, all before the team reports to spring training? Any chance on that happening? And what prospects would be untouchable in those trades mentioned?

Hey, if we need a veteran arm, I just saw that Bruce Chen was available. He could show the kids how to be a, uh, veteran.

Roch,

You left out the Bedard or Sheets question, and I see someone metioned the Holliday one.

Good post though. Just can't get excited about Atkins though, placeholder or no. Would have preferred a cheaper Glaus.

Roch, I had to laugh when you said:
• "Any chance they make a run at Adrian Gonzalez?

Any chance I break down crying from this one?"
I've felt the same way for weeks reading these idiotic posts.

AND THEN...Birdfan66 asks the same darn question!!!!

Wake up people!

Amazing how quickly we can raise all the popular topics that you happened to miss above Roch (Holliday for example). I'm surprised no one has asked who we are getting for Chad Bradford lately. Is there a Because You Asked -Part Deux in the works?!?

Roscoe mentioned a key point in his post at the tail-end of the previous thread... "AND so we can be SUSTAINABLY good, for a decade not just one year."

This is one of the key points that seems to be beyond the grasp of many fans. Sure the team can sign some big names and try to compete in 2010. What so many conveniently forget, however, is that was exactly the recipe Angelos and the previous GMs used for nearly 10 years with disastrous results.

What MacPhail is working toward is "sustained" improvement and that cannot be rushed. If his plan comes to fruition, however, it will mean the Orioles will be legitimate contenders for at least three to five years. That makes sense to me.

As for the power bat many are still clamoring for, I'm not so sure it's necessary and here is why. Take a look at the following stats from last year's playoff clubs...

Yankees - Teixeira (39), A-Rod (30), 5 others with 20+
Red Sox - Bay (36), 3 others with 20+
Twins - Cuddyer (32), Morneau (30), 2 others with 20+
Angels - Morales (34), 3 others with 20+
Phillies - Howard (45), Werth (36), Ibanez (34), Utley (31), 1 with 20+
Cardinals - Pujols (47), 1 other with 20+
Dodgers - Ethier (31), 1 other with 20+
Rockies - Tulowitzki (32), 3 others with 20+

Note the Yankees had a total of seven guys with 20+ homers. Also note that the Cardinals and Dodgers only had two guys with 20+ homers and they still made the post season.

Now let's look at the 2010 Orioles lineup as it stands today. I don't think it would be a stretch to predict the following players are capable of hitting 20+ home runs: Wieters, Atkins, Scott, Reimold, Jones, Markakis.

If this forecast does fall into place, it would mean the Orioles have five guys with 20+ home runs, and perhaps even one or two with 30+. That would be more than six of the eight teams that made the playoffs in 2009.

So, the question is do we really need that big bopper? How important is it to have that one guy who can hit 40+ homers as opposed to a number of guys who are capable of hitting 20+?

Roch,

Good stuff! Well except for the Huff clubhouse appearance reference. I'm still shuddering over that!!

As for the Adrian Gonzalez pipe dream, it seems many don't understand how something like this works. First and foremost, since Gonzalez is still property of the Padres, that means they will have to want to trade the guy. Secondly, even if the Pads are not actively shopping him, they will listen to any offer for any of their players. I said listen, not agree. After listening to some of the offers here on this blog, they might get a good chuckle. However if they listen, they will provide the O's a list of players that might match their interest level. No one knows whose names might be on that list, but you can bet that SD would put Matusz name at the top. If you and I were GM of the Pads, would we not start with him? And I'm thinking the next names on that list would probably be Tillman & Erbe. After that perhaps Pie, Reimold, and to a lesser degree Snyder. I'm thinking it would take at least a 4 player deal. And where would that leave our pitching? It's not going to happen, and nor should it.

Lastly, there is a reason that there is not much noise coming out of the FO right now. The sharp GM's do not tip their hand. I know some expect the GM to communicate every possible move that is under consideration, but no top level executive worth his paycheck operates that way. Did Cashman communicate all along about the Yankees interest in Tex last year? No. He let the media play out the rumors, and swooped in at the end, when not many even expected NY to even be in on Tex. Heck, Cashman never even stated publicly who NY was going after. See Brummie, that's how it works!!

Your next "Because you ask" blog should be tittled "Because you hard heads keep asking". It must be nice as an accomplished journalist( such as yourself)to have the opportunity to interview an accomplished, consummate professional, baseball person, (such as yourself). Ahh, the joys of having your own blog.

Here's a New Year toast to that "at least one game over five hundred record" for next year, and your record setting consecutive blogs. Thanks for keeping us informed.

First off, Merry Christmas to Roch and to everyone on this blog. (Yes, it is still Christmas until January 6.) It really has been a gift to go through the last few years with this gang, and I know I speak with many when I count Roch's community, commitment, and content as a blessing. You all are good travel companions not only through the off-season, but also through the off-years as we hope expectantly for the renewal of our beloved Orioles. (In that sense--to be liturgically accurate--I suppose we're all still in Advent together.)

Next...

"Do you think the Giants selected him to get revenge on the Orioles for taking one of their guys with the third pick?

Spit-balling? Absolutely not. John Barr, their assistant to the GM, drafted Johnson when he served as the Dodgers' East Coast supervisor, so he's familiar with the kid. And Giants minor league pitching coach Ross Grimsley, the former Oriole, wrote a favorable report on Johnson a few years ago. They did their homework. They also went outside for recess."

Thanks for clearing that up. I find it very easy to redirect my frustration in some irrational ways, and I admit that I was pretty angry with the Giants for swiping Johnson right after we swung their guy over to Texas. Now, can Roch or anyone else help me not despise Billy Butler for taking Bergeson out last year? And, while we're dragging up old memories... I'm still trying to work through Bubba Crosby destroying Brian Roberts' arm back in 2005. I know these things happen, but those guys are the clearest candidates to receive my angst. Anybody know what I'm talking about? Community therapeutic support, anyone? Anger management? Help, please?

Adam LaRoche is not worth $10 million per season. Period. $10 million for 25 home runs? Really? REALLY? Surely there must be somewhere between stingy reservation and Yankee free-spending. Michael Aubrey could hit at least 20 dingers over the course of a season. I'm not saying I wouldn't seek a Gold Glove power-hitting first baseman if he were reasonably available (sorry, I don't think A. Gonzalez is reasonably available for us now), but there is NO SENSE in forking that much money over to Adam LaRoche to hit 25 home runs.

And Roch, WOW... even just mentioning a near-.500 season makes me thrilled. It's far from impossible. Weiters, Reimold, Matusz, Bergeson, Jones, Markakis, Pie, all one year further along in development. These are great young ballplayers. Sure, we can sign a big bat and another starter... but our nucleus is strong. Seriously. That's a big, big difference from the last 12 years. So cool!

It makes me laugh when I read people on here saying this team is not improved over last year. Even if we didn't make any moves at all, the team would still be improved based on internal progress. Think about it. At this time last year we had one, yes one, spot in our starting rotation set. Heck, we only had one spot filled through most of spring training. This year we already have our rotation set (minus any tweaks if we pick up any other arms)and its not even January. We also have a log jam in left field. Another question mark from last year. The bullpen is improved just by being able to move guys like Hernandez, Berken and Uehera into long and middle relief roles. Not too mention we have a true closer now in Gonzalez (not that I didn't love Sherrill, but thats another example of the bashers doing their thing, they hated him being our closer but then complained when we traded him for our potential 3rd baseman of the future) and we'll have Mickilio from the start of the season. And speaking of having players for a full season, Weiters, Reimold, and a matured (and sweet swinging thanks to Crow) Pie. Thats a big lift to the lineup compared to how we started 2009. And I truely believe Crow will figure out how to fix Atkins and he'll be a productive player, at least put up pre-2009 Mora-esque numbers. Throw Aubrey out there until Snyder is ready at first and he'll make Atkins a better fielder. Now if you compare what we have right now, to what we had coming out of spring training last year and the first few months of the season and you don't see any improvement, you're either clinically insane, or you just have some kind of pipedream agenda. If thats the case you should go over to WNST and live in there fantasy world where everyone and anything Orioles is planning a huge conspiracy against this city and its citizens. Bottom line is that if this team is going to see significant improvement its got to come from within. Its going to come from the young players stepping up. Until that happens, I don't care who we bring in, we won't be a competitive club. I think the fact that MacPhail isn't going after these big name free agents should give us comfort because it shows how much he believes in the kids and thinks some of them can be stars and carry this team. Thats what we need to happen. Adding Bay or Holliday won't fix the problem, only the kids can.

Sorry for the rant Roch, but I'm just tired of the bashers twisting everything in a negative light even if it is truely a positive move for the organization.

Roch, I love every BYA. Thanks as always.

PaulintheDena said:
“ … One thing I have noticed over the last year or so is the bickering that goes back and forth with the personal attacks. … This causes either restrictions, name calling or banning in some cases.”

“ … As a suggestion, why not implement a rule if anyone....anyone personally attacks another individual on the blog by either name calling or personal criticism, they get one warning and then banned … .”

… Most deserve some of the comments, but the ones shooting them back get no penality. It would make the blog a better place to view if it ALL stopped!”

PITD,
You have terribly misjudged many right-meaning classmates. Our goal has always been to contain the submissions, which are harmful to the community spirit of the SOR.

It is unrealistic to assume that Roch has the time to administer a system such as you suggest.

Furthermore, “the ones shooting them back” are acting as grossly underpaid volunteers, laboring for all that is in the best interests of 99%+ of the people who read and submit to this blog.

If, indeed, “most deserve some of the comments,” my sense of fair play is bothered by the notion that someone trying to admonish a malefactor should be designated for the same official sanction brought on the head of the originator of the anti-community piffle.

If one morning, I wake and find myself in the Elysian Fields, holding an Ignore Button, I will realize I died a happy member of the School of Roch.

Until that morning, I know not what explanation others may make; but, as for me, give me freedom from trolls, or turn me loose.

Any chance the Ravens can get coach Billick back?

It's pretty sad when the announcers are questioning why Harbaugh sat on the sidelines with his teeth in his mouth when we could have called a timeout, forced Pitt to run from their own 5 yard line and got the ball back with good field position.

But no, let's just give them a free 96 yard drive and a TD. GREAT JOB "COACH"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Roch,

In reguards to Branyan, do you know how much he is seeking???? As far as a deal goes, I'd give him a 2 year deal
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I haven't heard, but I wouldn't give him more than one guaranteed. - Roch

Here's a question that SHOULD be frequently asked: why would a sub-.500 team in the toughest division in baseball surrender a high second-round pick in order to sign a reliever for two years?

The Mike Gonzalez signing -- regardless of how well he plays -- is indefensible. There is absolutely no excuse for the front office to give up on a player who might be here when the team might be good (i.e., in 3-5 years) in order to improve to 78 wins for next year.

Brummie,

How have we not improved? Care to explain that?

"steve in phx said:
Any chance the Ravens can get coach Billick back?

It's pretty sad when the announcers are questioning why Harbaugh sat on the sidelines with his teeth in his mouth when we could have called a timeout, forced Pitt to run from their own 5 yard line and got the ball back with good field position.

But no, let's just give them a free 96 yard drive and a TD. GREAT JOB "COACH"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

so you just posted this same exact post in two different blogs....do you have a life, sir

Hey Andrew,
The Orioles can pay over slot for a guy with 2nd round talent. They take a guy not projected to sign,give him more than his "slot" dictates. It was done by the O's this year for the catcher and 2 pitchers in the top ten (can't remember their names). Also, if they are out of it at the break they can flip Gnzalez for prospects like they did Sherrill. If Gonzalez plays great for 2 years than he will be a type A again who would get us 2 picks if he leaves. We will probably be seeing this next year when they get into the free agent market that is much better than this one.

This blog post was much better than Highlander 2! (Although the "Renegade version, director's cut" is a lot better than the theatrical version, it's still a bad movie.)

Personally, if the team is being judged on wins and losses, I think we need to improve by 11 games. Winning 75 or more games would be a sign of good progress, and threatening .500 could entice some free agents to come here next offseason.

mstrchef13 said:
" ... ol' HR Huffinbuff ... "

mstrchef13,
Very good. Very good, indeed.

And, lest we forget. A nugget from Jack before he reached critical mass: No wonder our pitchers dont have no stamina.

Exactly William!!!!

Brummie,

How are they not improved? They are definitely better. I do however agree that if the expectations now are going to be for victories, then there should be some high impact signing of someone who will make a significant impact in 2010.

Thanks Roch!!

Hey, gang! I hope the wrapping paper is in the trash, the new toys haven’t broken yet, and the tree is still a-glitter in the living room. Snow? What snow? It was a gorgeous day in Philly and there’s still a week of mostly-vacation ahead. The chicken enchiladas are ready to go in the oven, so the food’s mostly taken care of for the next day or two, and there’s nowhere I need to be. Ahh, good times . . . .

So how about some shoutouts?

First, happy Moving Day amarie! Good luck, girl! We all hope you and The Snuggly Buttercup emerged unscathed. Our thoughts are with you, and excited that the number one O’s fan will be closer to B’more (not to mention Philly). Write with news once you’re reconnected!

Second, does everyone know what tomorrow is? That’s right! The 51st anniversary of the greatest football game ever played, and, less famously, the 51st birthday of your humble carrot-hued scribe, although Roscoe would remind me that it’s actually the beginning of my 52nd year. Thanks a lot, Roscoe, like I really needed that.

jdb: Thanks for nominating me for the Garrett Atkins award. I’m deeply honored. If Garrett defies Crowley’s magic and tanks again this year, it’ll be especially apt. Here's wishing you many happy projections for 2010!

mstrchef13: So you never answered my question: Are you a master chef? What kind of cheese do you use in your enchiladas? And while we’re talking about food:

Roch’s sis: Please post your grandmother’s peanut butter fudge recipe! I know, I know, this is a baseball blog, but it’s the off-season, and, besides, peanut butter and chocolate are always relevant. So what’s it like to be the sister of the world’s greatest blogger? Do people stop you on the street?

Baron: I loved your imagined conversation between Boras and Holliday and suspect you’ve captured the tenor of those conversations. I totally agree that many assume the O’s can just overpay and get whomever they want, but most players of consequence are already set for life financially, so winning and quality of life are magnified. But now that Andy has started turning the franchise around hopefully we won’t have as many players openly avoiding us. What we need are more players like Mike Gonzalez, who look forward to the challenge of taking down the big boys. Unlike Teixeira, that big wimp. (And, Baron, what a letter! I owe you big time!)

Chr**: Threatening Roch? Really? You must have yourself confused with someone of relevance and value. Stick around and we’ll cure you of that delusion. Or better yet, don’t.

ROCH!

You rock. I rock the Roch, Roch. Keep rockin'.

you say no one in their right mind would predict wins or losses

but the yankees guaranteed world series victory last year

seems like that worked pretty well

Hey Roch, given our need for a power bat, do you think the Yanks would trade us Mickey Mantle for Jim Palmer and Chris Hoiles? And do you think Mantle would be willing to work out at first base?

Roch, have you heard anything about the O's trading for A-Gon? ... I kid, I kid! ;)

Ah, I love the BYA blogs! Great as always. In other news, April is still a looong time away. :(

OCJ - shot in the dark, but my guess was "mstrchef13" was an allusion to Halo, and not a profession. Happy Birthday tomorrow!

Thanks roch u just told me the orioles will suck again! I was 16 the last time they were good. Oh well at least ur blog is good happy holidays
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Happy Holidays, Jose. And don't give up hope yet. - Roch

Hey Roch,
If we add a starting pitcher, a corner infielder, another reliever(hopefully Valverde instead of Hendrickson - play to win AM just like you are requiring Trembly to), that is 3 additional spots exposed on the 40 man roster. Which 3 get exposed?
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Don't know. There are vulnerable guys on the 40-man (including Castillo, Gabino and Sarfate), but we'd just be guessing here. - Roch

To OCJ:

I couldn't remember who it was who asked me that. I'm not a chef, I just like to cook and I do it pretty decently. The only time I ever made enchiladas I used pepper jack. They turned out ok, but it was such a hassle to make. It would be easier to use flour tortillas, I suppose, but it wouldn't taste the same and in the end it's really about how it tastes.

Overdue, I realize, but I finally got around to looking at the Frank Robinson trade, considered by many to be among the most lopsided in history. Only it’s not as lopsided as I had thought gauged by wins above replacement, given that Frank was truly one of the greats of history:

Frank after trade: 45.9 WAR
Milt after trade: 25.4 WAR

Jack Baldschun and Dick Simpson had identically negative WAR careers post-trade (-1.7), so they were less than worthless by modern accounting standards, but Milt actually enjoyed quite a fine career, winning over 200 games (209-164) and compiling a tidy 3.40 ERA. Granted, he pitched in a time when pitching was dominant, but his career ERA+ numbers are almost identical to Mike Cuellar’s, for example (110 vs. 109). He actually debuted with the Orioles at 18 and was a rotation mainstay by 19 (Cuellar didn't achieve that until he was 29!). His career WAR total was 45.3, about equal to Frank’s total post-trade, which is still pretty impressive. Frank was one for the ages, and he made the biggest immediate impact he could have made, winning the Triple Crown and taking the franchise to a World Series sweep his first year. It was still a lopsided trade, made to seem more so because it put the Orioles as a team over the top. But it wasn’t as ridiculously lopsided as I had always imagined.

Now for the big 10-player trade with the Yankees a decade later. Again, I’ll list the career WAR stats accumulated by each player after the trade, even if they were subsequently traded again, as many of these players were. The values below are what they’d be if the two teams had simply kept all five players from that point forward:

Rick Dempsey 22.8
Scott McGregor 17.5
Rudy May 9.5
Tippy Martinez 6.0
Dave Pagan -2.6

Total: 53.2 WAR

Doyle Alexander 30.4
Grant Jackson 5.0
Ellie Hendricks .4
Jimmy Freeman 0.0
Ken Holtzman -3.3

Total: 32.5 WAR

Interestingly, this trade was about equally lopsided (about 20 WAR), and again it put the Orioles over the top, but again it was less lopsided than I remembered, mostly thanks to Doyle Alexander, who went on to a nice career. As many of us recall, Rick, Scott and Tippy were key parts of a nice run of dominance, although both Scott (career 98 ERA+) and Ellie (career WAR 6.4) had more modest career numbers than I would have guessed.

I missed this one... if we were to trade Ty Wigginton would it be for cash considerations or an actual player? Since Atkins is essentially the same player as Ty. Do we need them both?

Also I wondered if there was a Brad Hennessey update?

Also you mentioned Aubrey Huff... is Kevin Millar available?
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Wigginton would be a bench player, like last season. Atkins is a starter. Room for both. Hennessey was cut lose last spring. Last I saw, he's out of baseball. Millar is available, and the Orioles aren't interested. - Roch

Andrew said:

Here's a question that SHOULD be frequently asked: why would a sub-.500 team in the toughest division in baseball surrender a high second-round pick in order to sign a reliever for two years?

The Mike Gonzalez signing -- regardless of how well he plays -- is indefensible. There is absolutely no excuse for the front office to give up on a player who might be here when the team might be good (i.e., in 3-5 years) in order to improve to 78 wins for next year.
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Ummmmm, that's an easy one. As Joel C points out, the O's can spend the money in later rounds on guys not expected to sign.

And...

Another way you could look at it (though a little more outside the box) is this - if Gonzalez (at a slightly higher cost) replaces Sherrill (who is a FA in 2 years anyway), then you can equate what was lost with the signing of Gonzalez with what was gained with the trade of Sherrill. Thus, the 2nd round pick becomes Josh Bell & Steve Johnson. Not too shabby (especially if we get Johnson back).

Of course, if you want to be a little more straight forward about it, you could just accept that they shored up the back end of the bullpen in a major way. Personally, I think Uehara could close (and I used that logic before as a reason not to sign a closer), but you're taking a bit more of a risk since you've never seen him do so in the US. You can't expect to see improvement in the W-L column when you're filling your bullpen with a significant amount of maybes. Maybe Uehara can close. Maybe Mickolio will be able to as well at some point. With Gonzalez, you're giving Trembley a guy who has been there and done it at his disposal.

Love sequel titles that reference "the Quickening." Nice tribute to one of the worst films of all time. And a great entry to boot! Let's hope you're right about Bedard being ready by May. (and in an O's uniform)

Welcome to Monday everyone, or as they call it in the Warehouse: "Get your butt back to work and start earning that $5.75 an hour we pay you!!"

LOL

Anyways, why is Hendrickson still a Free Agent. He SAID in September he wanted to come back. The O's want him here. They have or can make roster space. Why is this being dragged out like a bad soap opera? Two months into the offseason and Andy is still twittling his thumbs on this.

Get with the programme Andy. You NEED to have your own house in order!!!

To Baron - it's not so much an issue of the number of home runs the players you mention are able to hit; rather it is the situation in which those home runs are hit. Let's say Weiters, Jones and Markakis all hit 20+ home runs, but 75% of those homers come with no one on base. Home runs are great for TV and the fans, but if the O's are only getting one run per HR, while the opponent is getting 2 or 3, all the home runs in the world aren't going to make a difference in end W/L record.

Hopefully the pitching can improve this year so that when the opponents hit their share, they're only getting 1 run because the pitcher didn't walk the bases loaded. While I can see your point about not necessarily NEEDING to go out and get a huge HR hitter, I think the better apporach needs to be look at situational HR's - for example, how do Holliday's numbers look when batting with 2 outs and 2 men on base? If he strikes out more than he homers or doubles, will his signing truly be a major improvement?

While home runs are nice, I'd rather see the team go out and get a proven RBI machine (singles or doubles) to try and avoid what seemed to be an every-game occurrence of leaving 10-15 runners stranded on base. No more of this 2nd and 3rd with nobody out and we manage to score zero.

Im happy we didn't give Hernandez up to Texas,he has an All-Star fastball.GO O's!!!

I think when they say they are looking for a big bat, it isn't necessarily a number of home runs they have in mind. It is more the Eddie Murray, Albert Pujols, Mickey Mantle type of guy. One who will put a team on his back for extended periods of time and win games even when everyone else may not be contributing. Luke has shown he can do that for a couple of days, maybe even a week, but no one else has emerged with that kind of ability to carry a team. Eddie would do it for two or three weeks at a time, a couple of times a year. Just being in the lineup made others better. There are not many of these guys available. Tex might be one, but he decided to go somewhere where he did not have to be that guy, so maybe he isn't. Dunn can hit 40 HRs a year, but he won't carry a team for any extended periods of time. Hopefully we are growing them in Wieters and Reimold or perhaps Jones, but they are rare and come at great cost on the free agent market when available, growing them is the best bet for us. The Angels and others have proven offensive success with a line up full of high on base percentage players. If they keep getting hits or walks, someone has to score eventually. There are only three bases that you can stand on.

To Brummie: For a "journalist", your research skills are pathetic. It wouldn't have taken you very long to find that the minimum wage in the US hasn't been $5.75 in several years.

There was a time when I was in between careers that I would have loved to work in the warehouse for minimum wage just to be able to say that I worked for the Orioles. Would you work for £5.52 an hour inside the corporate offices of Manchester United?

To OCJ: I agree that the trade works out in the favor of the Orioles. I'm just not certain that the WAR metric is appropriate in this case. I seriously doubt that Dempsey (in particular), McGregor, and Martinez would have had as much success as they did if the trade had not happened. On the flip side, Alexander's WAR was earned with five different teams.

In addition, Alexander, Holtzman, and Jackson were instrumental in helping the Yankees reach the World Series in 1976. So the Yankees got what they wanted (short-term help in reaching the WS), while the Orioles got what they wanted (long-term help in becoming a top franchise again). I think that depending on your perspective you could argue that both sides won, and the trade wasn't as lopsided as WAR data makes it look. Still, as an Orioles fan during that time I'm very glad we made the trade.

OCJ: It's my pleasure to post the Peanut Butter Fudge recipe for a fellow candy lover and one of my favorite posters:
3 cups of sugar, 3 heaping tbs. of cocoa, 2 cups of milk. Combine in a heavy pot. Cook and stir over medium heat until boiling. Clip on a candy thermometer and stir occasionally until it reaches 235 degrees. Then, here's the tough part, place pan in a sink filled with a few inches of cold water and beat the mixture with a wooden spoon until it is dull. Great workout for the biceps! Spread in a buttered 8 x 8 pan to cool. Enjoy! There are not enough words to describe how proud I am of Roch. Believe me, he's the world's greatest brother as well! Sometimes I do get recognized because there's a bit of a resemblance between us, especially in the arms. I've made alot of fudge!
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I just put on five pounds from the last batch of it. And not in the arms. Love you! - Roch

Peanut Butter Fudge (updated)
Sorry for the blonde moment(and I thought that only happened to natural blondes, not us poser blondes)! I missed a few key ingredients. Before you move the pot to the sink, add 2 tbs. butter and 2 heaping tbs. of peanut butter. Duh! Love you too Roch!