Cornering MacPhail
The Orioles won't be introducing a new acquisition at tomorrow's FanFest.
President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail pointed out during the Hot Stove Show on 105.7 The Fan that a player would have to pass a physical first, and since the club hasn't reached agreement with a free agent, "the likelihood of somebody being announced and then popping out from behind a curtain is about zero at this stage."
Makes sense.
MacPhail sounded encouraged that he'll find another player within the next week, or soon after. A corner infielder and left-handed pitcher are the priorities, and he would prefer a third baseman despite the limited market.
"I'm hopeful that over the course of the next week or so, we're able to get that wrapped up," he said. "I think the timing's right because the closer we get to that spring training reporting date, players want to know where they're going to be. So we should have the remaining players, who are fairly substantial at this point, go off the board in a more rapid pace.
"We would hope that next corner infielder we could add is a solid hitter. (But) there isn't a multitude of those power guys in the game, and I think the game is shifting a little bit away from the gaudy power numbers that were put up 10 years ago that we were used to seeing. The game is starting to shift and you can see, rightfully so, clubs starting to put emphasis on defense."
The interest in Miguel Tejada continues to grow, as does the possibility that he returns to the Orioles. MacPhail likes Joe Crede's glove and Tejada's bat, but he might have revealed a tie-breaker tonight.
"There are also durability issues with Joe over the course of his career, and not so much with Miguel, who's had over 650 plate appearances in all but one season in recent memory," he said.
"Of course, there are a lot of first base options that are still available to us. I don't think it took Sherlock Holmes to figure out that was going to be the case. You have Russell Branyan, who had 31 home runs last year in a big ballpark in Seattle."
MacPhail also said that Garrett Atkins indicated he would lean toward playing first if given the choice. I assumed he would want to stay at third, since he has more experience at the hot corner.
I'll have more from MacPhail after I return home.
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Categories (click for archive)Roch Kubatko | Roch Kubatko Orioles |
Hey Roch,
I heard the interview with Andy and thought it was great. I agree with what Andy had to say and I gotta admit he swayed me on the possible return of Miggy.
Of course, I know were gonna here from Brummie & KyleProBowler and their rants about low budgets, not being aggresive, etc.
Atkins was a first baseman in the minors and moved to third since he was blocked at first by Todd Helton.
Tejada and Bedard. Oh, the irony. I actually like it, and could care less about any past personality conflicts. They'd no longer be the two best guys on the team. Funny how that changes perspective. Book it!
Roch,
It felt like Macphail was selling us the hope of Tejada and Bedard but there have been no reports about Bedards health and him being ready to pitch soon. There have been no "Sheets Like" displays of pitching health from Bedard. Macphail did a good job of answering ur questions without revealing too much. If u were a betting man who are the two signings this week Bedard, Tejada, Crede, or Hendricson? I think Crede and Hendrickson. Not excited about that but I'll be in Sarasota watching regardless....
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I really don't know. I've been trying to guess all along. - Roch
Wouldn't it be interesting if the Os ended up getting Bedard and Tejada back, and cheaper than before? After getting all the players in return from the trades and getting the players back. Wow, that's kind of cool.
Roch--Atkins enjoyed playing first base at UCLA. I think he sees the move to Baltimore as a chance to reinvigorate his game. I believe first base is the right place for him and the Orioles.
Multiple Choice Question of the Day.
Who said: "I feel very happy with this trade, because it's something that I've been really looking forward to."
a. Miquel Tejada
b. Miquel Tejada
c. Miquel Tejada
d. All of the Above
If we bring him back, and I would say it looks better than 50-50 with AM's comments here, I for one will be sorely dissappointed. I would agree with OCJ's earlier comment the "Apocolypse must be upon us". I too(like Baron said earlier) would have a hard time rooting for the guy.
We are quick to forgive athlete's transgressions today. It's the reason why Mark McGwire got a standing ovation this past weekend and why when Roch first brought this issue up(bringing Tejada back) earlier this week, the for and against seemed to be split 50-50.
It amazes me as well that people think that a guy who is a mediocre shortstop defensively will make a smooth transition to third base and somehow become more than adequate defensively. Yes, he hit over.300 last year . . . in the NL, and in a hitter friendly park. His OBP is atrocious and he averages one walk a week. Yes, one per week, that's assuming that he plays everyday.
Some have suggested that he would protect Markakis in our lineup. Are you kidding me??? In our lineup he should hit no higher than 8th. Think he would be happy with that?
He's led the majors in GIDP's 4 of the last six years and it's not just because he hits a lot of hard groundballs. His last summer with the O's, many of those groundballs were easily hit to the 2nd baseman, due to his inability to get around on a fastball. It didn't help much that he was often jogging down the line.
Brian Roberts said earlier this week that he'd love to have him back. No kidding! Did Brian dog it on groundballsbefore Miggy arrived.
If he's going to come here and bust his tail like his first season, okay, but I absolutely don't expect it. He's a cancer. It's why we got rid of him the two years ago.
What if Josh Bell is crushing AAA pitching on July 1. Is Miggy going to happily step aside and allow the rebuilding to continue. Not in this lifetime and our manager certainly doesn't have the gonads to make that decision.
I just find it hard to believe that Andy MacPhail is even considering this!
Roch-
I was reading your post on the Tiger Woods claim of sex addiction. Here is why that is totally bogus.
I have known people with drug addictions. If they are addicted to H, and there is H in the room, they do whatever, steal, lie, cheat, steal from family, sell parents wedding rings, etc.
If you are in the room with a sex addict, he or she, isn't going totally nuts to....well.....
Also, I think Andy is caving into the fan's wishes on Miggy. You add that bat to this line-up, and its a totally different look.
Also, I think him at 3rd is going to be much better than we or some might think. He makes incredible plays, when RANGE is not really a factor.
The shift shouldn't be hard, I mean, how many ss have done it and been fine? Its just a slightly different angle, but the glovework is the same, and he has the arm.
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I wrote about Tiger Woods being a sex addict? - Roch
Roch, I hope you haven't been pulled over for speeding. The wait is killing me.
Hey Roch,
2nd time posting here...I try and keep up with of your media appearances as best I can and I follow your blog daily. You are the guy to go to for Baltimore Orioles information as far as I'm concerned and I appreciate it. Just wanted to say that I would love to see Bedard back in the black and orange. Sometimes I feel like the biggest fan of that idea. Not so sure about Miggy though, he often looked very uninspired like he rather be somewhere else, and like you said, he uhhhh....he didn't like running out groundballs.
Hope 2010 is great,
K. Beacom from Northern VA
I've got the scoop Roch. Tejada is coming back to Baltimore. I take McPhail at his word that the physical hasn't happened yet and thus it won't be announced at FanFest. But, they have agreed to terms.
I especially like the part of the show where Mr MacPhail talked about the disturbed stalker who goes by the name of Brumdrew who kept inviting him to play golf or go to a soccer match where he promised to introduce him to all the hooligans sitting behind the dugout.