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Oh God, Miguel, please don't ever ask Ty Wigginton for fielding advice.

I don't care what anyone else says,,,,, I'm SOOOOO excited this year! Thanks Roch for the great coverage. Standing next to Miggy in the interview you look like you could be the 30+ homerun guy everyone is looking for. Get with Crow and start taking some swings man let's go!

Sounds like Miggy is taking things in stride. It is good to have him back....he is a good player who just wants to win...good advice to seek info from Cal or any other 3B really....have you heard any possible news who that person may be that is going off the 40 man roster?????? That has be thinking....
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Haven't heard. - Roch

These are all encouraging signs! Didn't he play 3rd at the WBC or was I dreaming that?

Roch, what kind of relationship did/do you have with Tejada? Will you get a chance to interview him directly? I'd like to know how he perceives his role with the team, preference on batting order, etc (I'm sure you have much better questions than I do).
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He addressed those questions in the press conference. I had no problem with Tejada. We got along fine. - Roch

Just watched the interview with Miguel. He seems a lot more mellow -- more team-oriented. Sure hope so! He wants to be on a winning team. And WE want a winning team! I was encouraged by the enthusiasm of Brian and Nick on Miggy's return. I have to say I was rather skeptical on Saturday during FanFest, but we've all had time to digest this news now.
Let's Go O's!

Roch,
Is any update on Bedard's status healthy wise? Im just wondering since Sheets signed today with the A's is there still interest in signing another starting pitcher and is Jon Garland even being looked at?
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I'll pass along any updates that I receive. I haven't heard them linked to Garland, but who knows what goes on behind closed doors? - Roch

So, he didn't hate Baltimore, he just didn't feel like playing there anymore.

Didn't know you could postpone the roster move though.

I have an overwhelming feeling that he will choose #3

Who do you think is doing to be let off the 40-man?

I tend to think it will be Tatum since most people seem to consider Moeller the favorite as Wieter's backup, but we have a lot of infielders which makes me think that it could be one of them.

And meanwhile the A's are getting between the Sheets....

Sure does suck being an O's fan when you see teams make high reward signings like Harden and Sheets for the same price you got Kevin Millwood.

Just goes to show some men are better then other men at their jobs. And I don't mean Harden and Sheets being better then Millwood.

Roch-

You looked sharp at the PC bud. Did you have to borrow a bat to keep the ladies from smothering you?

After watching this, I don't see how that few percentage of people left against this move, are against it.
Compared to the other 3b on the market at the beginning of pre-season, Miggy, offensively is STILL more consistent and better than any of them.

I am even more pumped up after watching.
Miggy has rejuvenated the team and the fans with this deal. That can ONLY be a good thing.

I love how Andy sqaushed the question about his "turmoil" off of the field simply saying "Its all in the past" and he is right. It's over. It only becomes a story line if the O's make the World Series.

The only thing I didn't get was why Andy interjected when whoever asked about Josh Bell taking over at Mid-Season. They didn't suggest that Miggy would be benched. I think they only meant would he switch to DH or whatever.

I know many scouts say the book is still way open on Bell and how good he is, some say he is very much over-rated. Some say he is the next David Wright. But if Bell is hitting 400 with 12 HR on June 1st, he is getting called up.

Wouldn't you agree with most of that?
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I really don't know the timetable. It's certainly conceivable that Tejada could get more at-bats at DH - or maybe Bell does. MacPhail was just making the point that Tejada wouldn't become a part-time player. - Roch

Do you know if Tejada has any plans to take some ground balls at 3B before ST?
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I couldn't tell from his press conference if he's already done it. He said he's mentally prepared to play third and has been working out. - Roch

Ryan said:
Oh God, Miguel, please don't ever ask Ty Wigginton for fielding advice.

_________________________________________________________________________

Don't worry Ryan. He's probably asking for cooking tips.

Hoping he has been taking ground balls this winter and not planning on taking ground balls at 3rd when he shows up to Spring Training.

I have to agree with Ryan on this. Wigginton is brutal in the field. The only position he plays flawlessly is DH.

I'd rather have him asking Garrett Atkins or Robert Andino if he has to ask any teammates. Or how about Josh Bell?

How nice of Mr. Jones... he wants a $8K watch for a number off a uniform? It's not as if he has been in the league for years & has any attachment, even so, that's embarrassingly chessy... I'd ask for # 8000 if I were Tejada.
I think the team is more interested in Jones keeping 10 because of that 2110 PR stuff from last year.

Isn't it Miggi?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CARDINALS ANNOUNCE NON-ROSTER INVITEES;

LHP RICH HILL NEWEST TO JOIN LIST OF 55 PLAYERS COMING TO CAMP

ST. LOUIS, Mo., January 26, 2010 – The St. Louis Cardinals announced today that in addition to the 38 players currently on the team’s major league roster, 17 additional players have been given non-roster invites to the team’s Spring Training Camp next month.

The list of non-roster invitees includes eight pitchers, four catchers, four infielders and one outfielder. Fourteen of the 17 non-roster invitees were members of the Cardinals organization in 2009.

The newest addition was left-handed pitcher Rich Hill who agreed to terms today on a minor league contract with a big league invite. Hill, 30, went 3-3 for the Baltimore Orioles last season after spending parts of four seasons (2005-08) with the Chicago Cubs. Hill was 11-8 with a 3.92 ERA in 32 starts for the Cubs in 2007. The 6-5, 205-pound Hill owns a career mark of 21-20 with a 4.87 ERA.

Former Cardinals #1 draft pick Pete Kozma and Cardinals’ 2009 Minor League Pitcher of the Year Lance Lynn are also among the invitees, as is catcher Robert Stock, the team’s 2nd round draft selection in 2009.

Infielder Ruben Gotay, knuckle-balling pitcher Charlie Zink and Hill represent the only players who came from outside the organization. They are also the only non-roster players with prior major league experience.

Cardinals’ pitchers and catchers report to the team’s Spring Training Complex in Jupiter, Fla. on February 17 with their first on-field workout scheduled for February 18. The full squad reports on February 22 with its first workout slated for February 23.

Good afternoon:

No doubt in my mind that Miguel coming back may ultimately mean that this team, taking injuries into account, is now a bona fide .500 ballclub. And that means that this team is growing into a legit contender, not in 2010, but for 2011 and beyond. This signing also gives the kid Bell, a chance to compete at AAA for an entire year before he comes up to stay in 2011. And the same goes for first base, too. Giving Brandon Snyder a full year at AAA may be the difference between success and failure, for him too.

An 83 win season is truly possible. Ain't the Beer Cold!

First and foremost, with my wife going back into remission, I can't wait for spring training to start. Looks more and more like I'll be able to enjoy the game I love the most, and finally with a smile on my face. I just can't wait. Man, I just can't wait.

He'll probably wear #6 and dedicate it to Mora or something like that.

Roch, At the press conference Miggy said unequivocally that he wouldn't press Adam Jones to get his old uniform number back; you write that "he probably won't press the issue."

At the press conference Miggy said unequivocally that he told his agent his agent not to sell his Baltimore-area home; you write that "[h]e supposedly told his agent not to sell it.

Wow! It's looks like you've now gone back to Reagan-Era "Trust, but verify."

Poor Miggy! (Amigo, next time don't do any more of that fudging with facts and figures and Señor Roch will have much more confidence in your comments.)
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I'm impressed that you took notes. His agent wasn't there, so I went with "supposedly." Miggy said he didn't care about the number. I don't recall him stating that absolutely under no circumstances would he take it. All good reporters leave themselves a little wiggle room when possible. - Roch

We will surely be the first team in history to be capable of getting both Miggy and Wiggy with it.

Um, except for the Astros when they had both those guys the year before last.

Ole Indecisive Andy still can't make a decison:
As for the corresponding 40-man roster move, the Orioles will announce it "at a later time,"

I guess we will find out who at the same time we find out what we got in return for Bradford?

What an impressive off season you put together Andy

You surely have done a wonderful job....making Pete's wallet fatter!

Rich Hill signs with the Cards with an invite to ST.
No wonder I saw the Kleenex truck parked at OPACY. Andy lost his favorite pitcher to the Cards. I wonder what Hill will do now that someone isnt giving him a spot in the rotation?

You had me confused the other day when you wrote that Adam Jones had tweeted that he would wear # 18 thats Pie's number. Who cares what number he wears ? He's only going to be here for a year probably. I just hope he has an excellent season and is a good role model for our younger players.
WELCOME BACK TO BALTIMORE MIGGY!

Bob in ATL - If you want to read about Tejada's trade demands as an Oriole, simply google Miguel Tejada Trade Demands. You can read all you want about Miggy twice asking to be traded during the off-season of 2006. He suggested that he needed a "change of scenery" because the team wasn't winning enough. This was after fulfilling only two years of his multi-year contract. Of course he later rescinded his demand, stating that there must have been some "misunderstanding".

It was interesting to note that the Orioles pursued his request and it was reported that the Red Sox were very interested in making a deal involving Manny Ramirez. That discussion went as far as having Peter Angelos being quoted as saying that it would be very difficult to pay any one player(meaning Manny) $20 million per year to play baseball.

Apparently Tejada was upset that the Orioles failed to bring in Olmaedo Saenz(sp) and Eurubiel Durazo at his suggestion. Both players were clients of his agent at the time.

What there can be no mistake about was Miggy's response when he was traded to Houston. He said, "I feel very happy with the trade because it's something I've really been looking forward to". Really been looking forward to, huh!!! What damnning words. That explains his complete lack of hustle at times and surliness during his final year here. Please don't blame this on the fact that the team wasn't winning Bob. Tejada is a professional. He was being paid $13 million a year to show up, on time(something that Roch confirmed didn't always happen), and do his job to the best of his ability. The 2009 team had a losing record and finished very badly. This did not keep Nolan Reimold, on an injured achilles, from giving his all down the stretch and he was making the major league minimum.

Do we really know Tejada's real age?

maybe Miggy can offer Ty some tweezers for the splinters Ty will be getting from sitting on the wood benches.

Wiggy isn't even needed on this team anymore, neither is Andino. Give their jobs to Turner and Aubrey.Some body would take Wiggy if we paid half his salary.Giving him a 2 year deal was dumb to begin with.I'm guessing Castillo for the roster cut.

Tell me you've never used that headline before.....?

Not totally original on my part, but I could not resist writing this byline: "Miggy and Wiggy rhyming at third!" Sorry...

Roch,

It's gonna be fun watching Miggy return to Spring Training. Was thinking about spending some time with the Os in the sunshine. Where does the team stay in Sarasota?
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No idea. They haven't held spring training there in a long time. And players usually spread out. They don't all stay in the same place. - Roch

*slaps forehead*

No Miggy! Don't ask Ty for advice on how to play third...we want you to be successful.

Roch,
I know how it exciting it must be to be able to finally use the "getting miggy with it" blog title again, after being stuck with the far inferior "getting wiggy with it" title.

LOL @ Ryan

And if anyone hasn't heard, the Card's have signed Rich Hill. I guess if anyone can help it will be Dave Duncan. We all know he need's all the help that he can get and the AL East isn't the place for him to learn.

It is very nice to have Miggy back with the Orioles. I know that Miggy will contribute alot to our 2010 O's team. This is familiar territory for him. Which will make things easier for him making the move from short to third this year. Plus whatever number he ends up with will be just fine with him I just know it. It would be nice for Tom Davis to have Miggy on his show real soon before spring training. In fact it would be nice to have all of the new Orioles on one of Tom's show real soon. Maybe during the season one Saturday. Please listen to me programming department. I know what I am talking about here. And it is also time for Andy McPhail to come onto Tom's show as well. So there you go some new guests for upcoming shows. Go Birds. This is going to be our year. We have the talent, the know how, now all we have to do is for all 25 players to work hard, and it will show up in the standings as the season goes along.

Few quotes that made me laugh:

"Now, I saw the-that they have ah ah ah ome-ah ah-guy that can be a future for a long time this team, the catcher" HAHAHAHA

"You can see all the jumpage(young pitching) that they have"

I love the Migster. Nice coverage, Roch.

Andy seemed to be trying awfully hard to sell this deal at the press conference. I'm really pulling for this to work out, though. We'll see.

hi Roch

we have Ty Wigginton, and Miguel Tejada. Pete Incavilla played here a decade ago, that would make an Iggy,a Miggy, Wiggy and Will Smith likes to get giggy with it.

Is Wigginton going to be traded or released?
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Don't know, but there's still room for him on the roster as a bench player - same thing he did last year. Instead of backing up Huff and Mora, he'd back up Atkins and Tejada. And he can play second if needed. - Roch

patchole said:
hi Roch

we have Ty Wigginton, and Miguel Tejada. Pete Incavilla played here a decade ago, that would make an Iggy,a Miggy, Wiggy and Will Smith likes to get giggy with it.

January 26, 2010 7:09 PM
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Actually Will Smith likes to get Jiggy with it. But if you add in Quagmire, then you could get Giggy with it!

If Miggy would like to talk to Wiggy, he should do it fast because Wiggy, Pie, and Andino should all be traded.

Ken Francis - thanks for the response, and for looking up the park factors like I should have. I knew enough to realize that Camden Yards graded out as a fairly average park for pitchers (great for HR hitting, but overall pretty average for offense), but went with a pre-conceived notion that Minute Maid was a strong hitter's park. Really odd that Miggy would have such drastic home/road splits.

I'm not a big fan of the signing, but am not entirely against it. It's one year, and if the name and reputation of Tejada buys us some respect it could have benefits beyond what Miggy hits. I've convinced myself that our great start in 2005 had a lot to do with the name Sammy Sosa, and once it was clear he was cooked it began to unravel. I know there were other issues - the Palmeiro failed PED test and its apparent impact on Miggy, Mora being hurt and not up to his fearsome 2004 performance, etc. But I'm sure a lot of our offense was opposing teams knowing they had to pitch to Roberts with a very dangerous Mora up next, then they had to face Mora knowing Miggy and his 150 RBI bat was next, and Miggy was followed by the HR threat Sosa...

The pre-MacPhail Orioles repeatedly made the mistake of signing second-tier free agents to multi-year deals. This year we've signed comparable level guys to one-year deals and kept long-term flexibility, which is smart in my opinion. I do wonder sometimes, though, whether it's really an organizational shift or just a nice coincidence with the overall trend in baseball and its economics.

Ray, I view your response to "Bob in ATL" as very one-sided and even to an extent distorted. Yes, Tejada was a professional who was being paid handsomely and was obliged to play hard for his team. I don't think he dogged it quite as much as you're making it out to be, however...if at all.

He gave the Orioles their money's worth and more the first three seasons he was with them, including an MVP-caliber campaign in 2004. In 2007 his stats were down more because of his broken hand than anything else. I'm not saying he played with the same passion, because he didn't like being on a losing team, but he still went to work every day and gave the O's quality at bats.

His 18 HR and 81 RBIs in 133 games would still have projected out to 20+ and 100+, respectively, had he played his usual 158-162 games. He hit .296. That's not dogging it, my friend, by any means. He didn't steal money from the team, but gave them an honest effort. "Complete lack of hustle"? Rubbish.

As for his "damning" remarks upon joining the Astros, he was simply voicing his hope that he finally was coming to a contender. Who wouldn't look forward to that after being seriously disillusioned from his experience with the Orioles? It was clearly stated by the team when he signed the first time in Baltimore that he was the centerpiece around which a contender would be built and he expressly said that's why he signed with the O's.

But through little fault of their own they were burned numerous times: Raffy Palmiero's PED problem, Javy Lopez' injury after one solid season for the Birds, the ill-fated Sammy Sosa signing (if only the O's had used that money on a front-line starter), the aborted deal to bring A.J. Burnett and Mike Lowell to the Orioles, etc.

So, the O's were unable to make good on their promise to field a contender, unable to make good on the very reason why Miggy came to town in the first place. He had every right to feel cheated (albeit unintentionally) by the O's and to want to go to a playoff caliber team. In no way should he be castigated for that wish.

Today's signing viewed optimistically is that Tejada's coming back to a team he thinks can win. He apparently wants to help turn the Orioles into that team and he has the talent and heart to really contribute. Let's not dwell on the past, which only suceeds in opening old wounds, but open our arms to him as Brian Roberts, Nick Markakis and other Orioles are doing.

Life's too short to hold a grudge...especially one that isn't grounded in fact.

Miggy needs to pick a new number... #10 is Adam Jones for the next 10+ years. Period.