Hendrickson says he's back
How nice of Mark Hendrickson to announce last night at a sports banquet in Hanover, Pa. that he agreed to terms with the Orioles.
Maybe I should have placed my last 12 calls to him over there. I was doing it all wrong.
At least he saved me from making No. 13 later today. (I almost made No. 2 when I heard about this, if you know what I mean.)
I've been predicting this move since, oh, around October. Three months later, it's happened.
If you wait long enough, you'll eventually be proven right.
"Last year, I kind of did a little bit of everything," Hendrickson told the Hanover Evening Sun. "This year, I'll probably go down with the focus of being in the bullpen. My numbers in the bullpen were, selfishly speaking, the best of anybody in the bullpen, so I feel like that's a role I can really do well."
The Orioles put Hendrickson on the back burner while focusing on a No. 1 starter, closer and two corner infielders. They wanted him back. He wanted to come back. It would have been hard to screw up this one.
Hendrickson can serve as a swingman, middle reliever or situational guy. He's not likely to re-enter the rotation unless there's an emergency, though he ended the season with three straight quality starts.
Hendrickson was 4-0 with one save and a 3.44 ERA as a reliever, and 2-5 with a 5.40 ERA in 11 starts. He didn't allow an earned run in 30 of his 42 relief appearances.
The Orioles could add one more lefty to the bullpen before spring training, though we might be looking at a non-roster invitee. And they'll have to clear room on the 40-man for Hendrickson once he passes a physical and signs his contract.
Perhaps we'll be crossing off one of the names that we tossed around yesterday while debating the Dennis Sarfate move.
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Categories (click for archive)Roch Kubatko | Roch Kubatko Orioles |
Politically, moving Sarfate now eases the pain of what turned out to be a no gainer for us. When Troy Patton and Albers both went down, the Astro's trade was in Houston's favor aside from the politics around Tejada.
I guess thats why Atkins choose 25 so Mark could get his number back
Roch,
Any chance the O's still target Takahashi or do you figure they're done shoring up the bullpen?
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I think they'll sign another lefty, though, as I wrote, it might be a minor league deal with a spring invite. - Roch
Wow is that a surpirse move or what...I am just in shock...seriously ...good sign though...but like you said here we go again on the 40 man roster...wonder who this time? Made me think of the young pitcher Johnson....he should have just stayed on the 40 man roster and let Sarfate go then if they really wanted to keep him...the merry-go-round....maybe today or whenever the O's do this cut it will be a position player this time..maybe they have a trade worked out..can't wait to hear the decision...who ever it is will be like Sarfate yesterday..poor guy...there will be some guys worrying for sure...I know better than ask you if you have any clues----So I won't....??????????????????
No surprise about Hendrickson and another piece to the puzzle falls into place. The bullpen roles will be much more defined this year. I assume that he received a ML contract and if so another roster move needs to be made. Castillo? Garbino? Oh, the uncertainty of living on the fringe of the 40 man roster !!!
A good move. He was pretty solid in the pen. I really like this team. I am excited to watch baseball this year and see the young guys grow even more.
Keep in mind that Brummie has been screaming for this move for two months, saying how it showed that the O's didn't care or some dumb stuff. Let's all watch him now complain that it took the Orioles too long to make this move and how that shows the O's front office is too conservative or some other dumb stuff. We know he can't let this go by without making it into a shot at MacPhail.
The kind of ho hum move that goes unnoticed, but if Hendrickson can produce like he did last year he'll be a valuable asset for the O's in 2010. You gotta figure that Tillman and Matusz will have a few stinkers that will need to be cleaned up. Big Mark and Uehara are perfect in that long relief role. And if Mark can't fill that role, I'm sure Berken and Hernandez would love a shot at it.
Roch,
I know Mr. MacPhail is pretty tight lipped about personnel moves, but do you anticipate asking him if this is the last move of any significance prior to Spring Training? If I'm reading between the lines correctly, it looks like any other lefty reliever would essentially be a "no name".
Jim Carter
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That would be a logical question. - Roch
I don't get what the big deal with what number the player will wear?
Who's rushing out to the store to buy a Mark Hendrickson jersey anyway?
Who cares?
So every morning I check my email first then come to your blog. My parents back home in Hanover were at Sports Night because my sister was nominated as a student athlete, and my mom told me in her email that the big news was Hendrickson said he just signed with the Orioles. My point is, my mom could do your job Roch :-) Just kidding of course. Tt's great to see the good old Hanover Evening Sun get some pub, never thought I'd see the day. Maybe some day you could take a job there...
The roster is taking shape, can't wait!
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Any chance your mom would serve as my Hanover correspondent? - Roch
Dude I LIVE in Hanover, PA.
Where was this sports banquet, Kclinger's?
Several have wisely pointed out the Sarfate DFA is probably a calculated risk. Sure, guys like Castillo and Gambino probably have less value (and ultimately will probably be removed from the 40-man for the likes of Hendrickson). But another team would have to have the 40-man roster spot available to claim Sarfate, and his lack of options means he'd have to be on their active roster all year. How many teams have that spot open? How many teams would be willing to make that spot open, also knowing that the free agent market still includes multiple guys with profiles a lot like (or better than) Sarfate? Calero, Gregg, MacDougal, McClung, Mota... with that sort of market, it could be easier to slide Sarfate through waivers now than it will be later.
I hope these odds do work in our favor, Sarfate clears waivers, and is in the mix for a bullpen spot in Spring Training.
We all know that this is coming, so let me get it out of the way for Brummie: This is another example of budget baseball by the Orioles. Signing a guy like Hendrickson who is marginal at best for a little bit of money is Andrew's whole M_O. Blah blah blah.
Hendrickson was the Orioles best pitcher out of the pen in 2009. SO do us all a favor Brummie and don't even.
Roch
I'm sorry. I live in Hanover, I should have helped you break this story. I could have saved you those twelve phone calls.
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Unfortunately, those 12 calls were already placed before the banquet, but I'll take all the help I can get. - Roch
Roch,
Maybe you should plan on taking the Hanover paper with you to the throne room next time. You know, kill two birds with one stone.
Looks like we're set now until spring training anyway. We'll still need to make a move to get Moeller on the roster.
Sheets, you make a good point about other free agents out there with similar skills to Sarfate, so maybe he'll stick around. I don't think he'd make the team out of spring training in any case, but he could get called up if/when Koji goes on the DL again.
Roch,
This is good news, and it really helps to sure up the bullpen. I can only hope that we are not forced to overwork the bullpen b/c of a lack of quality starts.
A quick question about Bedard. I keep hearing that he wouldn't be ready to pitch until June, does this mean he is likely to sign a pro rated contract ala Pedro, Clemens, etc.
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Don't know. I'm not even sure it'll be June. There are conflicting reports. - Roch
Bill in Salisbury said:
Could this be a way of dumping a ML salary as opposed to Gambino's minor league one?
January 27, 2010 5:15 PM
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I am sure that was a factor Bill.
I am not surprised at Sarfate's feelings, can't blame him either. However, he couldn't be THAT surprised, he had to know he was a possibility. With that said, I'd have DFA'ed Gambino OR certainly Albers before Sarfate. You can't teach speed. Albers has that torn labrum that he refused to get fixed as well... basically a ticking time bomb. All in all none of these guys are make or break for the team anyway, but it still was a dubious move.
I bet someone claims Sarfate, just a hunch.
Hendrickson sounds like he has himself confused with Sparky Lyle. Another 40 man move looming... the above 2 names should be nervous.
If Albers goes the Tejada trade basically is a wash, or even on Houston's side, they got more production from Tejada than the O's did from their end of the deal. They rented two RPs for 2 years & got AAA fodder for 2 years too.
You almost did a #2 as opposed to a #1? After 12 calls and this "leak" to the Hanover Evening Sun I would have expected both a #1 and a #2 response! When are these guys going to learn that you are the man?!
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Speaking of choosing a number... - Roch
Aren't you all forgetting Luke Scott? I mean he is nothing special, but I believe he hit more HRs in those two years then Tejada did, or am I wrong on that one?
Also getting rid of Tejada's bad attitude and steroid cloud at the time makes the trade a win even if we got nothing back.
I'm glad to see Hendrickson return. He pitched well out of the 'pen last year, and I get the impression he likes working with the young pitchers.
His bullpen/rotation splits have been extremely biased in favor of relieving for three years now, which made the club's decision to start him last year puzzling. (I know injuries played a role in that decision, but still, numbers are numbers.) This year, he can settle into a bullpen role from the beginning and try to duplicate his solid relief work from last season.
"If Albers goes the Tejada trade basically is a wash, or even on Houston's side, they got more production from Tejada than the O's did from their end of the deal. They rented two RPs for 2 years & got AAA fodder for 2 years too."
Doesn't it really depend on what we get from Troy Patton. If he's progresses into a No. 3/No. 4 starter, that is some value. And didn't Luke Scott come in that deal or am I getting it confused?
Roch: Has anybody actually heard anything from Koji? Is he upset that he isn't going to be a starter? Is he excited about a chance to come back and pitch in the pen? What's his take on the moves they made this winter?
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He's in Japan. Nobody has talked to him. - Roch
Roch,
Maybe Hendrickson has a minor league contract. That way the Os can defer the decision until the end of spring training.
As for Sarfate, the Os may be doing him a favor by DFAing him early. If he's claimed {seems likely} he'll have an entire spring with his new team. I think Albers' and/or Gambino's time may come soon enough {might add Spoone to this list too}. Though, somebody must have seen something in Gambino or they wouldn't have claimed him in the first place.
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No, it's a major league deal. He wasn't going to sign a minor league contract. - Roch
Baldy
Roch,
Will Tillman, Matusz, and Bergesen be considered rookies this upcoming year if they make the team?
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Only Matusz. - Roch
True, I stand corrected, I forgot about Scott in the Tejada trade. Patton is a big IF though, he is getting passed quickly by others.
Brian,
Did you forget about Luke Scott, he was part of that trade too. Patton is still with the team and is still considered a plus prospect. Albers actually wasn't bad his first year with the Orioles. The negative press that Tejada got after the trade was worth the trade in itself.
Matusz- #5 on the top 50 prospects list. Only Oriole to make it on that list.
Wait, what, there is still an Evening Sun somewhere? Does P Jackman and B Tanton write for it? What about Knowsitall?
The Orioles put Hendrickson on the back burner while focusing on a No. 1 starter, closer and two corner infielders.
I don't understand this concept? Can't they do two things at one time? Are negotiations that tough with a FA they can only proceed with one at a time..Unbelievable!
The Orioles got a good setup man now converted to closer. They got two patch work over the hill corner infielders and a 6 month rental on another declining player...and this off season is a success.
Isn't the Orange Fools Aid Sweet!
I’ll have to say that I’m glad Hendrickson is coming back. When the O’s originally signed him, I wasn’t too jazzed, since I figured he’d end up being in the starting rotation on a pitching poor team (at the start of April, when the kids weren’t ready to step in, when we also had Adam Eaton in the rotation) and that just would not go well based on his history. It happened and it didn’t go well, but he moved to the bullpen, where he belonged from the start, and was decent. He’s not spectacular, but he’s serviceable and can start in a pinch.
That’s a shame about Sarfate. Unfortunately, though, he’s been at best average and largely below average, and being injured hasn’t helped him. There are many guys in his situation and a lot of them are interchangeable. I understand the outrage some people have but it seems somewhat revisionist based on how people felt about him when he actually pitched (at least how I remember it in general).
Looking at some of the names still left, though, you have to wonder why it was him and not someone else. But I’m not sure it’s much to lose sleep over. I hope the best for him.
Good for Mark. I met him & his wife a few weeks ago at a party. I think the O's are it for him until he retires. He has settled into the beautiful SoPa area & seems intent on sticking around. He's good people, Ill be rooting him on
So Im guessing this means no Bedard? Why not?
Yeah Mark, way to be proud of yourself, your self proclamation that you were the "best in the bullpen" on a last place team is something you should really hang your hat on. At least you are humble and your priorities are in order.
Solid move picking Hendrickson. I'd release Albers or option him if possible to make room on the 40 man. Maybe a trade would be in the works to build the Minor league teams up a little.
Roch what is the likelyhood that the Orioles sign Takahashi.MLBTR says that the Orioles, Dodgers, Mets, Red Sox and Giants are all interested.
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I wrote about him a week or so ago. Don't know how likely it is, but he knows they're interested and what they're willing to offer. The rest, I suppose, is up to him. - Roch
I didn't know marks numbers were that good.but the orioles did do sarfate dirty id be biter too.and if the orioles still had daniel c him and mark h could play forward good size on the boards with jones nick and roberts in a three guard set they could play on my mens league team
Paul,
Just curious, whats your history with the Orioles? What is your fondest memory? When did you start being a fan? What is your first memory of the Orioles? What type of baseball background do you have? This isn't an attack of any kind or anything like that by any means. I just like to know why people take the views they do and how they've developed those views.
Knowing how secretive the Orioles are about these kinds of announcements, I would think AM is not to happy about Mark letting the cat out of the bag like that.
D
My fondest memory is all the hype of the 79 world series along with knowing each year when we broke from ST, we had a great chance to win 90-100 games.
I started being a fan back in 1972. Each day you woke up and ran to get the Sun Paper to see the bird cartoon before you scrambled for the sports page.
A long history of baseball following and coaching.
Hey Roch. Keith Law has posted his Top 100 prospects on ESPN MLB.com. Tillman (65 IP vs a cutoff for the list of 50) and Reimold are ineligible, but Matusz is listed at #11, Zach Britton is #25, and Josh Bell is #61. Jake Arrieta also listed at #90. Not too shabby.
I have to disagree with bcmike when he said basically the Tejada trade was a no gainer. I still think the O's did pretty weel in that trade. The O's have had Scott and Albers for 2 years and who knows maybe Patton turns out to be a good major league pitcher for us and the O's saved roughly $25 million in salary for Tejada. I'd do the same trade again.
Hey Roch,
I'm thinking about going to Spring Training this year. Are you up for a Tampa road trip? I hear they have some interesting um.....attractions there.
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Only if MASN is paying me in one dollar bills. - Roch
I don't know if you have seen Keith Law's Top 100 that came out today. I thought it was pretty funny that Sano is actually wearing an O's hat in his picture.
.Roch Is Craig saying you don't have a clue??? Funny how Brummiewatcher predict's Brummie's blog and Paul shows up. I think the O's are improved.They'll do much better this year. Let the games begin(baseball that is).
Paul must be a Redsox fan bannished here by sox nation because he continue's to live in the days of the curse.sentence to a life of negative thinking.
Roch, if you had made #1, would that have been long relief or short relief?
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I see what you did there... - Roch
hey roch, thanks for all the hard work you do with the blog. i wake up and go to sleep reading it. being from pa it helps me get the kind of info that i would otherwise not beable to hear. Im from hanover, pa and was at the event last night when hendrickson made his announcement. I kinda had the vibe he was going to do it all night as he seemed in a great mood, and we've been waiting for this move to happen all along. however while i believe he could be an effective swingman or lefty situational pitcher, do you believe its still possible we go after ohman? Also, who do you believe is off the 40 man for the signing of mark? again thanks for all your work
~Todd
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Not sure about roster move. I don't want to guess a name and be wrong. They're looking to add one more lefty, so Ohman is still in play. - Roch
Roch, just heard you on the radio and good stuff as usual. Except for that Zinno guy, just not a fan. Now for Paul (aka Jack) can you just stop your complaining and shut up. I do not think any of us O’s fans would say this offseason has been great but it has been good. We have filled the holes needed, I will agree with some stop gaps, but isn’t that what we needed to do. If the scouts feel Bell is the real deal than why bring someone in for longer than a year which would either block Bell or have wasted money sitting on the bench. I also think the O’s have some nice 1B talent in the minors when it comes to Snyder, Waring, Hughes, and Aubrey so again why bring in a FA to block one of those guys past this year. I have heard you say more than once we needed a number one starter, well I think we got one in Millwood. Now I know he isn’t the talent of a CC or Josh Beckett but he is still a major upgrade from what we brought in last offseason and he cost some $$ as well. Again a very smart move by the front office if you took your blinders off and paid attention. If he pitches well he might bring some prospects mid year and if he doesn’t well you make it through the year and he is gone. All the while guys like Erbe, Britton, and Jake A. are growing in the minors. Also, guys like Brad Bergeson, Tillman, and Matusz (our future number one) are growing the big leagues. So back off of us so called Kool Aid drinkers, just because we do not hate all of the O’s moves and bash the FO everyday doesn’t mean we are drinking the Kool Aid. There is a difference and maybe you should learn the difference and open your eyes because you will be sorry you missed the building process. Trust me.
Keith Law over at ESPN released his prospect rankings for MLB and the Orioles. http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/insider/columns/story?columnist=law_keith&id=4856310 . He uses the rookie eligability requirement so Weiters, Tillman, etc are not eligable for his list. I was a little intrigued by his ranking of Britton, especially having him so much higher than Arrieta.
We had 4 in his top 100.
11. Brian Matusz, LHP
25. Zack Britton, LHP
61. Josh Bell, 3B
90. Jake Arrieta, RHP
His ranking of O's prospects are as follows
1. Brian Matusz, LHP
2. Zack Britton, LHP
3. Josh Bell, 3B
4. Jake Arrieta, RHP
5. Brandon Snyder, 1B
6. Brandon Erbe, RHP
7. Caleb Joseph, C
8. Brandon Waring, 3B/1B
9. Matt Hobgood, RHP
10. Xavier Avery, OF
Roch,
I keep hear that Hendrickson is the finishing touch for the O's. Does that mean that Bedard is off the radar, and do you see him signing anywhere soon?
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I don't think he's necessarily off the radar, but he doesn't seem close to signing anywhere and the Orioles are prepared to add another lefty reliever and get ready for Sarasota. No idea when Bedard will be ready to pitch. - Roch
Satyr3206 said:
Hey Roch,
I'm thinking about going to Spring Training this year. Are you up for a Tampa road trip? I hear they have some interesting um.....attractions there.
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Only if MASN is paying me in one dollar bills. - Roch
January 28, 2010 12:54 PM
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HA! My company paid me with a check and I quickly turned enough of that into $1 bills for the VA to AZ road trip five years ago. Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona...I've never had so much fun with the George Washington's in my life. I wish I could give details but somehow I think the Schoolman would have to spend quite some time editing my comment.
Let's just say I saw enough girls working hard for that college tuition...
Not related to the entry, but what's the backup infield situation look like at this point? I'm sure Wigginton will be the 1st and 3rd back-up, even though he has trouble hitting when he's not playing regularly. At this point, I'm figuring that SS/2B is between Andino and Turner. Andino's better defensively, but Turner's the better bat. Any word on if The Crow plans to work with Andino on his hitting? If his bat develop, he could be a great replacement for Cesar.
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Crowley works with all the hitters. And I'd say Andino and Turner will compete for one utility spot, though the picture will become more clear once spring training starts. - Roch
Uh... cancel Sarasota... Tampa here I come!
Next time you are interviewing someone from Canada (Bedard perhaps) you can ask them how the Loonies work up there. I'd imagine you don't just throw the coins onstage.
If so that may be the first place they ask for the smaller $1 coins over the larger $2 ones.
Since no one asked one of my fondest baseball memories was coming to see the Orioles play in Baltimore (grew up in Michigan). My dad had taken us down to the pool at the Marriott, which ironically is now near the stadium. He never swam with us he would just supervise in his dress slacks, shirt, tie and Bill Cosby sweater. He was sitting there reading the paper when a toddler had gotten away from her parent and jumped straight into the hot tub. She went far enough down he couldn't reach in and grab her and her parents weren't anywhere close. He went thigh deep and pulled out the little girl. Apparently the Royals stayed at the Marriott too because my dad made us leave the pool and go to the room so he could change. We got to ride the elevator up with George Bret who was apparently in the lobby when the whole thing went down. He said "i had heard about the guy who saved the little girl in the pool... you must be him." Then he shook my dad's hand.
My dad has been my hero since that day.
Royals Interested In Erik Bedard
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [January 28 at 1:51pm CST]
The Royals are looking into signing Erik Bedard, tweets Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star. The Royals need upcoming moves to be "payroll neutral," so the team will have to shed as much salary as it adds. Mellinger doesn't think the club is likely to sign Bedard.
The 30-year-old pitched just 83 innings last year, allowing 65 hits and 34 walks to go along with 90 strikeouts for a 2.82 ERA. Bedard hasn't had an ERA above 4.00 since 2004, but he's been slowed down by injuries.
Bedard's most often been linked to the Orioles this offseason, but earlier in the winter the Royals were reportedly pursuing the left-hander.
A's prospect leaving baseball for priesthood
The timing? To him, that’s the shocking thing.
Desme is leaving the game at a time when his fortunes seemed to be rising fast. He batted .288 with 31 home runs and 89 RBIs in 131 games last year. Then he starred in the Arizona Fall League, where some of the game’s top prospects compete. He likely would have started this season at Class AA.
“Here’s a kid that’s on the brink,” Fai said over the phone from Vancouver, B.C., where he works as the assistant general manager for the Oakland affiliate there. “This would probably be an easier decision for someone who was maybe going through the motions in the minors.
“But if you know Grant, the spiritual side of his life has always been a priority. I don’t know if there was a tipping factor that made him wake up and say, ‘Today’s the day.’”
Regardless, today is the day: As first reported by FOXSports.com, the 23-year-old star prospect has informed the A’s that he will retire and become a priest.
“I’m doing well in baseball,” Desme told reporters on Friday, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. “But I had to get down to the bottom of things, to what was good in my life, what I wanted to do with my life. Baseball is a good thing, but that felt selfish of me when I felt that God was calling me more. ... I love the game, but I’m going to aspire to higher things.”
Fai and others said Friday that religion has been very important to Desme for years. He began his professional career with an injury-shortened stay in Vancouver in 2007, and Fai said, “You could see back then that he was extraordinarily polite and articulate about his religion. You knew it was a big part of his life, and that he would like to be a pastor.”
“There was a spiritual side to him, but he never forced it on you,” Fai continued. “He wouldn’t miss a baseball chapel. I don’t think he had a timeline for (becoming a priest), but it’s something he wanted to do.”
Desme, a Bakersfield, Calif., native, was the 2007 Big West Player of the Year at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Baseball America ranked him as the organization’s No. 8 prospect after last season.
Fai broadcasts games for the Class A Canadians in addition to his administrative duties. Desme hit one home run in his 12-game tenure with the team, but Fai remembers it as “probably the longest home run in franchise history.”
“All I hope is that, at the end of the day, he never regrets (making the decision now),” Fai said. “So few players get to the point where he’s at. In my perspective, the guy could be a priest when he’s 35 or 60. … Here’s a guy who’s so unbelievably close to making it. The timing is the one factor I can’t figure out.”
Fai wondered if current events — the earthquake in Haiti, perhaps? — compelled Desme to make the decision now, reasoning that “wearing a different uniform” would enable him to address more pressing issues in the world. If that is indeed one of the reasons, it would fit with Desme’s thoughtful nature.
“He might have been the quietest high-end draft pick I’ve ever seen,” Fai said. “He is probably the one guy I’d let my daughter date.”
Fai laughed, not realizing the irony in his remark until after he said it. Desme may never play in the major leagues, but he certainly knows what it feels like to get The Call.
ABOUT TIME.
Finally Andy got his own house in order. Funny how other teams resigned their own free agents MONTHS ago.
This offseason has been a bad joke. DT and Andy promised the moon and stars in September/October to grab some headlines and get some cream puff sound bytes.
Then they quickly backed down when they saw how the "market played out."
This is budgetland.
What's the plan now Andy?
As much as I disliked the previous GMs, they periodically went to the ESPNZONE for informal forums with real fans. This is communication. This is conveying your message and strategy to the fans. Their plan did not work, but you have to praise their attempts to COMMUNICATE it.
Funny how Dandy Andy only seems to do MASN interviews and some season ticket holder forums.
Dictorial Baseball!
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He just participated in TWO forums at FanFest, including one for non-season ticket holders. And what else do you want him to "convey?" He talked about why he filled a few positions more quickly, how he'd wait for the market to play out for a few others, and how - after signing Tejada - they were still in the market for some left-handed bullpen help. Now they've reached agreement with Hendrickson. Did you miss all of this? Or is that the only rip you can come up with today? - Roch
Can any one of the several of you that keep regurgitating the Orioles in Keith Law's top 100 prospects just paste the full dang list already? Give a non-insider some love!
Good for Hendrickson.
You'll have to interview him to find out how the banquet was and what he was there for? Is he from Hanover? Last May I know this guy that got food poisoning from the Pie. I hope he didn't suffer from food poisoning. That would be an awkward interview. And don't quote me cause my facts are somewhat screwed up.
I'm glad to see Hendrickson back. He is verstaile and was rock solid for us last year(except for April and May though). Also, Mark brings stability to a bullphen and a pitching staff that is expected to improve significantly this season. I said a couple times that I expect major progress, more wins, and overall better performence from the O's in this season and years to come. With young talented guys like Matusz, Tillman, Bergy, Weiters, and Reimold and experienced veternans like Tejeda, M.Gonzalez, Hendrickson, Roberts, and Markakis, the thought of a .500 season and better is much more realistic. Here are my predicted stats for our guys in the 2010 season:
Weiters: .295 BA, 27 HR, 105 RBI
Reimold: .293 BA, 31 HR, 97 RBI, 13 SB
Markakis: .305 BA, 23 HR, 115 RBI, 5 SB
Jones: .295 BA, 22 HR, 90 RBI, 15 SB
Roberts: .280 BA, 15 HR, 80 RBI, 32 SB
Tejeda: .297 BA, 17 HR, 93 RBI
Atkins: .275 BA, 20 HR, 85 RBI
Scott: .270 BA, 25 HR, 83 RBI
Izturis: .260 BA, 2 HR, 50 RBI
Matusz: 16-6 3.40 ERA, Rookie Of the Year
Millwood: 13-7 4.05 ERA
Guthrie: 13-10 3.90 ERA
Tillman: 10-7 4.10 ERA
Bergy: 15-8 3.50 ERA
Mickolio: 5-2 3.50 ERA
Uehara: 4-1 2.70 ERA
J.Johnson: 5-3 3.20 ERA
M.Gonzalez: 2-1 2.80 ERA 35 Saves
Hendrickson: 3-2 4.10 ERA
C.Meredith: 1-1 3.80 ERA
Overall Record: 90-72
Oriolesfan122
That's awesome. And somewhat realistic. If we get that type of production we are talking wildcard finish...
oriolesfan122,
I love your optimism but I don't think it's too realistic. The highest ERA you have for our starters is 4.10. And not one pitcher has a losing record. And our hitters (minus Izturis) all hit .270+ with 15+ HRs and 80+ RBIs. That's an offensive jugernaut! I think you need to temper your expectations. While I hope you are right, I don't think we'll see our entire team have this much success.
Roch,
What exactly is Bedard waiting on to sign a contract? When he says he is not close to signing, when is a more appropriate time for him to sign with someone?
Sam
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No idea. He's not talking, his agent isn't talking. - Roch
Oriolesfan122...I have to give it to you, an imagination you do have!
You are on the high end on every batter except our shortstop.
It is nice to see someone with such optimism. The truth is, we are dealing with a club who lost 98 games last year. And to make matters worse, our division got much better.
Pain.......another painful season is ahead of us
We will unveil our predictions for this season before opening day. Brummie and I were right on last year.....we could do this for money!
Roch,
The only thing I can figure with Bedard, he doesn't want to take a physical and/or share his medical records at this time.
Baldy
Oriolesfan122 said..
WOW! Oriolesfan122...I like your style. If the Oriole win 90 games this year, I will move to the most northern part of Russia alone. As awful, as this may seem, O's 90 wins..it will be worth..they only thing, no MLB network available.
Your offensive prediction is not far fetch. On the other hand, the pitching prediction concerns me. Well, anyway good job, look for my post- card from Siberia this coming October!
"No idea. He's not talking, his agent isn't talking. - Roch"
That's not the issue. Who is talking to Bedard and his agent is the real question.
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Well, let me know when you find out. I'm out of answers. - Roch
Brummie_Oriole said:
ABOUT TIME.
Finally Andy got his own house in order. Funny how other teams resigned their own free agents MONTHS ago.
This offseason has been a bad joke. DT and Andy promised the moon and stars in September/October to grab some headlines and get some cream puff sound bytes.
Then they quickly backed down when they saw how the "market played out."
This is budgetland.
Brummie,
You can't be serious. Here in the New York/Boston area (I live in Connecticut) fans always complain about Cashman, Epstein, and the Mets alot. Andy MacPhail communicates better than most teams front offices, and that is not my opinion, that is what the industry says. Also, the Yankees just took care of their left field just yesterday. The Mets haven't done much of anything and the fans are going crazy on the sports talk here. The Orioles have been given plus ratings this off season by many, MLB TV last night said just that.
Brummie, please enlighten us to why you really hate Andy MacPhail. What did he do to you or your family. I have not seen such hate is so long. I am still in belief that your either Nestor, one of his kids, or just a Nestor lackey.
Paul said:
Pain.......another painful season is ahead of us
Funny how that is something Jack and brummie always said, and in the same context. Wayne in Shumuck's blog too. If your not the same person, your siamese twins all connected at the head. Nestor lackey's!
Really, is Bedard ever talking?
BBBBBUUUUUSSSSSTTTTTEEEEEDDDDD!!!!
HELLO JACK, COME ON DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWN!!!!
Paul said:
"We will unveil our predictions for this season before opening day. Brummie and I were right on last year.....we could do this for money!"
I don't recall you being anywhere remotely close to this blog last year PAUL! But I do recall JACK in agreement with Brummie on the season predictions.
Now how sad is it that you've just given everyone on here 100% pure PROOF that you or Jack and/or Brummie? Now you're making yourself look extremely ridiculous. You are beyond pathetic. There isn't a word in the English dictionary that describes how ignorant you look right now.
Absolutely pathetic. Leave dude. Just go away. You've got your attention time and time again, hell you're getting it right now. But to call your own self out is just extremely laughable. Now I know poor little Jack ran away when Roch slapped the beatdown on him, it was Jack who came back under Paul.
Now that you've revealed yourself, I really don't have to ever read a post of yours again and I advise the rest of the ORIOLES FANS on this blog to do the same.
see I told you Paul sounds just like a redsox fan. Please go take you and your pain to boston and to Brummie , don't know where you been but I think the Bluejays got worse and there is no way New york got better. I wouldn't root for the O's anymore If I were you!!!!!!!!
This is more realistic:
Weiters: .285 BA, 17 HR, 80 RBI
Reimold: .273 BA, 25 HR, 65 RBI, 13 SB
Markakis: .305 BA, 23 HR, 105 RBI, 5 SB
Jones: .285 BA, 18 HR, 65 RBI, 15 SB
Roberts: .280 BA, 12 HR, 60 RBI, 32 SB
Tejeda: .297 BA, 15 HR, 93 RBI
Atkins: .260 BA, 20 HR, 70 RBI
Scott: .265 BA, 18 HR, 55 RBI
Izturis: .260 BA, 2 HR, 42 RBI
Matusz: 13-9 3.90 ERA, Rookie Of the Year
Millwood: 12-13 3.90 ERA
Guthrie: 10-13 4.05 ERA
Tillman: 10-7 4.10 ERA
Bergy: 15-8 3.50 ERA
Mickolio: 5-6 3.50 ERA
Uehara: 4-4 2.70 ERA
J.Johnson: 5-3 3.20 ERA
M.Gonzalez: 1-4 2.80 ERA 35 Saves
Hendrickson: 3-5 4.10 ERA
C.Meredith: 1-3 4.80 ERA
Total 80-82
Obviously this won't be everybody's stats most likely, especially the pitchers, because of injuries. But predictions for each player if they stayed healthy throughout the season.
Roch, one of the Mariners radio announcers tweeted today that Bedard is already throwing and "feeling good".
http://twitter.com/mattpitman/status/8332528925
I'm not sure how reliable the source is, but I do know Mr. Pitman does the pre and postgames for the Mariners so he might have access to that kind of information.
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Thanks. - Roch
Hey Roch,
Curious to know with all the talk about Bedard as a possibility, has the conversation ever come around for Jarred Washburn. He's still available, and his numbers are decent. I've been thinking that he may be a better fit than Bedard. Even though Bedard has played here, Washburn seems more likely to go out and pitch after running from first to third. Bedard may not be the type of veteran to make a valued impression on the younger starters. Just an observation.
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He's never been in the running. - Roch
It's about time! This has been the slowest process.
Andrew-Thanks.
Edited Version:
Reimold: .293 BA, 32 HR, 103 RBI(I defiently see Reimold having a break-out year and a possible All-Star appearnce.)
Tejeda: .302 BA, 20 HR, 98 RBI(Tejeda has a better year, power-rise in the AL, and hits around .300 BA as usual.)
Weiters: .298 BA, 28 HR, 105 RBI(Weiters builds off his hot September, and is the 2nd best catcher in the AL behind Joe Mauer.)
Scott: .273 BA, 27 HR, 85 RBI (I see Scott building off last year and limiting those cold streaks. Luke even said he will try not to overthink this season.)
Every other hitter's prediction stats stand.
Matusz: 16-5 3.38 ERA ROY(Future Ace. Has all the tools.)
Bergy: 15-8 3.50 ERA
Tillman: 10-8 4.10 ERA
Roch,
Why is nobody talking about Washburn still being on the market. While not as dominant as Bedard he is still effective and currently healthy. I am sure he is commanding a high salary he might be willing to take a one year deal to prove his worth.
I can see a "Because you asked, Erik Bedard edition" post coming up in the very near future.
Roch, maybe you guys at masn should start a web site: www.anynewsonerikbedard.com
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That's funny. I bet that I've fielded at least a dozen Bedard questions today. - Roch
Yes I couldn't help but notice that while reading through the comments. Though it appears to me it's actually only 2 or 3 Bedard questions, asked at least a dozen times each. :)
Steve in Phoenix - Nice job in busting Jack(alias Paul). He also implicated himself earlier today when he said that he has had a "long history in coaching". Wasn't Jack a high school coach . . . . allegedly?
Not sure how anyone could forget that we recieved Luke Scott in the Tejada trade when trying to say that the deal is now a wash or on Houston's side. That being said . . . . If the O's had only gotten Luke in that trade it would still have to be viewed as an O's win. In the two years since the deal Miggy has 34 more doubles than Luke, 21 fewer homeruns, 10 more RBI, a batting average 31 points higher and an OPS that was 56 points lower. Miguel accomplished his numbers with 343 more at bats in those two seasons.
Take into consideration that the Astros paid over $26 million for those two years of Miggy and the O's what . . . maybe five. Also cnsider that Miggy is done in Houston and the O's still own the rights to Luke for two more seasons.
Also, consider that Miggy had lied about his age and his steroid use. The day after the trade he was implicated in the Mitchell Report. He had apparently burned some bridges in the O's clubhouse and regularly showed up just in time for work. As well, he was demonstrating his frustration with losing by dogging it on the field.
We do still have Patton, which anything we get from him would be an additional plus. Trading Tejada when we did was brilliant and a huge win for the O's.
OCJ & Roch
...um...I'm pretty sure it would be middle...
Paul / Jack,
Too funny. You even fail at being a loser.
I was surprised to read in the Sun that Hendrickson took a pay cut to resign with the O's. I don't think his performance last year warranted a cut in pay. I guess he valued playing close to home more than the money which is refreshing in this day and age. Also, since it took so long to sign him it doesn't sound like he had too many other teams going after him.
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It wasn't much of one. And I don't think many 35-year-old long/middle relievers expect to receive a significant raise. - Roch
Sorry fellas, the Hanover, PA correspondent job is already taken by me :-)
A bit more on Bedard's progress
http://blog.seattlepi.com/baseball/archives/192658.asp?source=mypi
I think the math is a bit off. He had surgery in mid-August, so he is five months into his recovery. That's why he shouldn't be expected to be back earlier than end of June - beginning of July ...
Everyone seriously, scroll, scroll, scroll the trolls. They are silly and redundant.