This, that and the other
Miguel Tejada says he has no preference where he hits, so I guess he won't be submitting his own lineup ideas to this blog.
"Last year, I went from second to sixth," he said. "Every day I was in the lineup, I was totally happy."
According to president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail, Tejada told him, "Just put me in the lineup. Wherever you see fit is fine with me."
"I'm sure Dave Trembley's gone through 14 different versions of what it might be," MacPhail said.
"I do like the idea that we do have a lot of different ways we can attack it, and I think a lot of it is going to shake out in spring training in terms of who's coming around and who isn't, but it's a nice problem to have. I think our lineup's going to be well-balanced and I think we're going to give some people some trouble."
Tejada's wife was on crutches yesterday. I checked to make sure she passed her physical, but I forgot to ask what number she'll wear.
MacPhail shot down the idea of Tejada backing up Cesar Izturis. Don't be so quick to show Robert Andino the door.
The same goes for Ty Wigginton. I noted at FanFest that he's a trade candidate, but it's not like he's been squeezed from the roster. He backed up Melvin Mora and Aubrey Huff last season. He could do the same with Tejada and Garrett Atkins.
As for the suggestion that the Orioles could trade Izturis during the season, it's possible because he'll be in the final year of his contract, but it's not like they have a hot shortstop prospect beating down the door. Not yet anyway. And they really value his defense.
Many of you noticed that left-hander Rich Hill signed a minor league deal with the St. Louis Cardinals that includes a spring training invite. We'll probably see him in Jupiter, though not as frequently with the Orioles relocating to Sarasota.
The Orioles kept their offer on the table, but Hill must have preferred a National League contender. Maybe pitching coach Dave Duncan can repair his delivery, and his career.
I tried to contact Hill last night, but ended up with his voicemail again.
I'm taking this opportunity to promote a fundraiser for 15-year-old Billy Redman, who's undergoing treatment for a brain tumor at Johns Hopkins. His stepfather is a fellow Old Mill High School graduate.
The event will be held on Feb. 19 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Beefalo Bob's Reflections Hall on Fort Smallwood Rd. in Baltimore. Tickets are $45 for singles and $80 for couples. Contact Nikki Helsel at 443-623-1425 for more information. The family also is accepting donations.
I'll close this entry with a quote from Tejada that's worth repeating:
"What happened in Haiti can happen to anybody, and that's why we've got to appreciate everything that we have."
That message rings true in so many ways.
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Categories (click for archive)Roch Kubatko | Roch Kubatko Orioles |
Who in the F is Josh Bell?
As long as I hit, don't matter where it is. Lineup position is overrated after the first time through.
Roch-
Thank you for your constant updating. If the Orioles were to sign Bedard, who would you see in the rotation in May assuming that Bedard is healthy ?
Millwood
Guthrie
Matsuz
Bergesen
Bedard
With Tillman to get more seasoning at AAA ?
Thanks !
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That's one possibility, but it depends how everyone is pitching. Tillman isn't going anywhere if he gets off to a hot start. - Roch
Wow Miguel, for someone who speaks broken english, you sure type it well...
Morning Roch, I hope that Tejada keeps that attitude all year...Wiggy and Andino I would think are safe as can be unless one is traded....Wiggy comes to mind with that comment...Scott Moore or Justin Turner are ones that could tske his place...but Wiggy is a decent player. He could fetch a good player in return if traded but I would keep him. SS Izturis I think is a great fit on the O's. His D is above average and he is a fairly good hitter as well. Michael Aubrey, Rhyne Hughes and Lou Montanez are the ones on the 40 man that seem to be good but blocked by others. Writing all these names makes made me start to think who it is that the O's are going to have to move to bring Tejada on board..most of the pitchers seem fairly safe but you never know the O's thinking on them. Who do you think is going to go for Tejada???
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Really don't know, and I hate to speculate on something like that and be wrong. There are a few pitching candidates. - Roch
It's nice to finally have major league quality players getting squeezed out of spots on the roster. Not having to watch some minor league invites to see who gets the last couple of spots on the roster just because they got hot for two weeks in FL.
Did you see Dan Kolko's post on the "Final Eight Plan" in the NFL. These seems like a nice alternative to a salary cap in baseball ( because we all no that isn't going to happen ). This would prevent a team like the Yankees from going out and signing all of the top free agents (i.e. like last year - Sabathia, Teixeira and Burnett)
Can't wait for your spring traing posts
Miggy doesn't care where he hits , he looks at this as part time with his other job at Rite Aid.........................
That's okay, we didn't see that much of Rich Hill last Spring either.
I'm waiting for Brummie to blame the earthquake on Andy McPhail...
I noticed a comment regarding Bedard... what's the latest with him? Is he still rehabbing? What are the chances he'd return to us?
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Nothing new on Bedard from the last few times I've written about him. Nobody seems to know for sure when he'll be ready to pitch. The Orioles retain interest, but the last I heard, there wasn't much dialogue going on between the two sides. It's a mystery. - Roch
Miggy's a good dude, and I'm glad to have him back. I'm reminded of your post a few days before we signed Tejada where you said he personally flew into Haiti for relief and was giving out food and other things. Sure he doesn't always hustle down the first base line on ground outs, but looking at the big picture the world is certainly a better place with people like Miguel Tejada.
I'm happy to have him back.
Roch
The Orioles have offered a minor league contract and invitation to spring training to Will Ohman. When healthy, he seems to fit the mold of LOOGY. If he were to sign, I still do not think it rules out Mark Hendrickson returning.
Any thoughts?
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I agree with you. - Roch
I am sure some of you would be upgrading if you worked at Rite Aid.
Why all the hate? I was the first real star to come here. Most of my contemporaries run from this team.
Off topic, but I noticed this on CBS Sportsline page: "NBA: Blazers' Oden apologizes for nude pics on web". I feel like I've already seen to much. He's not as sorry as everyone else is I'm sure.
TacoBill,
The word "too" exists. Learn when to use it. I see it spelled wrong far to often.
Roch,
Something is going to have to give with the infield situation unless they plan on carrying 7 infielders. Tejada, Atkins, Roberts, Izturis, Andino, Aubrey, Wiggington cannot all play. I think it would be ashamed to let Aubrey go since he is left handed (something the other corner infielders aren't) and hit pretty well last year. Andino serves no purpose. He can't hit and he hardly played last year except for Izturis' appendectomy and he can only play short. They should be able to move Wigginton for a relief pitcher but if not something else will have to give.
Roch, You write: "As for the suggestion that the Orioles could trade Izturis during the season, it's possible because he'll be in the final year of his contract, but it's not like they have a hot shortstop prospect beating down the door. Not yet anyway. And they really value his defense."
All true, however.... (I love to do that)
What if Tejada is tearing it up this year with the Orioles and makes the All-Star team again, while Bell is tearing it up with the Tide and deserves a promotion. Say MacPhail can't find a good trade offer for Miggy. Bell should be getting a shot at playing time, but Tejada's bat is to valuable for him to be out of the lineup.
And the O's are over .500 and still in the pennant race, albeit distantly.
One solution would be for the O's to move Tejada over to short, conceding the lesser defense to keep his hot bat in the offense. An overall upgrade in lineup with the addition of Bell's bat. But then there's the question of what to do with Izturis. Unless there's someone better the O's can trade for or sign as a free agent next offseason, it would make sense to keep him and release Andino (unless Robert surprises everyone and takes a step up in hitting).
Izturis could still serve as a late-inning defensive replacement, pinch runner and occasional replacement (though there aren't many days off when it comes to Miggy). Or use Tejada in a platoon with Bell and as DH.
Retaining both Tejada and Izturis could be important if the front office determines that the Orioles have a realistic chance to get into the playoffs in 2011. If Miggy proves he is still a plus player it's not impossible that the O's could find a place on the roster for him next season, if only as a DH.
Izturis, on the other hand, is one of the best fielding shortstops in the game and unless the O's could find a slick fielder with more offense, then Cesar's someone who can really help the pitching staff, which is an important consideration. The Rays made it to the World Series in part because of improved pitching and defense (the offense was already in place), and up-the-middle defense is vital.
Switching gear, I must say you looked dapper yesterday when working with Jim Hunter. Is it too soon to say you're being groomed for Buck Martinez' hair (job! I mean, his job!)? If you move over to the broadcast booth, what becomes of "School of Roch"? (School's out for the summer?! School's out forever?! Or would you just sharply reduce the number of postings until the offseason?)
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Nobody, and I mean nobody, can fill Buck's hair. I mean, his chair. - Roch
Joe in the Dena, I don't speak broken English, I speak Spanglish!
just read a good piece on ESPN (we all know that doesn't happen very often) about Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos (sp???). Says that he has 7 picks for the first two rounds and 9 for the first 3 rounds of next year's draft, and that they have budgeted a lot of money for the draft this year. Makes sense with getting rid of Alex Rios and Roy Halladay's monster contracts.
His methods on scouting are pretty interesting as well. Seems like the guy has a pretty straight head on his shoulders and will be making the Blue Jays much better in years to come. Plus, he's only 32. Is this Theo Epstein all over again?
Hopefully they don't affect the O's plans too much in this year's drafts, as MacPhail likes to draft the greedy players as well.
Check it out:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/hotstove09/columns/story?columnist=kurkjian_tim&id=4860251
Pat 0...classic line. If Brummie can't pin the actual quake on McPhail, he'll surely blame him for the slow relief effort and Red Cross short-comings.
Maybe Bedard is in Haiti?
I read that the Cubs are looking for outfield help. I smell another O's/Cubs trade. Lou Montanez playing on the north side for some infield prospects?
Ken - if the stars align perfectly and Tejada is adequately handling the hot corner, the starters are all doing as well hoped and/or better than expected, they are above .500 and in playoff contention, why mess things up changing around the infield? What difference does it make if Bell is on pace to win the IL Triple Crown? Where is it written that Bell and/or Snyder MUST come up as soon as they have shown they can hit AAA pitching? That's the whole idea of having depth. Would you really want to integrate those rookies (Bell and Sndyer) into the middle of a pennant race? If they have earned the call up and the FO feels they would help the big team, sure bring them up, but likely they would start off taking the place of someone on the bench first and get spot starts till they show they are the best options for starting.
It would be a nice problem to have, even though I don't think it will be the case. The same really holds true even if the Orioles are not in contention. How nice a problem would it be if Atkins and Tejada are doing well in Baltimore and Bell and Snyder are tearing up Norfolk?
Just so you know Roch, Ft. Smallwood Rd is in Pasadena, not Bmore. Just thought you should know. Keep it up I check the blog all the time!!
Everyday since fanfest, I've been getting happier and happier that Tejada's back. I want to go to opening day now just so that I can scream for him when they call his name for the first time.
Hi Roch just wanted to pass along to Billy and his family my prayers and get well wishes, we just laid to rest my grandma same day as the o's fest who had a bad stroke dec 7th then passed away with phnemona, but she was a big o's fan loved baseball, just wanted to say that cause i know waiting is hard when waiting to be made whole again.
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Thank you for writing, Kyle, and I'm very sorry for your loss. - Roch
Thanks for your help getting the word out.
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It's the least I can do. I told my sister that I'll provide another reminder as we get closer to the date. And your family is in my prayers. - Roch
thanks Roch, shes in heavn now and without pain, plus now i know theres going to be good food, was the best cook i knew, plus gives a great hair cut, owned her own beauty shop and did hair for 70 years worked up until her passing only way for her to quit was the stroke, never raised prices, $3.00 for a hair cut, $5.00 for a perm said that could never raise prices on her friends and family, would always talk to you and listen to what you had to say lol always gave her opinion on her teams.
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And you have so many warm and wonderful memories that will put a smile on your face when you least expect it. Some of my favorite moments are sitting around with my parents and sister and swapping stories about my grandparents. I spent every summer with them as a kid in Ford City, Pa. - Roch
Hey roch,
I wanna start by again commending ur hours of labor keeping a desperate o's fan base informed( properly I might add... No bogus twitter Info here).
Here's the question... Do u think the cubbies( our usual trading partner and huge fans of mcphail) need depth at outfield due to concerns of durability with soriano, fukedome and Byrd... Do you think they would be interested in moving micah hoffpaiur for Lou montanez or maybe theriot for Luke and a prospect... We have the relationship with Chicago, we have an excess of outfield talent... So why not... And If I am correct hoffpaiur played1st and 3rd last season and seemed to be clutch( considering I only see him play when there is no o's game on and wgn airs all cubs games). Just a thought and it Would also make trading wiggy a lot easier...
So I guess my question is what do you think of hoffpaiur or any cubs talent we could get for montanez or Scott. And would you make the moves I mentioned earlier?
Btw- come to lapalapa and I will make you shots again.
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Unfortunately, I don't know what the Cubs are thinking at the moment, though I've read that they're looking for another outfielder. On the Orioles' end, Montanez certainly appears to be blocked, but he'd likely be the first OF called up if he starts the year in Triple-A. I know that wasn't much help. Sorry. Can I still count on those shots? - Roch
Of course you can count on some shots, anything for the guru of O's info.....btw... Don't let that fool brummie get to you... Nothing that guys says make sense..