Bits on Tejada, Scott and Guthrie
Monday: More on Tejada, some on Guthrie | Wednesday: O's farm system is getting stronger | Thursday: Hendrickson back for a second year | Friday: A look at the bullpen, Snyder and Hendrickson | Saturday: Examining the offense and the winter moves | Sunday: Reviewing the winter
Tuesday, January 26:
Roch Kubatko writes on remaining left handed relievers: "[Scott] Schoeneweis and [Ron] Villone are represented by agent Scott Boras. The Orioles had serious interest in [Will] Ohman last winter, but he signed late with the Dodgers and appeared in only 21 games because of a shoulder injury that ended his season in late May.
[Jamie] Walker hasn't officially retired, as far as I know, but his name hasn't appeared in one single rumor (unless I missed it).
We've gone over [Mark] Hendrickson countless times. He's expected to re-sign with the Orioles, but the exact date is anybody's guess. I'd settle for a conservative estimate." [masnsports.com]
Steve Melewski examines Luke Scott: "Scott presents a problem for [Dave] Trembley. How does he know, if Scott is slumping, when to sit him and when he might be heating up, to get him back in the lineup?
Even with a poor second half, Scott led the team in homers, with nearly 200 fewer at bats than players like B-Rob and [Nick] Markakis and only Nolan Reimold had a higher OPS." [masnsports.com]
Dan Connolly and Jeff Zrebiec examine Jeremy Guthrie: "Having a proven pitcher such as [Kevin] Millwood at the top of the rotation would take the pressure off Guthrie, who is entering just his fourth full season in the big leagues and struggled to 17 losses last season as the Orioles' ace.
Guthrie thinks adding Millwood makes the Orioles much better. But he doesn't think it makes his job easier or gives him a better chance at success in 2010.
"It doesn't mean a whole bunch to me. It means more to the team, for the Orioles," Guthrie said. "He can't throw my pitches for me and he can't get my outs for me. So, ultimately, I'll be in the same boat as every other time I've pitched in my career."
Guthrie was 10-17 with a 5.04 ERA in 2009 after a superb 2008 in which he went 10-12 with a 3.63 ERA. There was speculation throughout last season that pressure from his new role as the club's top starter hampered his performance.
As he had in the past, Guthrie rejected that theory at Saturday's FanFest." [Baltimore Sun]
Spencer Fordin has thoughts on Miguel Tejada and Garrett Atkins: "It's a new look at the corners, a pair of signings that the Orioles believe will make a huge impact. Baltimore went out and signed Garrett Atkins and Miguel Tejada to start at first base and third base, respectively, and the hope is that the pair will help upgrade the offense immediately and hold over their positions until the team's top prospects arrive.
Many analysts think that Brandon Snyder and Josh Bell are less than a season away from making their big league break, but the veteran tandem of Atkins and Tejada will allow the Orioles to hold them off until they're ready. Perhaps most importantly, the moves have been hailed in the team's clubhouse as a patch that will help the Orioles move closer to contention." [MLB.com]
Around the Horn Baseball likes the Miguel Tejada agreement: "O's Continue To Upgrade - That is the most important aspect of signing Miguel Tejada: He is an upgrade. When the Baltimore Orioles signed Tejada, they upgraded the infield. They upgraded the lineup. They upgraded the team. It's that simple.
This was a no-brainer. There is no controversy. There are no bad feelings involved. The Orioles released third baseman Melvin Mora because they simply had to. He was dead weight. Mora's bat has drastically declined.
So why shouldn't they have signed Tejada and bring him back to Baltimore?
They only signed him to a one-year deal worth $6 million, a deal that is more than reasonable. He is going to move over and play third base now, the necessary move to make. He hit .313 last year with the Houston Astros and recorded 199 hits. And to top all of that off, his teammates love him." [Around the Horn Baseball]
The Loss Column weighs in on Miguel Tejada: "He's not blocking anybody. A one-year deal means that the Josh Bell plan is still in effect, provided the kid proves he's ready. I'm not concerned about Atkins going to first and potentially taking at-bats away from Aubrey or Snyder. Or anybody else. Let those guys get some seasoning and prove their worth. If/when they do, that's a good problem to have. In the meantime we have two legit (if unspectacular) veterans at the corners." [The Loss Column]
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