Where's Blake Davis?
Looking at the list of spring training invitees, I have to wonder what happened to infielder Blake Davis.
Davis made a solid impression last spring before fracturing a bone in his foot and undergoing surgery that limited him to 55 games with Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles regard him as being ready defensively at shortstop. They just wonder how much he'll hit.
I know the minor league camp in Sarasota is close to the major league facility, so the Orioles don't need to fill their roster with invitees. They can bring over Davis at any time, without the past travel complications. But I expected him to be on the list that the club released yesterday.
Davis figures to be the starting shortstop at Norfolk this year, though the Orioles signed Andy Gonzalez to a minor league deal. You would assume that they'd want Davis in camp.
This winter hasn't exactly been a confidence-builder for Davis, who was left unprotected in the Rule 5 draft. The Orioles chose to put shortstop Pedro Florimon on the 40-man roster.
Cesar Izturis will be the Opening Day starter, but the Orioles will challenge Robert Andino to hold onto the backup job. Justin Turner will probably get a significant amount of time at short, since they already know what he can do at second base.
Meanwhile, the Orioles and OriolesREACH are inviting everyone who attends FanFest on Saturday to contribute to the Haitian earthquake relief effort.
The club will raise funds at the event that will assist in providing much-needed aid to the devastated country. Money will be collected through a portion of the FanFest admission fees and proceeds collected from a silent auction of Orioles items and the team's memorabilia sale. In addition, collection buckets will be available at various locations at FanFest for fans to make freewill offerings, and the Orioles will match all donations.
Fans also can make donates by sending checks made payable to the Baltimore Orioles Charitable Foundation, with "Haiti Relief" in the memo line. Mail them to Baltimore Orioles Haiti Relief, 333 West Camden Street, Baltimore, MD. 21201.
Double-A Bowie fans have generated more than $1,500 through the club's raffle. Check out the Baysox's site here.
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Categories (click for archive)Roch Kubatko | Roch Kubatko Orioles |
I wonder what the uproar for Jose Reyes and Jimmy Rollins will be like next year, if they both do in fact head to free agency. Folks wanted to give Holliday the moon, and he plays a position the team has filled.
Blake needs to find a way to significantly improve his batting skills, or he is not likely to have a long career. Sub-.700 OPS is bad, even for a terrific fielding SS.
Blake Davis: Another average minor league guy that the FO has us believing is the next great thing.
Off topic but does anyone have the link to the site where Trembley supposedly bashed current/former players?
Roch,
Give me your thoughts on what 3B you think the O's will sign. Obviously I think the common fan conclusion is to sign Tejada, but will that happen?
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We're just guessing here. Crede is their first choice, but Tejada is in the mix. - Roch
Maybe they'll buy Blake a moped so he can make the 3-4 mile trip between complexes.
Stevie: Even if someone did have that link and tried to post it on here, I'm sure it would be deleted. But if Olney writes something nice about Andy........
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In a bad mood today, Brummie? Maybe you need to take the rest of the night off. - Roch
Yeah, all I ever hear from the FO is how Blake Davis will save us all. Brummie should just change his name to Straw Man.
Roch,
I don't know about you but I'm counting down the days until there are actual games, win or lose. You're doing a great job keeping things interesting, but still it's a lot more fun talking about games, plays, etc.
I think you're right that in some ways it doesn't matter who is in the major league camp vs minor league camp. Davis still has the opportunity to prove himself, but I assume there is a not so subtle message there as well.
Hey - I think I went to grade school w/Brummie. Aren't you the kid that always picked your nose and no one liked? I think so.
Roch...I wish I could get excited about any of our prospects at shortstop. I think I've been spoiled by decades of good shortstops, Aparicio, Belanger, Cal, Bordick, even Tejada to an extent.
Anyway, just wanted to address the Brummie issue.
Brummie,
I usually just ignore your posts but man do you ever have anything positive to say or do you do this stuff for attention? I usually dont have a problem with you because quite frankly I actually agree with SOME of the things you say but we are all true oriole fans or we wouldnt worry about these boards at all. Roch does a great job keeping us updated and quite frankly I am puped for the season.
With that being said, and going a little off topic because I dont know much about Blake to say anything anyway, I hope we sign Bedard IF he will be healthy at some point this year. I also wouldnt mid seing Miggy back for a year or two, why not? Can we do any worse???? These guys like Miggy Atkins Delgado Blalock are all just seat warmers until the kids are ready to come up and produce so lets go get em and call it a day and get ready for srping training. Go O's! Roch keep up the great work you are much appreciated...
Roch:
What about Waring? Was he invited to spring tranining? And stop posting comments from GM Brummie...thanks.
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He's not on the list. - Roch
More tired garbage from brummie. Yawn.... Who ever said blake was a special anything? People liked him because his defense but I don't remember anyone calling him the next big anything or even a starting ML quality player. They liked his glove in ST and they hoped he would produce a bat someday, that's all I remember anyone really saying. If they thought he was ML ready he would be playing and possibly failing in the majors right now. Maybe you need a nap you're starting to sound like a bitter turd with nothing to say about anything. If you are a journalist you must be the most bias unreadable one out there. I have to agree with stallion you just want to bash no matter what. Maybe you should stop paying attention to baseball for a while or jump on some other team. You're more enemy than fan. Lord knows this organization has left us all scratching our heads and upset many times in the past decade but seriously do you wake up checking this blog trying to figure out what negative things to say? I have been a fan of this team for a very very long time and I'm just as frustrated as anyone that they haven't produced a winner since I was a young dooley but does everything have to be crap to you or are you just trying to goad people? Lighten up, it's just baseball. We all love it but in the end does it matter that much to attack a team on a website every time a new post by Roch is made? Sounds like someone just loves the attention they are getting here. So maybe back off and just be a normal person instead of some bitter dork that constantly replies to everything in some hideous fashion rather than posting a well thought out criticism. Well to all of you other folks that's the last time I'm addressing the matter and if this cat has any class he'll stop acting like a jack @$$. Probably not, but thanks to Roch for keeping the updates coming and to all you other fans that have something to say.
Brummie_Oriole said:
Stevie: Even if someone did have that link and tried to post it on here, I'm sure it would be deleted. But if Olney writes something nice about Andy........
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In a bad mood today, Brummie? Maybe you need to take the rest of the night off. - Roch
BOOOYAAAH!!!!
Brummie_Oriole said:
"Blake Davis: Another average minor league guy that the FO has us believing is the next great thing."
Yes, by declining to invite him to spring training. Real vote of confidence. Ain't the paranoia cold!
Brummie_Oriole said:
Blake Davis: Another average minor league guy that the FO has us believing is the next great thing.
So much so that they forgot to give him an invite to the big league spring training!
Roch,
Isn't it time to take out the trash? It's more than obvious he has no interest in contributing to the blog. Or, just get an ignore feature and we'll take care of the rest. Don't you dream of a day in which you don't have to babysit certain posters?
B_O
I read you every day...not sure why, but I read all the posts every day. One thing I would like you to explain: WHAT IS YOUR AGENDA?
A) to have AM fired?
B) to be GM yourself (preposterous)?
C) to be acknowledged (even though not in a good way)?
D) to make web friends? (in the words of Amy Poeller and Seth Myers, Really?)
E) to make yourself look smart? Frankly stating the O's aren't wildly spending money enough to compete w/ the Yankmees in hardly Mensa material.
I don't like O's losing for all these years either (assuming you are an O's fan, and not some demented web browser bent on torturing true O's fans), but I understand the plan. I would like it to happen quicker, but the O's won't be ready to compete for the division until the cavalry is ready to compete.
So...WHAT IS YOUR AGENDA? WHY ARE YOU HERE?
B_O
I read you every day...not sure why, but I read all the posts every day. One thing I would like you to explain: WHAT IS YOUR AGENDA?
A) to have AM fired?
B) to be GM yourself (preposterous)?
C) to be acknowledged (even though not in a good way)?
D) to make web friends? (in the words of Amy Poeller and Seth Myers, Really?)
E) to make yourself look smart? Frankly stating the O's aren't wildly spending money enough to compete w/ the Yankmees iS hardly Mensa material.
I don't like O's losing for all these years either (assuming you are an O's fan, and not some demented web browser bent on torturing true O's fans), but I understand the plan. I would like it to happen quicker, but the O's won't be ready to compete for the division until the cavalry is ready to compete.
So...WHAT IS YOUR AGENDA? WHY ARE YOU HERE?
If everyone stopped giving Brummie the attention he's craving for, eventually, he'd go away.
By continually to call him out, he's getting exactly what he wants.
Roch what are the chances we sign Miggy by the end of the week? MacPhail said this week we should be putting the finishing touches on the roster.
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I wouldn't be shocked if they signed someone before FanFest. MacPhail seems pretty confident that he can make another move soon. But that doesn't necessarily mean it's going to be Tejada. - Roch
What does that undisciplined screaming child in a grocery store have in common with our peanut gallery(Brummie - PLEASE follow that cricket passion you have, KyleProBoller, did you know the root of your name "Bolle" literally means "Round Object"?, and Paul.
These are the type of so called "fans" that wouldn't be happy even if this was a winning organization. I know of a couple guys who definitely did not receive invites to Spring Training. Ban those E-Ore's. Get lost fools and stay in school, but not this one ;) If we are the "Yes Fans" what does that make you? No-Fans. NOT fans. Run along now, Shew.
Brummie_Oriole said:
Blake Davis: Another average minor league guy that the FO has us believing is the next great thing.
NO THEY DON;T...AND THEY NEVER EVER DID...STOP SPEWING BS YOU *$*%*(@()E))R)E)E)E)E)R
i guess the idea is to give the him more PT at the minor league complex.
based on what i have read in the comments section the infield will be crowded this year...
people needing time at first:
delgado, hughes, aubrey, wigginton, montanez, atkins, scott, reimold
people needing time at third:
atkins, tejada, wigginton, turner, reimold, montanez
come the think of it there are a lot of positions like that...
people needing time at catcher:
wieters, moeller, reimold, tatum, montanez
people needing time at shortstop:
turner, izzy, andino, tejada, montanez, jones and of course reimold
i can't wait for Sarasota.
i'd like to see adino get a real shot a short. if he could play an entire yr. as well as he played when he started some of last year he'd be fine. defense up the middle is worth a lot more than o.k. defense and good hitting. and he didn't hit that badly and was decent hitting with men on base.
Joe in the Dena - I've been preaching that for months. Unfortunately you have too many people on the blog that get easily frustrated as opposed to just being able to ignore someone.
I've had my stints, but when I realized that the "realists" crew were all simply craving attention, I ignored them. It sucks to constantly have to pass by certain readers and comments but you eventually get used to it.
To tell you the truth, I haven't a clue what was said today by any of them.
Brummie-
I don't think the front office ever led us (well at least me) to believe he was the next great thing. But he would actually be a cheaper version of Izturis next year if we still don't have anyone at short.
Not inviting him to camp was a bad move. Maybe this will mean they will give Turner more reps at short tho
Roch-
If we sign Miggy, will we need to carry an "Andino" type? Can't Miggy get moved to short if Izzy gets hurt? Then Wiggy, or Bell could get called on to play 3rd?
Also, I have been reading a ton of the pre-season analysis, and some are saying that Bell is very much over-rated. Whats your take? They say don't judge on the 116 at bats at Bowie should say much.
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If Tejada is starting, they'd still want a utility infielder on the bench. Brian Roberts needs a backup, too. I've never seen Bell play, but I've heard a lot of good things about him - except for his numbers from the right side. - Roch
Lots of rain this morning here in Kentucky. This aftenoon I came outside and the sun was shining. But that was not all. I'm not sure how to expalin it, but it didn't smell like winter. Spring was in the air. I look forward to this day every year. It is my own yearly signpost that says spring training is nearly upon us. I rushed home to see what Roch, Steve and my other fixes have to say. Sure enough, good stuff to take the edge off the craving......and Brummie's 54th, 55th, 56th, 57th, 58th, and 59th posts of the month......but who's counting. By the way 2 of them didn't include negative comments or insinuations! Sadly neither of those was on the thread about Brooks release from the hospital. By the way only 40 posts in the 10 days since Brummie let us know he had limited time to engage other posters.
I don't know what it is, I just can't scroll them. I can't go home with my team down 11 to 0 in the ninth. I can't help but look at accidents on the highway as I pass the scene...
...it was such a good afternoon.
To most of the other posters, we just can't get it together. One of us reaches the decision that scrolling is the only option. Another reaches their limit and has to vent and bash (sometimes fairly other times just as unfairly as the other). Another takes a breath and tries to engage in civil discussion. Another begs Roch to make it go away. If we could just all be on the same emotional plane at the same time, maybe we could get somewhere.
As I've said before, I really admire what you do Roch.
Brummie I actually agree with some of your points, but even with those, I don't like to see them made ad nauseum. And I just don't get the reason to make it all so personally vindictive, especially when you then cry foul when others do it to you.
Is FanFest something an easily-distracted 5-year old would enjoy? I'm not asking for any other posters on here (insert rim shot here), but whether if my son and I attend I'll get anything out of it or just frustration.
.....Moving at the speed of MacSnail.
As much as it surprises me to say, Andy sign Miggy now! 199 hits and .313 BA last year tops all current Orioles on the current roster. Batting Tejada 2nd gives us Brob, Miggy, Nick, Reimold, Jones, Weiters, Scott, Atkins, and Izzo. Not a bad starting 9. This gives "the new savior" Josh Bell a start in Bowie and June call up to Norfolk, enabling him to add to his impressive 2 month run at double A last year. Come on Andy.........BUST A MOVE!
Brummie, have to disagree with your post. Davis is not another average minor league player. Let me elaborate.
While attending a game 2 years ago at Bowie with my son, he went out of his way after it was long over to seek us out. The bat went into the stands during the game. He wanted to make sure my son was ok. He pretty much gave him a few things which made my son a Blake Davis fan forever.
Could you see Tejada, Mora Markakis or Huff doing something like that?
On another note....
Another day passes and nothing to show but more
"We are waiting for the market to play out"
Buy some more candles everyone. We all will be having a birthday before indecisive Andy can muster the nerve to do anything which will cost a few $$$
Nice quote by Schmuck. I guess he is a troll now too?
Boy is the last sentence a true fact or WHAT!
That said, most people I talk to don't believe Andy MacPhail would be particularly inclined to time a significant move for public relations purposes. And, after the recent ticket-price announcement, it would be hard to make a case that anybody on the business side is making fan satisfaction a huge priority.
Way to go ANDY
and the
Orange Fools Aid Apologist
Ryan said:
If we sign Miggy, will we need to carry an "Andino" type? Can't Miggy get moved to short if Izzy gets hurt?
Tejada is not a good SS anymore. He needs to move to third. We would still need a backup infielder to spell our third baseman, Izturis, and Roberts. I'm hoping that will be Justin Turner. Andino is a very good defensive player, but he was among the worst offensive players in the league last season. A nice (and versatile) glove will only get you so far. I want to see Turner get his chance.
Roch,
The FO hasn't hinted that the next {or one of the next moves} might be a trade has it? They were saying something along those lines before the Millwood trade and for a little while after, but I haven't heard anything like that recently.
Baldy
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They haven't dismissed the possibility of a trade, but they're expected to sign another free agent. - Roch
Roch how is lou montanez doing at 1b in pr?
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He hasn't played there since late December. He's back home now (well, he'll be in Baltimore for FanFest). And his agent told me recently that Montanez didn't play first base in Puerto Rico. - Roch
If we sign Miggy, will we need to carry an "Andino" type? Can't Miggy get moved to short if Izzy gets hurt?
Can't Wigginton play 2nd and 3rd? Not I want to see hime there day in and day out, but he can spell Roberts...
Roch:
Mlb on XM discussed the O's and Bedard discussions and they all said that Bedard would be a cancer to the young staff because of poor work ethic and bad attitude. What are you hearing and what do you think of those comments?
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The Orioles don't share that concern. And I keep saying these young guys aren't that impressionable. Bedard wasn't a bad teammate. - Roch
April 1 promotion has been added. It will be Brummie pacifier day.
Considering the significance of that particular date, I'd say it's very
timely and apropos.
Jack used to always talk about the number of Bowie games he attended. Now suddenly Paul, who also happens to make the same errors with homonyms as Jack, is telling a story about Blake Davis and his son at a Bowie game.
Although I obviously don't have to expose your disguise. It seems pretty clear to everyone that you're long-ago banned Jack.
Miguel Tejada:
In his career..
» .318 career average batting 4th, .887 OPS
» .301 Men On
» .304 in High Leverage situations
» .303 vs NYY, .289 vs BOS, .311 vs TAM, .293 vs TOR (.299 vs AL East)
» 6x All-Star, 2x MVP
» .971 FP, 244 Errors/8555 Total Chances
» Consistently Healthy
Last Year:
» 199 Hits, 46-2B's, 86RBI, 83 Runs .331 with RISP
» 48 K's in 673 Plate Appearances
» .329 FIRST half, (.380 in May)
» .367 Batting 2nd (106/289), .922 OPS
» .373 in High Leverage situations
» .468 (22/47) average in 9th innings
» .970 FP, 21 E/ 710 TC
» All-Star
Joe Crede:
Career:
» .254 BA, .748 OPS
» 22.2 AB/HR
» .278 RISP
» .176(21/119) vs BAL (.236 @ OPACY), .236(29/123) vs BOS, .256(34/133) vs NYY, .225(31/138) vs TAM, .243(35/144) vs. TOR (.227 vs AL East)
» .965 FP at 3B, 83 Errors in 2376 Total Chances.
» Past 3 Years Spinal injuries.
Last Year:
» .225 avg
» .198 (18/91) RISP, .200 with Men On
» 4 E/223 TC
Roch-
Heres a decent Jeff Passan column about "The O's Have Hope".
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AiwgaNJXLtlDcw4NJBvobgcRvLYF?slug=jp-hsdorioles012010&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
O's can't even figure out who the clean up hitter will be this year. That right there shows what a failure the off season has been.But don't worry McPhail has a plan.55 RBIs out of the 1st base position.
Paul: I don't doubt Davis is a decent standup guy. I just think like other minor league prospects, Andy has characterised him as an "in house option" meaning essentially, if the market is too expensive, suddenly Davis will be a top notch prospect who CAN contribute.
Schmuck wrote an amazing piece the other day. I guess he'll be cut off from interviews for a while LOL.
Cowherd wrote a great column on the phantom ticket tax.
Still waiting for MASN to report on the new ticket tax.........
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You're be waiting a long time for your next comment to be posted. - Roch
AK...
Actually I am a die hard Shorebird fans. But once a year I make it a point to attend a Bowie and Keys game. So if that makes me "Jack" in your mind, you go for it and believe your disillusional self! Hard to be Jack when I live in Ocean Pines. Didn't Jack say he lived in Carrol County or something to that effect? Some of you on here actually find reason to attack other posters. You are no better then some of the posters you call out each and every day!
Now focus on posting something which is condusive to getting this FO to finally do something to improve the team.
Blake Davis is terrible.. Both on the field and off the field.
He has one of the worst attitudes in the game. He has a "its all about me" attitude who thinks he is alot more gifted than he really is.
I usually don't agree with some posts on here. However, the post about the FO making the fans think he is the next big deal last season is accurate.
He will be back in Cali working in a rose shop within the next 2 years.
In his recent Sun entry, Kevin Cowherd said
"When it comes to fan relations, the Orioles sometimes have the touch of a blacksmith."
And the Sun's Peter Schmuck wrote yesterday
"it would be hard to make a case that anybody on the business side is making fan satisfaction a huge priority."
Boy is it nice to see the media starting to call Indecisive Andy out on the carpet?
This is what it will take for the Front Office to either change their ways or the fans will change it for them in ticket sales. But can they get much lower then they already are? Hats off to Schmuck and Cowherd!
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What does Andy MacPhail have to do with the decision to raise walk-up ticket prices? Hats off to me for not blasting you for this one. - Roch
The reason we talk about players like Blake Davis is that deep down, we are all rooting for kids like that to make it to the majors. Baseball is the only sport where you have to work and earn the chance at the bigs, all while riding buses to games and playing in small towns all over the country.
That being said I appreciate the updates on Davis, or any other long shot O's minor leaguer for that matter. Every once in a while, the less talented, gutsy guys do get the opportunity to have a great moment in the majors (see Dave Johnson, 1989 pennant chase start against the Blue Jays).
This article will explain what I am talking about and helps show why baseball is the greatest game on earth:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bal-whynot-johnsonqa,0,4840921.story
sheets said:
Is FanFest something an easily-distracted 5-year old would enjoy? I'm not asking for any other posters on here (insert rim shot here), but whether if my son and I attend I'll get anything out of it or just frustration.
I've taken my nephew to FanFest before at a young age. If your son has any interest at all in baseball, he will have a good time. My only recomendation is not don't stand in line for autographs. The long lines and short attention span don't mix well. But there is a lot of stuff for kids to do there, and most of it is free.
Ok, can anyone explain to me how signing Miggy doesn't give us a pretty darn good lineup? Except for Izzie and the potential for Atkins and Scott slumping its about as good as a mid-sized market team can get. And mostly full of young talent. Trembley can handle Miggy I think - or at least it will be a test to see if he (Trembs, that is) belongs here when we've brought in a couple big free agents who may want to run the asylum.
Shifting gears, I want to stick up for the self-named "Realists". Free speech is a fundamental value in this country, even when discussing sports, and I would be upset with MASN if they decided that people could be barred for reasons other than those outlined in the use policies (e.g., being super-negative d-bags). I suggest, as I have before, that we simply ignore their posts. I think by commenting on their rubbish everyone is providing oxygen to fuel their insipid flaming. Which I guess is a good word for B-O anyway.
Third gear - are you making yourself available for autograph signing/awkward bear hugs during Fanfest, Roch? j/k (a little...)
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We said it wouldn't get awkward. Yes, I'll be at the MASN booth 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Photo opp! - Roch
Funny how Brummie has plenty of time to make up lies about MacPhail but no time to address those of us who call him out on his lies. It is not lack of time that makes Brummie roll over like a chastened puppy when attacked . . . it is lack of a leg to stand on. He knows he is a liar. He knows his lies are a malicious part of a crusade he has engaged in for some dark purpose known only to him. So he doesnt even try to refute the charges against him. He has effectively pled nolo contendere to all charges against him. Not mistakes. Anyone can make a mistake. That is not what is happening here. Brummie LIES. Knowingly, intentionally, maliciously. Unless one of the voices in his head is named MacPhail, he never heard anyone in the front office call Davis the next great thing. But he will not have time to respond to his critics. He is too busy coming up with his next LIE.
Roch,
Why would you "blast me" for a post which showed appreciation and courage for the media? I was only saying Kudos for the media holding Indecisive Andy accountable. Sorry if it offended you. I was not trying to say, you dont.
And YES, as GM of an organization or business, Andy does have say in ticket prices. He oversees ALL aspects of an organization. The last I checked, revenue and expenses are part of an organization.
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Andy has NOTHING to do with that side of the business. He isn't determining ticket prices. - Roch
j-dub said:
Ok, can anyone explain to me how signing Miggy doesn't give us a pretty darn good lineup? Except for Izzie and the potential for Atkins and Scott slumping its about as good as a mid-sized market team can get. And mostly full of young talent. Trembley can handle Miggy I think - or at least it will be a test to see if he (Trembs, that is) belongs here when we've brought in a couple big free agents who may want to run the asylum.
Shifting gears, I want to stick up for the self-named "Realists". Free speech is a fundamental value in this country, even when discussing sports, and I would be upset with MASN if they decided that people could be barred for reasons other than those outlined in the use policies (e.g., being super-negative d-bags). I suggest, as I have before, that we simply ignore their posts. I think by commenting on their rubbish everyone is providing oxygen to fuel their insipid flaming. Which I guess is a good word for B-O anyway.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I will take a shot at an explanation for you. The Baltimore Orioles do not play fantasy baseball. They do not play rotisserie baseball. Their games do not take place on the internet, a barstool or the morning sports page. IT is easy to say that plugging in a .300 bat is a plus, but we have a history with the man behind the numbers. He is not good off field when things aren't going badly. He is not good ON the field when things around him aren't going well. He brought discord and distraction to the team when he was here. His effort falls off when the team isnt winning. I do not understand fans' and Roch's desire for a veteran pitcher to teach our kids the way to do things but then saying they are not that impressionable and Miggy was a good teammate. I don't understand those who want to can Tremblay for the teams bad habits but then want to bring in a guy who sulks, dogs it and doesn't give effort or say the right things when the chips are down. How will Miggy take it if he is shifted around between SS, 3B and DH . . . or god forbid if he is asked to split time with a rookie 3B brought up at midseason. Bringing back Miggy is like reverting to the failed policies of the decade of losing prior to MacPhail. Give the fans an over the hill name they recognize just to sell some tickets.
That is my explanation, agree or not.
Further, the danger with Atkins is not a slump. All hitters have them. The danger with Atkins is that he has lost it or is in the process of losing it and that he doesn't bounce back. I have no problem saying I don't have an opinion on that. I leave it to MacPhail and will judge him on the way it turns out. But either way it is an affordable risk from a business outlook. If it doesn't work, AND Aubrey isn't satisfactory at 1B, AND Bell does not mature in time to start entering next season . . . then MacPhail failed. Too few fans here have the perspective to see that all of that is tied together. This is not fantasy baseball. The organization is fitting a team together; if it wins in the end they did good, not if all nine starters make the all star game. Plugging in a Tejada because of his batting stats is not necessarily a good move. Signing Atkins and seeing Bell replace him at mid-season is not necessarily a bad move. It is how all 25 players come together that we should be judging MacPhail on, not on every single move in a vacuum.
Switching gears with you (appropriate during Barret Jackson auction week)
it USED to be a value of this country that all of our rights, including free speech, came with corresponding responsibilities. When a Brummie declines to assume the responsibility of being a responsible citizen, don't expect me to defend his rights. I have never called for Brummie to be banned. I wish I had a vehicle to delete his posts on my screen so I do not have to see his vile lies and malicious characterizations, but like you, I have enough respect for the right of free speech in the abstract not to insist on denying it to be exercised even by those who refuse to acknowledge that by accepting/utilizing said rights, they assume a responsibility. In Brummie's case he abuses his right of free speech by ignoring the corresponding responsibility to not lie, not incite for discord's sake, and to speak to participate, not to dominate or obfuscate. I will not seek to abridge Brummie's right to speak but don't expect me to treat him with a level of respect than he proves over and over that he does not deserve or to actively support his rights.
Wow, is it just me or is anybody else wondering where all the love for Tejada came from. I 've been a reader here for a couple years and acknowledge all the real Orioles fans here, but do you really want Tejada in Baltimore, now???
Do you forget the B12 shot, lying about his age, lying about steroids, trade requests, limited range at short and not running out ground balls?? This is the guy you want around your young up and comers?
The Orioles lost most of their games because of pitching not hitting. I don't think 20 extra RBI's over the course of a season is worth bring this bum back here.
Brummie said-
Andy has characterised him as an "in house option" meaning essentially, if the market is too expensive, suddenly Davis will be a top notch prospect who CAN contribute.
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when I search with the parameters of "macphail blake davis in house options" neither google or bing come up with any hits showing Macphail referring to Blake Davis using the words you attributed to him in quotes. In addition your characterization of the words you quote MacPhail as saying(but which dont appear on any internet search) is a typical self serving distortion. First, the Orioles are, to the best of our knowledge, not out looking for a player at the position that Blake Davis plays, so your whole premise is just entered into to further your malicious crusade against MacPhail. Second, if we WERE looking for a player at Blake's position, it would mean that the team does NOT think he is a top notch prospect or else why look for a replacement for Izzy outside the org? This is reinforced by naming Florimon ahead of Davis to the 40 man, signing a triple A SS and exposing him to the rule 5. So even if MacPhail did say what you say he said (which I dont believe until you show us where he said EXACTLY what you put in quotes attributed to him) he was obviously referring to Blake Davis as a last ditch option . . . not a primary option as a "top notch prospect" would be. Lies, damn lies and anything Brummie says. And Disraeli didnt even know you!
and he said
Still waiting for MASN to report on the new ticket tax.........
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Taxes are a revenue vehicle for governments. Baseball teams do not have the power of taxation. Your ignorance is almost as staggering as your hubris, your self impressed smarmy posts and your ability to keep lying shamelessly when we all know you are a liar and call you out on your lies.