Chris Gomez agrees to 1-yr deal with Os

by zknower on Dec 17, 2006 10:32 PM EST in News & Rumors

Apparently, those rumors about him signing with the Jays were wrong.

According to the Sun's website, Gomez will be our utility infielder once again next year:

The Orioles have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with utility man Chris Gomez, who will return for his third season in Baltimore.

Gomez hit .341 last season with two home runs and 17 RBIs in 55 games last season. The 35-year-old missed most of the first half last season, breaking a bone in his left hand after getting hit by a fastball from Detroit Tigers reliever Joel Zumaya.

He returned in the second to bat .402 in 31 games and log a career-high 18 game hitting streak. His .437 batting average in September led the majors.

The Orioles value Gomez's versatility. Last season, he made 18 starts at first base, 13 at second, two at shortstop and four at third base. He'll compete with Brandon Fahey and recent trade acquisition Freddie Bynum for a utility spot.

I applaud this move, even though it's silly to applaud a utility infield signing. Maybe now we can trade Fahey to one of the numerous teams clamoring for him.

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Comments

Well,

as far as utility infielders go, he ain't bad. But man, it's pretty hard to get excited about this - especially living in Boston, knee-deep in "Matsuzaka Mania".

by 2632 on Dec 17, 2006 10:51 PM EST reply actions

re:

I'v been a "keep Gomez" proponent, and I'm glad to see him back. But to be frank, I'm more interested in Steve McNair's hand and the Ravens playoff hopes than just about anything Orioles now.

If you can't change your situation, then change your attitude

by drj on Dec 17, 2006 11:21 PM EST up reply actions

Seriously

Watching Boller and his brand of play were killing me yesterday. His long passes are so beautiful but whenever he completes one I think, "So this means on the next play he will fumble the snap/fall on his face for no reason/throw an interception/be abducted by aliens."

by Stacey on Dec 18, 2006 8:23 AM EST up reply actions

Wait...

There are other teams clamoring for Brandon Fahey?

by NHZ @ Camden Chat on Dec 18, 2006 12:19 AM EST reply actions

Loads of them, actually.

Except for the "loads of them" part, that statement is entirely accurate.

Mama always told me not to look into the eyes of the sun
But mama, that's where the fun is...

by zknower on Dec 18, 2006 12:28 AM EST up reply actions

Back to the minors for Fahey

...where he belongs, anyway

by pipkin on Dec 18, 2006 12:39 AM EST reply actions

re

only on the orioles would Brandon Fahey get 250 ABs. Do you know what his minor league OPS is?

.663!

by dtran2k3 @ Camden Chat on Dec 18, 2006 1:04 AM EST up reply actions

yeah

Great dude, terrible hitter.

"I don't want any credit. I'm not looking for credit. You know what? I don't want any blame if we're horse shit, either." -- Jim Leyland

by Scott Christ on Dec 18, 2006 1:50 AM EST up reply actions

re:

The Orioles value Gomez's versatility. Last season, he made 18 starts at first base

God, they think that's a POSITIVE.

"I don't want any credit. I'm not looking for credit. You know what? I don't want any blame if we're horse shit, either." -- Jim Leyland

by Scott Christ on Dec 18, 2006 1:51 AM EST reply actions

Here's my take

As far as Gomez specifically, I think we're all in agreement: Nice guy, above-average for a reserve, but the more we play him, the worse it signifies that we're doing.

The best part of this news, though, is not Gomez himself. It's that our team is not so poisonous that we absolutely can't re-sign guys like Gomez. That was the rumor until now, and the fact that it's false is a positive, even if it only gets us Gomez for now.

by punkrawka on Dec 18, 2006 8:02 AM EST reply actions

So there's still hope....

...for us to land Sosa?

Mama always told me not to look into the eyes of the sun
But mama, that's where the fun is...

by zknower on Dec 18, 2006 8:03 AM EST up reply actions

We can always keep our fingers crossed

Or our middle fingers raised... whichever.

by punkrawka on Dec 18, 2006 8:57 AM EST up reply actions

Sanity sometimes positivily rules at the warehouse

Sometime ago I read where the Orioles were going to turn Gomez out. I thought, insanity was still on the job in Orioleland. Then yesterday I was glad to read someone at Camden Yards was hit smack between the eyes with a lighting bolt of reason. Imagine re-signing a very good utility player, one who could play all four middle infield position, give the team 18 positive starts at first base and hit .341 after coming back from a sever hand injury in August. I mean it's downright un-Oriole and a very positive move.
I believe the Oriole brain trust believes as a lot of fans do, that Brandon Fahey paid his dues in 2006. He was hitting a respectable .285 when he injured his hand/wrist, but continued to fill-in and play in left field even though he knew his personal stats would suffer. Besides talent, maybe that's why other(?) teams are clamouring for Fahey services.

I thought it happier to be dead / to die for a World Series victory, than live for mediocerity.

by chalkdust on Dec 18, 2006 8:24 AM EST reply actions

whoa, man

I can't tell if you're making several jokes that work on multiple levels or not.

"I don't want any credit. I'm not looking for credit. You know what? I don't want any blame if we're horse shit, either." -- Jim Leyland

by Scott Christ on Dec 18, 2006 8:48 AM EST up reply actions

I'm gonna go with not

But I'm willing to be proven wrong.

by pipkin on Dec 18, 2006 11:20 AM EST up reply actions

Sarcasm has it's limitations

Signing Chris Gomez is a cause for handing out a few atta-boys to the front office. Even if was the obvious thing to do. Mostly because every team needs at least one or two Chris Gomez types on the bench. Multi-talented, plays hard when called on, good team mate and plays cheap.
It's clear the FO likes Brandon Fahey. He may end up in Norfork after ST because it looks like the numbers aren't working out for him. But I'm willing to bet money, Fahey will have a long ML career, if not with the Orioles, some other team.

I thought it happier to be dead / to die for a World Series victory, than live for mediocerity.

by chalkdust on Dec 18, 2006 2:04 PM EST reply actions

Gomez vs Fahey

I tend to agree with Chalkdust,I think Gomez
deserved to be brought back.BUT Fahey will
have a good major league career.

by hagersbush on Dec 19, 2006 7:30 PM EST up reply actions

According to

many of you, we are well on our way to 90 wins with this signing.

"Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers and cheating on your income tax." Mike Royko.

by BPinOK on Dec 18, 2006 3:40 PM EST reply actions

no

i don't think it's solely this signing...jay payton helped a little, too.

Remember, fans, Tuesday is Die Hard Night. Free admission for anyone who was actually alive the last time the Indians won the pennant. --"Major League"

by The Sicilian on Dec 19, 2006 12:10 PM EST up reply actions

And Paul Bako!

by Stacey on Dec 19, 2006 12:19 PM EST up reply actions

Payton

I dont understand why everyone on this site is so critical of Payton. I dont think anyone has said he will lead us to the playoffs. However, hes a lot better than we've had in left the past few years. The bottom line is I'd rather have him there than Fahey or Fiorentino. I applaud the O's for at least acquiring some decent players so that we dont get blown out by the Yanks and Red Sox. Payton is our best option, that may not be a good option but its the best one.

by nittany lion on Dec 19, 2006 4:06 PM EST up reply actions

This is fair

Payton is not a bad guy to have hitting 7th or 8th -- decent average and a little (little) bit of power. And he certainly is better than our IN-HOUSE alternatives. But I think the reason for the bad-mouthing is that Payton's not better than some alternatives that got away from us.

by punkrawka on Dec 19, 2006 8:32 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed

But i think its definitely debatable whether or not signing Carlos Lee to a 6 year mega deal would have been better for the long term of the franchise.

Also, Soriano probably never wanted to come here, and that isnt entirely Flanagan or Duquette's fault. Even if it were, we have to deal with the fact that free agents no longer want to come here which means we have to work with what we cant get (Read: We have to deal with guys like Payton).

by nittany lion on Dec 19, 2006 8:41 PM EST reply actions

Soriano

Soriano is going to have one of the worst contracts in baseball in about 3 years. I'd rather have fatty Carlos Lee than Soiano. Lets give Andruw Jones and his bad shoulder whatever he wants next year instead.

by pipkin on Dec 20, 2006 12:39 AM EST up reply actions