Why this team is frustrating

by rp0806 on Apr 18, 2007 12:28 PM EDT

What really bugs me about this team is that it should be a pretty good team -- maybe not a playoff contender, but above average (85-86 wins) -- but I fear that the team's horrendous roster management and Perlozzo's horrendous in game decision making will cost us a bunch of games. IMO, the roster should look like this:

Hernandez C
Huff 1b, DH, 3b
Roberts 2b
Tejada SS
Mora 3b
Markakis RF
Patterson CF
Payton LF, CF
Millar DH
Knott DH, LF, 1b, PH
House/Dubois DH, PH
Bako C
Stern CF

Bedard SP
Cabrera SP
Loewen SP
Traschel SP
Burres SP

Williamson RP
Guthrie RP
Bradford RP
Parrish RP
Baez RP
Ray C

The most controversial change there is Gibbons. I'd trade him if we can get anything of value. If not, I guess he replaces House.

That's a pretty decent team, but I don't think we'll ever see it unless Perlozzo is canned.

FanPosts are user-created content and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors of Camden Chat or SB Nation. They might, though.

Tweet Comment 14 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Burres

Burres did a decent job last night but i don't think i'd be to thrilled about running him out every 5th day. If i had to choose i'd go with Guthrie as the #5 for now until Wright comes back.

by BENNYBIRDMAN on Apr 18, 2007 1:25 PM EDT reply actions

um

with that roster we only have 11 pitchers

O's in '07, Riding the D-CAB to the WS!

by westcoastOfan on Apr 18, 2007 1:36 PM EDT reply actions

You would cut Jamie Walker?

Careful, SC might ban you.

I agree with westcoastOfan, you've gone to the other extreme from where we are now, too many bench/utility batters and not enough relief pitching. Somewhere in there is a happy medium.

by punkrawka on Apr 18, 2007 1:52 PM EDT reply actions

and also...

i think williamson and baez are the weak links. wlaker and burres would be my picks. maybe keep baez and shelve one of the outfielders?

by jq higgins on Apr 18, 2007 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Oops

I knew I was forgetting someone. But I still don't see the need for 12 pitchers. A bullpen of Guthrie, Walker, Parrish, Baez, Ray, and Bradford should be plenty. But, hell, adding Williamson and dropping House would still leave us with a much better roster than the one we have.

And I'd rather have Burres as the 5th starter. He has a much better track record than guthrie, and I have more confidence in his ability to go more than a couple innings.

by rp0806 on Apr 18, 2007 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Much more...

I think there's much more that makes this team frustrating. A1 numero uno-Petey A.

"What consists of cow tipping?"
-Kevin Millar to Jamie Walker

by dayzd toe on Apr 18, 2007 1:59 PM EDT reply actions

After watching TB

I saw them tie a series in Minn. and now take it to the O's twice. (Do you really feel good about squeaking by on a bullpen meltdown?) Kazmir pitching today heighten the odds they take the series. They are a few good pitchers away from what looks like a decent or even exciting team.

This induced a diary I was going to post in praise of Oriole's mediocrity. Then I decided it's a downer so I may as well just shut up and watch another season pass by. I'm strugglnig finding ways to believe.

by drj on Apr 18, 2007 2:12 PM EDT reply actions

Playing time breakdown

C: Hernandez 130 G/Bako 32 G
1b: Huff 130 G/Millar 16 G/Knott 16 G
2b: Roberts 130 G/Gomez 32 G (Roberts sits vs. LH)
SS: Tejada 162 G
3b: Mora 150 G/Huff 6 G/Gomez 4 G
RF: Markakis 162 G
CF: Patterson 130 G/Payton 22 G (Patterson sits vs. LH)/Stern 10 G
LF: Payton 120 G/Knott 30 G/Stern 12 G
DH: Millar 140 G/Knott 22 G

vs. RH

Roberts
Mora
Markakis
Tejada
Millar
Hernandez
Huff
Payton
Patterson

vs. LH

Gomez
Mora
Markakis
Tejada
Millar
Hernandez
Knott
Huff
Payton

by rp0806 on Apr 18, 2007 2:31 PM EDT reply actions

wtf, Payton?

Are you under the impression that he's good or something?

"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 Apr 18, 2007 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Payton

He's a very good defender and an adequate hitter (career OPS+ of 98 -- so about league average overall, below average for LF). All in all, 110-120 games of Payton and 40-50 games of Knott (or Dubois) in LF is a HUGE upgrade over last year, when the Orioles had the worst collection of LFs in baseball.

What's the alternative? Did the Orioles trade for Carl Crawford or Jason Bay while I wasn't looking? Would you rather see Gibbons out there? Not me...whatever advantage Gibbons has with the bat (and it isn't much -- Gibbons has a career 106 OPS+ and is already past 30) will not make up for the runs he'll cost us on defense.

by rp0806 on Apr 18, 2007 4:58 PM EDT reply actions