What is it with the Front Office?
by Misterwookas on Dec 11, 2008 9:15 AM EST
53 comments
Last Sunday night I had the opportunity to go to M&T Bank Stadium to see my beloved Washington Redskins get their butts handed to them by the upsurgent Baltimore Ravens. Monday morning while walking from the Holiday Inn at the Inner Harbor (the one who see in left field across from the Legg Mason building at Oriole Park) towards the bus station, I cut through Oriole Park Eutaw Street and took a look at the park. They were watering the field. My heart was pumping then. I am ready for a new season.
Then again, they way things are looking at the Winter Meetings we are going to be looking at another disappointing season. First, we trade Ramon Hernandez for Cincinatti outfielder Ryan Freel. I am not saying that Freel is a bad player but why do we need more outfielders with the platoon of players that we already have. Obviously this a move to bring up Matt Wieters but why not a quality pitcher?
Last night came the word that the O's have signed SS Cesar Izturis to a long term deal. Again, with all of the shortstops that we played last year why do we need another shortstop. If I am not mistaken, folks like Freddie Bynum, Luis Hernandez, and Brandon Fahey can also play 2B. We need pitching, not infielders.
The one thing that have I always respected the Orioles Front Office is the fact that they like to groom their minor league talent for the big club. The thing is that when it comes for chances to get free agents they end up getting stupid players. I just hope and pray that we get a quality starter this offseason.
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Seriously?
1) Who on earth would possibly give up a quality pitcher for Ramon Hernandez?
2) 2 years isn’t a long term deal. Cesar Izturis can’t hit much, but he can hit more than the drivel that played SS for the O’s last year. And his defense is known to be quite above average.
I’m all for bashing the FO when necessary, but these complaints are silly.
[Guthrie's] president of my heart. ~PhilR8
by Stacey on Dec 11, 2008 9:29 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
yeah - I can't bash the current FO
MacPhail is methodically plodding along. Make way for Wieters, stop the hemorrhaging at SS, look for any remotely serviceable arms while they hope the young pitching pans out (heard that before). All while trying to build up the minors. The O’s will continue to get battered for a while, but this franchise needed to be stripped down and has a long way to go before it gets better. Anyone thinking there is a quick answer will be falling into the same losing pattern the O’s have wallowed in for years.
It depends on your perspective whether this is exciting. It’s like we face years of having to take medicine while the franchise attempts to recover from an approach we knew was wrong. They aren’t blatantly flailing as in the past, so that’s a positive.
At least there’s some unexpected excitement in Baltimore. Go Ravens!
by drj on Dec 11, 2008 10:38 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Dude, you're pretty much against the mainstream of the blog here
Consensus seems to be that Andy got what he could for Razor and that Izturis is a useful stopgap who will at least stabilize the position. He might stabilize it to below-average mediocrity, but he’s better than the parade of replacement-level (or worse) dudes who were around last year.
Freel is a guy who can provide a decent level of flexibility and some bounceback and trade-flip potential. Plus, maybe we’ll get to hear about Marny.
And in case you didn’t notice, “quality” starters are getting crazy money from the Yankees. Maybe after they’re spent the O’s can pick through the leftovers, but does four years of Derek Lowe or Ollie Perez really excite you? Going to five years on Burnett strikes me as pretty dumb, at least for this team.
by pipkin on Dec 11, 2008 9:39 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
A few points
Obviously this a move to bring up Matt Wieters but why not a quality pitcher?
It takes two to trade. Who, in their right mionds, would give up anyone with the ability to throw strikes even 40% of the time for a defensive liability at catcher who hits somewhere near the league average for the position and hasn’t hustled since Barack Obama was still just a IL state senator no one had ever heard of?
Again, with all of the shortstops that we played last year why do we need another shortstop.
Did you watch any of last season? NO ONE we had last year is capable of adequate fielding or hitting at an acceptable MLB replacement level. NONE. Again, MacPhail considered this the best of the admittedly bad options available to us. And I probably agree.
We need pitching, not infielders.
Actually, we need both. We have ZERO middle infield prospects within 3 years of contributing. ZERO.
The one thing that have I always respected the Orioles Front Office is the fact that they like to groom their minor league talent for the big club.
I will give you Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis. Now, name ONE MORE from the last half decade. I’ll wait… yeah, thought so.
The thing is that when it comes for chances to get free agents they end up getting stupid players.
And who would those free agents be? CC Sabbathia? I wouldn’t have given him the NYY contract, and I bet they’re regretting in within 3 years. A.J. Burnett? He wants five guaranteed years for a arm that’s never stood up more than 2 years in a row. I’ll pass. Mark Teixera? Well, seems like the O’s have the 2nd biggest contract offer out there, behind only the Nats, if rumors are to be believed. And Manny? He’s 36. Yeah, 36. Just what a rebuilding team needs – a closer closer to 40 than 30.
I just hope and pray that we get a quality starter this offseason.
I hope they get two. That hope and $3 will buy me a decent coffee at McDonald’s. There isn’t much out there, and what there is is horribly overpriced right now. Andy’s doing the right thing by waiting them out. The market will come back to us. Although, if true, I am LOVING the big play for Tex.
Duck Around - a progressive blog about the Eastern Shore of Maryland. And getting off my lawn.
by duck on Dec 11, 2008 10:06 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
you foolish fool...
the comment about grooming minor league talent OBVIOUSLY refers to the no facial hair policy.
"When people ask me what my motivation is, I have a simple answer: Money."
--Jerry Reed, on acting
by j.q. higgins on Dec 11, 2008 10:26 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
My bad
Duck Around - a progressive blog about the Eastern Shore of Maryland. And getting off my lawn.
by duck on Dec 11, 2008 11:19 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Manny is a closer?
Also, re: grooming talent, you could possibly argue Chris Ray, not that he’s amazing, but that he was groomed and brought up and contributed to the big club in some way prior to his injury.
by punkrawka on Dec 11, 2008 11:16 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
A player closer...
My typing = teh suck
Duck Around - a progressive blog about the Eastern Shore of Maryland. And getting off my lawn.
by duck on Dec 11, 2008 11:21 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
the biggest issue you point to is...
McDonald’s coffee is actually drinkable now. It’s a goddamn miracle. I got some in the Boston bus station a couple months ago and was pleasantly surprised, to say the least.
by pipkin on Dec 11, 2008 11:24 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
you're right
I was drinking some a few ago and one of my asshole friends was like “I see you got the good stuff” in a totally snarky manner. I had to set him straight — it’s no Starbucks or Coffee Bean, but it gets a solid B-
"This world extends way beyond this little field of dreams we're dancing in and I want to see that world"
by exitfare on Dec 11, 2008 12:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Consumer Reports did a blind taste test
And McD’s actually outscored Starbucks. I’m a non-coffee drinker so I mostly just laugh at the yuppie crack habit.
by punkrawka on Dec 11, 2008 1:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The only good thing about Starbucks
Is that you can get yummy gourmet concoctions when you want dessert in the form of a drink. But my boss goes there every single day for coffee, it’s ridiculous.
I don’t drink coffee regularly (I’m a tea drinker) but I still prefer Dunkin Donuts coffee every time.
[Guthrie's] president of my heart. ~PhilR8
by Stacey on Dec 11, 2008 1:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I live in northern MD, right by the PA line
and up here, Sheetz rules them all.
by PhilR8 on Dec 11, 2008 1:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Wawa over Sheetz
"This world extends way beyond this little field of dreams we're dancing in and I want to see that world"
by exitfare on Dec 11, 2008 3:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Sheetz is awesome
My grandparents live in Hagerstown and I’m also so jealous of their Sheetz. Wawa is the best place around here, though there are none close to my house. We mostly have Royal Farms.
[Guthrie's] president of my heart. ~PhilR8
by Stacey on Dec 11, 2008 3:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Royal Farm is terrible, Wawa is good and has great sandwiches
Wawa gains major points because it has both regular and creamy horseradish options for its sandwiches. But, c’mon. Sheetz is the undisputed king.
by PhilR8 on Dec 11, 2008 4:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Wawa
also has soft pretzels and a wide variety of healthy options
"This world extends way beyond this little field of dreams we're dancing in and I want to see that world"
by exitfare on Dec 11, 2008 4:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
wawa rules...
end of story.
"When people ask me what my motivation is, I have a simple answer: Money."
--Jerry Reed, on acting
by j.q. higgins on Dec 11, 2008 4:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Wawa also has
individually wrapped giant dill pickles. I remember when the first Wawa was built in Salisbury my college roommate was SO excited because of those dumb pickles. She got them all the time.
[Guthrie's] president of my heart. ~PhilR8
by Stacey on Dec 11, 2008 4:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Sheetz has soft pretzels, too.
And their hot dogs are 2 for $1, which rules when you’re broke and hungry.
"You have to discipline yourself so you don't come out with something just to say you made a trade. You have to make sure you come out better than you were before." - Andy MacPhail, 7/31/08
by getxstoked on Dec 11, 2008 5:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I wouldn't trust soft pretzels that aren't from the following places:
- carts on the streets of Philly or the burbs
- Wawa
- the pretzel factory
"This world extends way beyond this little field of dreams we're dancing in and I want to see that world"
by exitfare on Dec 11, 2008 5:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
word
I got one during the NYC trip, and it sucked. The guy tried to grill it, and couldn’t figure out why salt won’t stick to a dry pretz. I threw that shit out.
Goddamn it, now I want a pretzel
The Yankees get Sabathia, the Mets get K-rod, and the Orioles get Ryan Freel.
by CoachOfEarl on Dec 11, 2008 6:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I’m not a fan of Starbucks’ regular coffee. I am a fan of Java Chip Frappucino’s, though.
(Dunkin’ donuts’ coffee coolatas are just as good, just as bad for me, and a little less expensive, though)
I wonder if I can bill Jeff Lurie and Peter Angelos for the years of therapy their teams are going to put me through.
by BrianS on Dec 12, 2008 6:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
People....
Makes for a great room deodorizer, too. I make a pot of Caramel Drizzle every morning when I get to my classroom, and it smells a lot better than the funk from the 15-year-old mildewed carpet I have in here…
Duck Around - a progressive blog about the Eastern Shore of Maryland. And getting off my lawn.
by duck on Dec 12, 2008 8:46 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Here's my problem
I’d love to make my own coffee at work – it’s a lot cheaper. But, I work in NYU’s Bobst Library which is, well, huge. Bigger than McKeldin. There’s one break room for all the library employees. I can’t really keep my own supply of coffee and a pot in there (there is someone who has their own pot in there…but I’d still have to keep the coffee somewhere). I end up going out for coffee when I’m at work.
Then there’s when I’m not at work but still hanging around NYU, at class or studying or something. I don’t have much of a choice if I need caffeine (which I always do).
I’m with you, though. Maxwell House is cheap and not that bad anymore. I hate being a part of the paper-cup coffee culture, but it’s the nature of the beast where I live.
by pipkin on Dec 12, 2008 9:35 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Also
My old office had a little coffee station and when I moved in, the only open desk was right next to it. At first I was like, “Mmm..that coffee smells so good!” But when you sit next to it all day, yuck. And so I tried turning it off to keep the smell from permeating my entire cube, and then the guys would complain about their cold coffee. I had a stomach ache every day for like six months until a new desk opened up and I was able to move.
[Guthrie's] president of my heart. ~PhilR8
by Stacey on Dec 12, 2008 9:47 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
my old job had a coffee pot designed to control odor
It had a screw-on/off lid. It did a pretty good job. You could still smell the coffee when you were over by it though. I dunno how close you were, but there are at least attempted solutions out there.
Another problem is if the trash isn’t emptied every day then the old filters and grounds start to build up and smell really nasy.
by pipkin on Dec 12, 2008 10:08 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
In my case....
coffee smells a lot better than the smell I walk into each morning at 7:15 or so.
Duck Around - a progressive blog about the Eastern Shore of Maryland. And getting off my lawn.
by duck on Dec 12, 2008 12:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
High school
I went to an all-boys Catholic school, and my freshman English teacher crunched the numbers to explain why he preferred us to a coed class. He figured that a classroom with 8 or 9 girls would have something like 36 different scents: shampoos, perfumes, lotions, gum, etc. To quote this teacher: “With you guys, there’s just one smell. It’s terrible, but I’m used to it.”
by Brotz13 on Dec 12, 2008 1:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
starbucks burns the hell out of their coffee
and look, i like gourmet coffee (though not starbucks) as much as the next guy, but it’s expensive and I don’t have a lot of money. When you drink 8+ cups a day you gotta buy cheap, and McDonald’s coffee is cheap and adequate. And that’s all I’m really looking for.
by pipkin on Dec 11, 2008 1:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Starbucks expensive?
I normally pay about $1.90 for a 16 oz @ Starbucks and $1.80 for the same size at McDonalds
"This world extends way beyond this little field of dreams we're dancing in and I want to see that world"
by exitfare on Dec 11, 2008 3:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I'll admit
I haven’t been in a Starbucks in a while. I might be running mostly on perception. I drink a lot of bodega and street cart coffee, which is usually pretty rank, but also pretty cheap.
Also, spending so much time in Washington Square I see all the NYU undergrads toting around their Starbucks cups, and to be quite frank, I don’t want to be associated with those kids. NYU undergrads are the worst.
by pipkin on Dec 11, 2008 4:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
NYU undergrads are awful
when I lived in the city, I got a lot of (AWFUL) bodega coffee for about $1.
At Union Square, by Virgin, try out the Mud Truck. Best coffee in the city.
"This world extends way beyond this little field of dreams we're dancing in and I want to see that world"
by exitfare on Dec 11, 2008 4:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I hate Union Square
I get off the L there every day, and there are just so many people milling about, getting in my way. Ugh.
I’ll check out the coffee though. It isn’t that cart that says “Best Coffee in the City” on it, is it? Cuz that guy’s at University Place and 13 now.
by pipkin on Dec 11, 2008 4:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
that might be it
it’s mostly orange — you can’t miss it.
And yeah, Union Square is the site of protests protesting protests. Get over it and go back to Long Island.
"This world extends way beyond this little field of dreams we're dancing in and I want to see that world"
by exitfare on Dec 11, 2008 5:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
1.90 for starbucks???
Where do you live??
by fearthechant on Dec 12, 2008 8:06 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Living here in Seattle, corporate home of Starbuck's
I have to agree that it is over priced and that you can find as good or better coffee elsewhere.
McD’s and Dunkin Donuts are kicking Starbuck ass – where it counts. Sales are down, they’ve closed several hundred shops and their stock price had lost more than a third of it’s value BEFORE the recent nose dive in the markets. Howard Schultz came out of retirement to be CEO again.
hakkaa päälle !
by timg56 on Dec 12, 2008 1:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Uh...
hey timg…you wanna come get this basketball team and take it back with you?
Always trust your cape. -Guy Clark
by BPinOK on Dec 12, 2008 3:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm a Portland Trailblazer fan.
I still have my home down there. Became a Blazer fan the day they traded for Buck Williams.
hakkaa päälle !
by timg56 on Dec 15, 2008 11:12 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Don’t get me wrong, Ryan Freel is no great shakes. In fact, I’m convinced this was more of a bad contract swap. We took on Freel because the only way the Reds would take Hernandez off our hands is if we took Freel of theirs. He’s not exciting.
The prospects are underwhelming to be sure. Justin Turner is what, 24? He’s barely a prospect.
But this is Ramon Hernandez we are talking about here, in a market where Nick Swisher got traded for a relief pitcher. He’s terrible. Sure, offensively he may be above average for his position, but defensively? Awful.
I’m going to go out on a limb here and predict a significant improvement on each and every member of our pitching staff sheerly on the fact that Ramon Hernandez will not be calling pitches, failing to block the plate, failing to give a target to the pitcher, and generally being a lazy ass for 182 games of the year (or however many he actually played).
by math_geek on Dec 11, 2008 11:50 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Bolstering the defense
With Izturis, and whoever replaces Hernandez, will improve the entire pitching staff. Especially behind the plate.
The Yankees get Sabathia, the Mets get K-rod, and the Orioles get Ryan Freel.
by CoachOfEarl on Dec 11, 2008 1:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Frustration
was what led to that post. I understand it completely.
The Hernandez trade and Izturis moves were prudent. I saw where some were talking that Izzy could add plus 1 or 2 wins but its hard to measure in the AL East.
Keith Law says CC is worth 6 wins, what is AJ worth? Over Hughes and Kennedy that is about 9 wins probably. So in theory the Yanks should just have won the AL East with those two moves.
Now Boston is going to do what and add how many wins? Last year Boston and NY played chicken (Santana to NL was fine with both) and Tampa came together. There will be no chicken this year. The Yanks have at least 75-80 million in expiring contracts (Giambi, Moose, Pettitte, Abreu, Pavano) gone. Boston knows they need another bat and another arm and is loaded with pitching prospects and Tampa is just filthy in minor league talent. I dont think its a stretch to say that Tampa’s top four minor league pitching prospects (not even counting Price) are better then anything the O’s currently project other then Guthrie.
For the next couple of years I see the gap widening between the O’s and the rest of the division. I think that is frustrating and I have to admit as I really thought about it yesterday I wanted to post a rant and didnt. Because I believe Andy is doing a very, very , very good job. In just over a 15 months we have added two quality pitchings prospects in Matusz and Tillman and two positional prospects in Jones and Weiters (give Angelos and Andy credit for signing him, I know Flannie drafted him), added some depth to the minors, purged payroll (and after 2009 this team will be flush) and put themselves in position to take advantage of the economic situation.
But after this offseason and next year Andy will have to make a play. It might start this year if Tex is involved, but would Roberts have to be sacrificied? Would you trade a talent like Markasis for Matt Cain and Bumgarner and Randy Winn when you can sign Abreu or Ibanez for money? Or do we just PRAY that our big three (per MLB top 50 minor leaguers we have the 16, 20 and 36 best prospects) turns out like Oakland’s? AT some point Andy is going to have to make his play. Tex is a play. And I love the Nats being involved as I can see Peter saying he aint going to the Nats. And this one time, maybe the Yanks and Boston WILL play chicken again. Still, its a big if and risk. But it just may define the Andy Macphail era. And if it happens I will bow to Angelos and say I am not worthy….. but its risky. It could be young Manny good or young Todd Helton bad. It would be a defining moment.
This franchise needs its cred back. Tex would do it…..and I even said yesterday this is risky and maybe not prudent. But I would certainly freel good.
by sanders833 on Dec 11, 2008 4:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Well I still have hope
I freel that AM is doing a good job with what he’s got. Izzy may be worth a fraction of a win in a vacuum, but in front of a AAAA committee, on a losing team, he’s worth more.
I don’t know if we ruined our pitching staff by having so many of them skip a grade, but that’s what happened. They came up too early and got scared and walked too many guys and got predictable. I think they could improve tremendously this year…The DRays pitching staff ERA+ in 07 was 82, and in 08 was 116. How did they get that way? I dunno, but they had the most efficient defense in the AL in 08.
I think the MFY’s plan has weaknesses (mainly defense and the old ‘living up to lofty expectations’ problem). I think PHN is on the way down, but slowly. I think the DRays may fall apart due to mismanagement and players leaving for greener pastures, but they definitely need to be watched. And the BJs just suck ;p
That’s just my freelings though.
The Yankees get Sabathia, the Mets get K-rod, and the Orioles get Ryan Freel.
by CoachOfEarl on Dec 11, 2008 6:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Coach
Tampa had an up an coming staff last year in Shields, Kazmir and Sonny. Then they traded D Young (defining moment if your Tampa) for Garza and Bartlett. But what really galvinized the team was the bullpen change. Wheeler, Howell, Balfour and Percival.
In my mind Tampa’s greatest risks next year are the weight of expectations and that Percival remains hurt and their bullpen regresses. I believe in 2007 Tampa had one of the all time worse bullpens in major league history. So that was huge. I really think Tampa needs a “closer” for 2009 and this kind of reminds me a little of Atlanta back in the heyday. They would always seem to be lacking a great closer to go with their great starting pitching.
Boston is loaded with some good young pitching. Beckett, Dice K (won a WS and World Championship), Lester, open, Wakefield and a great bullpen. Then they have Masterson and Buchholz to fight for the four spot and maybe they will sign Lowe and or Tex. If their in decline, give me some of that.
The Yankees are old. Jeter is old, ARod is getting older, Damon, Matsui, Posada. But you fix your starting pitching real fast with CC and AJ. Then you sit and wonder if Chamberlain and Wang are healthy that almost isnt a fair rotation. Add in Pettitte and send Hughes and Kennedy down and pitch without pressure at Triple A…. and if Pettitte doesnt sign I bet it will be Sheets.
If I was Toronto I would try and ship Wells or Rios to SF for Cain. The economy and Canadian dollar are killing Toronto. This would give them a one two with Cain and Halliday and they will have to use their young starters to fill the rotation while they wait for McGowan this year and Marcum next year. Still moving Rios and Burnett leaving frees up about 18 million which could be used for pitching or some of the cheaper offense that might be available.
The O’s, other then Jeremy, dont even have a rotation that would dominate at Triple A. I might consider signing Brandon Lyon or even Trevor Hoffman or Juan Cruz to add more depth to the bullpen just because you can probably get them on affordable one or two year deals (Cruz will go the highest, maybe 3 for 15). Still the pen needs as much depth as possible given the strain the starters will apply. I would rather see Sherrill reslotted and keep the pressure off Chris Ray to close.
Maybe Troy Patton and Garrett Olsen will take the step and I am hoping they do. But Rad Liz needs to dominate Triple A before we thrust him into the rotation. Counting on anyone in the farm system to pitch in the majors is going to be a disservice to that pitcher unless he just flat out dominates. I am not trying to be discouraging, just dealing with the reality that without at least “major league avg starters”, it will be hard to compete in any division. Helping the defense and bullpen can help starters but you have to have the “clay” so to speak first. Right now, the clay is still two years away unless Andy can find some magic to bridge that gap.
by sanders833 on Dec 11, 2008 6:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
great insights....
I agree, its gonna take time but I believe Andy will put this together sooner than later.
"The main idea is to win"-John McGraw
by Orioles 1894 on Dec 11, 2008 7:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not gonna argue any points or take any sides....
But, I will say this. Andy MacPhail did a bang-up job with the Twins and the Cubs. He has a great track record. This team was in a bad way when he came here and its not gonna turn around overnight. Not unless the O’s want a $200 million payroll that will cost the team for years to come.
Its gonna take time and this guy knows how to win with a team with limited monetary resources. If he can recreate what happened in Minnesota with the Orioles I will be one happy O’s fan. I understand the frustration, the pain and the anger. I share these feelings and it is tough. But, I believe if there is anyone who can lead this team out of the wilderness it is this guy.
Right now, at this point I am ready to let him do what he thinks is best. I believe he will turn the O’s around. Right now, he is busy trying to stop the bleeding as he builds for the future. It will take time. But, if we don’t see signs of progress in the next few years then I will be raising my voice up in protest also. But, lets give him a chance….. Great teams are not built overnight. It is a long, hard and sometimes tedious climb. But, Andy has been here before. I trust him. I believe he will turn this around.
"The main idea is to win"-John McGraw
by Orioles 1894 on Dec 11, 2008 4:00 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Remember, Andy’s daddy Lee is in the Orioles Hall of Fame but damn its time to spend some of our money on free agent pitching. with the players we have in the farm system and the current roster we do not need posistion players. WE NEED GOOD STARTING PITCHING!!!!!!!!!
by Misterwookas on Dec 12, 2008 3:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I'm here suffering with you,
and I am not disagreeing with you. However, in Minnesota they built up a great system where when their players go free agent they just replace them with good and ready young players from their farm system and they keep winning ball games and either winning the division or staying in the hunt.
Do the O’s want to spend tons of money to get in the hunt (the Yanks, Sox and Rays are gonna be tough this year!) and make some big trades (using the future pitchers and other future talent of the O’s to get more big players and thus depleting the farm system and the future?) and yes perhaps win it all for a year or two?
Or, do we want an Oriole team that has built up its farm system like the Twins have. The Twins loose players to FA, bring up some kids and they are ready to go and they stay in the hunt or win their division year after year. I believe this is what Andy is working towards.
Everyone has a different answer to this current rough times and no answer is right for each team, each person approaches these things differently. I am just presenting what I think Andy is building towards.
I know how you feel, its frustrating and painful to watch this. But, I believe, in the end we will be celebrating years of good baseball from the O’s. Won’t that be fun? :)
"The main idea is to win"-John McGraw
by Orioles 1894 on Dec 12, 2008 4:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
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