Mark Loretta=Roberts trade coming?

by zknower on Mar 11, 2008 11:27 PM EDT

No real news here, just more speculation on the rumor that has dogged us all February/March.

Discussion of late has been about the O's interest in Houston's Mark Loretta. The Houston Chronicle notes that there was an Orioles scout on hand at Monday's Astros game, when Loretta went 1-for-3, and the Sun reports Astros scouts watching the Birds on Sunday. And of course, the Cubs continue to watch Brian Roberts, having TWO scouts on hand yesterday.

It has been posited here and elsewhere that the O's are after Loretta because of Bynum's injury and Hernandez's struggles at short.

But I'm starting to think the more likely answer is that they want to pull the trigger on the Roberts deal and they aren't really interested in Ronny Cedeno as his replacement. Get Loretta to start at second, and you can ask the Cubs for more pitching, an outfielder, whatever....just skip over Cedeno. Cedeno is batting .190 this spring which is just a hair below his career ML average of .203. And despite Cubs' fans ridiculous thoughts to the contrary, Cedeno is nothing more than a throw-in on a Roberts trade.

If the O's make a move on Loretta, I bet the Roberts chips fall a day or two later. God knows the Cubs are ready for it to happen.

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re:

Loretta will play second and Cedeno will still come over in the Cubs deal, and instantly be in the running to start at short. Loretta cannot play shortstop every day, and, um, who plays second base?

I think one of the coaches, if not all of them, are coming to the conclusion that Luis Hernandez is terrible. Cedeno probably isn't any better, but he's hit at SOME level of pro baseball.

You know what's sad? If he can handle it defensively even at an average level, Bynum really might be the best player of Hernandez, Cedeno, Fahey and himself.

Gone but not forgotten...

by Scott Christ on Mar 12, 2008 12:43 AM EDT reply actions

kind of agree on bynum...

he actually has power that approximates that of a grown man playing major league baseball.

...course he has on base skills only slightly better than the aforementioned scoundrels.

So, I said, uh, lama: how about a little something for the effort?

by jq higgins on Mar 12, 2008 8:23 AM EDT up reply actions

Middle Infield

the Orioles are just woefully equipped at middle infield, both on the major league roster and in the systme. you HATE to have to draft to need in the amateur draft since it's so much of a crapshoot anyway (some crappier than others-i'm talking to you Darnell McDonald and Jeffrey Hammonds, et al.).

but the reality is the O's really NEED to concentrate on middle infield prospects in the upcoming draft.

I came to Camden Yards to watch the O's and all I got was this lousy "Fenway South" t-shirt.

by Dave at Bottomfeeder Baseball on Mar 12, 2008 10:04 AM EDT reply actions

Yeah, but...

this year there's an honest-to-God stud middle IF in the draft who we might end up taking as the best player on the board anyway in Beckham.

Not that he's an immediate solution by any means, but if you're drafting for need & he also happens to rank in the top 5 players in the draft, might not be a horrible idea.

by OEutaw on Mar 12, 2008 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions

also...

i can't remember if it's roch who was saying he heard a scout commenting that he thought blake davis was already better than luis and fahey (low bar, i know), though i don't know that blake davis is any younger than luis.

there are also a couple young shortstops around a ball that show promise (bobby henson and jed stephens).

So, I said, uh, lama: how about a little something for the effort?

by jq higgins on Mar 12, 2008 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions

I know Loretta is old

But he's a good dude and a good player. At least, he was when he was on the Sox in '06.

"It would behoove the Orioles to play better." - Jim Palmer

by 2632 on Mar 12, 2008 10:15 AM EDT reply actions

re:

I have zero problem with Mark Loretta replacing Roberts if we trade Brian Bob. He would be our best leadoff option, by far, and is really a more than adequate stopgap. Actually, as a stopgap, he's pretty wonderful, considering he could start for plenty of teams.

Gone but not forgotten...

by Scott Christ on Mar 12, 2008 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Always kinda had a soft spot for Loretta

Not enough to follow him, but always enough to like him whenever he popped on a game I was watching.

He probably won't OBP as much as Brob, and definitely has less power, but like SC said, he'd be fine. It's not like this team's going anywhere.

by pipkin on Mar 12, 2008 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions

What do you guys think of Mike Morse?

He's trying to earn a spot with the M's. He's stuck behind Betancourt at SS and Willy Bloomquist has the utility / 4th OF'r spot pretty well sewn up.

Morse has hit well in the minors and not done too badly during his time up with Seattle. He's tearing it up this spring with the bat. I think he's be a decent pickup to play short for us.

by timg56 on Mar 12, 2008 10:35 AM EDT reply actions

I have a feeling...

MacPhail is just biding his time and waiting for the last round of cuts before OD to see what he can pick up. Our 5th starter might come from such a strategy, too...

I remember 14 straight foul balls in one at-bat.

by duck on Mar 12, 2008 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions

He would have already been playing short...

for Seattle. He was in the mix before Betancourt. He is really too tall to play short. He made quite a few errors in the minors, mainly due to his height - not being able to get down on a ball and limited his range some.

That is one reason they have moved him to first and LF. Also they have space there, mentally and physically.

He can hit, but short isn't for him any more.

by elsid on Mar 12, 2008 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions

The Orioles have had good experiences...

... with tall shortstops.

"Baltimore? That's like being hit in the head with a crowbar once a day."

by spike2131 on Mar 12, 2008 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions

re:

Morse is clumsy for the position.

Gone but not forgotten...

by Scott Christ on Mar 12, 2008 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions

don't know Mike Morse from Matt Morris

but I do know of 1 other shortstop who was 6'4".

by BENNYBIRDMAN on Mar 12, 2008 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions

yep

One. A-Rod was 6'3". So if Mike Morse projected in any way similar to Cal Ripken or Alex Rodriguez, that would be great. Instead he can't bend over to pick up ground balls.

Gone but not forgotten...

by Scott Christ on Mar 12, 2008 6:54 PM EDT up reply actions

just what we need

Another one.

Gone but not forgotten...

by Scott Christ on Mar 12, 2008 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions

pressure on Hendry

Awesome. The local media is turning up the heat for Hendry to get the deal done:

It would be so typical, so Cub, if the Brian Roberts carrot dangled and teased and baited ... and ultimately remained in Baltimore. Not since John McDonough distributed Beanie Babies and Mark Grace told the female fans where he drank beer has there been such breathless panting in Wrigleyville. I think Roberts will be here, and you think he'll be here, and the players think he'll be here.

But what if, by some chance, he never arrives?

Put it this way: For the well-being of Cubdom and its perpetually pummeled psyche, the trade better happen.