Pack Yer S***, Yer Cut: Wieters, Tillman, Mickolio, Yan, Keefer

by Scott Christ on Mar 7, 2008 10:46 AM EST in News & Rumors

According to Roch, the O's cut Matt Wieters, Chris Tillman, Kam Mickolio, Esteban Yan and Ryan Keefer from the squad this morning, reassigning all of them to minor league camp.

Nothing is surprising. We've heard good things about Wieters and Tillman this "spring," but we hear good things about all young players at spring training. It's the same as every sumbitch being in "the best shape of my career" every year.

The same as no one ever reports to camp and says, "I feel fat," you never hear, "I don't know what else to say. This kid is really disappointing."

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Wieters

he may be the second coming of Joe Mauer, but he ain't ready yet. let him go down and tear up A ball most of the summer and get some professional experience. Spring Training ain't the Hawaiian Winter League.

just cut Yan already. he's not a major league pitcher anymore, if he ever really was one.

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 7, 2008 10:52 AM EST reply actions

Yan

is a big league eater. He can be on the roster for dinner.

"If you're not practicing, somebody else is, somewhere, and he'll be ready to take your job." -Brooks Robinson

by exitfare on Mar 7, 2008 12:43 PM EST up reply actions

bet yan wishes

he could have that one hideous inning back.

as for rest of cuts... not too surprising.

by thewaywardO on Mar 7, 2008 1:23 PM EST up reply actions

Wieters

could be Joe Mauer with more power. (I really didn't mean that to rhyme)

"All I have to say is our partner is going to shock the world because he is none other than THE SHOCKMASTER!"-Sting

by jobe on Mar 7, 2008 1:31 PM EST up reply actions

surprised

I actually am surprised about one of them, Kam Mickolio, didnt a lot of people think he would finish the year in the pen? So i assumed he would get some good experience here in spring training. But maybe i was misguided...

by Reddrummer9187 on Mar 7, 2008 11:15 AM EST reply actions

Kam

I thought he was making more of an impression. Then again, we've got a crapload of what appear to be good bullpen candidates & Mickolio is somewhat wild. We only need so many Daniel Cabreras on the team at once, I suppose.

by OEutaw on Mar 7, 2008 12:25 PM EST up reply actions

Kam

He had to come out blazing to make it into the pen to start this year. He was projected to land down in AAA, and I think the O's were just wanted a look at him before he went down there. No reason to keep him up here if he isn't competing for anything.

by PWubbs on Mar 7, 2008 8:38 PM EST up reply actions

jay bibbons

man.

are we really gonna not cut him?

(anybody watching this sawx Os tilt?)

by thewaywardO on Mar 7, 2008 1:38 PM EST reply actions

re:

Gibbons isn't going anywhere. Being bad isn't necessarily enough to get anyone cut.

Gone but not forgotten...

by Scott Christ on Mar 7, 2008 1:56 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah

Its really great to hear Gary Thorne's voice again. Andy MacPhail just talked about making pitchers work. I love this man.

"All I have to say is our partner is going to shock the world because he is none other than THE SHOCKMASTER!"-Sting

by jobe on Mar 7, 2008 1:57 PM EST up reply actions

I wouldn't be surprised if

Mickolio found his way back up to the big club this year. The O's could have a pretty good cheap young 'pen if they stay away from jokers like Yan...and Paul Shuey.

"True friends stab you in the front."-Oscar Wilde.

by NHZ @ Camden Chat on Mar 7, 2008 3:15 PM EST reply actions

also...

i'm guessing wieters gets at least a cup of coffee this year and at least splits w/ hernandez next year.

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

by jq higgins on Mar 7, 2008 8:07 PM EST reply actions

Wieters

If he proves himself this year, he'll probably top out in AA. Ramon has a contract through next year, and it wouldn't make sense to bring Wieters up to be a part-time player. He'd spend his time down in AAA until Ramon was dealt or his September call-up.

I know a lot of people have been saying Wieters could play for us by 2009, but there's no reason to rush him when our starting catcher is signed through 2009.

by PWubbs on Mar 7, 2008 9:01 PM EST up reply actions

i doubt that...

i think they'll let him go as far as his bat takes him. i'm not suggesting to do it just for the sake of doing it, but a merit-based approach.

and i think having ramon hernandez signed through 2009 is a silly reason to declare that he is the starter through that point and ramon hernandez isn't going to be catching a lot of games anyways. i seriously think he could probably replicate whatever ramon hernandez is projected to produce offensively this season and should be on balance better next year.

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

by jq higgins on Mar 7, 2008 9:19 PM EST up reply actions

Wieters

He can catch at the major league level right now, defensively. Offensively, his bat needs time to work into it. He has not had to deal with a full professional season or the lifestyle yet, and it will be a big change. If Wieters sky rockets through the system this year, then yeah, trade Razor and make room for the kid on the major league roster. But, everyone is forgetting that Razor had a .275/23HR/91RBI season just 2 years ago. The kid is a hitting catcher who never got on track last year after the oblique thing. If he shows back up putting numbers like that into the line-up, it just gives more reason to let Wieters take more time in the minors.

If Wieters is on the major league team, then he is going to be the starter. If you bring him up to be a back-up, you are wasting his talent and stumping his growth. Either he is getting the majority of the at-bats or he his not on the team. Razor is getting paid pretty good this season and next to be our starting catcher. I don't see Wieters on the big league roster until Razor is not an Oriole.

by PWubbs on Mar 8, 2008 4:55 AM EST up reply actions

i'm just saying...

i think at this point, he could provide numbers that equal or surpass most backups. hernandez put up those numbers two years ago, yes, but that was two years ago! the chances of a catcher in his mid 30s who has never had that type of production before replicating those numbers are remote.

given age and injury history, ramon hernandez is going to be able to start fewer and fewer games at catcher over the remainder of his contract, so i'm guessing wieters will see ml time sooner rather than later. i was concerned about keeping markakis BEFORE the little salary flap, but a little more so now...but i would say the goal is to have wieters as a productive component of the starting lineup, by markakis's walk year.

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

by jq higgins on Mar 8, 2008 8:33 AM EST up reply actions

kid?

He's 32 in May.

I actually quite like Razor, despite Dave Trembley's bitchings about his 'tude. A manager's opinion of character doesn't mean much to me, particularly a manager willing to dog his player out in the press.

'07 weren't 'xactly Ramon's first trip 'round the DL circuit, if'n ya know what I mean. But I agree -- he's a good guy to have around to work with young pitchers and, if he's healthy, provide fair to good offense for the position.

Gone but not forgotten...

by Scott Christ on Mar 8, 2008 10:27 AM EST up reply actions