Orioles, ZAUN close to deal

by SC on Jan 10, 2009 11:38 PM EST in 2009 Free Agency Comment 45 comments

If we do sign Gregg ZAUN (as it appears we will), I insist that we only call him ZAUN -- and always in capital letters.

ZAUN: SERIOUS BUSINESS

Just in case you've yet to experience the thrill, check out ZAUN DOT INTERNET.

And bring your Z-GAME, you pansy!

In other news, Brian Roberts will not be marrying Fergie.

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This dude

looks like Paul Bunyan to me.
Why sign this guy? Hasn’t he been over the hill (and back)?

by MurraysLaw on Jan 10, 2009 11:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Because he is a WILY VETERAN

whose PRESENCE, EXPERIENCED, HEART, HUSTLE, GRIT and his “ability to handle pitchers and call a game!” (the single most overrated aspect of any catcher) will help Matt Weiters transition to the MLB.

I actually agree with the last bit; I think it’d be good for Matt to terrorize AAA for a little while, and somebody’s gotta catch until then. Zaun gets to start till, I’d say, May 15th.

Can we start a pool on what day Weiters debuts?

"Might as well just win this game." - Adam Jones, 4/17/2008

Adam Jones is the tits.

by KenDixonFanClub on Jan 10, 2009 11:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

ZAUN is really not a bad option at all

Bad Left Hook
Camden Chat

"I decided to become a basketball fan this year and it’s not working out so well because the Wizards SUUUCK. So then I shifted to hockey. That’s pretty fun except there are a lot of flashing lights and horns and shit at the game."

by SC on Jan 11, 2009 5:05 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Mesmerized

I am utterly fascinated by the Zaun website. The money spent on that site design was money well spent. I daresay that’s probably the single finest website in professional sports – and I’m counting leagues, teams, players, anybody.

At least, if there’s something better than that out there, I defy you to show it to me… because I need the epic lulz.

Cry havoc and unleash the Esskay hot dogs of war! - The Wayward Oriole, Opening Day 2008

by Eat More Esskay on Jan 11, 2009 12:45 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

*ZAUN

Bad Left Hook
Camden Chat

by SC on Jan 11, 2009 5:05 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ummmm....

….is Esskay putting Ecstasy in its products these days?

by Jonny Pops on Jan 11, 2009 9:25 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not to my knowledge

Take away how ridiculous it is for a second. This is difficult, I realize, when you’re dealing with the ZAUNBIE NATION FAN CLUB. Okay, I can get the hang of the capitals.

That’s a pretty compact and clean layout that’s not too confusing. The only party foul there is that it plays the music automatically, but I think given the prevalence of that on Myspace, I lost that battle with regard to web design some time in the middle of this decade. Also it may not have been updated for a year. Maybe that would be a little over the top.

Cry havoc and unleash the Esskay hot dogs of war! - The Wayward Oriole, Opening Day 2008

by Eat More Esskay on Jan 11, 2009 2:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

wow

I honestly cannot get over how freakin’ sweet his website is

by UMterp08 on Jan 12, 2009 5:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Rush theme song...

Oh, shit, this guy IS actually as old as me

Has there ever been a cooler Oriole than Eddie Murray? I mean, just straight up cool. Like a bad, suave dude. You know what I'm sayin'. COOL. SC 7/24/08

by 33 on Jan 13, 2009 11:26 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

ZAUN

He will be 38 next season, however, he’s only caught 956 games in his career, compared to other notables:

Varitek: 37, 1273
Posada: 37, 1390

Obviously Tek and Posada are more talented catchers, but they’ve also caught a lot more games than ZAUN. I like this signing. And in case anyone was curious, ZAUN was not offered arbitration. And I can rest assured that the Orioles won’t do anything foolish like putting Wieters on the OD roster wasting a year of service time.

The downside of this signing is his uncle and the gazillion he will inevitably make to this, but such is life.

Librarians are hiding something

by dfa on Jan 11, 2009 1:19 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Who is his uncle?

[Guthrie's] president of my heart. ~PhilR8

by Stacey on Jan 11, 2009 6:49 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Mickey Tettleton

or maybe Terry Kennedy, I can’t remember which.

"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 Jan 11, 2009 8:14 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Rick Dempsey

by Jonny Pops on Jan 11, 2009 9:25 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Rick Dempsey = Legend

Terry Kennedy = not legend

Mickey Tettleton + Fruit Loops = 30 HRs but not legend

by 7Swords of Salat on Jan 11, 2009 9:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Tettleton is a legend in my house

"Whether your name is Gehrig or Ripken, DiMaggio or Robinson, or that of some youngster who picks up his bat or puts on his glove, you are challenged by the game of baseball to do your very best day in and day out. That's all I've ever tried to do."

by spike2131 on Jan 11, 2009 10:29 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not Rick, the other one...

“Gregg is the nephew of former Major League catcher Rick Dempsey. His uncle, Pat, spent 11 years in professional baseball,”

Doesn’t mention anything on Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. When this came up on the original rumor thread, I was wondering if he called RD, Uncle Pat…

Some interesting stuff on that page tho.. Steroid stuff..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregg_Zaun

“Zaun refused to meet with Mitchell to discuss the allegations, and has publicly denied them, claiming that he owed a teammate money and sent a blank check, which was later used to buy steroids.”

That’s just great.. I wonder if he still hands out blank checks..

by mpire on Jan 11, 2009 10:38 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No way!

Why wasn’t I told this?

Duck Around - a progressive blog about the Eastern Shore of Maryland. And getting off my lawn.

by duck on Jan 11, 2009 7:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I had no idea Dempsey and Zaun were related

"This world extends way beyond this little field of dreams we're dancing in and I want to see that world"

by exitfare on Jan 11, 2009 11:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think it's time to change the headline banner

instead of

We LoVe CoOkInG tOo!!!

it should simply say

ZAUN!!!

by zknower on Jan 11, 2009 11:55 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Let's wait ...

until ZAUN actually signs.

Duck Around - a progressive blog about the Eastern Shore of Maryland. And getting off my lawn.

by duck on Jan 11, 2009 7:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Just looking over his career stats

Maybe I am dense, but I fail to see how this is an upgrade or anything but a step down from (dare I say it?) Ramon Hernandez.

by Fred Sanford on Jan 11, 2009 12:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Did you happen to see Ramon play defense?

Also, this is a wait for Wieters move, so we have a competent and inexpensive backup/starter.

"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 Jan 11, 2009 12:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

We need him for like, 6 weeks as a starter

then he’s once a week duty at most. At most.

Duck Around - a progressive blog about the Eastern Shore of Maryland. And getting off my lawn.

by duck on Jan 11, 2009 7:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

he's a stopgap

Ramon gave us the versatile Ryan Freel, and Zaun v. Ramon is a difference of about 0 wins for the 2009 team, and that’s assuming Zaun starts all year. It really doesn’t matter. Plus Ramon was atrocious defensively.

Bad Left Hook
Camden Chat

by SC on Jan 11, 2009 8:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think I've ever been LESS surprised

than when I opened ZAUN’s Web site and Guns N Roses started playing…

Game Over T-shirts: http://www.cafepress.com/beltwaysports

by CStoneNo37 on Jan 11, 2009 12:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I think we need to have a contest

ZAUN vs. Chris Hoiles for most hard-assed catcher.

by pipkin on Jan 11, 2009 12:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

As long as we don't include

who has the best website EVER, the contest will remain close. I wonder how long it will take for the webmaster to switch ZAUN over to black n orange.

There is no way in hell that the blind can lead the blind...someone has to be the dog.

by sickuvitall on Jan 11, 2009 2:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You don't mess with the ZAU-AHN

work with me here.

by blawk359 on Jan 11, 2009 2:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

btw

I tried to warn CC about the guy’s website months ago. It is a sight to behold.

I have an idea, I think we should replace all Chuck Norris facts and make new ones: ZAUN facts.

For example, when ZAUN jumps in water, ZAUN doesn’t get wet. Water gets ZAUN.

by blawk359 on Jan 11, 2009 2:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Can we call him...

Geberal ZAUN?

Thats what I see at least…

"I’m sure glad he didn’t try to bunt." - DD on Melmo's game winning double, 6/17

by daveh873 on Jan 11, 2009 2:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Thats General

not Geberal

"I’m sure glad he didn’t try to bunt." - DD on Melmo's game winning double, 6/17

by daveh873 on Jan 11, 2009 2:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Jays Payton and Gibbons should get web sites

Maybe then some teams would pick them up too.
What is this world coming to? .230 career hitters are superstars…in their own minds.

by Fred Sanford on Jan 12, 2009 12:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Jays Payton and Gibbons

should get some time machines, so they can go back to when their careers were worth a shit. Gibbons will never see MLB action again. Payton at least stands a chance due to his hustle…the man can still get down the first base line.

There is no way in hell that the blind can lead the blind...someone has to be the dog.

by sickuvitall on Jan 12, 2009 12:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs