Scott signs for 1 yr/$2.4 million, Sherrill not so much
by sickuvitall on Jan 21, 2009 12:32 AM EST
Email
PrintAccording to the parent site, Luke Scott avoided arbitration by inking a deal as mentioned in the headline. The projected idea is that Scott will DH, except against tough lefties where I suspect we could see (fill in name of righty here). Felix Pie, let's see what you got sucka...
George Sherrill on the other hand was a little less in agreement with the club's offer. Flat breezy was asking for 3.4, while the team was countering with 2.2. There is still a chance the two sides could reach terms and avoid arbitration, but who knows. With the return of Ray (who I am not making a pitch for, ha ha), Sherrill's role in the pen could return to more of a lefty specialist with some closing mixed in.
In other news, I suppose we are just waiting for Nick to complete his physical. Wouldn't it be ironic if we now discovered some horrible condition like, oh, I don't know, say a degenerative hip or something...
FanPosts are user-created content and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors of Camden Chat or SB Nation. They might, though.
40 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Sherrill
$3.4M for Sherrill in abritration seems high to me. And hopefully his role in the pen does return to more of a lefty specialist. He wasn’t particulary good or even really adequate as the closer last year. 4.73 ERA isn’t going to get it done.
"Hey Yankees... you can take your apology and your trophy and shove 'em straight up your ass!" --Tanner Boyle
by BirdFanInPhilly on Jan 21, 2009 8:39 AM EST reply actions
He was fine
Don’t let the ERA alone fool you…
My best game plan is to sit on the bench and call out specific instructions like 'C'mon Boog,' 'Get ahold of one, Frank,' or 'Let's go, Brooks.' -Earl Weaver
The ERA isn't fooling me
It’s disturbing me.
"Hey Yankees... you can take your apology and your trophy and shove 'em straight up your ass!" --Tanner Boyle
by BirdFanInPhilly on Jan 22, 2009 9:13 AM EST up reply actions
His ERA wasn't great
And the wheels really could have come off, but to say that he wasn’t even adequate is just not true. George came in and ultimately saved a ton of games, regardless of his WHIP/ERA.
My best game plan is to sit on the bench and call out specific instructions like 'C'mon Boog,' 'Get ahold of one, Frank,' or 'Let's go, Brooks.' -Earl Weaver
Regarding saves as more important than ERA or WHIP is a problem. He’ll be better off in a setup role, but I’ll certainly concede that he showed he can close without murdering your team if you’re in that pinch, which keeps his value fairly high even if he does go back to LOOGy duty.
"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 Scott Christ on Jan 22, 2009 8:24 PM EST up reply actions
I’m not saying that saves are a good way to judge a pitcher’s performance, but to totally disregard them and only look at ERA/WHIP is a problem as well. Irrespective of what his ERA was before the all star break, George came in and saved a ton of games for the O’s. His numbers weren’t pretty, but he got the job done, which makes his at least “adequate.”
My best game plan is to sit on the bench and call out specific instructions like 'C'mon Boog,' 'Get ahold of one, Frank,' or 'Let's go, Brooks.' -Earl Weaver
could go all the way
his numbers suffered mostly being used in a different role as closer vs specialist
Jenks and Paps just got over 5 mill first time eligible as closers. I realize the numbers are different but his saves werent that far off. HIs agent can point to that and if he would be used the way the “Orioles want to pay” his humbers would be better. Catch 22 maybe.
Of course, I would be all over his era and whip. Still, lets hope they can resolve it.
His numbers may be better as a specialist, but if he was just a LOOGY, I don’t think $3.4M would even be in discussion.
"Hey Yankees... you can take your apology and your trophy and shove 'em straight up your ass!" --Tanner Boyle
by BirdFanInPhilly on Jan 21, 2009 12:59 PM EST up reply actions
Non closers
havent fared well in arbitration. As a specialist I think George would be fortunate to get 2mil. Yet George was and is the defacto closer at the moment.
This would be a great case for the two sides to get together and not only work this out but maybe add a year. Just like Papelbon has always reminded the Red Sox he wanted to be a starter (and paid as such), George does have a case. Of course, the O’s will counter if he was a specialist he would be getting 2 mil and George will claim he wasnt. A save is a save.
Saving games with a high ERA is probably more a factor of luck than skill. I have serious doubts that’s going to be sustainable. Hopefully Ray comes back and regains his 2006 form and we don’t have to find out. That’s probably a little unrealistic though.
"Hey Yankees... you can take your apology and your trophy and shove 'em straight up your ass!" --Tanner Boyle
by BirdFanInPhilly on Jan 22, 2009 12:55 PM EST up reply actions
I agree with you
but still some guys have made it an artform over the years…Todd Jones, Joe Borkowski.
The O’s asked George to handle the closer job last year. He did. Should he receive a little extra consideration for that now since the O’s didnt give him an extra salary or incentives to do it last year?
The arbitrator might agree.
handle?
maintain by default perhaps, but handle is maybe a bit generous, no?
"When people ask me what my motivation is, I have a simple answer: Money."
--Jerry Reed, on acting
by j.q. higgins on Jan 22, 2009 4:59 PM EST up reply actions
well
Papelbon had 41 saves, George 31 and Jenks 30…..
If your asking me was George pretty in the role, hell no. I was just trying to support he might have a chance to win his arb case.
Cole Hamels just took 4 mil for 2009, Jenks just got 5.6 and Pap 6.25. Something weird in that.
If you recall most of the winter I wanted the O’s to sign a closer and reslot the bullpen.
So now we will find out if George or Chris can “maintain” the closer role.
just remember
Angelos’ Orioles have not lost an arbitration case since Ben McDonald in 1995. That’s a 13-year stretch. True, most of those cases were settled, but in those that went to arbitration, the Orioles went 6-for-6.
why is that?
Were those 6 just asking too much, or does it have anything to do with Angelo’s being a lawyer?
I think teams usually win arbitration
"Hey Yankees... you can take your apology and your trophy and shove 'em straight up your ass!" --Tanner Boyle
by BirdFanInPhilly on Jan 22, 2009 9:43 AM EST up reply actions
winning in arbitration...
…is just a side benefit of having bad players.
Librarians are hiding something
by dfa on Jan 22, 2009 3:36 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
nah… you can lose arbitration against a bad player just as easily as a good one. I’m guessing this has a lot more to do with the Orioles managing to reach agreements with players who know what they are worth. If a player overrates himself, it’s going to be much tougher to reach an agreement with them.
Does anyone else
have a slight problem with Luke being the primary DH next year? Of course I would agree that we could do much worse, but I would like to see a much higher OBP than what he traditionally provides. His power is acceptable, but that is really the only facet of hitting that Luke has going for him.
I would almost as soon trade Luke and allow Reimold and Montanez to showcase their hitting abilities and provide backup in left field if the Pie doesn’t taste right.
"...that our flag was still there...OOOOOO say does that star spangled..."
If you’re looking for a higher OBP than .340ish, you’re not going to find it by putting Lou Montanez (or Felix Pie) in the lineup.
"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 Scott Christ on Jan 22, 2009 8:28 PM EST up reply actions
Your pessimism amazes me. Its like if a man’s name isnt Wieters or Matusz, they are completely worthless and should be dismissed immediately. Unfortunately folks we can’t compete with only 3 players on the field, so we are going to have to start giving some of these guys the benefit of the doubt and allow them to fail for our organization before we simply cast them off into oblivion.
"...that our flag was still there...OOOOOO say does that star spangled..."
by sickuvitall on Jan 22, 2009 10:41 PM EST up reply actions
Well....
Wieters is as close to “can’t miss” as they get, and Matusz is one of those guys who could be fast-tracked the majors with reasonable expectations of him doing well. So no surprise there. Montanez just doesn’t have the minor league numbers that would indicate he could be a good major league starter….like Luke Scott already is.
Stathead, Zack Greinke fan, and Rock Band 2 singer extraordinaire.
Tillman is also good
I like Arrieta, too.
I don’t think it’s pessimism, it’s the truth. Montanez and Pie are not very good, but I can see Pie improving.
Unfortunately these guys will play, and they might have some good streaks, but in the end won’t be much better than Corey Patterson
"This world extends way beyond this little field of dreams we're dancing in and I want to see that world"
Montanez has a long history of not performing and I’ve stated my biases against Felix Pie, namely that he looks like Corey Patterson II without the great base-stealing ability. The odds of Montanez ever being a useful starter in the majors are very, very bad. Pie is simply not a favorite of mine, and for someone looking for OBP, yeesh. Wrong two guys is all I’m saying. I’m pessimistic about their futures because neither of them are very good. I realize they will play, and I will root for them to do well. But what am I supposed to do, not consider it folly for anyone to think Lou Montanez is going to be contributing in the majors when it took him almost a decade to hit minor league pitching?
"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 Scott Christ on Jan 23, 2009 8:21 AM EST up reply actions
I guess what I am trying to say is
why do you sign a player in the first place? You offer them a minor league deal and tell them to perform. When they do what you ask, you promote them. If they continue to perform, then they earn more playing time. Its simple and fair for everyone.
If we are going to sign people with no intention of giving them a chance no matter what they do, then why even have more than one minor league team? Lou and Felix might not have evolved into the ballplayers that everyone thought they would, but then again sometimes all you need is a kick in the ass and a change of scenery. Think of all the players that we have parted ways with that have gone on to very solid careers.
"...that our flag was still there...OOOOOO say does that star spangled..."
by sickuvitall on Jan 23, 2009 11:00 AM EST up reply actions
Sometimes you sign players to fill out minor league rosters. The minor league teams are not there to win championships or anything anymore. They’re there mostly — and this is a realistic, not pessimistic view — to house the select genuine talent in every farm system. It’s a proving ground for these guys. Some make it. Most do not. And yet these guys that do not play on in the minors because someone’s paying them to play baseball, because someone has to play left field for Delmarva or Bowie or Norfolk every year, even if they aren’t major league players and everyone and their dog knows it. There has to be a team around guys like Matt Wieters or Chris Tillman or Jake Arrieta or Matusz, even if for the most part it is filled with guys that everyone knows isn’t going to make it up to the big show.
Montanez deserves a shot in Norfolk (and a shot in spring to win the LF job) but he still projects as nothing. I don’t disregard what he did in Bowie, I’m just saying it was WAY past due date for him to do it, and things like that matter more than leading the Eastern League in whatever. Minor league baseball is a feeder system and nothing more.
Montanez was signed as minor league filler. He performed very well in Bowie. Don’t you think if anyone saw anything in him, he might’ve moved up to Norfolk and taken a job from Tike Redman or someone? Montanez is here because Andy MacPhail drafted him. Trembley also managed him in Daytona in 2002 (as did Kranitz the next season). He was a guy the Cubs gave up on that MacPhail knew, so he gave him a deal that would be sort of like me offering my buddy’s kid 10 bucks to mow the lawn.
"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 Scott Christ on Jan 23, 2009 12:25 PM EST up reply actions
And if you find out your buddy's kid ...
pulls all the weeds in the garden, cleans up the garage and washes the mower when he’s done all for that $10 bucks, you’ll be very happy, but you aren’t expecting it and it’s unlikely to happen.
hakkaa päälle !
I certainly did not
know the extent of the Montanez connection here with the FO and management. Interesting indeed. I will say my last on Lou with this: if the day comes that he is a worthy major leaguer, we can look back on this and have a good laugh.
You see, I can’t help but hope for a dark horse or two that would accompany the blue chips we have in place. We deserve something amazing to happen as a sort of retribution for all of the nonsense we have endured following this franchise.
I mean wouldn’t it be nice if just once we found a legitimate player that someone else gave up on rather than the other way around. Where is our Curt Schilling? When do we get to have Steve Finley’s longevity over Brady Anderson’s steroid-enduced success? When will the baseball gods repay us for Glen Davis, Albert Belle, Javy Lopez, the embarrasment of Raffy? What about missing out on Vlad, then more recently Mark? What I am getting at is that dammit we are due. I am not one to bitch about bad luck very often but c’mon, it is time for us to catch a few breaks, and having someone like Lou Montanez or Felix Pie just absolutely bust out for us would be a good start.
"...that our flag was still there...OOOOOO say does that star spangled..."
Well Jeremy Guthrie
kind of fell in our laps…we robbed Seattle (is that Glen Davis repayment)
I would rather have a well run front office, you do that and its amazing how lucky a team like Tampa Bay has been the last few years.
Jeremy Guthrie
was basically given up on (is that a real phrase?) by Cleveland. And he’s our #1 pitcher. Doesn’t get much more fortuitous than that.
Duck Around - a progressive blog about the Eastern Shore of Maryland. And getting off my lawn.
Guthrie certainly
helped to ease some of the pain from past failures. I only wish we could have gotten ahold of him a bit earlier in his career. Sometimes I do feel like he is pitching above his ability and I worry how much longer that might last, but for now, he is our man.
"...that our flag was still there...OOOOOO say does that star spangled..."
by sickuvitall on Jan 24, 2009 12:24 PM EST up reply actions
I will say my last on Lou with this: if the day comes that he is a worthy major leaguer, we can look back on this and have a good laugh.
Absolutely. I hope he proves myself and others to be foolish.
"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 Scott Christ on Jan 24, 2009 10:22 AM EST up reply actions
some good breaks
The Orioles actually have gotten some good breaks over the last few years:
- Bedard was a 6th round pick and he was awesome for us for a time. And then we got a ridonculous package for him.
- Guthrie, obviously. How about the Rays and Royals passing on him?
- I even say picking Markakis 7th in 2003 right behind such famous individuals as Kyle Sleeth, Tim Stauffer, Chris Lubanski and Ryan Harvey (hey, thanks Andy MacPhail!). I remember from draft day that year that apparently Markakis was viewed as late first round talent. And most teams wanted him to be a pitcher.
- The Pirates picking Moskos ahead of Wieters
On the whole we’ve had bad luck from Angelos winning that auction to Belle’s degenerative hip condition. Loewen’s fucking elbow/shoulder. And while I know this isn’t true, sometimes it’s like we’ve basically we’ve lucked into every good player we’ve had it seems for the past few years. Maybe it’s karma for that trade with the Reds in 1965.
Librarians are hiding something
all good ones
one from back in my day as a youngster
Mike Torrez and Kenny Singleton for Rich Coggins and Dave McNally.
Still every club can list these…how about all the teams that passed on Albert Pujols. That is a draft load of bad luck.
And of course one of my favorite sayings is “Luck is the residue of design”. That describes Tampa Bay and I hope the Orioles going forward.
Thank you all for
reminding me that everything isn’t all bad in Birdland. Sometimes I have the emotional control of a 5 year old.
"...that our flag was still there...OOOOOO say does that star spangled..."
- The Pirates picking Moskos ahead of Wieters
Well this isn’t really luck. Let’s not ignore the shadiness that is the MLB draft, where sometimes teams can’t draft the guy they want because they’ll refuse to sign a contract because that team won’t pay them what their agent wants. The Orioles got Wieters because they were willing to pony up.
"I was trying to rob him. And he took my gun from me. And the gun was full of blanks. And he shot a blank into my eye. And now I cannot see from this eye ever again, the doctors say."
"Well to be honest it sounds like it's all your fault."
by Scott Christ on Jan 25, 2009 8:36 PM EST up reply actions
my memory
is that Littlefield was incredibly stupid. First he passes on Wieters because of alleged concerns about his arm (smokescreen for the real excuse being not wanting to spend the money), then they piss away a shitload of money on Matt Morris. Littlefield gets canned last offseason and the Pirates draft a Boras client this time around (Alvarez). I agree that there is shadiness involved in these deals (essentially every Boras client), but I think this is more to do with one man being stupid and not knowing how to use his resources. But this is a system in need of fixing, that’s fo’ shizzle.
Librarians are hiding something
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
Official Sponsor of Camden Chat GameThreads
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
