It's Official: MelMo's Gone

by OEutaw on Oct 29, 2009 4:30 PM EDT Comment 50 comments

Per the Sun, the Orioles have declined Mora's $8M option for 2010.

The Orioles announced today that they won't exercise third baseman Melvin Mora's $8 million contract option for the 2010 season, an expected move that likely ends the tenure of one of their most productive and popular players over the last decade.

In a series of roster moves today, the Orioles also declined the $850,000 option on catcher Chad Moeller, who hit .258 with two homers and 10 RBIs in 30 games while serving as rookie Matt Wieters' backup; and outrighted outfielder Jeff Fiorentino, pitchers Chris Lambert and Jim Miller and catcher Guillermo Rodriguez after each cleared waivers.

Reliever Sean Henn, who appeared in six games for the Orioles late in the season, was claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays.

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Who?

by PhilR8 on Oct 29, 2009 4:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

+1

"Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." Churchill,1942-- a rebuilding year.

by Titov on Oct 30, 2009 6:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nBFWzpWXuM

by Steve. on Oct 29, 2009 4:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Keep your fingers crossed that we find a 3B.

Else that baby-makin’ machine is coming back at the vet minimum.

From the Land of Pleasant Living...

by OEutaw on Oct 29, 2009 4:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Does the name Josh Bell mean anything?

I now have a blog: http://justanotherbaltimoresportsblog.blogspot.com/

by BaltimoreSportsFan on Oct 29, 2009 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not until June or so

Dude hasn’t even played AAA ball yet.

"I would approve signing a pitcher that ate kitten tacos if he won 20 games a year." -BPinOK

by duck on Oct 29, 2009 5:56 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

No, I bet Toronto snaps him up to add to their raggedy Oriole castoff collection.

http://www.mvn.com/oriolecentral

by Oriole on Oct 29, 2009 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

like sean henn?

by twistedlogic on Oct 29, 2009 7:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

and adam loewen, kevin millar, brian burres....

http://www.mvn.com/oriolecentral

by Oriole on Oct 29, 2009 7:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And B.J. Ryan, Jason Johnson, Josh Towers, hell, even Mike Flanagan...

They’ve been doing this for a while.

"I would approve signing a pitcher that ate kitten tacos if he won 20 games a year." -BPinOK

by duck on Oct 29, 2009 10:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hell, I forgot Brandon Freakin' Fahey

http://www.mvn.com/oriolecentral

by Oriole on Oct 30, 2009 12:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And Sean Henn

Great plan. Build a pennant winner by signing O’s rejects.

You can't fix stupid. Stupid is forever.

by sluggo 2.0 on Oct 31, 2009 9:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I do...

…he was great in Mystic River.

by Jonny Pops on Oct 30, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

OEutaw

I front-paged this and did some editing to clean up the appearance. Hope you don’t mind.

"I would approve signing a pitcher that ate kitten tacos if he won 20 games a year." -BPinOK

by duck on Oct 29, 2009 4:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Of course not.

Your editing makes me look better. Keep on keepin’ on!

From the Land of Pleasant Living...

by OEutaw on Oct 29, 2009 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the memories MelMo. Good, bad and ridiculous!

Librarians are hiding something

by dfa on Oct 29, 2009 5:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I will miss your playoff experience, Melmo

but I say good ridance to your base running.

http://www.mvn.com/oriolecentral

by Oriole on Oct 29, 2009 5:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

And the bunting....

and the horrible execution of hit-and-run plays.

"I would approve signing a pitcher that ate kitten tacos if he won 20 games a year." -BPinOK

by duck on Oct 29, 2009 5:57 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

So we got rid of Moeller?

You know what that means? ZAUN Part III

I now have a blog: http://justanotherbaltimoresportsblog.blogspot.com/

by BaltimoreSportsFan on Oct 29, 2009 5:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Take care, Melmo

someone should really make this guy his own blingee.

by daveh873 on Oct 29, 2009 5:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Blingies are hard work

by PhilR8 on Oct 29, 2009 6:43 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

wow

that kicks my feeble attempt’s ass.

by daveh873 on Oct 29, 2009 7:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good luck to you sir!

And good riddance even though prior to this year I liked you more than most of the slapnuts who’s put on the O’s uniform over the last 10 or so years.

by O'sFan21 on Oct 29, 2009 5:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He was a great player for awhile

And a bit of a pain towards the end, but I hope things go well for him wherever he goes and whatever he does now.

by Pack Man on Oct 29, 2009 6:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

One of the best individual seasons in Os history belongs to him, with a 155 OPS+ in 2005. Always liked Melvin. Yeah, he could get pouty, but let’s not forget that he was just starting to come into his own as a hitter when he was asked to make a really difficult switch from OF to 3B (yeah he played a little infield, but mostly around the OF) and he did so happily, and not a lot of guys would or could have. Melvin was willing to do what he could to help a team win; I really don’t think there’s any doubt of that. We might disagree with him about what helped a team win, but I think MelMo’s heart was usually in the right place. I’ll miss him, at least a little.

As for getting a 3B next year, I’d imagine that depends on what Andy thinks about Bell. If Bell is anticipated to be MLB ready by the second half, then get ready to see Miss Wiggy playing 3B for half a year.

It won’t be pretty.

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

Adam Jones is the tits.

by KenDixonFanClub on Oct 29, 2009 6:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

hard to imagine it being worse than what Melvin did this year though - there's always that!

by O'sFan21 on Oct 29, 2009 6:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No Moeller?

Everyone seemed very pleased with his “intangibles”… mentoring Wieters, veteran presence, advice for the young pitchers, etc. Obviously, he didn’t hit all that well, but I’m still a little surprised they didn’t take his option. Anybody have any idea about who might be the backup catcher instead (or if they’re just going to try to re-sign him for less)? Doesn’t seem like there’s really anyone in the minors that we’re all that thrilled with aside from Caleb Joseph, and he’s not ready for the majors yet.

Weaver's Fourth Law: Your most precious possessions on offense are your twenty-seven outs.

by Vuff on Oct 29, 2009 6:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Intangibles = horseshit

by O'sFan21 on Oct 29, 2009 6:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hahaha

Hence why I put the word in quotes.

Weaver's Fourth Law: Your most precious possessions on offense are your twenty-seven outs.

by Vuff on Oct 29, 2009 6:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe we'll give Sal Fasano a 1-day contract...

"I would approve signing a pitcher that ate kitten tacos if he won 20 games a year." -BPinOK

by duck on Oct 29, 2009 7:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I want ZAUN Part III

I now have a blog: http://justanotherbaltimoresportsblog.blogspot.com/

by BaltimoreSportsFan on Oct 30, 2009 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

There are at least 10 other guys out there

who could do exactly what Moeller did. Probably a lot more. Who gives a shit about his intangibles? Every journeyman catcher who couldn’t ever hit has “intangibles”

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

Adam Jones is the tits.

by KenDixonFanClub on Oct 29, 2009 7:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

not to mention

they could always re-sign him. They just didn’t pick up his option.

Some Day, Matt Wieters Will Make The Cooperstown Crowd Laugh By Talking About The Time He Batted Behind Melvin Mora And Luke Scott. -Keith Law via Matt Wieters Facts

by Stacey on Oct 29, 2009 8:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I nwonder if they'll sign Melmo at a cheaper price.

Vizzini: Let me put it this way. Have you ever heard of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates?
Man in Black: Yes.
Vizzini: Morons.

by birdman on Oct 29, 2009 7:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Uh, no

"I would approve signing a pitcher that ate kitten tacos if he won 20 games a year." -BPinOK

by duck on Oct 29, 2009 7:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

you never know

If the O’s strike out on Beltre, Glaus, and etc. And once Melmo realizes that nobody want him. He could be singing this tune once the O’s offer him a 1 year, 1M deal in March.

“When you go to a club at 4 in the morning, and you’re just waiting, waiting, a 600-pounder looks like J. Lo. And to me this is Jennifer Lopez right here. It’s 4 in the morning. Too much to drink. So, ~~Nationals:~~ the Orioles (look like) Jennifer Lopez to me.”

Vizzini: Let me put it this way. Have you ever heard of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates?
Man in Black: Yes.
Vizzini: Morons.

by birdman on Oct 29, 2009 8:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Melmo might get that desperate

But I don’t think the O’s will. When Josh Bell is ready in June to take over 3B, there are places to use Wiggy. If Melmo’s here, what do you do with him besides cut him?

"I would approve signing a pitcher that ate kitten tacos if he won 20 games a year." -BPinOK

by duck on Oct 29, 2009 10:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Salute!

"I like baseball, movies, good clothes, whiskey, fast cars ... and you. What else you need to know?"

by Andrew @ TLC on Oct 29, 2009 7:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

S'long, Memlo, and thanks for all the fish. No, really, that Almost Batting Title was cool and a couple of the prolonged streaks

were altogether wunnerful. Plus, who’s gonna yell “Bunt! Bunt!” at batters now and “Go! Keep going!” at baserunners doomed to be out by 15 feet— and then claim, “Well, it took a perfect throw to beat him”?

For 2 million bucks I’d say keep him, but not for 8. Hasta la playoff experience, dude…

"Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." Churchill,1942-- a rebuilding year.

by Titov on Oct 30, 2009 6:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I hope Mora retires

but then again, I don’t have twenty kids to feed, educate, etc. No way is Melmo worth $8mil to anyone. Even at $1mil, the Orioles have better options. The Orioles need offensive production from 1B and 3B if they are going to be competitive. If Bell is the answer, then put Wigginton or Turner there til Bell is ready (June?). First base is the real quandry, though. The Orioles need a power hitter there. Someone who can bat 4th and drive in 100+ runs. There aren’t any on the FA market, and Snyder, Hughes, Aubrey, Scott are not the answer, either. Waring is two years away if he would ever be the answer. Sooo…. they need to trade for someone with that kind of talent. It will undoubtedly cost the Orioles some cherished talent, but they need a power hitting first baseman.

by fuddnelson on Oct 30, 2009 9:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

So, Brooks or Mora?????

"There's only one cure for what's wrong with all of us pitchers, and that's to take a year off. Then, after you've gone a year without throwing, quit altogether." -Jim Palmer

by Baltimo on Oct 30, 2009 6:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

HA!

I know the numbers say there is an argument to be had there but… well, there’s no contest.

by daveh873 on Oct 30, 2009 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What argument?

"I would approve signing a pitcher that ate kitten tacos if he won 20 games a year." -BPinOK

by duck on Oct 30, 2009 6:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The argument

that Mora is in the discussion with Brooks for best O’s 3rd baseman. Like I said though, there really is no argument IMO. Melvin has offensive stats pretty much across the board, but that doesnt mean he’s in the discussion with Brooks.

by daveh873 on Oct 30, 2009 8:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You can keep your "facts"

I think with my gut. Brooks forever rules at 3B.

"I would approve signing a pitcher that ate kitten tacos if he won 20 games a year." -BPinOK

by duck on Oct 30, 2009 8:51 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

agreed

Melmo may have been a better hitter (and thats not taking into account the difference in eras), and I never got to see Brooksie play, but I cant imagine he’d have made half the bone-headed plays on the basebaths, which effectively negates alot of Melvin’s offensive worth. As far as defense is considered, its not even close. Brooks is in a league all his own.

by daveh873 on Oct 30, 2009 9:32 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

However

Melmo never had three errors in one inning. Brooks did.

Anyone who says Melmo was the best 3B is freakin’ nuts.

I now have a blog: http://justanotherbaltimoresportsblog.blogspot.com/

by BaltimoreSportsFan on Oct 31, 2009 8:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Facts

Have a well-known liberal bias.

by O'sFan21 on Oct 31, 2009 1:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Right

But I think it’s agreed that Brooks’ longevity/defense put him way over the top.

"There's only one cure for what's wrong with all of us pitchers, and that's to take a year off. Then, after you've gone a year without throwing, quit altogether." -Jim Palmer

by Baltimo on Oct 31, 2009 7:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs