Free Agent Pitching -- Can MacPhail Change the O's Fortune?
by Stacey on Nov 23, 2009 5:50 PM EST
in Commentary & Analysis
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PrintWith all the talk about the Orioles picking up a FA starting pitcher -- ideas range from an innings-eater to an ace to an older guy who'd be a good mentor -- it's worth noting that the Orioles haven't signed a starting pitcher as a free agent in quite some time who had much impact on the team at all. In fact, of all of the starting pitchers the Orioles have signed as FAs in the past 20 years, the most starts made by any is 66 (Jamie Moyer from 1993-1995). Since 2000, only Pat Hentgen and Koji Uehara have put up an ERA+ of above 100. The best FA pitcher of the last 20 years is easily Kevin Brown, but he only spent one year with the Birds. Jimmy Key's 2 years were pretty good. But after that it goes downhill fast.
I know that the past doesn't dictate the future, and I know that when a team is lousy pretty much every year it stands to reason there won't be a lot of talent in the starting rotation or FA pitchers beating down the door to play in Baltimore. But that's a pretty bleak list, don't you think?
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What’s Andy’s track record in signing free agent pitchers from his time in CHI and MIN?
Vizzini: Let me put it this way. Have you ever heard of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates?
Man in Black: Yes.
Vizzini: Morons.
Good question
Andy was GM in Chicago in 2000 and 2001, but was at least a strong member of their front office from 1994. In that timeframe (’94), the Cubs added Kevin Tapani (who had been a Twin), Terry Mulholland, and Julian Tavarez, among a bunch of other dopes.
He was in charge of the Twins from 1985 until 1994. Notable pickups: Jack Morris and Bill Kreuger.
Unfortunately, if MacPhail starts getting good starting pitching in free agency with the Orioles, it will be the first time he’s really ever done it.
"I like baseball, movies, good clothes, whiskey, fast cars ... and you. What else you need to know?"
Just give me Bedard
I don’t care if he even pitches, and it would probably cost Bavasi his new job with the Reds.
"I hate making excuses. If I suck, then I suck. And I suck. That's the way I'm playing. If you suck, you suck. You have to take responsibility in this game. Right now, that's the way I feel. Yes, I suck." - Jose Guillen/quote of the year
Save your Money
My inclination is not to sign a FA pitcher. We could only attract a good one by vastly overpaying. But, AF might believe that none of our current stock of minor leaguers can be promoted without harming his long term development. In that instance, it would be worth it.
we arent going to win just with the pitchers we've got
even with the younger guys, we still dont have a 5 quality guys, guthrie is coming off a rough season, and none of those young guys are guaranteed to work out.
by twistedlogic on Nov 23, 2009 10:52 PM EST up reply actions
Once any player moves to the AL EAST and Camden Yards their ERA is going to go up
So you might as well go low risk, high reward, and get a lower end free agent, maybe someone who has been hurt.
"Chicks who dig home runs aren’t the ones who appeal to me, I think there’s sexiness in infield hits because they require technique. I’d rather impress the chicks with my technique than with my brute strength. Then, every now and then, just to show I can do that, too, I might flirt a little by hitting one out."-Ichiro
by WestcoastO'sFan on Nov 23, 2009 8:10 PM EST reply actions
High risk/high reward
I’d sign one of the injured pitchers with high ceilings: Harden, Bedard, Sheets, Duchscherer. The Orioles have money to burn and nobody to give it to, so I’d try to see if one of those guys can return…
Librarians are hiding something
Actually
He was pretty mediocre the season he was here. 11-14, 5.14 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 96 ERA+. That was his worst ERA+ between 1993-2006. He did give us 224 innings and three perfectly acceptable postseason starts. But then he signed with MFY and had a couple unreal seasons and a bunch of pretty good ones. Looking at his 1998 stats (18-4, 3.49 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 127 ERA+, 5 SHO) makes me want to spit nails.
"The United States is the New York Yankees of countries...powerful and respected until the year 2000." - Homer J. Simpson
In case this hasn't been posted
Links to videos of AFL players on Sickels blog. Excellent videos of Bell, Snyder, Erbe, Waring and many other prospects, complements of Slacker George.
by Dingbat Charlie on Nov 24, 2009 4:04 PM EST reply actions
Thanks for posting
Erbe’s delivery still looks pretty funky to me, I thought he was trying to have a more normal windup.
Bell does seem to have a big upper cut at times, though obviously made solid contacts in that video.
It’s worth noting that I’m no scout and generally have no idea what I’m talking about.
Librarians are hiding something
Erbe's delivery looks pretty strandard/good to me.
Slight hitch in his plant foot right before it hits the ground, but everything else is pretty textbook. Very good hips and strong front side. Also almost zero head movement which is good.
the right foot
and what he seems to be doing with the ball. It’s like there is a pause which I presume he’s doing to be deceptive or to mess with the hitter’s timing…it just seems odd.
Librarians are hiding something
You think he's doing something with his right foot?
I’m pretty sure the hitch is with his plant (left) leg/foot and I’m pretty sure he’s doing it so that he doesn’t land on his heel.
Free agent pitchers.
If MacPhail is going to get even more support, he will give John Lackey and Roy Halladay unbelievable amounts of money and hope they will come. It seems like Halladay is leaning to go to the damn yankees and I would be so upset if he does. We need atleast maybe sheets, Duchscherer, or Bedard to start with. Please Andy sign Lackey and Pursuade Halladay with a tremendous offer.
That one's headed to the moon! It's outta here!
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