Walker's Out. Boy!
by OEutaw on Jun 5, 2009 2:24 PM EDT
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PrintOAKLAND, Calif. - Feeling that they could no longer count on Jamie Walker to get left-handed hitters out, the Orioles will announce the release of the struggling reliever today despite still owing him approximately $3 million.
To take his place on the roster, the Orioles will select the contract of left-handed reliever Alberto Castillo, who has a 3.09 ERA in 24 appearances with Triple-A Norfolk this season, holding left-handed hitters to a .209 average. Castillo, 33, pitched in 28 games for the Orioles last year, compiling a 3.81 ERA. Left-handed hitters batted .256 against him with two home runs in 39 at-bats.
Knew this was coming. Jamie gave us a good first year after leaving Detroit, but they clearly got the best years of his career. There are times when you can't tell if a pitcher's lost it or is having mechanical/injury issues. Anyone who's watched Walker pitch this year knows he's lost it. Still... 10 seasons in the bigs? Not a bad career.
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Praise the Lawd!
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
dude was a replacement player too
I hope he catches on somewhere else and gets some of it back. I’ll always remember him fondly as an O.
"I’m sure glad he didn’t try to bunt." - DD on Melmo's game winning double, 6/17
the replacement thing
was actually referring to the last line of the post saying how he didnt have a bad career and lasted 10 season. Its just all the more unlikely because he was a replacement guy. Guess he’ll never make the HOF…
"I’m sure glad he didn’t try to bunt." - DD on Melmo's game winning double, 6/17
or be in a video game...
"I don't have a hit-and-run sign, and I believe it's the worst play in baseball." - Earl Weaver
I'll always know him
"I’m sure glad he didn’t try to bunt." - DD on Melmo's game winning double, 6/17
ha!
i prefer makoto miyagi…perhaps the root of his bond w/ koji?
"If they pitch to you, make them pay."
--Diamond Dave to the Phenom
I was disappointed
no Cardwell this year in the show. Now I dont have to worry about it, unless i’m looking to keep the free agent pool accurate.
"I’m sure glad he didn’t try to bunt." - DD on Melmo's game winning double, 6/17
Thankfully, not a false alarm this time
Best of luck to Walker, who really isn’t a bad guy… but man, I never wanted to see him on the mound in any game this year. He just doesn’t have it now.
Cry havoc and unleash the Esskay hot dogs of war! - The Wayward Oriole, Opening Day 2008
Had to be done
I do love Jamie Walker. But I love him a lot more as Jamie Walker, private citizen, than I do as Jamie Walker, LOOGY
I will lead these Peoples to the promised land, also known as "Slightly Ahead of the Blue Jays." ~WietersRunDry
My least favorite Oriole of the past two years
This was long overdue. Who are we going to hate now?
BK
players on OTHER teams?
"I’m sure glad he didn’t try to bunt." - DD on Melmo's game winning double, 6/17
Why didn't we think of that before?
"I don't have a hit-and-run sign, and I believe it's the worst play in baseball." - Earl Weaver
by duck on Jun 5, 2009 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Looks like its time to find Koji a new co-star. Any suggestions?
"Daddy, is Hevan like BIRDLAND?"
"No son, Hevan is BIRDLAND."
Huff.
" I'm happy to announce that we've made Adam Jones our 4th and 5th starting pitcher as well as bench coach and team chaplain" - peter_angelos 8:04 AM May 14th from digsby
"Matt Wieters Adopted Mark Texiera's Parents Because He Felt They Needed A Son To Be Proud Of."
He'll bring his own movies
"I don't have a hit-and-run sign, and I believe it's the worst play in baseball." - Earl Weaver
Do we really need a third lefty in the pen?
Castillo’s just filler and he’s no sure bet to better than Walker.
I’d much rather see someone with some actual upside.
Can you sign a player after he's been released....
….to a minor league deal?
Walker’s a good guy, and I wouldn’t mind if the O’s gave him a job in Norfolk to see if they can’t help him get it back.
How is it more charitable.....
…than paying him $3 million for nothing?
One of the best things about the Roberts deal was that it rewarded a team leader who had stuck with the organization through tough times. This kind of behavior by franchises shows definite return – players are more interested in signing with the franchise and current players react well to knowing the organization cares about them as people.
Consider the variety of players who weren’t interested in signing with the O’s this offseason – Braden Looper and Jon Garland chief among them. Certainly, playing in Camden and in the AL East will be a part of this. But so is the reputation of the organization, and rewarding Walker, not with money but with some AAA innings, who appears to have pitched his arm off for Perlozzo, isn’t a move that hurts the franchise in any way but which could help its reputation in the league.
I don't think ANYBODY gives two shits about what the organization does to Jamie Walker.
He’s a middle reliever and a bad one. Nobody cares. He probably has no interest in going to AAA.
It's been a long, long time since anything fit in Jamie's skillet.
I’m gonna miss the dude. Here’s hoping he and Millar get a show on the MLB network together or something.
"Believe it or not, I read the paper." - Nick Markakis
I would totally watch that
and i’d buy every season of it on dvd. Hell, blu-ray.
"I’m sure glad he didn’t try to bunt." - DD on Melmo's game winning double, 6/17
I'd Netflix it...
then forget to watch it. That’s how I roll.
"I don't have a hit-and-run sign, and I believe it's the worst play in baseball." - Earl Weaver
It’s been a long, long time since anything fit in Jamie’s skillet.
this is not really true. Walker was obviously hurt last year, but he pretty decent for the first 5 weeks of this season:
From 4/6 through 5/9:
13 appearances, 5-2/3 IP, 7H, 0BB, 7K, 1ER, 1.24 WHIP, 1.59 ERA
Those are pretty good numbers.
Since then, the wheels have kind of come off.
Maybe he was just overused. I strongly suspect he’ll have a job before the weekend is out.
It's 4 in the morning. Too much to drink. All the girls look hot. So, the Nationals are Jennifer Lopez to me. —Julian Tavarez
always w/ the negative waves, dude.
"If they pitch to you, make them pay."
--Diamond Dave to the Phenom
On the one hand I feel bad for the guy. Well not too bad. He still gets paid.
I liked Jamie, I really did. But he is no longer a competent MLB pitcher.
My favorite part of this it shows how the Os are not afraid to move on, regardless of what a guy is owed. I really don’t feel the Flanagan/Duquette/Beattie Os would’ve made this movie, and Walker would’ve kept trotting on out there.
"Might as well just win this game." - Adam Jones, 4/17/2008
Adam Jones is the tits.
by KenDixonFanClub on Jun 5, 2009 3:20 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
i dont like the movies they make
im glad andy macphail is making better movies
Guys are getting pied Dave Trembley can't explain it
by WestcoastO'sFan on Jun 5, 2009 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Geez.
A guy who is celebrating the end of the school year and is on his fifth drink at 3:20 can’t make one typo?
It is all the more embarrassing, being that I am an English teacher. The shame.
"Might as well just win this game." - Adam Jones, 4/17/2008
Adam Jones is the tits.
by KenDixonFanClub on Jun 5, 2009 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions
That's the great part about being a history teacher
I can make all the typos I want, as long as I don’t get dates wrong. :)
"I don't have a hit-and-run sign, and I believe it's the worst play in baseball." - Earl Weaver
Same as above..
I really liked Walker. Move had to be done, but it’s not like I’m happy or relieved about it.
I guess one part of being a fan is enjoying a winning team, but it’s also nice to have a team of guys you like and pull for.
don't really have much to add...
jw seemed like a cool cat, a hard worker and a great quote, but he’s seemed like toast since last year.
that being said, it’s nice to see the front office make rational baseball decisions.
"If they pitch to you, make them pay."
--Diamond Dave to the Phenom
It's just kind of sad...
Jamie Walker seemed like a good guy and was easy to root for. I loved how he stood up for the team.
However, we all know he was done.
We woould call out writers
in person when he felt they had been unfair to teammates. Happened a lot.
"I don't have a hit-and-run sign, and I believe it's the worst play in baseball." - Earl Weaver
He would....
Geez, I can’t type.
"I don't have a hit-and-run sign, and I believe it's the worst play in baseball." - Earl Weaver
You asked, I answered
"I don't have a hit-and-run sign, and I believe it's the worst play in baseball." - Earl Weaver
good summation from trembles...
(per roch)
“I had to call him early this morning,” manager Dave Trembley said moments ago on the Scott Garceau and Anita Marks Show on MASN. "A great teammate. A guy who earned a lot of respect from his teammates, went about his business professionally, never made excuses, lived up to the responsibility that came with the position he was in.
“It was tough for me to tell him, but he understood and I wish him a lot of success if he gets picked up by another team.”
"If they pitch to you, make them pay."
--Diamond Dave to the Phenom
Ummmm
Jamie, I think you left some chaw in the clubhouse. Could you swing by and pick that up please? Also, Koji wants his $900 bottle of Sake back, now that you’re not teammates anymore.
he doesnt drink generic beer...
"I’m sure glad he didn’t try to bunt." - DD on Melmo's game winning double, 6/17
Well the bad thing is he’s going to be replaced by an equally shitty pitcher that will also need to be cut in six weeks at the most.
By which time...
if not before, Chris Tillman will be ready to come up.
"I don't have a hit-and-run sign, and I believe it's the worst play in baseball." - Earl Weaver
It wouldn't.
I just want to see him on the big team. :)
Not everything has to make sense, does it?
"I don't have a hit-and-run sign, and I believe it's the worst play in baseball." - Earl Weaver
It does in my opionion
Our LHRP problem Is that we have too many LHRP.
mostly… our LHRP problem is that our best one is our closer… and the other two are terrible. Problem could be fixed by making Sherrill our lefty specialist, where he’d be superb… and letting JJ close.
Hendo’s problem could be fixed by cutting him, but that has nothing to do with which arm he uses to throw the ball towards the plate.
by math_geek on Jun 5, 2009 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Breaking up the Team
Now would be a good time to post that buddy cop poster with Walker and Koji. You know, as a send off.
...Behold, a pale horse. The man that sat upon it was Wieters, and hell followed with him.
"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard
Godspeed, Jamie Walker
I will lead these Peoples to the promised land, also known as "Slightly Ahead of the Blue Jays." ~WietersRunDry
Jamie's to old for this shit!
"I’m sure glad he didn’t try to bunt." - DD on Melmo's game winning double, 6/17
Jamie sounds like he's got a pretty good grip on reality....
as opposed to Adam “I’m a World Champ!” Eaton. From The Sun:
“You never want to be released, but it’s not like it hasn’t happened before in my career,” Walker said. “It’s a business, basically, and I’m with the decision. I don’t hold nothing against the Baltimore Orioles. I’m not mad at the Baltimore Orioles. Hell, I thank the Baltimore Orioles. They gave me a three-year deal and I tried to do whatever I could when I was there. If I don’t pitch again in the big leagues, I had a hell of a career.”
"I don't have a hit-and-run sign, and I believe it's the worst play in baseball." - Earl Weaver
And don't hold your breath that he'd accept a minor-league deal....
“Today is a big day in Jamie Walker’s life,” he said. … “I don’t have to go to work today. It’s been a while. I want to keep playing. But if no team calls, obviously I don’t play. It’s that simple. There’s no damn mysteries. I’m damn sure I’m not going to be riding buses in the minor leagues. I’ve paid my dues.”
"I don't have a hit-and-run sign, and I believe it's the worst play in baseball." - Earl Weaver
Walker was a professional. I will give him that.
However he was ineffective and got a 3 year contract which will pay him 3 million for doing nothing. He is set for life. I hope the Orioles continue to build our staff from the minors and our drafts and leave the free agents (pitchers) alone.
"For a few dollars, fans can sit in the best seats in the house instead of the nosebleed sections; watch players with dreams, not egos; and feel like a part of baseball, not just spectators at a baseball game"- Brett H. Mandel from his book Minor Players, Major Dreams
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