I’d like a more prototypical power 3b. But on the other hand I can’t stand Beltre…

It’s gonna be Wiggy… right?

Not a power hitter by any means at the corner, but good enough defense and swipes bags as good as any other than Crawford. However, this team can manufacture runs w/ Figgins and Roberts at the top of the order. Talk about dangerous top two hitters!

With our infield prospects in the minors being below average, and with the team expecting to contend in about three or four years, we could hang on to Chone and B Rob until their mid to late thirties. All good ball clubs have older veterans at some positions.

Money may be a problem. In this economy, we will soon have to pay Jones and Reimold a hefty sum. Does anyone know when those two guys would be due for a new contract?

And I’d like an explanation. Do you think that he’ll have another summer like last year? Or does the warehouse just extend his contract so he can feed his family?

Here is a list of Orioles (batters) who Mora is outslugging:
Robert Andino.

Seriously. Pie is an offensive upgrade to Mora. Zaun has him by 50 points. Moeller displayed more power. If he doesn’t pick it up and get real hot for a long while, he’s cooked. And even if he does, he’s displaying an annoying and deep streakiness that bodes not well.

which are two things that go away with age. He will get more than he’s worth on the FA market.

I’d be pumped if we got Chone. Having Figgy @ 3rd and having Wiggy as our super utility guy would be great. Plus having 2 guys at the top of the line-up who can steal that many bases (35+)…that would make the Orioles a very dangerous team on the base paths – something we obviously haven’t been in a VERY long time.

Chone – BRob – Jonesy – MarkickASS – Huff – Reimold – Wieters – Wiggy – Izturis

That’s a pretty solid line-up (and obviously it doesn’t have to be in that order)

Also, I’m really hoping Ray gets shut down for the year and they bring up that Mickolio kid. Then send down Berken (for some more seasoning in AAA…he’ll be a serviceable pitcher with some more tinkering) and bring up Tillman. He is ready, and if he can get some confidence in the Majors this year, who knows, we may be able to contend for 3rd place in the AL East next year!

If Huff is resigned, it would make sense to stick him at 3b. That way first is freed up for Synder, who will be a September call-up, and Mora can go retire. (Based on what we’ve seen of Mora so far this year, Mora’s done.)

By signing Figgins you’ve spent millions on two guys in their 30s who rely on their speed. Sounds like a stereotypical Yankee move and not something this Orioles team, with their mandate of picking up young and talented position players from trades of their young and talented pitching depth, would consider.

Wigginton stays as the super-utility guy, Synder at first, Huff at third, and Scott remains the DH.

All this “#x hitter” stuff is really not a big issue. If they can find that elite power hitter in free agency, then great, but if they were to pick up Figgins hypothetically, and Huff left, the team could get by playing just fine with Roberts-Figgins-Markakis-Jones-Scott-Reimold as the front six. If Figgy were to hit like 2007/2009 instead of 2008, that team is going to make some runs happen with Brian Bob and Chone torching the bases and Markakis shooting line drives around. There’s also a decent chance Jones turns into a 30 HR guy. Not a great chance, but decent enough.

And I know he hasn’t been the Second Coming yet, but Matt Wieters is already OPSing around league average, which is already making him a fairly productive catcher, and he’s a 23-year phenom.

For the record I’d keep Roberts leading off because it’s familiar, there’s little difference, and I think Chone is a better “stick handler” with hit-and-run attempts and bunting and what have you, and God knows with those two up top that crap wouldn’t cease.