Saturday Bird Droppings
by Camden Chat on Jan 9, 2010 7:00 AM EST
in Open Threads
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Off-Season O of the Day: Melvin Mora (© Andrew Markowitz)
Markakises to be honored at 'Babe's Birthday Bash' - baltimoresun.com
The plural of Markakis is funny. Anyway, Nick and his wife Christina will be honored for their charitable contributions to the community on Friday, February 5th. That's my birthday, so if anyone wants to buy me some tickets I'd be happy to celebrate my birthday by celebrating the Babe's birthday ;-) -Stacey
Ryan Minor's side of the story
We all remember the night Cal Ripken sat down after 2632 consecutive games, but I've never heard it from Ryan Minor's POV. It was a heck of a night for the rookie. -Stacey
Interest remains in Delgado
The Orioles are sending scouts to check out Carlos Delgado in Puerto Rico. Other players being looked at are Hank Blalock, Adam LaRoche, Russell Branyan, and Chad Tracy. -Stacey
How Denny Hocking ended up with the O's
"A friendship with a member of the O's public relations department and a Little League coaching dispute have combined to lead former Twin Denny Hocking to the Orioles organization." -duck
Bob McCrory, in pain and without a job
Steve Melewski sheds some light on the difficult side of the business of baseball, when players can't find work. Bob McCrory thought he would be pain-free and a member of the Red Sox by now, and instead, he's heading to Dr. James Andrews for a second opinion, still in pain and an out-of-work minor-league free agent after Boston rescinded their offer. -duck
Homespun Orioles a growing threat in AL East - Yahoo! Sports
Great article on the O's young talent, Andy MacPhail's mindset, and the challenge of playing in the AL East. -Stacey
MLB pitcher unharmed in kidnapping attempt - FOX Sports on MSN
Another kidnapping! If I become a baseball player I'm just going to stay in my gated community, thanks. -Stacey
Hot Stove from around the majors...The Astros have signed Brett Myers to a one year deal for $5M, the Mariners extended Franklin Gutierrez for four years, $20.5M, the Royals continue to make weird moves by giving Scott Podsednik a one year contract, and the Blue Jays are throwing their hat into the Aroldis Chapman ring by offering the young man $23M.
Oh, Open Thread. I'm gettin' kinda fond of you, kid. Not that I wanna pick out curtains or anything.
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You can pick your friends and you can pick your curtains, but you can't pick your friends' curtains.
Wait, that might not be exactly right. But to cases:
Obvious typo, sorry, on duck’s projected CC output for the ’10 season: it shoulda read 8987, duh.
Aroldis Chapman: Wait— somebody should drop $23 m on this guy b/c (a) he’s pals with Kendry Morales; (b) he is a resident of Andorra; or ( c) he “reportedly throws a fastball in the triple digits and would certainly project as an ace in the not-so-distant future for any team that signs him”?
I find myself unimpressed by a and b; as for c — um, does anybody remember whether D-Cabs took out Andorran citizenship while he was cruisin’ a low-rider with Kendry Morales?
Why isn’t the plural ‘Markakes’? I mean, really.
"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.
I thought it was "Markaki"
Maize n Brew
Because Football is Better with Beer
by Maize n Brew Dave on Jan 9, 2010 11:05 AM EST up reply actions
I prefer Markakae
"I like baseball, movies, good clothes, whiskey, fast cars ... and you. What else you need to know?"
Ελληνικό αλφάβητο! Avast, barbarian Latinizers!
My reasoning was hey, the nominative plural form of Greek nouns ending in – is tends to be – es (e.g., thesis—> theses, basis—>bases , Elvis —> Elves…wait a minute, check that one), thus Markakis —> Markakes.
Of course, “public domain” usage makes its own rules: the “correct” version of names frequently in the news is whatever the most broadly-accepted media standard says it is— which is why the past active participle “Cheney” is pronounced “paranoic loon.”
"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.
My favorite part of teh Denny Hocking story?
When he went to apply to be a manager for his friend’s LITTLE LEAGUE team, he was rejected.
“They asked me about my background. I told them I played 13 years in the Majors. One of the coaches said, ‘That doesn’t mean you can coach.’
"The moment you stop thinking you're the best, it's time for you to get out the game." -'King' Mo Lawal
And I really wish I could type "the" correctly teh first time.
"The moment you stop thinking you're the best, it's time for you to get out the game." -'King' Mo Lawal
The Dodgers signed Russ Ortiz
http://hotstove.mlblogs.com/archives/2010/01/dodgers_sign_ortiz_restovich.html
Yuck. I can’t believe people are still willing to give that man work.
I would love 30-35 hr's and 160 k's from branyan.
And I am being serious. Bring him in.
Trying to hit off me is like trying to eat soup with chopsticks.
-Ryohei Tanaka, with AA Bowie
How is Branyan an upgrade over Scott?
Horribly streaky, check
Good power, check
Not so great defense, check
Career OPS lower than Luke, check
Hes even worse against lefties (he’s ideal to platoon)
He’s an older version of Scott who’s not under team control coming off a career year where he was as hot in the first half as he was cold in the second half. I just dont see it.
"I have seen the future and his name is Matt Wieters." Keith Law
by Reddrummer9187 on Jan 9, 2010 2:38 PM EST up reply actions
A) Branyan should come cheap.
B) Branyan can play first. We’ve seen no sign that Luke can. Better to keep Luke at DH
C) Branyan can step aside when Snyder/Moore/Hughes prove which one is worthy of promotion.
mt
What looks large from a distance, close up ain't never that big.
by mystery tramp on Jan 11, 2010 7:28 AM EST up reply actions
Good Yahoo article
I am a long-time Os fan. One of my fondest memories is picking up the old Evening Sun (yes, the Sun then came out twice a day instead of 25% of a paper once a day) and reading the astonishing news that we had traded Milt Pappas (quite a good pitcher, by the way) for Frank Robinson. Cincy’s management assesed Frank was an “old” 30. Frank, of course, was not too old to win the Tiple Crown in 1966. The trade would be similar to dealing Jeremy Guthrie for Albert Pujols. As an aside, I was in Memorial Stadium when Frank hit a home run (down the third base line) that cleared the stadium wall. The pitcher was Luis Tiant, who at that time was a flame thrower. As a further aside, I feel fortunate to have seen Brooks in his prime. His fielding was astonishing. Brooks was not fleet of foot, but his reactions, and first step, were supernatural. He would have been the greatest lacrosse goalie of all time.
I stopped following the Orioles in 2002 or thereabouts. For years, I did not see a single game either at Camden Yards or on television. Angelos’s signing of Andy MacPhail brought me back. We now have a competently run franchise, which is all that we, as fans, can ask. Since AF came on board, Peter, as far as I can see, has followed through on his commitment to let Andy run the show.
As the article points out, the Orioles may never win because of our division. But, we now have good management. We are on the cusp of fielding a team that baseball will admire. Rejoice in that. I hope that more lapsed fans like myself will make there way back to Camden Yards. Go Os.
love this quote
"I’ve never believed a closer is a luxury," MacPhail said. "I know that’s the conventional wisdom among a lot of people, but those aren’t people who have to watch your team play 162 times. You need to win the games you’re supposed to win for the sake of your players, your fans, your franchise.
"It’s important for morale. There’s nothing more debilitating for your players than looking around in the seventh inning and wondering how you’re going to blow this game."
Such thinking is a disease, and one that’s highly communicable among losing franchises. The Orioles missed out on Mark Teixeira(notes) – "We were legit on that," MacPhail said – not because they refused to pony up the necessary dollars but because Baltimore’s reputation preemptively killed the franchise’s chance.
That is changing. Gonzalez and Atkins each chose Baltimore over other offers, and the Orioles expect to sign another corner infielder and "some sort of pitching help," MacPhail said. Their payroll will remain around $80 million, more suited for the AL Central than AL East.
"I doubt he could reach [second base]...mostly cuz his fucking arm was in Aybar's nuts." – twistedlogic
by zknower on Jan 9, 2010 11:53 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Who advocates NOT keeping leads?!
Vizzini: Let me put it this way. Have you ever heard of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates?
Man in Black: Yes.
Vizzini: Morons.
I agree
And I think that nowadays with some many people focused so closely on the statistical side of baseball alone, they don’t ever take account for things like what MacPhail is saying.
I agree to an extent
A good bullpen can mean so much to a team, but you shouldnt spend too much on a bullpen for a couple reasons. One is they dont pitch as many innings (thats what makes them “statsitcally less valuable”) and the other is bullpens are the most volitile part of a team. Its hard to find a “sure thing”
The most efficient way to build a solid bullpen is to go over-slot for pitchers in the draft and chances are you will end up in a few years with pitchers that belong in the bullpen for one of several reasons. The best part about that is thats what we’ve started doing.
"I have seen the future and his name is Matt Wieters." Keith Law
by Reddrummer9187 on Jan 9, 2010 8:12 PM EST up reply actions
I’ve never believed a closer is a luxury," MacPhail said. "I know that’s the conventional wisdom among a lot of people,
Really? A closer is a “luxury” is conventional wisdom? I’ve always thought conventional wisdom valued the importance of a closer. Where I think conventional wisdom MAY be wrong on its insistence that only one guy can be your closer and only certain guys have the closer mentality.
That is changing. Gonzalez and Atkins each chose Baltimore over other offers,
LOL, the PR the Sun spews for the O’s is great. Yes, things have changed because we signed a reliever and a non-tendered 3B. Sure.
Vizzini: Let me put it this way. Have you ever heard of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates?
Man in Black: Yes.
Vizzini: Morons.
Yahoo! Sports != The Sun
Reading comprehension, get into it.
"I'd like to do something. We all would here," he added. "As I've said before, you just don't want to do anything stupid that you're thinking in May, 'What in the God's green earth was I thinking about?'" - Andy MacPhail 12/8/09
Oops, sorry, my bad, but thanks for being condescending about it.
Vizzini: Let me put it this way. Have you ever heard of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates?
Man in Black: Yes.
Vizzini: Morons.
It's what I do.
Condescension, sarcasm, and cursing.
"I'd like to do something. We all would here," he added. "As I've said before, you just don't want to do anything stupid that you're thinking in May, 'What in the God's green earth was I thinking about?'" - Andy MacPhail 12/8/09
I know, right?
"I'd like to do something. We all would here," he added. "As I've said before, you just don't want to do anything stupid that you're thinking in May, 'What in the God's green earth was I thinking about?'" - Andy MacPhail 12/8/09
you're on my hit list.
Vizzini: Let me put it this way. Have you ever heard of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates?
Man in Black: Yes.
Vizzini: Morons.
I'm a longtime Orioles fan, too.
I moved to Towson in 1960 and used to ride the trolly down York Road to 33rd street to see games at Memorial Stadium. Sometimes even a double header. The Orioles were a very good team throughout the 1960s and ‘70s. They faded some after the ’83 series and became awful in 1998. McPhail is bringing them back, now, and they will again be a fun team to watch compete against the best teams in baseball.
BaltoBen didn’t miss much the past 12 years. The Orioles were a bad team.
McCrory
The Bob McCrory story is sad, but no different from what has happened to many pitchers over the years. The human arm was not intended or built to do what MLB pitchers do with that appendage. It makes you marvel at guys like Nolan Ryan who did it for so many years and still threw 100 mph. Actually, there was only one Ryan, but you get my point.
agreed
His story is almost par for the course.
"I have seen the future and his name is Matt Wieters." Keith Law
by Reddrummer9187 on Jan 9, 2010 2:40 PM EST up reply actions
On the Kidnapping Story
Pretty scary what’s going on in Mexico. There was a guy from LA area who was recently killed — he was a teacher & school board member — pillar of the community type. Was visiting his wife’s hometown in Mexico, out for dinner at a restaurant & some guys came in and took 6 men away at gunpoint and killed them. Unknown why at this point — whether one of the 6 was the real target, or mistaken identity or what.
"Killing a Yankee fan -- is that illegal in this state?" -- Homicide Life on the Street
The drug war is coming to America
I guess it’ll be easier on the conscious that Americans will now become the victims of OUR war. It only took 30 years.
The stock market will never recover, our armies will never again be #1, and our children will drink filthy water for the rest of their lives - HST
by the fix is in on Jan 9, 2010 8:53 PM EST up reply actions
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