Zing!

On the other hand, the Cubs traded for second base prospect Fontenot and second baseman Hairston. Chicago also attempted to trade for second baseman, Brian Roberts. Any chance we can put Atkins at second base and see if the Cubs bite?

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I don't think he is short enough. Cubs like O's second basemen under 5-foot-10.

Dan,

I've always said that one of the best ways to build a winner is to emulate another legendary success story, you know, like the Cubs.

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Great line

This is EXACTLY what the O's need! A utility man! It's brilliant! We've already got about 10 men with no fixed position, so why not trade for another one who will botch run downs and cutoff throws and double play balls?

Makes perfect sense!

Nothing like making the same mistakes twice.

I'm glad Dusty Baker has a job.

Any chance we trade for Fontenot, now that he's on the bench?

Good move but I don't know why they are keeping Atkins it is not like they can expect someone to give us anything for him.. I still wish the orioles could work out something for texas 1B Chris Davis.. He would be an upgrade on what we have and could blossom like Gonzalez did with SD.

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Jeff Z's reply: Assuming Bergesen is called up to make Saturday's start and it's obviously not going to be Tillman now, I'd be very surprised if Atkins was still an Oriole by Saturday night.

But, the big question is: why doesn't Andy McCub know any other players around the leagues than ex-Cubs? Does he even ask his scouts for advice?

Oh good, does that mean it will be another 100 years or so before the O's reach the World Series again? ;-)

Couldn't they copy the Marlins or A's or Rays - someone who has actually gone on the way in the last 10-20 years or so.

One of the characteristics I would hope MacPhail would be looking for are good clubhouse cheerleaders.

I was at the game at Petco on Sunday and after they lost the lead the players' body language showed how easily the air goes out of their balloon. The Padres on the other hand, whom I watch here a lot, have a never-say-die attitude that has served them well.

Have the Cubs been so dominant over the last 10 years that we should be filling our roster with their cast-offs? This is like the Jets bringing in half the Ravens' defense.... except the opposite of that.

DAN,, I look at the fox move being a bench strengthening move more than a 1B move don't you?? I still would like the orioles to try to get Uggla and/or Davis for 1B- 2B for the rest of the summer. They would be an upgrade over what we have got, Do you agree??

wow, the writers around town are getting braver by the day! It's about time someone spoke up!!! This has gone on too long.

Chris Davis is very, very intriguing. I don't know what it would take, same with Uggla. Adding those two, along with Fox, who I like a lot and the return of Pie would certainly make them more respectable.

I agree with Grant. Texas has stated they want another bat (Wigginton) and maybe a starter (Millwood). They have 1B Chris Davis crushing the ball in AAA right now. He has struggled in the majors hitting lefties and Ks more than you like, but he is 24 yrs old and could still hit 25 + HRs. he had a ncie finish last year for them. I hope the Os have him on their watch list. Would of preferred him over Fox.

And the Cubs won what? when?
While McPhail may know the Cubs best and anyone would be an upgrade at lst, it would seem time to break the pattern of Chicago to Baltimore to failureland. The bigger question is why isn't there a deal with some other club? Some
team must want Guthrie,Tejada or
Millwood. Phone and emails go to plenty of places besides Wrigleyville.

Guess the only thing left is to hire Rhyne Sandberg as manager.

This reminds me of the Orioles of the late-90's. Seattle had one of the worst bullpens in the league at the time, but the O's couldn't resist raiding the Mariner's 'pen for soft-tossers such as Heathcliff Slocumb, Norm Charlton, and epic closer failure Mike Timlin. (Actually, compared to Mike Gonzalez, Timlin was downright Rivera-esque).

I noticed this Chicago trend some time ago, and I'm less than impressed by most of these second-city castoffs. Starting to look like McPhail is swinging and missing at the same pitches outside the strike zone.

Just like Adam Jones.

Wait a minute, you mean Atkins is still an Oriole. I thought they would have put out a missing person's report on his power by now.

Isnt it nice to be a position to reaffirm your mistake in one organization by trading for them in your new job..... Hey they didnt work in Chicago and now look at what they do for the O's.....

I think the GM needs to broaden his horizon and develop the farm system....

Guys, thanks for finally busting on McFail & his on-going dumb moves.
Perfect line...maybe we can blame it on the goat as well. Only our goat's name is Andy.
Looks like another 88 years of futility emulating that power house that is Da Cubs.

Can't wait to see Steve Bartman in the stands at Wrigley Field at Camden Yards.

Hopefully he'll sit a few rows back.

Cant have Dopey Macfail reading any new scouting reports now can we ?

He doesnt even have to log onto the internets when he gets one of his prior macfailures

O's fans can count on losing more games, but for some reason we stick with them???? Why? because they're our team.

First generation leaders (McPhail's gdad) often have second generation offspring carry on the traditions marginally but I can't think of one 3rd generation business leader who had any real success. Our Mr. McPhail simply reinforces this. Don't hire grandchildren of great success stories. They live pampered lives and miss out on the lessons learned in the school of hard knocks! McPhail is an unimaginative hack living off his lineage to our detriment.

"I've always said that one of the best ways to build a winner is to emulate another legendary success story, you know, like the Cubs."

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BAZINGA! That was clever. Watch out for the MacPhail Gestapo.

The whole Fontenot thing is no joke. Roberts' career could very well be over. If that is the case, I will go on record, here and now to boldly predict that McPhail will trade for Fontenot. We know he's not going to pay anyone to play 2B.

There's a reason we in Chicago spelled his name MACFAIL.

Best of luck to you, O's.

This is indeed quite humorous, and definitely somewhat frustrating. However upon closer look I only think 4 really fit together in a "former Cubs prospect" pattern: Jake Fox, Scott Moore, Felix Pie, and Rich Hill.

The rest were minor league inventory players or reasonable free-agent pickups. Montanez for one has been here forever it seems.

How much crazier will this theory get if we sign Sandberg to be our new manager?!?!

Yes, let's trade for Uggla - the way he played in Yankee stadium in the Allstar game in 2008, he would be a perfect fit on this team. ;-)

Why did we sign Atkins for $4M, when the Rays signed Hank Blalock to a minor league deal for less than $1M? Maybe we could sign Jolene Blalock instead?

When they finally DFA Atkins, I hope we send him to the minors. Maybe he can regain his form there.

Damn. Can't ever find my "panic button" when I most need it...

Don't forget all of the Twins cast-offs Andy MacPhail has nabbed during his tenure here.

Hey the A's DFA Eric Patterson, maybe the O's can get another ex-Cub to play 2nd in Roberts absences.