This would be an excellent get for MacPhail and Co., a real boost to the starting rotation. Let's hope he chooses the O's ... we would love to have this guy in Baltimore, and I think we have a superior club to Washington and Seattle.

This is excellent news for the Orioles. Of the remaining pitchers available, Duchscherer has the biggest upside since he has a career ERA at almost 3. I would love to see him in black and orange as our number four or five starter. As a guy who's been injured for much of his career, he wouldn't need to be pushed to fill a lot of innings, he just needs to go out every five days and give us a quality start. And if he gets injured, we have young guys who can take his spot.

I like a rotation that goes:

Jeremy Guthrie
Brad Bergesen
Brian Matusz
Justin Duchscherer
Jake Arrieta/Chris Tillman

Even if he gets hurt, Arrieta, Tillman or even Britton are ready to step up and fill that role. It's a good situation for the club to be in.

The Orioles have certainly become the go-to-team this winter.

I think we get Vlad and this guy. 90 wins are possible.

I will be very excited to land the Duke. I realize his health is questionable, but if he is healthy he could be a true steal and would actually have the ability to take the number one spot, which would slot all the other SPs into more appropriate roles in the rotation.

Although I would love to have both, I think a healthy Duke has ever more upside than a healthy Vladdy.

Let's hope we are able to bring in both Duke and Vladdy.

Hey Dan C,

Would there be any interest by the O's to make him a set-up man? Or if he does make the O's will he strictly be used as a starter?

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Strictly a starter. He has made it clear he wants to be a starter and it's highly unlikely he signed somewhere where that wasn't the expectation.

This could be great. I like the Jersey connection to help us out and for a change, I'm getting the feeling we are actually a desirable place for potential free agents.

I love MacPhails deliberate approach and after attending fanfest, I'm pumped for some baseball. I don't like throwing good money after bad, and this certainly is not the case IMHO.

Go O's!!!

Weltchek, Mallahan, and Weltchek
2330 West Joppa Rd Suite #203
Lutherville, MD 21093
410.825.5287

King is correct, The Duke slots in as our #1 and I would bet Guthrie wouldn't mind a bit. Although most baseball people will tell you, the TITLE of #1 after the first week is irrelevant. They are all equally important in terms of wins and due to weather issues, rarely does #1 face the other #1 thereafter.

Then there is the confidence factor...I've heard The Duke in interviews before and he would vault to #1 in the confidence rating vs. the rest of the SP's on this staff. Though I do love Arrieta's demeanor on and off the mound. Love the cocky attitude. It helps when the going get's a little tough.

Anyway, as another famous person known as THE DUKE once said, "Saddle up, Pilgrim...it's time to fight!"

We could sure use this version of the THE DUKE in B'more because if we do get Vlad, we have some paying back to give. SADDLE UP, BOYS, let's make this division CIRCLE THE WAGONS and realize there is a NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN. GIDDY UP!

This is great news. Let's close the deal!

I am worried that the ultimate deciding factor against the O's is that he would have to make his comeback in the AL East. I think it is much better for him to go to the NL with Washington and still be close to new jersey. If he signs a one year and has a under 4 ERA in 180+ innings, he will get a big contract next off season.

King of the Donkeys;

I'm with you as far as taking a shot at Duchscherer, but you're getting a wee bit overly optimistic if you think he is ace material. He's only exceeded 100 IP once in his career (141 in 2008) and the end result of that was missing 2009 entirely.

An ace is a guy you want leading the way with 200+ IP, something Duchscherer has never come close to doing.

Sign Duke, Vlad and the Tall Guy and this team is going to win some games!

Dan S - To be fair, I never said Duke is an ace. The fact is we don't have one yet, and as there are only 10-15 true aces in baseball, a lot of teams don't have a true one.

My point is simply that if healthy, he has the ability to pitch out of the one spot and push Guthrie where #2, where he seems a lot more comfortable. That puts the young guys in the 3-5 spots instead of having to deal with the pressure of being at the top of the rotation.

Dan,
Is buck involved in the process at all? Looking at it objectively, unless money is the deciding factor, would you rather pitch in the NL east or the AL east? that's a rhetorical question, obviously. distance is a non-factor here. as far as upside the O's are a little better positioned to make a move but again, AL east. I'm hoping the manager can make the differance.

Hey Dan C,
Thanks for answering my question!
I dug this up while looking for something else. To me he looks like he could be useful as a set-up man, but imo that is what Koji should be doing for us in 2011 not the closer! Anyway, back to the reason I am posting again.
1st, why do we want to help out this guy? I can appreciate he wants to be close to his son, but he doesn't look like he will hold himself together physically. Especially, after reading this summary by a Yankees blogger of all things. The blogger kind of sounds like me because he was scratching his head as to why the Yankees were interested in him, but they didn't want to make a strong move on Greinke. Anyway, here it is without further ado.

2004-2006: Pitched in relief all three-seasons, appeared in 171 games for a total of 236.5 innings and 195 strikeouts. Named to the 2005 All-Star Team. 2007: Placed on DL on May 14th with season-ending hip surgery.
2008: Moved to starting rotation, named to the All-Star Team, placed on DL August 18th for the season due to hip and back injuries. 2009: Out for the season due to elbow injury in Spring Training, missed entire season as he suffered from major depression. 2010: Came back as a starter, won four of his first five starts in April but never started again due to hip injury, out for the season. I just don't see how this guy is going to last the season without going on the DL, despite solid numbers when healthy(short lived). Shoulder, back, and elbow injuries since when did Peter Angelos go for pitchers like that?

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He's considered the best on the market. He can really pitch when healthy and the risk is minimal on a one-year deal. So it's worth a shot.

If you could pick up duchsherer and not have to give mim a major league deal that would be great because the guy is brittle, just ask the A's.

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They wont be able to. Its a major-league offer

If this guy is the best available for what the Os want and need, then I hope we sign him. But I don't see how this potential signing warrants the optimism expressed in earlier postings. Considering his injury history, odds are that Duchscherer holding a roster spot for some weeks while the Os see who shines the brightest at AAA.

I do see some hope, and share the hope. I'd much rather see the Os reassess and increase the budget and go for a guy with talent and more durability.

Typical Orioles. Another project/ scrap heap guy. Wonder why they cant turn it around?

O's don't even have a legit #2 starter on a good team, they need all the help they can get. When they finally will go and get a legit
#1 or 2 guy they may contend, other wise same old shoot sandwhich. The GM who goes and gets via trade or free agency a top pitcher that we haven't replaced since Mike Mussina, will be GM of the year, HOF nomination. Is it really that tough to see ? 11 years of incompetency , sign a damn good pitcher, really it's not that hard but it does cost money and or prospects.

Why would a pitcher coming back from a major injury agree to come pitch in the AL East? If he really wants to come back and show he deserves a larger contract the following year, he's going to go to the NL where he only has to face 8 real batters and a division, though good, is nothing like the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays. I hope I'm wrong, but it doesn't make a whole lot of sense for him join the O's.

King of the Donkeys;

I'm sorry that my use of the term "ace" detracted from the point I was making in my post, that this guy has never done anything to warrant confidence in him lasting a full season anywhere in the starting rotation, let alone as a #1.

I'll guarantee you this. Duchscherer will not be starting on opening day. If he does, I'll eat my O's cap.

I am in favor of this move, however I am shocked, SHOCKED, that this blog allowed Kory to mention his law firm RIGHT in the blog post. Blatant commercialism has no place in a sports blog.

And I'll be talking about this in detail on Saturday February 26th when Drop Three (Baltimore's premiere sketch and improv comedy troupe) moves to late night Saturday shows at the historic Audrey Herman's Spotlighter's Theatre, where tickets are still just $10!

Stupid blatant commercialism!

Dan S- the King and I (can't believe I said that...I feel like singing for some reason) said it correctly the first time. We said #1 STARTER, not ACE! There is no ace on this staff right now, but let's give Matusz until June/July to truly earn the title, which he will. Until then, the reason Duchscherer will become our #1 will be due to his ability, albeit over a short time span, against the best competition, the American League.

There are essentially 6 reasons as well as to why he'll choose the O's over the Nats. 1- Familiarity with the league. 2- Successful in his short career in the AL. 3-Facing the best hitters in the league, especially AL East that presents a quality challenge to a quality pitcher that he won't back down from. 4- Better defensive team. 5- Better offensive team. 6- Better bullpen.

Now, let's just hope he's not related somehow to that siss Beimel, who chose Baseball's version of Purgatory instead of MANNING UP and playing with THE BIG BOYS OF BASEBALL.

Yes, this time of year has a way of exposing the size of one's Grapefruits as he chooses where to play. I venture to say that Beimel's are more like Cherries.

Hey, let's just hope our guy lives up to his name...after all he is THE DUKE. I can already hear the fans now...DUUUUUUKE!

Lets get this pitcher signed and sign Guerrero and lets go to work.

Typical Orioles. Another project/ scrap heap guy. Wonder why they cant turn it around?

Posted by: jeff kern | January 30, 2011 7:34 PM
________________________

Yeah I see what you mean. Guthrie and Pie were both scrap heap guys too. What's the matter? Can't whine on Roch's blog under certain names anymore because you were 'outed' so you hide in here now?
LOL

You commenters on here are unbelievable! Where have you been the past 12 years? You are all excited about an injured pitcher who has 5 starts in the past 2 years, is 33 years old and has Depression!

One guy has the O's winning 90 games this year and calling the O's the "Go To Team"!

Another guy says signing Duke would be a steal! A steal from who? The Nationals??? If you notice people the real teams like the Red Sox and Yankees (who actually need a starter or two) ain't even interested in "Duke"!

Its the O's common thread, sign either old guys on the downside of their career, injured players or cheap players...

You all are pinning your hopes on:

1. 36 year old Derrek Lee,

2. 37 year old Guerrero (Who isn't even signed),

3. Duke who has pitched 5 games in the last 2 years (Who isn't even signed),

4. a rotation that still hasn't proven themselves,

5. Jeremy Guthrie as your Ace

And did all you "Orange Kool-Aid" drinking fans realize that again next year the O's will be looking for a:

A. 1st Sacker
B. SS
C. DH
D. Left Fielder
E. Rotation Ace

No?

Because the 1st Sacker, SS and possible DH (If they sign Guerrero) are only signed for one year.

If Scott moves from Left Field back to 1st next year then they will need a Left Fielder.

And of course you can't live with Guthrie as your #1 Ace every year can you? Well, maybe you can because the O's have been doing it.

I will be laughing at you all for wasting money on the O's again at the end of this year when they finish with 75 wins.

Gentlemen and ladies-I hear a rumor that Dusch has agreed to 1 yr deal with Os,..story to follow shortly i am sure. Guarantee of $750k/1yr