Potential roster moves looming?
The Orioles are looking at two possible roster moves before tonight’s game.
The club is hoping that Alfredo Simon will be back with the team Tuesday – and if he is physically able to re-join the club, he has to be taken off the restricted list, even though he won’t start for a few more days.
The other possibility is Luke Scott (shoulder strain), who played two rehab games for Double-A Bowie, going 2-for-6 with a homer and two strikeouts. He said his shoulder feels “all right” but he won’t know what the next step is until he goes to the ballpark later today.
If Scott is activated, the most likely to be demoted is third baseman Josh Bell or outfielder Matt Angle. The belief is that the club would prefer having Bell play every day in the minors than riding the bench in the majors, but with Scott back, there becomes a jumble at left field again, so there wouldn’t be much playing time for Angle.
With Simon back, one would think Mark Worrell or Chris Jakubauskas would be most vulnerable to a cut. Since Jakubauskas can pitch multiple innings, Worrell, who didn’t retire any of the three batters he faced on Monday, is more likely to be designated.
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Comments
Did Jim Johnson warm up at any point in the 8th inning last night?
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Jeff Z's reply: Yes, Buck said he would have come in to face Youkilis if it was still a tie game.
Posted by: Greg | July 19, 2011 2:01 PM
The other option is to DFA Felix Pie. He's not going to get a chance here, if no one claims him, maybe he'll accept the move to Norfolk and hopefully get his head on straight. Right now, Angle is a better option for a left field platoon with Reimold.
Posted by: ken | July 19, 2011 2:16 PM
I think it's Pie to be future endeavored. He has been painful to watch. It's almost as if hitting for the cycle was the end of his career.
Posted by: Ideen | July 19, 2011 2:41 PM
Jeff,
A little off topic of this post but do you think maybe there is a possibility that the O's do a 180 and go hard after Yu Darvish, C.J. Wilson, or Fielder or all?
Ken Rosenthal said MacPhail isn't sure which way Angelos wants him to go. And if they aren't trading anyone which it seems like they aren't unless blown away, what is the plan? You can't really bring back the same team with a different 1B and DH and really expect to get anyone excited can you? Even with a healthy Matusz and Britton this team is 3-4 premium players away from even being in a conversation with Bos or NYY, maybe more. And I don't see Showalter sticking around for 4 years to hold the next prospects hand. Maybe they are going to go nuts this offseason, if not what they are doing doesn't make any sense to me - would have Hardy, JJ, Koji, Guthrie, basically everyone other than Wieters, Britton and Matusz available because this is not a quick fix barring major, major premium signings.
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Jeff Z's reply: I thin they'll be rumored as one of the frontrunners for Fielder throughout the process, but I just don't see them ponying up the money it's going to take. With where they are, they are going to have to overpay drastically. And what have they ever done to give you confidence that they'll be willing to do that? As for the pitchers, I think the Orioles will have to be involved with any of the top-notch available pitchers.
Posted by: Bret | July 19, 2011 3:07 PM
I saw nothing out of Worrell with his herky jerky delivery that did not fool any Sox hitters. Maybe he was just pumped up and a little too nervous, but it doesn't seem like we need that. I am not enamored by Jakubauskas either. Sure he can go more than one inning, but at an almost 6 era what help is that? What is the story with this Zach Philips that Rangers media is reporting has been traded to O's for Nick Green?
Posted by: punkflamingo | July 19, 2011 3:12 PM
Guys like Worrell and Gonzalez provide absolutely no defense. The key hit last night would have been caught by Palmer or Mussina but Worrell was completely unprepared. If he or Gonzalez were lights out I could understand somewhat but they are both poster children for the one dimensional, lack of fundamentals inherent in so many ML players today. For many many years this team has lost largely because it catered to one dimensional guys and failed to properly scout the character and versatility dynamics of FAs and draftees.
Posted by: johnny c | July 19, 2011 5:05 PM
I agree that Pie should be released or traded. He is fast but makes mental mistakes. He is not a heady player even if he bats .285. The bench guys need to know what to do when they get in there and not make mistakes.
Posted by: Harrisburg Fan | July 19, 2011 5:24 PM