Trembley seems like a stand-up guy.
I only hope the FO gives him something/someone to work with next season, provided hes still the man. I wouldn't be suprised to see a change, regardless of what was announced.

"p" for Pathetic Season

Trembley's right when he says the bullpen should be a priority for next year. I just hope the FO is creative enough to take a different approach than last year. Avoid spending money in free agency, with the possible exception of closer. I'm not sure I would be crazy about him, but Bob Wickman for one year seems to fit the bill. Either way, filling needs in your bullpen is always a crapshoot.

What concerns me about what Trembley said is the absence of what the other "priorities" on this team should be. As several mentioned here yesterday, finishing with the worst record in baseball may be a blessing. It would force ownership to hopefully realize how much this team needs to change direction. A definate plan for rebuilding is a necessity, especially if we hope to sign Roberts and Bedard long term(which should be our first priority). This needs to happen immediately once the season ends.

Remove the deadwood. Bring in some solid, experienced players, who are winners with the right attitude(start with Aaron Rowand). Pluck some young talent, that will help, through trades and maybe everyone will have a brighter outlook for 2008.

Trembleyis a piece this organizationhas sorely needed for some time. So one step forward this year. MacPhail maybe well be number 2 step forward.

Now number one and number two need a free hand to do the necessary 3-10steps.

Dave Trembely has sett the priorities as I beleive Macphail has. You cannot do everyrhng in one off season. So pitching and efense can carry you in the right direction. With good pitching in the releif area the O's could have been .500 to 10 games over.

It would be nice to add the power hitter, but this is down the lone from the being sure your bullpen is strong. All of this is premised on keping Mazzone. He have little to nothing to work with this year.

Winners are strong in pitching and defense and attitude.

Redman could be a solid fourth outfielder or guy off the bench. Of course, the O’s have Payton for another year, a fourth outfielder that was used too often, is paid too much, and has been awful offensively. On a good team, Corey Patterson is a fourth outfielder. Redman is nice, but if the O’s really need a solid everyday player to fill that position and/or center field (Patterson is a decent player, but that .298 career OBP is abysmal and not what you want out of an everyday outfielder with speed).

Tom D: Good points about the long term deals. Ideally, 2 or 3 year deals would be great, but the reality is, if you want the top players, 5 years is probably the starting point now. The 2 or 3 year deals are for average players or top players recovering from serious injuries; the market for these guys is iffy and there usually aren’t many suitors. While signing Jay Payton has been a mistake, at least we only signed him for 2 years and not the 4 we signed Gibbons for.

And a lot of these players that are getting 7 and 8 year deals we all know will be not so good by the end of their deals. But really, teams are paying for those first 4 or 5 years of top production; part of that price is paying a lot of money in those later years when those players are in decline. Hunter may only have 3 or 4 good years left, but offering him a 4 year deal is a great way for him to sign with another club. It’s going to take at least 6 to get him.

While it would be nice to sign someone like Torii Hunter, the cold splash of water is that he’s not coming here and most likely no other top free agents will either. Why would anyone of value come here? For me, that’s a hard one to digest, because that just guarantees more losing and it might very well put an end date on the Orioles’ tenure of guys like Bedard and Roberts (if the team doesn’t improve, how we can hope to re-sign them?). But something has to be done to break the mediocrity, and we have to let go of any illusions that we have that we’re just a star player or two away from being competitive (a star player or two that we will never sign). If that means 100 losses and trading certain players we like or letting them walk in free agency, then it needs to be done if it also means that at some point in the foreseeable future this team becomes good.

I just hope with McPhail around, the days of picking up crappy second rate veterans are over. McPhail, if you are reading those, NO MORE Payton and Wright type players. I'm begging you!

I was in the bleachers last night . . . does anyone know why Bako wasn't charged with an error on the play to the plate? Was the throw late anyway?

Just curious.

C-Pat
Not a prospect
Less than a .300 career OBP
Declining power numbers
Avg. 40-50 RBI
Nice speed
Average baserunner despite speed (I include decision-making here)
For a center fielder--average defense

Bottom-line is that on a contending team, he comes off the bench as a SB threat and a defensive replacement for the slower more powerful outfielder who produces consistently.

Could we do worse--absolutely. Do I appreciate Corey's effort and attitude--yup.

Anthony-- you mention that old "injury" word again. I think the second part of what you said was more accurate that our 5-6 inning starters wore down the bullpen. The pitchers who were injured were mostly 5-6 inning guys (particularly Wright and Loewen). Plus, the issue is complicated by the fact that the horribly ineffective bullpen led to their own overuse. By not getting anyone out, they kept forcing Perlozzo's hand. The starters overachieved in the first half. Let's not forget that. With excellent starting pitching we were a sub-.500 team. With better bullpen pitching and excellent starting pitching and mediocre hitting we approach .500.

And like eveyone is pointing out now, the FO still doesn't want to bite the bullet and rebuild.

(sorry for the repost)

Thank GOD Walker took care of business... F Cabrera??? That is the only option there now? Scary...

I have a problem with complimenting guys for "pitching outside their normal roles.." I'll grant you they did pitch alot & did all they could , etc. BUT they did get paid ,overpaid in fact, to PITCH. This bs about roles is over used. They are relievers, so relieve, the h#ll with roles & what inning, etc. I am not bashing them or their efforts, just the use of the term roles & making it appear that they did something superhuman.....

Needs.... touchy topic, there are more than they can address, & we fans had better just accept it. Look forward to 2009, but hope we are better than '07 in '08. Modest improvement is all they can hope for & here is why....
Ss stated there is a thin FA market. Also, they have a few guys they seem to feel will be on the big club from the minors, not in '08 but hopefully in '09 ,that addresses current needs. How or why should they go spend big buck$ on those needs this fall when they think they are filled in '09 by prospects? Thus, my thoery is they fix SOME needs this fall, hopefully, it isn't a sure bet at all. Without going into the prospects names & positions, we all know them & who they are, I say they address the closer issue first & foremost, then 2 sturdy relievers for whatever "roles", then a solid vet SP IF possible. To be honest, if they can just do that much, I'd be surprised. I don't mean just any warm body that they overpay for either. I am talking legit players for those slots/needs, guys that most of us say, OK, that guy will help!
Note I did not address any positional needs. I think a few of the prospects will fill those, plus maybe they gain a few relievers back from injuries, promotions, etc. MAYBE they gain ONE more SP too in '09 from the group of Penn, Liz, Olson, etc. Modest expectations really but reasonable.
For the everyday lineup, I say make the shifts I mentioned a few blogs ago yesterday. Tejada to 3B, Mora to LF, decide on a slick fielder for SS, stick with Huff/Millar for 1B DH, & status quo elsewhere ....for 2008. They have little choice folks.
T Hunter is NOT coming here no matter how much asbestos/MASN $$ potter tosses at him. he wants to win now, he really wants to go to Texas where he has a home, etc. Just stop tormenting yourselves with the notion. Same goes for A Jones. NOT coming here. Rowand, ditto plus he is slightly overrated.
Sooooo I say re up Patterson. Here is why. There really isn't a better option left. He'll be had much cheaper than either of the latter guys, he might be signed for 2 years 3 max, he is still young, he plays good D in CF, has speed, he hustles, etc. It showed me alot that he really tried to come back from that ankle, he didn't have to plus he is a FA, why risk it? Also, even though he is deemed done & a future FA, where was he last night? In the dugout , in uniform. He didn't pack his toys & blow out of town like another injured key player we all know & love....
One other thing, when he was batting second behind Roberts, that was a good one two punch of speed at the top of the lineup. Trust me, opposing pitchers didn't like it & it kept teams on their toes. Nothing can replace speed like that at the top of the order.
If a power hitting LFer or 1B drops into their laps or they somehow can trade Mora for such, maybe even Tejada, OK , great, but I wouldn't hold my breath.
If you ask me, this is what we will get next year. There will probably & hopefully be some minor alterations such as being Paytonless or Gibbonsless, but their replacement will be of the same ilk, just a different name.... we should be prepared for at best a .500 year too. All this geared towards 2009 hopefully , but I have faith in potter's meddling f'ing that up somehow.

Roch,
I keep hearing that they O's are going to let Patterson go and I just can't understand why? Are there really that many centerfielders who can swipe 40 bags, hit 10-15 homers and play solid defense? Could someone please help me understand the O's reasoning?

JDW. I'm with you re: Patterson. Speed is underrated and with he and Roberts at the top of the order, they could be a force. The O's have lacked a good defensive centrefielder since Brady Anderson so why not offer Patterson a 2-3 year deal at 4-5 mill per and see if he bites?
I'll be surprised if he turns it down because all the big market/big spenders either already have an established CF (Wells/Cabrera/Granderson,etc) or will be going after the likes of Hunter/Jones/Rowand. There might not be that many teams bidding for CPAT so let's see what happens. I wouldn't recommend overpaying for him i.e.anything over 3 years and 5 mill per yr.

Here we go again. Most everyone is stating the obvious and it doesn't take a flippin rocket scientist to do so. Of course the bullpen is going to be a priority, as is another starter, as is a first baseman, as is a center fielder, as is a left fielder, as is etc, etc. The more things change, the more they stay the same. This is nothing more than a replay of this time a year ago. The only difference... the name of the manager and the guy in charge in the FO names have changed. The requirements have not.

A number of people have suggested Coery Patterson as the #2 hitter and his speed alone makes him look like a good tandem with Brian Roberts at the top of the order.

There are a couple things that I think are keeping him at the bottom of the order.

A big one is the strike outs. They have gone down each of his years in B'more without a significant decline in at bats, but he is still very prone to the punch-out. Also, he does not walk very much.

Another big one is that he has not hit lefties very well. Of course, this season he is over .300 against lefties, but his history has been to not do well.

And he does not see many pitches per at bat. If Roberts gets on and Patterson swings at the 1st or 2nd pitch he sees, Roberts is not going to get many SB chances. If Roberts steals 2B a single is a run.

For all his speed, Corey is also a poor base runner. He has run into a couple outs and has been picked off of 2nd Base twice this year. Not what you want from the top of your order.

Mora is not much better with the K or BB, but Mora is a better bunter and actually sees almost as many pitches per at bat as Roberts.

On the other hand, Patterson is above average defensively. Don't just take my word for it - check out what is said about him on line!

In Zambrano's last start, if Patterson could have played CF Toronto might not have scored 8 runs in the 1st inning. 2 of their hits were bloops that Redman broke back on. Patterson would have had a better chance to catch them.

If the Orioles do no better than retain Patterson for CF in 2008 that would hardly be a disaster. He may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but he has a great approach and has really responded to coaching. The talk on the street, however, has him going to KC or Florida.

WOWIE ZOWIE! Last nights game was a nail biter! Not good for me because I just got my nails done. But thank god Payton hit a homerun because his ass was two seconds away from being chased out of the park with torches and pitch forks. Honestly does he know how to catch a ball? Same question goes to Bako!!!!
Anywho, so I went with my friend for our last game (by the way, Clancy the beer man is my new best friend... didn't pay for one beer last night. I’m going to miss him) and I am so glad we won. Only disappointment... Millar was NOT PLAYING! That's why we sit by first base.... so we can talk to him. Aubrey was not having it... although I did see him and Patterson out at the bars surrounded by blonde groupies afterwards... they look so different outside of their uniforms, I’m surprised anyone recognized them. Anyways, so my friend and I discussed the top ten things we won’t miss during the off season.... So here they are WOOOO! (See previous blogs to get Top 10 things we will miss)

1. Payton. Yea yea, he hit a homerun last night. He still blows. I’m sorry but he’s gotta go. If he does leave, the only thing I’ll miss about him is the shot of vodka I take with my friends when he swings at the first pitch. (He’s part of our Orioles drinking game).
2. All of the terrible calls the O’s have received from these retarded umpires. Um seriously what is the typical pay for an umpire because I would gladly step in and take over? Apparently you need no skills for it at all.
3. The Redneck O’s fan in each section. Last night I wanted to kill myself. In every section there is always one guy who is the most redneck Baltimore guy in the world and where does he sit? Right next to me. I swear I wanted to smack him every time he said Baltimore… BAL MAR? I didn’t know I lived in Balmar. He must have taken forty pictures of himself with his camera. Is there a beer limit to rednecks at Camden Yards? There should be.
4. The annoying stairs leading to our seats. If you are short like I am, the stairs leading down to the lower field box seats are annoying. They are such an awkward size. Too big for one foot on each step, but too small for two feet. So if do step on the stairs two feet each step you look like a freaking idiot. And then if you do the one foot per stair, it looks like you are trying to be Stretch Armstrong. They should just turn them into long ramps. So much easier.
5. All of the Injuries. If I have to hear about another one of our pitchers with an oblique problem I’m going to throw a shoe at Leo. Props to Guthrie for pitching last night. At least he’s dedicated to stick around and try and help out.
6. Melvin Mora’s glowing smile. Oh wait he never smiles. Please let him go. He’s wasting away our payroll. Give his money to Roberts to keep him here as long as you can and then give Roberts’ salary to Markakis who is God by the way.
7. TEJADA. Uhhh I really don’t like him. And has anyone noticed that he’s lost his mind. He talks to himself WAY TO MUCH! At the plate, when he’s out at first, when he pops up. I wonder what a conversation between Tejada and Tejada sounds like. “Oh I really hate playing here.” “No, don’t say that. We’re getting paid millions to sit around and do NOTHING” “Oh you’re right… Let’s just stick around for one more season, and help this team lose even more.”
8. The Traffic. Man you would think by 6pm it would clear up a little. Apparently not. I thought people were leaving the city not driving in. I know its not all O’s fans, judging by last night’s attendance. I’m pretty sure Aubrey Huff said “God Bless You” to me after I sneezed last night. I’d take the light rail, but why waste a $1.60 when I can pay $2.69 a gallon for my gas guzzling SUV?
9. The Bullpen. I’m begging you FO, please shake up our bullpen a little. If you are relying on Hoey for a closer or our 7/8th inning guy… DON’T! He’s too iffy. I’m definitely not going to miss watching us lose a game that we should have won in the freaking 8th inning. How many of those games happened this year? I lost count.
10. Another losing season. Yeah, so we are at 10 now right? Dear Angelos, I hate you. Love Jennifer. Ugh, where is Cal when you need him. HAHA! I’m telling you right now and you can quote me next season because I will be right. 2008 – BJ Surhoff as first base coach, New Catcher, Tejada replaced with Hernandez, Redman Patterson Markakis in outfield = winning season. Save this because I will be right. I’m never wrong.

Brian - regarding roles, I couldn't agree with you more. If you're a pitcher, when you take the ball, your role is very simple: GET PEOPLE OUT. Doesn't matter what inning, your role is always the same: GET PEOPLE OUT.

The Orioles are so far away from contending, if they were any further, we'd need the Hubble Space telescope to see them. As for Oriole Park at Camden Yards these days, its not hell, but you can see it from there.

Jennifer, I think I love you. You're not one of those deep-voiced, athletic looking chicks are you?

Almost Former.... HAHAHAHA! No I'm not a scary softball chick HAHA! Just a Baltimore Gal who loves going to Camden Yards, watching my team, and drinking a beer with my Personal Beer Man Clancy. I can't really vent to my friends and family because they are stupid and hate baseball, so I just vent on here. I can't believe the season is almost over. I dont know what Im going to do this winter. Ughh I guess its football now. YUK