First two games? Get Trembley some water Roch....

If things are done at 12:30, I'd be sure I was on that field until 2 PM at least, working on something if I could get someone to hit to me or throw to me. If I am a fringe guy or a new guy, I put in the extra work.That's still not a full day, besides you can't sit around the pool everyday....

Oh, wait until Hubele has a taste of 9-5 or selling printers each day for a control freak sales manager. he might be back real soon....

There's been so much doom and gloom in baseball, about the Orioles chances, Clemens lie-fest, etc., just this little bit of sunshine about Chris Ray's rehab and Ramon Hernandez looking like Mr. Universe is particularly uplifting. There seems, at least from this post by Roch, that there's a definite positive energy in the air. It's been said of late that this year's Orioles might be worse than the 1988 version, but frankly, I think we're due a "WHY NOT?" '89 style year. First place is no team's birthright (sorry Mistah Steinbrennah), it's spring, anything is possible...speaking of what's possible, any word on Brian Roberts? Has he told the Chicago Tribune that 's the "centerpiece" of a major deal involving Felix Pie, Sean Gallagher, Ferguson Jenkins, Rich Gale (if you remember those two guys, hats off to ya) and two beer vendors? Any teams had a third baseman blow out a knee and in the market for a Melvin Mora? Kidding, kidding...no, seriously, Mora, Payton, anybody who isn't a pitcher who is over age 35 please STEP AWAY FROM THE FIELD, youths only!

I'm really impressed, though from a completely third-person perspective, with the job that Trembley is doing. I'm too young to remember anything about the "Oriole Way", but Trembley seems to be the type of manager that wants to re-institute that mindset. Further, it seems like the guys are getting behind this mindset.

This team is not going to be good. I think that's a given. But it would be nice to see improvement, and that seems to be Trembley's plan in ST. As much as I didn't want to blame Perlozzo for last year, I do think that Trembley is the right guy for this team. Not that anyone is doubting that, but when this team inevitably hits a 7 game skid this year, he seems to be the guy to keep things in perspective.

Oh, wait until Hubele has a taste of 9-5 or selling printers each day for a control freak sales manager. he might be back real soon....
Yeah that's funny since I am a sales manager for a printer sales com....Brian is this you!!!...control freak my eye!!

Anthony. I disagree with you on Patterson. He has some flaws but he's has an upside, too. He can run, steal bases and is an excellent fielder. He's still better than Payton, Gibbons and Redman who are still on the roster and he did pick things up in the 2nd half.
I realize he's an unsigned free agent and no one else has picked him up yet but I think that he's end up on a MLB roster before the season starts. Maybe his agent is asking too much $$$ and Patterson may have to accept a back-up role.

Completely off topic in every way, but the Falcons released Alge Crumpler. Can you get any info on that Roch? Did he have a bad attitude or something?

The major problems with last year revolve around the entire pitching staff (save Cabrera) getting injured along with Hernandez and Huff being busts. Hernandez and Huff both appear to be in great shape and we have lots of pitchers commpeting for work. It's not absurd to be optomistic about this year's O's surpassing last years.
That being said, we'll still be in last place because the other 4 teams in the division are just that good.

It would be nice if Trembley ends up as the Nate McMillan of MLB.
The question is, who is the O's Brandon Roy? Or will be?

You bring up an interesting point, Roch, and that is how the rapport between a first-string catcher and pitching coach on any team can have a profound influence on the success of the pitching staff. Anybody who has played this game will tell you all the stats only mean so much. You can have a catcher who hits .300 with 20 homers, 80 RBIs, throws out 40 percent of would-be base-stealers and can't communicate worth a damn with the pitching coach. Then you have a catcher who bats .256 with 8 homers, 50 RBIs and throws out 30 percent of the opposing runners, but he is totally in sync with the pitching coach, and as a result, the staff ERA is half a run lower. Personally, I'd opt for the latter. So it would be very interesting to continue following the relationship between Hernandez and Kranitz, and whether or not there is mutual respect.

Hey Roch, thanks for blogging! It is great to get 2, 3, 4 reports a day about what's going on down there. I'll be happy to read 5 or 6 a day if you feel the need.

Very encouraged by your news, and I also agree that Tremblay seems to be the right manager for the rebuilding process.

It's hard not to get swept up in Trembley's optimism, and yet he's talking about Ramon Hernandez here. When Trembley says of him "I think he understands that this is a big season for him,” one could -- should? -- just as easily say "I think he understands this is a LONG season for him." What's not to like about this time of year? Not much. What's not to like about, say, August? Perhaps plenty. Ramon has a heck of a lot more to prove than he has so far -- that's for sure -- though he has gotten off on the right foot.

As for my optimism, one of the things I look most forward to is seeing how the O's play -- regardless of supposed talent levels -- under Trembley for an entire season. It's his club, replete with his own staff, and he's the right guy for the job. When's the last time we could say that about an O's manager?

Spring Training is the BEST time to be an Orioles fan. How can you not feel all warm and fuzzy inside ready these updates??

Roch--I like the image of Mike Costanzo alone on the field taking those grounders at third. This guy with his natural power and his willingness to learn gives me a good vibe.

I was impressed with Trembley after he took over last year and continue to be impressed with his organization, his ability to teach and handle people, and his message of accountability. Although this team still has a myriad of problems, somehow I sense that they are going to surprise some people this year.

Sorry if I missed something but. What's up with the O's and all of minor league baseball relief pitcher of the year. That's quite an award. Not one of the best but #1 in all of baseballs minor league relief pitchers of the year. Did he die ? Did he join thr Talaban ? Was he kidnapped ? Am I asking too much ? Thanks

wait...why are we not talking about trades or steroids anymore?

Hey Chris Ray, please start from scratch and learn to stop leaning on your fastball...You need to be a 2 pitch guy, I don't care how freaking hard you throw. Any hgh addicted closer with over 100 career saves will tell you that.

Thanks for the BASEBALL post, Roch!!!!

When Ray comes back, where will that push Goerge Sherrill to? The set-up man? Dennis Sarfate might be doing a good job there or Jim Hoey will be ready for the majors, so that's a question in my mind.

"When Ray comes back, where will that push Goerge Sherrill to? The set-up man?"

Despite Ray's wishes a return this season is ambitious given his surgery. Also, I do not think, if he were to come back that he could be expected to jump in and close this season.

Sherrill is a very tradeable commodity and he could be flipped quickly to another team if for some reason he no longer fit the O's plans.

Roch - Any chance you can contact Corey Patterson and see if he's getting any attention from any other team. I'm afraid that Boras has set his price too high. I agree with TerryP that he is a quality outfielder. He did steal 40 bases last year, right? His defense is solid and although he has some holes in his swing, but more than anything tends to be impatient and undisciplined at the plate he's better than some of the guys we have as our fourth outfielder candidate.

I just feel bad for him that he doesn't have a team yet because he is a quality guy who hustles, which is more than I can say for Payton and Gibbons.

TerryP
Patterson wants to much money to be a bench player and isn't good enough to be a starter. The problem is that he wants to be a starter.
If Patterson (and more importantly Boras) is willing to accept a big paycut to be on the bench, then he might be worth a flyer, but I can't take another left handed outfielder.

Roch,
This Brian Roberts stuff needs to stop. Clearly the Cubs don't want to pay the price for an All Star 2nd baseman who can steal 50 bases, bat 290, and by the way switch hit and lead off... Why are the Orioles even considering trading him? Next to Markakis Roberts is the the team MVP and just entering his prime. By the way who would replace him? Thats right we have no one ready in AAA, AA or even A ball. Keep Brian wait until someone is over a barrell and needs a 2nd baseman and has to meet the O's demands at the trade deadline. And if it doesn't happen so be it we still have one of the top leadoff men in the game to build around. How do we lose, to me its a win, win...

If it were me I would go with a Rotation of:
Lowen
Gutherie
Cabrerra
Penn
and the lefty we got in the Astros deal
Put Trax in the bull pen.

I may even try Daniel Cabrerra at closer in spring training... never know he could be a Johnothan Pappelbon in waiting. I know thats a pipe dream! Only spring training could bring such a positive outlook. April is my favorite time of the year.

Yankee's Suck!!!!
Ha, ha, ha, ha... In the words of George Murason (the 7 foot 7 inch center for the ounce named Bullets) "I love this game!"

Is there any evidence re Penn's purported "attitude problem" other than his forgetting his bag that day? Never heard anything to support that he's had any problem other that some very ill-timed injuries.

Corey Patterson is an underrated player. I've strongly expressed my thoughts about his value throughout the off-season, detailing his defense, base stealing, significant improvement in strikeouts, occasional pop, bunting ability, and all-out hustle.

Why not have an excellent defensive outfield with guys who can also provide speed on the base paths--Patterson, Jones, and Markakis? Luke Scott can DH. And perhaps he can make a move to first base to provide more options there.

I love having the duo of Brian Roberts and Patterson making things happen on the bases. They are two of the top stolen base guys in baseball.

All of us diehard Oriole fans are committed to whatever it takes to regain our prominence. We all want the solid and thriving foundation in the minor league system, the excellence of scouting, and the full commitment to teaching the Oriole Way. We want to become, once again, the team that once had the best winning percentage in baseball from the early 1960s to the mid 1980s. At that point, the Dodgers and Reds were next in line, not the Yankees, who fell to the basement in the mid 1960s when the Birds began to fly.

A lot is happening now that shows promise.

I keep hearing how “ugly” it will be this year. I don’t believe that.

Baltimore is rebuilding in the correct way. This season, we will have a lot to be happy about.

I can’t wait.

I say offer Patterson a 1 yr deal, at a decent price, eat Payton's deal or Gibbons, see if Patterson has a good yr & work from there. Him in CF , Jones in LF, whatshisname in RF...nice OF. DH Scott.

“An awful lot of good arms,” he said.

He also noted how everyone seemed to have fresh legs ..."

Is Trembley a prosthetic salesman?

I've never heard of half of these guys and the ones I do know are way past their prime.

george - Penn had lots of issues last spring and the forgotten equipment bag was sort of the metaphor for them.

You would expect a kid in his 1st big league camp to forget his bag, forget his glove, miss the bus, etc., but not a guy who has pitched in the majors and is supposed to be poised to make the step into being a regular.

But here Penn was doing all that and more.

From what was reported about him he also seemed to have both a deer in the headlights look and an unstated attitude that the work had already been done and he just needed to collect the awaiting awards. An odd duality. And a sure trip to AAA.

He was no Matt Riley, but he sure did not show a lot of respect for the game.

Was it youthful impetuosity that led to the forgotten bag or was it that he just did not care enough to make the preperations to have his bag with the equipment manager in time? Did the other mistakes happen out of being intimidated by a major league camp or because he really didn't have to try that hard?

Penn took more than a few steps backward in 2007 before the injury.

Here is hoping he learned his lesson.

Terry P - I agree with a lot of what you have said about the team but I have to disagree about Patterson.

With Jones, Markakis and Scott, the only way on OF is going to get significant playing time is if someone gets injured.

Even if Jones goes 4 - 60, he has to be in there every day. Look at what happened with Rich Dauer. Earl stuck with him through 2 start of the season disasters and he turned out to be one of the best 2B in the O's history of fine 2nd Basemen.

Patterson is not an off the bench type of player. If he is going to hit above .230 he needs 500 - 600 ABs and he is just not going to ge them with the O's.

If the O's are smart enough to keep Roberts this could be a very interesting team.

Last season the real problem was not the offense but the pitching. The bullpen stunk and, after the 1st or 2nd week, no one was in their best role (except Ray). Burres had to start requiring likeable but less talented guys like Bell, Birkins and Leicester to pitch long relief and spot start. Walker and Bradford were never supposed to be in the game after the 7th inning, etc.

A good bullpen in '08 could surprise a lot of people.

I'd keep Burres in the long role, have Bradford, Walker, Bierd and McCrory in middle relief, McCrory and Sarfate set up and Sherrill close.

If the starters can get past the 6th inning more than once a week....

Hey Roch,

If you remember, I have been following this blog (from Japan) since you first posted a few years ago. I was one of the first to comment and I check this site multiple times daily. It's the only thing that keeps me sane over here.

I wanted to ask when will the O's be sending over some scouts? And if they are looking for a scout, Id be more than willing to quit teaching and become one.

As always thanks from Japan.

How can you have Cabrara close when he can't throw strikes. If you are up 3-2 and he walks the first six guys he faces in the ninth you lose. He needs to get it together this year or adios. We dont need another Sidney Ponson.

I wondering why everyone says both Jay Payton and Tike Redman along with Freddie Bynum and Guillermo Quiroz will make up the bench. Why do we need backup outfielders and still have speedster Freddie Bynum be another option. That actually 3 backup outfielders. My choice for the bench is Guillermo Quiroz, Freddie Bynum, Jay Payton or Tike Redman, and Scott Moore.

Tom D, Anthony... Good points about Patterson..I wasn't suggesting that he start and wasn't aware that Boras was asking big $$$ & a starting job. At this point, he may have to lower his expectations. I still think the O's could use him as a 4th OF-Scott may be better suited as a DH, use Huff/MIllar at 1st...
I agree that Jones HAS to play even if he hits .200-we gave up a lot to get him and we better be patient!!! Still, if he slumps/needs a rest.etc ti woild be nice to have a guy like Patterson.
Still, I can live without him-the lossesof Bedard & Tejada are obviously more significant.

Baseball and Basketball in the land of Football:

For those heading South to catch O's spring training there are two interesting diversions available. 2/20 is Duke vs The U in Coral Gables and on 2/23 it is your Maryland Terps vs Miami @ Coral Gables as well. Neither game is sold out. Can you imagine a Duke game at Comcast Center NOT being sold out? I guess in Miami it is football first and everything else is just an afterthought.

Nice story with Huff Roch.

As for Huff... I say Bygones everyone. Bal'mer has to get over it. He is on your team. Booing him or heclking him won't help. save that for Gibbons & Payton. :-)
I think we can all admit there are a few cities in the country that have better "nightlife" & later hours than Bal'mer does. He didn't insult the Chesapeake or crabs so cut him a break now.

I can understand why the Birds are shying away from re-signing Corey Patterson. The guy could be the Second Coming of Ichiro Suzuki, but instead he insists on swinging from his heels (and mostly missing), trying to be a slugger. If a hitting coach hasn't been able to convince him by now that he's not Hank Aaron, it ain't likely going to be happening.

Let him go. He's got "Royals" written all over him.

Tom D
-Thanks for the reply. That question had been nagging.
Yes, wouldn't it be extraordinary if the team pulled a surprise off this year. Here's to the possibilities that a new season brings...

Patterson has a career .298 OBA, I don't care if he can bunt, 298 OBA means you are not a major league hitter.

Over his eight years in the league his cumulative WARP3 is 18.2, that tells the whole story, he is slightly above the guy you would call up from AAA to replace him.

As for his fielding, with the O's he has been at a +3 FRAA but career he is at -38 due to brutal years defensivley in 02 and 04.

He is a nice guy but since he refuses to accept walks he is a very marginal player that will not be worth the cost.

Of course if the O's want to flat out release Payton and Gibbons and sign Patterson I won't complain, as a 4th outfielder he would be more palatable then those two.

Roy-
Here are a few stats from SI.com on Daniel Cabrerra the first time through the batting order:
ERA - 2.57 (not bad)
In 231 innings:
221 hits
66 ER
212 k's
141 walks
8.24 K/9
1.50 W/9
.252 batting ave against

That is why I would give him a chance to close, and not cut him and have him turn in to the next Jose Mesa, a capable closer for the Indians for many years and a dud of a starter for the O's.
Think outside the box dude, this is the year to try something new...