Wieters really should be promoted to Bowie. I don't know what he has to prove in Frederick.

I'd just like to say, I am very close to getting a Jim Johnson jersey, and, after that bases loaded situation against Manny, I think he should forevermore be referred to as - JIM JOHNSON, AMERICAN HERO. Who's with me??

Speaking of ejections, i think that it's a crime for family with kids that pay good money to go to a ballgame to be exposed to all that abusive language and fighting. It only happens against boston and the yankee's . Speaking of matchups,bradford and walker the 2 leftovers from last years team are having more troubles then any of the young kids that we have. I will only be happy when the headline reads Designated for Assignment.

Judging by some of the reactions here so far, the underdog O’s vs. the media thing is just going to get old. The media is everyone’s favorite target and they can never satisfy everybody. And since it seems that the O’s, to some extent, are using their discontent with the media as fuel for their season so far, they will never be satisfied even if they get the big type treatment each day on the paper’s front page.

I would think that the team might relish playing well and not being in the spotlight, particularly since they’re still at 10 consecutive losing seasons and years and years of nothing but bad news. Yes, it’s not all the same players, and they’ll be quick to say they are different than those past teams and some of these guys were in high school when the losing started, but they’re wearing the same uniform and playing for the same team so they bear that legacy for now. Sure, they might relish seeing someone acknowledge how well they’re playing so far, but they’ve been able to perform well without much media intrusion on how they’re doing it (and they’ve basically been allowed to gel quietly as a team). If it’s August and they’re still close, that’s going to end, and the media scrutiny will be turned up on them.

No need to rush Wieters or any other prospects. Let them continue playing in the lower levels and work their way up gradually. Even if the major league team is in need of a catcher or more hitting, they should not rush their best prospects. The major league team suffering now is not as important as the young, developing players progressing along at their appropriate pace and playing at the majors when the time is right for them.

Roch, don't you think its time for the O's to move Wieters up to Bowie? I think he's proven that he's a man among boys at the Single A level. It's getting to be a waste of his time at this point.

Roch,

Do you see a move to Bowie for Wieters in the near future? He's clearly dominating A ball. Maybe he's closer to joining the big club than most people think, which couldnt be a bad thing considering how awful Ramon has played over the last 1 1/4 seasons.

P is for Please elevate Wieters to Bowie

So does Wieters become Johnny Bench or Joe Mauer? Or, do the O's eventually move him to first and let him become our next Eddie Murray? How many catchers have there been in the modern era who hit .300 and hit 30+ homers? I know it's too early to tell, but when you have a guy who has this kind of promising power, how long do you keep him at a position where the most homers by anyone at that position in ML history is about 350?

to bob lancione

there will stop being these problems when baltimore fans start going to the games. If there werent tickets for red sox fans to buy or there were more oriole fans then boston fans at the games then this stuff wouldnt happen. However, people believe that not buying tickets to the game will make Angelos sell the team which wont happen.

Support your local team people

Camden Yards will be a happier place once Red Sox and Yankees fans are made to feel less comfortable.

If that takes obscenity and drunkeness, I am all for it.

(not entirely joking)

If the O's remain competitive by the All-Star game, they're going to need ofense. There is one MAN in the minors that can provide that, Matt Wieters. Granted he's in Single-A, Hernandez will not finish the season, and Matt will continue to rampage through the minors. Again, if, the O's remain competitive and are playoff bound by the halfway mark, Wieters will be up in the majors. Trembley has tremendous instincts as a manager and he will do what is necessary! WATCH

Why not put Weiters up to all levels throughout the season. Including Balmer in September. Remember he played three years at Georgia Tech. If we had drafted him right out of high school and he was putting up these numbers for the past three years we would all want him at balmer right now. Weiters and Teixera as 3-4 hitters next season would be sweet

I know we don't want to rush Wieters but it's getting obvious that he is too talented for the level he's playing on...he's not just doing well he's crushing it!!! I can't help but believe that another month like this and he'll be getting a move up soon.....maybe for once we got one that's really that good!!! We're so cautious here in Bawlmer because we're not used to a real deal prospect hitting the gate running like this anymore

I'll bet 50+ each night were O's fans.... the Ushers (potter) give the Suxs fans much more tolerance & leeway.

Weiters will be at Bowie soon enough, relax. Building confidence in a hitter is huge. As for going to Bal'mer this year..... A ball pitching is nothing like ML pitching. Hell, AAA is a big jump from A , AA ball is where the run stops for most prospects, it's the great separator. Weiters will be fine, but there is no need to rush him.

Jim from Dundulk - granted we have had 10 years of losing, putting up with Angelos antics, and a slew of other excuses for the fanbase in Baltimore to be disgruntled. Having said that it's time for people to get back on the bandwagon, because it seems the franchise is turning the proverbial corner. It took Steinbrenner years to figure it out before he had a less hands on approach. Until P. Angelos shows otherwise in the near future fans need to forgive and forget and get over the past. CRB your diatribe about the present players having to bear the legacy of past teams is lunacy to put politely. No further comment should be necessary on that matter. I know it's early but this Wieters kids sounds like the real deal. Trade Roberts and other veterans at the trade deadline (unless we are 10 games in front in the division) and keep this rebuilding process moving forward. Keep up the great work Roch.

Wieters clearly has nothing left to prove in A ball. Not promoting him is just stupid. These at bats are a waste of his time. Let's see what he can do at AA.
Trachsel should be our ace. Think it through. We right off that game as a 1-9 blowout against the other team's ace. Cabrera, Olsen, Guthrie and Burres can take on other team's 2-5 starters. We would be in a great position to win 80% of our games!
Johnson needs to be the setup guy for Sherrill. If our starter goes 7, the game is over.

"No need to rush Wieters or any other prospects. Let them continue playing in the lower levels and work their way up gradually. Even if the major league team is in need of a catcher or more hitting, they should not rush their best prospects."

Why do you think promoting Wieters would be rushing him? Do you think picking an arbitary number of games for him to play before promoting him is somehow better?

At 40 games he is hitting .338 with an OBP of .419 and an OPS of 1.036. He leads the league in HR, OPS, TB, and RBI and is one off the lead in Runs.

He has already been named the player of the month in the Carolina league and was the top prospect in the Hawaiian league last year.

Now what amongst all that makes you think he needs to stay longer in Frederick?

You can inhibt growth just as much by not promoting a player who is ready to move up, as you can by rushing someone.

Some comments:

1. Nats Fans, etc. - Remember that most of these Nats fans were Orioles fans that abandoned their team. Hey, I was born in Washington, DC in 1970. When I started to follow sports, I followed all of the DC teams and the Baltimore Orioles. I admit that I had a soft spot for the Washington Senators and was rooting for the city to get a baseball team. But, I was never going to abandon my baseball team, the Orioles. Anyone my age that grew up an Orioles fan really has no excuse, in my opinion. That's why I am having a really hard time with some of these Nationals fans.

2. Weiters - Remember, he played college ball. If he's dominating at Single A, he needs to move up and get challenged.

3. MASN HD - I still can't figure out why more games aren't in HD. It would make a little sense to me if they were sharing equipment with the Nats broadcast. However, it is often the case that neither the O's nor the Nats game is broadcast in HD. Ridiculous.

Chris, Yea you want a Jim Johnson jersey and I want a Howie Clark one. Dog gone if he isn't with the Twins right now. Oh well, at least he might be back in Baltimore on June 3rd, 4th and 5th to face the O's.

When the chips are on the table, Bradford never comes through. It is that simple. I had zero faith in him yesterday and he showed me why... again. People can't even use the dink and dunk excuse this time. Walker looked rough at first but i liked his last few sequences. I'm not sure why, but I like his chances of straightening things out more than "Porn-stache".

Think how many quality draft picks this bunch cost us. We did well with a 1, 4, and 5. A 2 and 3 would have been nice as well.

Weiters to AA but NO HIGHER in 2008.

Roch, has MacPhail let on whether he might look to trade arms for bats at any point this year or next? Is he going to let the bat market present itself and go from there?

"Wieters really should be promoted to Bowie. I don't know what he has to prove in Frederick." - Chuck et al.

MacPhail wants Wieters to be able to participate in the Single-A allstar festivities before moving him.

Lineup for 2010?

1- B. Roberts - 2B
2- N. Markakis - RF
3- A. Jones - CF
4- M. Texeira - 1B
5- M. Weiters - C
6- L. Scott - LF
7- N. Reimold - DH
8- M. Mora - 3B
9- L. Hernandez/ F. Bynum ( Who has the better range at SS?)

I'm glad the Orioles are leaving Wieters at Frederick. Let him stay there until the Carolina League All-Star game. Let him play and get some recognition for his excellent first half. Then, and only then, promote him to Bowie, and promote Arrieta at the same time so they can continue to develop that strong pitcher-catcher relationship they will need in Baltimore.

No doubt Matt Wieters needs to be elevated. Also I think Jake Arieta deserves to go with him. Both of these guys played a number of years at college, and have done all they can do at Frederick. They have earned promotions, so I see no reason the O's should wait.

I used to feel very confident when Walker was called upon. Now it scares me. And Bradford always scared me. He was missing high yesterday and he got hit. It seems like he and Walker are the weak links in the bullpen right now. This makes things difficult because the bullpen was built to have the two of them to be the strengths. I don't want them in a close ballgame. Thank goodness for Johnson. Too bad we can't pitch him every game. Bradford and Walker are the reasons Johnson will not be allowed to start.

RE: Lineup for 2010?

1- B. Roberts - 2B
2- N. Markakis - RF
3- A. Jones - CF
4- M. Texeira - 1B
5- M. Weiters - C
6- L. Scott - LF
7- N. Reimold - DH
8- M. Mora - 3B
9- L. Hernandez/ F. Bynum ( Who has the better range at SS?)

I doubt half of these players will be with the team in 2 years. Mora, Roberts, Scott, L. Hernandez, Bynum will all be long gone by then (if not by the end of this year). And yeah it would be nice if Texeira will come here, but seriously doubt he will pick the O's over every contending team that will want him.

Most baseball executives and scouts thought Wieters belonged at AA before the season so I don't see how that would be rushing him. Does calling him up in Sep start the free agent clock? If not, expect him to get a call up.

Who could have imagined 23 - 20 after 43 games??? Big series in NY coming up. I'll be there on Thursday night.
Two 3rd row tickets $170...2 cold hotdogs, 2 soggy pretzels and 2 flat sodas $35... O's game in NY with 9 year old daughter...priceless!

Nelson, if Mora is still here in 2010 and we're still debating Bynum and Hernandez at SS, I'm officially no longer an O's fan. I've got dollars to doughnuts that Roberts is gone by then too and that Tex isn't here either. Whether he'd come or not, this team has no business tying up 100+ million in the nearly 30 yo first baseman. Put Wieters at first and pencil in 30+ homers for the next 10 years, which will be a lot more than Tex hits.

Weiters needs to be promoted. Only AA ball, but I think he's proven that he owns A ball. Just don't get tempted to rush him past AA yet.

I hate Sox fans more than Yankee fans. If O's fans start coming back there's going to be an awkward transition period in which the Sox fans come to lose their little comfort zone and things get ugly. After a little while it should settle back down.

Finally... don't anoint Johnson the pope just yet... relievers are too unpredictable. A guy will be lights out one year and then turn into Rick Helling the next. Heck, look at Jamie Walker.

If Johnson keeps it up this season, and then does it again next year... then I'd think about a jersey. :)

Here's my scorecard for 2010:

2B Brian Roberts
CF Adam Jones
3B Nick Markakis
C Matt Wieters
DH Luke Scott
1B (Scott Moore? maybe even Mark Teixiera?)
LF Nolan Reimold
3B (Billy Rowell? Brandon Snyder?)
SS (Khalil Greene?)

SP Daniel Cabrera
SP Adam Loewen
SP Garrett Olson
SP Chris Tillman
SP Jake Arrietta

RP Matt Albers
RP Randor Bierd
SU Jim Johnson
CL Chris Ray/George Sherrill
(bullpens are pretty volatile, never the same year to year like rotations or lineups)

Jones hitting third??? We better hope not!

Also, there is as much chance of Teixeira being an Oriole as there is Jesse Jackson being Obama's running mate.....

It's possible that Bradford's pitches run a greater risk of being up in the zone and therefore hittable due to a lack of use. Often pitchers like him gain sink on their pitches with more use.... Surely some Bradford bashers will say his balls are up in the zone regardless of how much he pitches.

"Put Wieters at first and pencil in 30+ homers for the next 10 years, which will be a lot more than Tex hits."

Yea cause 1st base is a much more important position then catcher.

We have a + defense, switch hitting catcher with power in the minors and you want to turn him into a first baseman?

How about this...how about they let this currently 21 year old stay at catcher, where he is good defensively, has a gun for an arm and calls a good game. Then, in about 12 years they move him to first.

Why would you even consider moving a player from the most important defensive position on the diamond to the least? Five homeruns a year?

Jeff: I’m not against promoting Wieters from level to level in the minors if he shows he can hit the level he’s currently in. I’m against him somehow making a magical jump from single A to the majors some time this season without moving up step by step and playing awhile at each level, which seems to be what some are indicating here. He looks as if he’s going to move through the system fast anyway. He’ll be here soon enough.

Nebraska Jeff: So, magically, all’s forgotten, the O’s are winners, and the stands will be filled, eh? Sorry, that’s not the case. What I meant by my “legacy” comment is that fans and the media will still think this club—the collection of men wearing uniforms that say “Orioles” on the front—are losers until they prove otherwise over a sustained period of time (43 games doesn’t qualify) because 10 consecutive losing seasons have branded this franchise as a loser . A quarter of a good season does not erase 10 consecutive seasons of losing. People can be excited about how the team’s doing right now, but how many are cautiously waiting, wondering when the ugly O’s teams of the past—you can look to 2002, 2005, and 2007 for a sampling of horrific meltdowns that I’m sure you’re familiar with—will resurface?

If the players are wondering why the stands are barely a quarter full and why they aren’t getting banner headlines every time they win, they need to check out the history of the last 10 years. Sure, for many of them, it’s not their fault, but those 10 seasons are a huge obstacle that must be overcome—through consistent winning—for many fans to get back on board.

How about the lineup for 2009?

Trade Ramon Hernandez and save $ 7 million. Sign Teixiera and Rafael Furcal/Orlando Cabrera. Roll the dice with Wieters. Within next 3-4 months Orioles would know if he is going to be ready or not.

Folks, we're in business!

RE: the projected line-up . . .

SS, 3B, LF and C will have different names for sure. 1B is a pipe dream (but one many of us hope comes tru). DH will probably also have a different name. 2B probably will as well.

I've got to agree with Brian, JPA and a few others who are preaching patience with Matt Weiters as he makes his way up the Orioles' ladder.

I had the chance to see him and the Keys play last week when they were here in SW Virginia. He took an 0 for 3, hitting the ball very hard his first 2 times up and then getting fooled badly in his last AB on 3 straight hard breaking balls, striking out with the tying run in scoring position.

But make no mistake, the guy is obviously very special and is quite a presence both at the plate and behind it. He laid waste to the only poor soul who attempted to steal 2nd on him, throwing him out with 5 feet to spare. I laughed out loud. The kid has got a cannon.

So, count me as a "definitely yes" for promotion to Bowie, but I'd have to disagree with the notion that Matt Weiters is ready to be penciled in the lineup for the Baltimore Orioles.

Greg, you make an excellent point. Let Wieters bask in the glow of the Carolina League All-Star festivities before sending him up to Bowie. Let him finish the year in the minors and let's not bring up until 2009 so we hang onto his three option years for when the team may need them. Right now, he's a big fish in a small pond and that can do a world of good for his confidence.

I wish people would stop assuming the Orioles signing Texeira would be a good idea. It could be a giant step backwards, and reminds me of what ownership would have done over the past 10 years. Let's not forget the rebuilding mandate. There is still much to be done including the eventual purge of Huff, Mora, Payton and eventually Millar. I'm not convinced dealing Roberts is essential at this point, but I would not object too loudly if and when it happens.

And as for trading Johnson and Sherrill as some of you have suggested, I just don't get it. This isn't fantasy baseball. Why on earth would a team want to deal every player who is starting to perform. What's the point?

As for Bradford, he'll find a role as a middle-innings guy or even a mopup man until he can pull it together. And I'm confident Walker will bounce back with a strong stretch through the summer months. Come the trading deadline, though, if anyone is interested, I'd definitely be listening.

Wieters was also overmatched in the spring facing almost major league pitching - he needs to learn and play (and earn) his way for more than a month before being promoted...I hope he's in the minors all year - it will serve him well and prepare him for next year.

Jeff V--look up Johnny Bench's numbers and compare them to Eddie Murray's. Five homers a year?

First off Terpsfan, bit premature to be comparing Wieters to Bench and Murray dontcha think?

Secondly the scouting reports on Wieters projected him to be a 25 HR a year guy, don't let a 40 HR pace in A ball get you too excited.

Ok now on to the fun part, comparing Bench and Murray.

Murray played 23 seasons in the major leagues and accumulated 11,336 at bats. Bench only played 17 years and had 8,669 at bats. Murray hit a homerun every 22.5 at bats, Bench 22.75.

Hmm thats a whopping .25 difference!
Murray also holds a huge .009 lifetime adjusted EQA lead. His WARP3 number is 13.9 higher as well.

However if you look at it year by year, Murray's highest WARP3 for a season was 10.6 in 1984, Bench surpased that number on four occasions. I use WARP3 since it factors in the defensive position in calculating value (that is how come Cal JR has the second highest WARP3 in a season all time). Bench's defense more then compensated for Murray's slightly better offensive ability.

So what exactly is your argument? That Bench played 17 years and Murray 23 cause they played Catcher and First base respectivly? Murray's career was very long for any position, he made a habit of avoiding plays that could lead to injury, kinda the opposite of Fred Lynn.

Eddie is an alltime great but you can not make a case for his career being greater then Bench's.

That is my point. Catchers don't have nearly the longevity of other position players. Comparing their statistical averages does not address that issue. Bench and even Mike Piazza are anomalies anyway and even they didn't play nearly as long as they would have if they had not caught for most of their careers.

Very simply my point is that if you have a player with huge offensive potential, you'll get more out of him at 1B than at catcher. If you're right Wieters is no Murray or even Bench or Piazza then maybe keeping him at catcher is no big deal. He'll end up being like Joe Mauer, missing a bunch of time because of injuries and not having an incredible career. But, if he has the potential to be much more than that (which seems to be the concensus, albeit based on the early returns), I'd rather have him playing first like a Justin Morneau and becoming a true force in our offense.

Piazza retired today, seven seasons earlier than Murray did. He played in 1000 fewer games, had just over half as many AB's, 1110 fewer hits, and about 600 fewer RBI's. Impressively, he hit 427 home runs (the most every by a catcher), but the rest of his numbers aren't close to Murray's or even what they might have been had he not been a catcher.

I'm not saying we don't need a good catcher, but I'd rather have Matt Wieters at first and a Benji Molina type behind the plate.

What I am saying, is that the value of a good catcher makes up for it. As I implied earlier, Murray isn't a very fair example to use. He ranks 6th all time in games played, which just happens to be the most by a primary first baseman.

Wieters was considered major league ready defensively coming out of college, he has a gun of an arm, he called all the pitches for his high school team. He will be a much more usefull contributor behind the plate then at first base.

If he's only Benji Molina as a hitter, you're probably right. If he could be much more than that (which certainly seems possible at this point) I don't think you are.

It is much easier to get a league average or above average first baseman then it is a catcher. There are a ton of first base types out there, quality catching is much more rare.