Oscar's winning performance
Right now, I'm trying to figure out just how many Orioles fans have fallen head-over-heels in love with Oscar Salazar over the past hour or so. The guy has turned Twins starter Nick Blackburn into his personal pinata, and I'm guessing there are a few people who are ready to pencil him into next year's lineup.
Not so fast. Salazar is a 30-year-old journeyman minor leaguer with a total of 62 major league at-bats. He has a total of six major league homers, three of which he has hit in the last 24 hours. He hasn't earned the inside track in the competition for the extra infield/DH spots on the roster next year, but he has earned a chance to be mentioned in the conversation after two big run-production years in the Orioles system.
Comments
Salazar is a cheaper version of Kevin Millar.
I'm not saying we should put him at 1B/DH next season, but he would be a better option than re-signing Millar.
Posted by: Big Mac | September 14, 2008 3:18 PM
One game is a good start. But it's one game when everyone's hitting.
Congrats to Radhames!
Posted by: Northern oriole | September 14, 2008 4:43 PM
September stuff really means little when it comes to next year. Remember Tike Redman? He hit .318 with speed for the O's in Sept '07. And he never even got a call up this year.
Posted by: Shawn | September 14, 2008 6:44 PM
Come on Peter, are you really that tough on an outsider/underdog (referring to Salazar). It is not like we are trying to replace an all-star 1st baseman. Isn't it about time, Salazar gets regular starts at first base?!?!?!
For the duration of spring training, Salazar was tearing up the competition ... he (and possibly Melvin Mora) were our best hitters during spring training. He received all kinds of accolades during spring training from Trembley and others, calling him a "professional hitter". Many fans, including myself, would have liked to see him make the club, especially considering the "rebuilding mode" we were in. But that was not to be.
He was rewarded by his stellar spring training by being sent to Norfolk. Did he pout? Did his numbers diminish? NO, instead he promptly started to tear up all the Triple A pitching ... all season long.
Then, when he was finally called up on the roster because of injury, he basically sat on the bench almost all the time. He really hasn't had much of an opportunity to prove himself on the major league ballclub yet, but come on ... when he delivers like he did over the weekend series ... how about showing him a "little love". Not everybody has to have a pedigree.
And by the way, I wish Trembley and the press would also stop denigrating Montanez also. He has hit like a pro for 2 years in the minors, and maybe he doesn't always take the best route to a ball in the field, but he has made some pretty spectacular catches too, and in general, looks pretty effective out there. I think it is time for all you media that has this enormous "man crush" with Kevin Millar to give it up ... he is a human rally killer ... and lets start truly rebuilding by giving the guys with success in the minors a chance to prove themselves at the majors.
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Pete's reply: I like Salazar, but don't think you rebuid with 30-year-old minor league journeymen. I hope he gets a chance to be on the team next year, but if he's your starting first baseman, you're probably not a very good team.
Posted by: Guy | September 15, 2008 1:25 PM