I think if you could talk Ramon into being the DH he would be fine. I thought he got some key hits for us last year. His defense was indefensible though.

My take: He will do better since it is a contract year.

I think I have said this before around here on your blogs, but most fans probably didn't know a whole lot about Ramon before he got here.

His "reputation" was that he was a good defensive catcher and worked well with pitchers. Some would cite his CERA and other various stats.

What people seem to forget is that he was playing in Oakland...pitcher friendly park, and had lots of talent in the rotation to catch for.

Then he went to San Diego; national league, pitcher's park, and still had very good talent to work with.

Then he comes to Baltimore. Horrible talent to work with for the most part, and he didn't help. He's always had a nasty problem with errors and passed balls. Errors from his strong, but erratic throwing arm and passed balls because his technique leaves a lot to be desired. He also would rarely if ever block the plate.

Then, take into account his first season with the Orioles. It was a career year for him. People who didn't know him thought this was the real Ramon. Actually, what you saw last season is closer to what the real Ramon is. Still a decent offensive weapon, but certainly no Mike Piazza in his prime.

He's also not been the most durable guy in the world. That kind of comes with the territory for catchers though, but we saw him breaking down in his tenure here so far.

If you judged him solely by his first season, then yes, your reaction to his numbers since then would be of disgust. If you knew his history a bit better, you knew what to expect.

Mainly I would like to see him go because his energy level and vibe don't seem to fit the direction this team is going in. They need a take charge guy behind the plate to corral the young pitchers when they get here.

Couldn't agree with you more Peter!
I, for one, was very excited when the O's signed him, but now I can't wait for him to leave. He'll probably do better elsewhere as he looked like he was just going though the motions the last few years. I wish that we could get something better than Ryan Freel for him, but we'll be lucky to get anything for him at this point.
Question: Will we still have to pick up a chunk of his rather large salary?

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Pete's reply: I think so.

I think he hit like .200 for the first 2 months of the season. He wouldn't be a good DH.

He's lazy. He doesn't call good games. When a ball gets by him, he gets up and WALKS over to it. He doesn't even make an effort to pounce on the thing. He doesn't hustle, and if you're going to be liked in Baltimore, you gotta hustle. Bottomline. It shouldn't surprise you that no one is coming to the guy's defense.

He is the laziest, most unmotivated player I have ever seen. Even the bad clubhouse guys that are jerks at least are motivated to win. He has a bad attitude...I really can't say anything positive about him. A two-year old could block balls better than him. Does Ramon even enjoy the game of baseball?

whats the story on Braden Looper? His contract isn't too crazy (i think). he wasn't offered arbitration. he threw 200 innings last year and his era was around 4. Why not go after a guy like him? I'd be happy with him, garland, guthrie, then let someone step up for the other spots. worst case cabrera eats alot of innings at the 4 spot (but unfortunately gives up a ton of runs at the sametime). maybe olson/penn/liz step up and take a spot or 2.

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Pete's reply: His name hasn't come up around the O's much, but I'll ask around.

Baltimore was nothing more than a paycheck for Ramon. Good riddance. He's the kind of player we need to avoid in the future. Hopefully we learned from that mistake. Freel is a very gutsy player who is an all out baller. O's fans will love his hustle. I travel to Cincinnati often for my job & the Reds fans love him. Im hoping this gets done....Could Freel be BRob's replacement??? He could be the Freel good story of the summer??? Ok, Ill stop.

Take it from me, as a Baltimore native who moved to Northern California, and watched Ramon during his A's days. He is never going to be a solid defender, and will actually cost you quite a few outs during the course of the season. I've seen him all too often come up the line to catch balls from the outfield that would have had a decent chance of nailing the runner at the plate, as if he was afriad of any potential contact. His hitting is mediocre at best, so be happy to have him on another team, and bring on the kid (Wieters)...this could be a really fun 2009 season in Baltimore (but be honest with your expectations)...

Thoughts on Scott Erickson wanting to make a comeback?

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Pete's reply: Wouldn't surprise me. The guy was one of the best-conditioned athletes I've ever seen, and a great competitor. Don't know what he might have left.

dump the bum...lackluster effort is an understatement...is he related to Javy Lopez???

Of course he will do better in a contract year because of the money factor. Look what happened the last 2 years. He just came in out of shape, got lazier as the year went on, and just didn't care what the team did. Ramon should pay back the Orioles for the last 2 years because he was a major factor as to why the team was so bad. And now he was grooming Wieters to be the catcher. I'd like to know what he was telling him. He had to be telling him where the local McDonalds and Burger King are. I would like to see them sign Gregg Zaun and have him tutor Wieters instead, then we would have us a really good all around catcher.

We don't need Ramon in any capacity. What a fat, lazy #%&*! I've never been more disgusted and ashamed as I was any time he neglected to block the plate from runners or errant pitches. I would honestly trade this guy straight up for a used jock strap.

Watching Hernandez play last year infuriated me at times. His lacksidasical play behind the plate was an absolute embarrassment. I wanted Trembley to pull him off the field so many times. I was really surprised a baseball man like Trembley even put up with it. I can't wait to see him go. I don't care what he does next year as long as he doesn't do it in Baltimore.

Trading Hernandez is addition by subtraction. His blatant lack of hustle is reminicsent of Miguel Tejada's disinterest in running out ground ball and fly balls...and he is no Miguel Tejada. The last thing the Orioles need is for players like Hernandez teaching younger players how to loaf.

pete- He has worn out his welcome with the long face, jogging down the line, and not holding up the catchers mit target for pitchers. Are ther any rumors or meetings with the O's and the Rays. The rumor out there is they are willing to move a shortstop for an outfielder. We have Luke Scott. We could replace Luke with Adam Dunn.
SS is harder to fill than LF.

rumor has it the guy LOVES the sauce.

"Ramon...wore out his welcome in Baltimore with his listless play this past season."

No, Ramon Hernandez's listless, passionless, unspirited play began two years ago. Trust me, I have season tickets and witnessed it first hand.

I love that somebody posting on a sports page blog calls himself "The Mythical One". that's simply hilarious.

What do you think about signing Veritek? Coach for Weiters; good with young pitchers. Can DH and maybe play 1B once Weiter's is ready.

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Pete's reply: Can't see them spending significant free agent money on a veteran catcher.

Ramon is not a good baseball player period. It is likely that he used PED's when with the A's. He is overweight and cannot make routine throws to 2nd on steal attempts. Why anyone would pay $8 million for him is beyond all reason. Hopefully, fans will see a salary cap soon, so that MLB will be more entertaining. Now, it is just lame.

good riddons!

I'm sure the happiest guy in the world with this trade is Jim Palmer. Jimmy on TV would complain about how terrible he was evry game I watched. It was hilarious!

Give Ramon a break you guys. He's still better than Earl Williams.

Lackluster? Oh, you do know how to understate things, Peter. Never dropping to his knees to scoop balls, walking to the passed balls, never talking to the pitcher, horrible footwork on his throws to second, consistently wide throws to second, jogging out all of his grounders, and then getting frustrated with umpires when his lazy butt couldn't see the strikezone from the batter's box, the list is so long of things that I hate about Ramon Hernandez. I'll say that he was good with the pitching staff and defense in his early years with us, but he has more than worn out his welcome in an Orioles uniform.

Because my actual first name is very common, my friends came up with that nickname to set me apart.

So and so, the mythical one.

THANK GOD! No way I wanted that lazy you know what being around Matt to groom him.

Brooks Robinson could beat Ramon in a foot race....today.

I go to Delmar for a week every summer and on the sports talk show in SD (1090) the year he was a free agent, they couldn't wait to get rid of him also. That time is was a supposed injury to his hand that frustrated the fans.

Yea!! Ramon is sooo lazy. How many times didn't he run all that way to first? I am looking forward to having a catcher that holds his glove up as a target for the pitcher. This may even be part of the reason we lead the majors in walks. But couldn't we get the Reds to take Walker too?

Pete- I saw on the Reds website that the prospects are Brandon Waring (3rd Base) and Justin Turner (2nd Base). Have you heard the same names? If so, do you think the O's have plans on keeping Turner in Bowie or trading Roberts and moving him up? I just figure if the O's ever do trade Roberts, they would need a replacement. Could he be the guy?

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Pete's reply: Not right away, but both are okay prospects.

I can't think of a better way to rebuild a team than to block a player who won the triple crown at AA with a 32 year old utility man. I'd rather them dump Ramon for nothing. I know Montanez might not be the answer, but can't we give the guy a chance. A stupid trade.

this is a great move....the lazy receiver apparently got most of his exercise chasing balls to the backstop.
Get out the Welcome Matt!

Can someone explain why the Orioles seem to be interested in Felix Pie? In 260 MLB ABs, he has fanned 72 times. That would be acceptable if he had the power of Ryan Howard, but he's a typical NL OF: no power, no hitting, all alleged potential.
Somebody please explain.

Pete,

Sorry for the lack of compassion, but since his first season here it hasn't seemed his heart was in the game and it showed in all aspects. He never once blocked the plate taking throws three feet to the front or side of the play, his arm strength and speed to second has erroded and his hitting was sporadic at best. In fact with the tremendous histrory of illegal supplements by form Athletic players and his falloff from his first season, one has to wonder? I would have taken two broken bats and pay half his salary to dump him and make room for Wieters so Andy pulled off a gem of trade getting two prospects and a serviceable utility guy! Great first move!

Ramon was great back in 06 but not so much since then. His defense was pathetic this year and he was out of shape. A pretty good hitting catcher, yes, but the O's are rebuilding so it was necessary and I think they're better off without him.

In the article it says that this wont affect the proposed trade for Pie. For Petes sake, why not??? We now have a surplus of OFs why would we trade for an OF who hasnt proven anything on the major league level? Olsen hasnt been great but we need pitchers more than we need extra OFers!! I really hope McPhail doesnt pick up Pie.

The only thing that scares me about that is the Reds just signed Darnell McDonald and knowing our front office,he could be one of the mid level prospects.I heard they are sending Mike Flanagan to take a look at him.I mean look at that sweet deal we got for Javy Lopez,and they still haven't given a name to the player to be named for Chad Bradford.Or was that a future considerations deal?Never understood what that meant either.

I'm sure Rick Dempsey is happy now, too. He ripped Ramon a new one about his play every chance he got.
I was happy with him at first but was among the rest of you who found it painful to watch him deteriorate before our eyes. For whatever reason, I think he lost his desire and ability to play at the level required of a first-string catcher. And Rick, a former catcher, can call it like he sees it.

This guy never wants to block the plate on an incoming runner. I say goodbye and farewell. Hope that Wieters has more heart when it comes to preventing runners from scoring.

This move puzzles me; after '09 the O's will need a 3B, 1B, maybe a 2B, we don't have a SS as of now, and we go out and trade for a utility OF??

Is anyone concerned that Texiera seems to move from team to team? Why is it that no one wants him long term? A commentator said last year that Texiera is not a team guy and only interested in his own stats. Is there something Orioles fans and reporters are missing? Who is the "real" Texiera?

Hey Peter,

I really like you but I cannot bring myself to buy or even look at the Baltimore Sun on-line any longer. The paper is just too left wing and is beyong being biased. I will have to get my Orioles and Ravens news somewhere else. The old media is dying and this past year confirmed that. Go O's!!!!!!

John Dunlap

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Pete's reply: Sorry to hear that. We do have Ron Smith now, you know.