i'd like to see the orioles trade sherrill if they could get a couple of young prospects. maryland could have used sherrill to save last night's game but the terps were outscored by 20 in the 2nd half.

I'll take $2.9M. A shade above the average between the 2 figures. Usually comes out that way to make the player happy that they "won".

BTW, Flanny is toast. He did himself in with the draft and the signings fo Baez, Walker and Bradford. But why are they letting him hang out there and not make an announce that we all know is coming?

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Pete's reply: I have no explanation for why his situation has not been clarified, though I think you'll see him on MASN sometime this year.

The Orioles may be good at "winning" arbitration cases. But I think it is actually a loss to go to the hearing. You dont want the bad vibes between the club and the player. The true win is to settle before arbitration.

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Pete's reply: I agree.

Not surprised the Orioles do well on the legal end of baseball because that is what Peter Angelos does. What he doesn't do well is run a major league franchise. I had season tickets for 8 years ending in 98 when he ran Gillick, Johnson, and Miller out of down because they didnt do it his way. He had the record for consecutive sell outs and a team that went to the ALCS 2 years in a row. Now he has an empty stadium, and pays his ushers to remove 3 fans from 300 empty lower seats because they dont have the right tickets. He should be paying his ushers to go into the upper deck, thank fans for coming, and escort them down to empty seats in the lower deck. I love the O's and check the box score daily, but wouldnt care if they moved because Angelos should fire himself. But he does the legal end well.

Hopefully the O's and Sherrill find an agreeable number before the hearing. You hate to see the ugliness of these things and the O's can't really use any bad press. Unfortunately this is only area (arbitration wins) where the O's excel currently. I will be glad when I can say the same for their play on the field! GO O's!!

Fly to Arizona?

After a period of time, one becomes oblivious to the BS from the FO. The saturation point has been exceeded.

Is there any talk, like there was early in the off-season, of Sherrill being traded for prospects? Don't get me wrong, I love the guy, but a top-flight closer seems like a luxury on a team that is as far away from competing as the O's and a middle infield prospect or two would go a long ways toward accelerating that process.

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Pete's reply: I think just about everyone who's 30 or over is going to be in play in July.

sherrill should be happy to get a contract even if the orioles are offering $2.2 million. where do the talks for b rob stand at this time. if he wants a 4 year deal give it to him

Peter, what is considered a "win" in salary arbitration?

Anything less than a split (between the offer and the request) should count for the team and anything over a split should count for the player.

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Pete's reply: I was only refering to cases that go to a hearing, where the arbitrator has to pick one figure or the other. I think any arbitration case that's settled early is a win for both sides.

sherrill is a decent reliever, but come on, 3.4 million. never.

i'd like to see some more hoeyyyyy this year.

Peter, I disagree with you. Despite Smouse's record, I would bet on Sherrill winning if he goes as far as arbitration. He was an All-Star closer; that's an easy case to make. Plus, 40-year-old Russ Springer, who averages less than an inning per appearance, is supposedly about to sign for $3 million. Even in this market, $3.4 million for an All-Star closer is cheap.

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Pete's reply: Okay, it's a bet.

Will there by an O's Fan Fest this year?

Does anybody know? There is no mention on the O's website.

It's got to be soon or not at all.

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Pete's reply: FanFest will be held at the stadium in conjunction with the final spring workout before Opening Day.

Great show last night Pete. Thanks for having me on and letting me ramble about Garland for a while. It's nice talking baseball when it's snowing outside!

I guess it's hard to criticize anything Andy's done this offseason because he's been great, except to point out the glaring hole at Starting Pitching.

I sure hope some of these guys pan out, or the O's will remain way behind in the standings. When our most proven veterans are Guthrie (who's only a couple years in), Uehara (who's unproven and even spent some time in the minors last year) and Hendrickson (the NL's Danny Cabrera), it's tough to get excited. We still need 2 guys to pan out THIS year, not to mention the future.

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Pete's reply: And thanks for calling in. Love to hear from everyone on the blog during the radio show. We'll get you on and talk some ball. Of course, I'm only doing it for two weeks or so, so if anybody wants to call in, you better get to it.

Arizona? Is there something you aren't telling us, Pete?

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Pete's reply: Ok, my bad. I just assumed that no one would think the arbitration hearing would be in Phoenix, MD. Now behave yourself.

Pete,

Any sense as to whether the O's are still eyeing Wigginton? This guy makes sense for the team since he can play multiple positions, is a RH bat with some pop, and is the type of player rebuilding teams with limited resources need to look at. I'd give him a 2 year deal too.

As for Sherrill, 2.8 mil is meeting in the middle. That might be a bit on the high side for a guy like him, but he has closing experience, and is effective as a situational lefty. And I think you are right on the over 30 players being trade material at the July deadline. Unless of course we extend Roberts.

Finally, I still see us adding a pitcher. But I believe some of your comments on this matter are dead on, it won't be a Looper or Garland. More like a Livan Hernandez. Actually if Manny signs with the Dodgers, I'd try to reel in Randy Wolf. We do need LH pitching, and I think he'd be a reasonable addition salary-wise. And after the Pettitt deal, Wolf's value just went down. Give him a 2 year deal. Your thoughts?

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Pete's reply: You know my thoughts. I'd like to see them get one more veteran guy. Wolf, Garland, whoever, but I don't think they will. It sounds to me like they're headed to spring training as is.

Sherrill's a good guy, but that 2nd half was awful. In hindsight, we really should have traded him in June or July.......i was on the fence, so i can't take credit for being ready to pull the trigger, either.

I'd like to file for arbitration--I want 75,000 for my FT gig, but would settle for 70,000.

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Pete's reply: Don't sell yourself short, the minimum arbitration figure is $400,000.

Why keep writing about them? Is their anyone in the country who does not think they will finish last again?

Until Angelos goes they are dead to me.

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Pete's reply: Well, among other things, they pay me to.

Why keep writing about them? Is their anyone in the country who does not think they will finish last again?

Until Angelos goes they are dead to me.

I know you have to cover them but lobby to cover the Caps. They are exciting. Camden Yards will be empty until the O's have an ownership change.

Respectfully,

Dave

First, Sherrill isn't a "top flight" anything. Second, I think he fits far better as a lefty set up guy rather than a closer, so I don't think the Orioles are all that far off with their offer. Clearly, they should just meet in the middle. Third, the time to trade Sherrill was last season. Now that he will likely go back to being a good, but probably not great, reliever, I doubt we'll get anything really good for him, seeing as teams are beginning to realize prospects are far more valuable than overpriced relievers. Really, we should keep him in the bullpen to give our young pitchers some confidence. No reason to blow every game for them

"Pete's reply: I think just about everyone who's 30 or over is going to be in play in July." Technically, Guthrie will be over 30 by July, and I don't think he'll be in play, though if a Bedard-like return was offered then that would be a different matter. And if Roberts is extended before then he won't be shopped. But if someone offers a Tejada-like package (more likely if he is signed to an extension) then we'll be wishing Brian well in his new home. Other than that, absolutely I can see everyone else being available. That would cover Zaun, Walker, Mora (have to waive his no-trade), Hendrickson, Uehara, Freel, Huff, Sherrill, Baez, Roberts, and Scott, plus Gomez if he is on the roster then. It could be a Bradford-like salary relief move in the case of Baez or Walker, but anyone else should bring at least a reasonable prospect in return or there's no reason to move them. But it would be nice to see something positive come out of the "trading deadline".

BTW, there should be more Schmuck-like blogs in the world.

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Pete's reply: Good point, but I'm pretty confident Guthrie will be around for awhile.

Hey Pete, my uncle is your neighbor(Jim B.) 1st time poster...long time reader. What's the deal with allll the type B free agents still left? Will the birds take a chance and finally bring up some of the younger talent? Arrietta in Sept? Weiters before June? If they're going to lose, at least let me see the future in progress...

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Pete's reply: I don't know why the Type B's are sitting out there, since they don't require direct compensation. Of course, the fact that they are Type B's means they are the second tier. I think Wieters comes up in June and Arrieta only comes up in September if he hasn't pitched too many minor league innings.

Sherrill's save totals were decent but I remember sitting through just about all of them on the edge of my seat.

Quote of the year......

B-Rob saying to Flat Breezy after each save, "Never a doubt, Georgie!"

Pete--How is the name of Oriole attorney Russell Smouse pronounced?

Like someone who would have had his streak ended tangling with Harry "The Cat" Brecheen" or like the stuff Bullwinkle puts on his hair to impress the rabbit under his hat?

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Pete's reply: Like the slang contraction of "It's a mouse."

It's hard to gauge the market value of a guy like Sherrill as he really only closed for one season. I suppose something around 2.5 mill is reasonable, which really makes you wonder why the Tigers coughed up 4.25 mill for Lyons .
I still disagree with those stating we should trade Sherrill because he's over 30. A pitching staff needs a few veterans and this guy also seems to add some character to the club, with the funny hat and his desire to stay in Baltimore. He probably appreciates just being in MLB so that could have a positive effect on some the younger players.

53 innings pitched...47 hits, 33 walks ! HELLO !!!!!! He needs to learn how to throw strikes. Usually asked to get three outs per appearance, he's giving up 1.5 walk/hits per inning. Those runners eventually score...and they did. Also, he needs to learn how to wear a baseball cap. He looks like a damn clown. Embarrassing to any Oriole fan. The FO should grow a spine and fine his ass.

Let's see. He pitched in fewer games than the year before, gave up more walks and more hits, and he wants more money. I would say that if he pitches in as many games with save opportunities and does as well he is entitled to a raise. Somehow accountability never comes into play. If the guy is so good let him work on an incentive plan.

I have a suggestion: Felix Pie to the Mariners for Garrett Olson.

What say you?

since some of you guys want to trade Sherrill, why don't we trade him to the A.L. All-star team, that way each team can contribute to the bounty.

I'm going to have to go out on a bit of a limb here and disagree with Joe. Peter, is it just me, or did the Cubs more or less trade Felix Pie for Aaron Heilman (ignoring the bits and pieces of the deal)? So much for relievers over prospects.

I'm quite surprised at the Cubs for making that move. It makes very little sense to me. I suppose anything they had in the works for Peavy had fallen through?

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Pete's reply: They basically traded Pie and Ronny Cedeno for Heilman.

I work for the government and have a "secret" security clearance, so you can tell me. Who did we get for Bradford?

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Pete's reply: Money.

I would trade Sherrill for whatever the market will allow. He's just not that good. I think he got lucky in the first half and piled up some impressive numbers, but the second half performance is more like what I would have expected, and what is likely to be his level of performance in the coming season. Relief pitchers are subject to being fantastically overrated (and, sometimes, underrated) because of the conditions under which they must perform.

He's not an "A" class reliever, and he's certainly not a closer that can be relied upon. Find a sucker and let him go.

Pete, if the O's do get Looper, does this leave the door open for the Birds to get Ty Wigginton? I know in the past, you've said that unless they get a legit innings eater, you thought they would have to go with a 3 man bench, but I would assume that signing Looper, would allow the O's to carry a 4 man bench. Anyone who has seen Ty play, knows he is pretty gritty and his versatility would be huge for the O's.

Looper is a huge upgrade over our #s 2-5 from last years squad, so even though none of the signings are glamorous, IF the starters can go past 5 innings and IF the BP is healthy, I think we will see the O's of the early part of last season, as opposed to the ones in August/September, and those Birds were fun to watch.

I'm not so sure the O's would win this one. If the O's were willing to pay Cabrerra $3 mil last year with no record of success, Sherrill the All-Star might win at $3.4 mil -- especially since $2.2 mil is a little too low for someone who actually accomplished something.

We'll never find out. Splitting the diff is probably fair and not worth the risk for either side.

Pete-

Have you set up the interview with Jim Palmer regarding his comeback attempt this coming season? His hair hasn't aged a bit since his retirement back in the eighties...and, yes, he still enjoys using with regularity the words "I" and "me".

I have been an O's fan since the EARLY 60's . . . the days of Steve Barber, Jim Gentile, Gus Triandos, etc. Twenty+ years of boom, and now twenty+ years of (mostly) bust. Light at the end of the tunnel? I don't think so.