It probably wasn't smart to say it, but Lou's right. The FO made trades this winter for Pie and Freel and essentially handed them jobs, all the while talking about "competition" at spring training. I'm sure it's frustrating for guys like him and Reimold who have moved up slowly through the ranks and are not even given a legitimate shot to make the team. Yes, I understand the logic in giving a "toolsy" player like Pie a year long tryout. However, I think they should have targeted infielders and pitchers in trades, rather than adding to the one position (OF) that the O's actually have depth at.

Pete...as much as I love Luke Scott and the addition of Felix Pie, you gotta love this kid. I think it may be getting to a point with him that he may want to walk to get an opportunity with another organization. I say at any point this season if Felix Pie doesn't work it, you have to bring him up and throw him right into the lineup. He's not exactly that young anymore. He'll be 28 in December.

I hope he is back up very soon. We need a late inning pinch hitter and he is going to be better at that than anyone sitting on the bench opening day.

So I'm ready to read 100 posts about how Lou Montanez should make the team over Felix Pie, but let's all be patient. Pie is out of options, so it'd be a bad move to send him down. Montanez can play LF and DH, two positions that already over saturated without Lou on the team. Everyone should take a deep breath, wait to see how Pie does in LF and Montanez does in AAA, and then see what happens. Patience O's fans. Patience.

Lou, keep putting the number up at AAA and you will get your chance, VIA call up or Trade. Pout and give up you will not make it.

Keep plugging away and something will break for you.

I know we will never hear this, but I would like to know what the coaching staff really feels about Pie now that they have seen him this spring.

Do they really see a Adam Jones/ Nick Markakis Talent in him? Does he have the work ethic to keep learning and get better? PETE, what do you see in Pie?

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Pete's reply: I see what everybody else sees, a ton of untapped talent.

Agreed, Andrew. It's a little bit difficult to keep listening to all of these people who have no patience. What they seem to fail to understand is that the major league club this season really has one and only one goal: to figure out who can be pieces that are useful in the years when this team will be ready to contend (presumably 2011 is the big target year, with '10 being a "maybe we can do a Rays job and make it a year early").

OBVIOUSLY the ideal solution would be to take Pie and make him earn a promotion at AAA, but that's not an option. They felt like they'd seen all they needed to see out of Garrett Olson, so they took a flyer on this kid, and because of his situation, he has to learn at the major league level. Give him half a year, and if it doesn't work out, who cares? If it does, and he reaches his potential, great! Everyone acknowledges that this kid's ceiling is higher than Reimold's or Montanez's. Maybe only a 20% chance he gets there, but in a year where you know going in that 70 wins would be gravy, that's a chance you take. EVERY TIME.

Meantime, Louie gets a chance to prove that last season wasn't a fluke. If he does that, there'll be a place for him. Don't worry about that.

I think he'll be back with the O's soon. These three outfielders play hard and there will, no doubt, be some injuries along the way (of course, I don't want that to happen!). He'll get his shot and maybe he'll stick at the DH position when it's all said and done.

I like Lou's self-confidence and I hope to see him back in Baltimore very soon. Without getting into polemics about other players, I'd say that Lou has earned a chance.

The worst thing that ever happened to the O's was the Jeremy Guthrie acquisition. Now the front office thinks they can pick up guys like Pie, Scott, etc. and they will suddenly blossom without having to prove anything... sad day for Montanez.... what more can he do? I would be doing more than just grumbling...

Bottom Line? The guy can play, he knows it, the club knows it, and the other players (including Pie) know it. It would appear that the GM is determined to show he did not err in his judgement of Pie (and Hill) when with The Cubs. I can just hear the conversation with Trembley, "Come hades and high water, Trembley, don't forget the consequences if you don't play Pie". Luke Scott and Lou Montanez are not the fielding klutzes portrayed by AndyM. This alleged upgrade of the defense by playing Pie is mere eyewash to mask his real reason for the Pie/Hill acquisitions. Even the casual observer can see the alleged defensive upgrade is belied by the mental errors and fielding muffs Pie has made this spring. If they aren't going to play Montanez (and Reimold for that matter), then trade them for some pitching. The Reds could use some righthanded outfield help and they have some pitching depth in the majors and minors. This happens every spring. Players, who are obviously better than the GM's favorite(s), get the shaft (to put it crudely).

Classic Orioles

What are the chances that Pie, Jones, Markakis, Scott, and Freel all stay 100% healthy throughout the season?

Montanez will spend plenty of time with the big boys. He'll move around a lot, but he'll have his chance to show he's better than the guys ahead of him. I don't think he'll succeed, but he'll have his chance.

I'm a big fan of the outfield depth we currently have. We should take a breath and appreciate the organizational depth it appears that we finally have.

Lou Montanez has one amazing year at AA (27 yrs of age) and some good ABs during a horrible end to the 2008 Orioles season, but lets see what happens this year. If he is as good as he thinks, he will be back up.

The O's would be dumb not to see what Pie can or can't do at the major league level. I am sure if Pie doesn't succeed, Lou is next in line, but one great year at AA, doesn't guarantee you anything in my book.

Patience! Oriole fans have had patience for twelve years now. If a poster doesn't like reading posts that don't agree with him, then don't read them but IMHO Oriole fans have earned the right to air their opinions and frustrations. Remember without the fans there is no Orioles or job for Andy or Dave. I personally encourage all Oriole fans to post their thoughs, feelings and frustrations but don't tell other posters how they should feel.

As much as I hate to see a good player, who does all that is expected of him be demoted, this move makes sense NOW. Pie would surly be lost if put on waivers. Remember, both Montenez and Reimold played almost all last yr at AA. IF Pie falls flat and Montenez then rides to the rescue, then all we have lost is a month of Montenez's contrabution for a season that is pretty much a write off anyway. Pie COULD surprise. He HAS lots of raw talent. He is WORTH a gamble of 4-6 weeks of Montenez wandering in the wilderness of AAA where he will be facing a lot of pitchers who either just came from the ML or of headed there soon. Scott Moore MIGHT have made this club IF he could have played SS in an emergency. IHe was NOT on the 40 man roster so again no danger to send him down. IF Mora gets hurt or some other unexpected injury pops up IF he's hitting well in Norfolk he will be prompted. Relax guys. You KNEW in Feb. Montenez AND Reimold would begin the yr at Norfolk with Weiters. I say by the 4th of July all three may be in Baltimore along with one or two of the young arms. Me thinks Eaton or Hendrickson will be the first to crash and JJ and Sherrill are in danger of seeinf some DL time. Pie is less than 50/50 to be here on the 4th but it could happen, and if by July his stats look like Jones' from last yr will you be upset????

Pete, I think the Orioles really messed this one up.
I'm not saying the Pie isn't going to be better than Montanez, but Montanez deserves a shot at left field after what he has done over the last 12 months.

Here's my prediction: Pie starts strong, and then the AL East finds the holes in his swing. Montanez has another monster year in AAA, we trade him for some prospects in a package deal at the deadline. Lou goes on to be a good to great player on a contender.

Blame my cynicism on the decade of losing.

All that being said, I love this gosh darn team.

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Pete's reply: I've said this several times and will say it again. It's not about what the player deserves, though it's nice of you to notice that. It's about which player is going to fit the plan and help the team improve over the long term. Baseball, like life, isn't fair.

I don't buy the Pie "upside" argument--if Lou is the better player, then he should make the team.

On the other hand, since when did being a better player mean one is "the guy"? Just ask Luke Scott.

"Everyone acknowledges that this kid's ceiling is higher than Reimold's or Montanez's." Wrong. Pie is a speed guy, potentially a spray-hitting, base-stealing, slick-fielding outfielder. We don't need one of those in left field, even if he does pan out. LM has actually shown the real potential to be a home run hitting, run-batting-in stud. Don't forget, he was also a high draft pick as a shortstop, so I'm sure he's not too bad of a fielder. This was a gutless choice by the O's, not a "good business decision". They are supposed to be in the business of winning, first and foremost. This decision does not help them, or us, the fans, to see a winning team. That's why so many us of are ticked off.

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Pete's reply: I'm a Lou Montanez fan, but I wouldn't give him a Gold Glove just yet.

If I were Montanez, and had put up the kind of numbers he did last year and now in Spring Training, I would be fully conscious of the fact that the GM did not want me to succeed.

The "know-it-alls" who assert that Pie has more upside than Montanez are making an arbitrary assessment remote from the facts. Unlike Pie, Montanez was a first round draft choice, (# 3 overall). In that sense, he has a better pedigree than Pie.

Spring Training results were considered informing where Hayden Penn was concerned. But apparently, the O's hold a double standard.

Pie did not make the team based on his on-field performance. He did not field better than Montanez. He certainly did not hit better. Why should he be learning on the job in the Majors when better players are sent down?

Pie was handed the position in what amounts to a cynical variation on nepotism, undignified by consanguinity. Montanez earned a position and was cheated out of it in a rigged result.

You guys who knock Montanez crack me up! The guy wins the Triple Crown at AA last year, hits .300 over a little more than a month with the O's, then hits .340 during spring training, and you say "so what, Pie has POTENTIAL". Really! Are you listening to yourselves? Montanez has put in his time, worked hard, and produced hard results!! There's nothing more he can do! And yet for some reason, Trembley and Andy are determined to NOT give him a chance. But instead, they get this guy that's allllllll "potential" and NO results. Ridiculous decision making and it's crapping away a young man's career.

How is it that Pie, a younger player, is out of options, and Montanez is not? Anyway, it is a numbers game, and I'd be sure Montanez will spend a large portion of the year with the O's (eg, see Freel's DL history). I'd be curious as to why Montanez was drafted as an infielder and was moved to the outfield when our system has a shortage of infielders?

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Pete's reply: Because Montanez was drafted by the Cubs, not the Orioles.

High Felix Pie in the sky hopes? He has a paltry .223 average in his ML appearances. Lou could hit that left handed. He won the triple crown at AA and hit over .290 in the bigs. I am having trouble figuring McPhail and Trembley's logic. Freel has put up some numbers, at least.

Hang in there Lou, your day will come when you also will run out of options. This was a predictable outcome. Lou hit 100 points higher, did not make the mistakes Pie made. Just no option issue with him, and Pie was automatic the day we acquired him. Hope he does well, but really is he the best man for the job, and really Scott and Wigginton deserve to be in the lineup everyday and Pie should be bench strength, pinch runner and field balls during batting practice until Scott or Wigginton go into slumps.

i want pie to succeed but i think montanez will have more major league ABs than pie when season is done. the guy can hit, and a good bat will always find a way into the game.

Montanez should have played every day last year after his call up. As it was he put up good numbers as a part timer, which is tough. Why was Millar playing then??? Trembley apparently has a history w/ the kid, and needed to show his alpha side. We deserve a manager who puts clubhouse politics aside, and manages smart, not to be popular.

I really like the line "people that have no patience"....after 10 years of losing, we should be patient? There's a glimmer of hope and you want us to have to travel to Norfolk or Bowie to see it? Mark Hendrickson??? Are you kidding me?

Wieters, Montanez, Bergeson...nah. Let's keep Pie, Hendrickson and who are those catchers???

Pete
Again another team moves it talent to the majors (IE) Mets, while we stick with guys who have untapped potental, Pie, Freel and send Montanez to the minors. I guess an outfield of Montanez, Jones and Markakis would be too much for the O's. Trembley might have to produce

Poster "Jim K" knows nothing about the business of baseball and makes it obvious via his comment.

You want Weiters up right now, instead of waiting 60-75 days so we keep him out of arbitration/free agency a whole extra year?

10 years of losing and you can't wait an extra two months? Glad Andy McPhail isn't as short-sighted as you are.

Yes, patience. Mr. MacPhail hasn't yet been with the organization for two years. I personally don't see the logic in holding him responsible for the grievous errors of previous administrations.

It's amusing to me when people talk about the Pie and Hill acquisitions as though they are indicators of MacPhail "trying to prove he was right about them all along". In the final analysis, what he's going to be evaluated on as a baseball man is whether or not he brought the ballclub back to respectability, not whether two moves he made with his previous organization were particularly intelligent. These are both classic sports management moves. If you have an opportunity to acquire talent and potential on the cheap, you do it. If the rules of the game dictate you have to play them early, and doing so isn't going to cost you anything in the long run, you do it.

Pie is an asset, no matter how valuable he ends up being. The only way to keep that asset around is to have him on the 25-man roster. So you do it, just like if he were a Rule V pickup. It's a no-brainer.

What Louie earned in his spring training audition, in my opinion, was the right to be the first outfielder called up once Pie crashes and burns, if that's what in fact happens. He'll be back.

Thsi whole thing with weiters that people seem to knoe so much about cracks me up. The twins were in the exact same situation with Mauer and they let him earn the job liek Weiters did and started Mauer right out the gate. We have weiters locked up for a long time either way, But the Orioles love to leave a bad taste in their players mouths and look where it gets us. If Weiters pans out like he is suppose to we will HAVE to sign him to an extension long before that year we are "gaining" by doing this even comes up. SO mark my words instaed of being loyal to the Twins like Mauer is and always will be cause the Twins did right by him. Just watch in 5 or 6 years as the best catcher in baseball walks and signs somewhere else cause the JOKE of a front offfice we have wanted to save a meaningless year.Bet my house Weiters walks as soon as he can now. And it will have ALOT to do with this STUPID decsion by the Orioles front office. The best prospect maybe ever will not even have a real shot of winning rookie of the year like he deserves to. Whata joke.