Whatever they do, I hope they give Felix Pie a decent chance and keep him in the starting lineup for a while. He needs the plate appearances to learn and adjust, without the uncertainty and pressure of thinking an 0-4 night means he's back on the bench.

I think it is going to end up doing both. I have a feeling that either Jones or Scott will go on the DL, since Pie can play multiple positions and it won't force the return of someone who isn't healthy. A bad shoulder would ruin Luke's swing, and a bum hamstring wouldn't bode well in CF.

This will enable them to bring up Hill for Saturday, and once Scott or Jones is ready to come back, Pie or Montanez will get shipped out. Not sure who, but AAA could end up having a TON of speed in the outfield if Pie clears waivers. I imagine that it will be him. He needs more time to find his swing. The HR he got off of Percy probably was a bad pitch. He throws many of those nowadays.

Don't see a dilemma. No way Pie can best Reimold for the job. Its been obvious so long I never understood the Pie experiment except as a way to build his trade value.

Disable both Jones and Scott; let them heal. Play Montanez, Pie, and Reimold. Give them all opportunities. Only good can come of this.

When are the Orioles going to call up the ubiquitous publicity seeking hound Debbie Phelps?

Pete,

Gotta believe someone is going on the DL! In that time sort out who they want to keep up Lou Montanez or Riemhold, as both of these guys have options and they will want them both to get ABs, think the one not hitting when "whomever" gets off the DL will be the plan. Just have to hope that Pie doesn't get lost in this shuffle. Pie seems to be hitting fastballs real well, just doesn't like the benders too much!

Whats the word on Wieters? I cant see any reason why he's not behind the plate come June 1st.

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Pete's reply: Really hasn't hit all that well yet. You want the guy to be dominant at Triple-A so he comes with confidence. He's getting there, but it has not been automatic.

For all those criticizing Pie, they need to remember a guy named Nick Markakis.

Pie has never had a full-time starting job, and when Nick had it handed to him in his first season, he was hitting around .200 into May, and maybe even June before flipping the switch.

Not comparing the two talent-wise, but I too hope Pie gets a legit chance.

Someone needs to champion Pie a little bit. He isn't unworthy of support. The talent is there. The skils need refinement. The team is just playing itself into situations in contested games where every batter is critical. With Markakis and Jones, we were so out of contention and lacked prospects who pushed them that the team could afford to have a sinkhole in the order for most of the year. Both Markakis and Jones had their respective struggles for long stretches in their rookie seasons.

Markakis was hitting below .220 for most of the first half of his rookie season until he gradually improved month by month which climaxed in a game vs. the Twins when he hit 3 HRs. During his rough times there was talk that he took too much and maybe he can't hit the inside fastball. With Jones he flashed great games in between long stretches of chasing outside breaking balls and high fastballs, usually striking out. What's so different with Pie?

With Pie his swing is a little longer than Jones or Markakis. He is surely not as disciplined as Markakis was as a rookie. He is surely not assured of a job as was given to Jones. For me I think Pie needs a real chance and listen to his coaches. Crowley and Trembley seem to want him to cut down the swing, hit the ball on the ground, use his legs, and get onbase. I think they'd settle for consistent contact peppered with walks and hits. What he see is Pie swing for power with 2 strikes and bailing on breaking balls out of the zone. If that doesn't change then the experiment should end. If he starts to do those things, Crow and Trembley should defend him more.

Nolan getting the call can complicate this a lot. Nolan is a more polished hitter with the right skills from not being rushed. There is a decent chance he does hit the ground running. In spite of being a power hitter at least we won't see him swing out of his shoes with 2 strikes. If he's hitting the ball hard even on outs it will be hard for Trembley to demote him back to AAA once the health issues are resolved.

I know Jones is red hot, but I would rather see him sit for 15 days now and let his hamstring heal properly.

Pete, the O's BP looks like it can be salvaged for the remainder of 09 with George pitching much better and JJ as a solid set up man with Baez and Bass in long relief, so why in the world is Perez not pitching in Baltimore right now as the guy to pitch the 7th inning to get to JJ and George? Ray isn't the guy at this point because he is still recovering.

I actually don't get this move at all other than Reimy's already on the 40 man.Putting Luke on the DL wouldn't give Nolan playing time and Wiggy might be heating up anyway.. Even Trembley says he can't figure it ot yet.To play Reimy,Lou has to eat some pine.

Peter- I love to see this, but, as I said on Roch's blog too, they have to put him in left or DH and leave him there every day.
You can not gauge a guy who only gets 5 ab's a week. Anyone who ever played baseball knows that you find your stroke after regular play.
Also, I pray that the O's pass on the USC shortstop. Hopefully, Ackley is still there. Green does not have the offensive stats that would show that he will be a success in the majors.
286 and 301 BA. Thats great, in the MLB, not in college. You need to hit well over 350 (depending on the conference you are in).
Ackley hit 420 in the ACC playing against Miami, FSU, GT and other perenial power teams.
USC yes, is PAC 10, but the lower averages scare me. And he lacks power.
It would be great if Strassburg fell, but that aint gonna happen unless Boras really has some teams scared.
I think that the best thing to do in this draft is take another pitcher. They are the best available if Ackley is gone. You always take the best available.
Besides, maybe the Orioles will sign JJ Hardy and the SS is fine for the next 6 or 7 years.

if reimild plays well he answers the question for you. he plays. the futture has arrived. what would be the sense of sending him down if he plays well. he was one of the prospects the team was hoping would eventually make it. if he shows the team he can hit, hit with power and play good defense isn't that the player you want to have playing lf.

Is it just me, or does it seem like Roberts got his contract and just playing the minimum effort? Maybe Roberts needs some competition. I am excited to see how these “top prospects” adjust to the majors. Sometimes getting thrown into the mix last minute can be good – sometimes not. Montanez has really come around and looks to have a lot of potential. Pie, not so much.

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Pete's reply: I don't think Brian is dogging it. I think he's had a couple lapses of concentration, which players are going to have over a long season.

It is a interesting situation at last, Pie over the .200 mark, Scott day to day, Jones day to day and Montanez hurting his thumb every other day. So you cannot DL them. Gotta love it.

Peter,

I'm not sure of the dilemma you speak of in reference to Hill and Wieters. Wouldn't Eaton be released for Hill and Moehler for Wieters?

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Pete's reply: There's no doubt that Moeller would make room for Wieters. The Eaton/Hendrickson situation is the sticky one.

The fact that the Orioles recalled Reimold instead of Salazar indicates that Reimold is here to play every day, not fill a roster spot. It really is not all that complicated. I honestly do not think that Montanez or Pie are a long term answer. Montanez has too many holes in his swing and Pie is too erratic.

Pete, just want to remind you that i was the one who said that adam jones will have leg problems his whole career. before the trade there was a leak out of seattle that he has a serious problem with his hip that will continue to give him problems. If you watch him from time to time he has a limp.Just remember where you heard it.

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Pete's reply: This hamstring thing certainly seems like a lingering issue. The hip thing was never confirmed, and it was denied by everyone who could have known. His injury last year was a broken foot, so I don't think that counts.

If the Orioles put Pie on waivers, can they pull him back if someone claims him? Isn't that what happens in Aug/Sept?

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Pete's reply: No, waivers are irrevocable in this situation.

And you know there's no way Pie can best Reimold HOW exactly?

I agree that they need to DL Scott and sit Jones for at least a week if not DL him. Play Reimold, Pie & Montanez to see who rises to the challenge. I am going to say the order of finish in that battle will be Reimold, Montanez and Pie.

Things will start to open up for some young guys when the O's trade Scott, Huff and Sherrill at the deadline and we get even more depth in the minors.

Why do you say that, Paul B. Pie has more natural talent than Reimold and is considered a much better prospect. Yet so many people seem ready to give up on Pie after such a short audition. Makes no sense to me.

Pie never got a real chance in Chicago and he comes to a new team, playing a new position in a new league in a new stadium facing new pitchers and he has been steadily showing improvement. Plus, he is two years younger than Reimold. And you are convinced Reimold is the answer and Pie is not.

No doubt, Nolan Reimold can be a very good major league outfielder but what you are over looking is that so can Pie. Don't you see that it only benefits the Orioles if both make it?

Why are you so eager to send Pie to the scrap heap, a 24 year-old outfielder with speed and power??

The Orioles are blessed to have such potential in their midst. Let's try to help both men make the most of this opportunity!!

Play Montanez, Pie, and Reimold.

I can only assume you mean in some combination of LF and CF since there is no way on God's green Earth that any of them are pushing Markakis to the bench.... I can also only assume you mean that combination of positions until Jones is fully healthy...

At least that's what I hope you mean.

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Pete's reply: I think he was thinking about Montanez at DH.

I talked with Nolan's father at the Bison's game last Saturday - he said Nolan was looking forward to being brought up.

Hope he can continue his success in the Majors.

Now's as good a time as any to see what Reimold can do. I'm in favor of being very conservative with both Jones and Scott, let them get better before bringing them back. If he grabs his chance and refuses to let it go, then good for him and the Orioles, thats the sort of problem managers love to have. What we need of course is a surplus of talent at the mound. Scoring more runs will win us a few more games, but as long as we're still giving them up by the bushel basketfull, the L's will keep coming pretty steadily. Lets hope Hill is the first pleasant surprise in that position.

There's no way Pie ends up in Norfolk. I seriously doubt they will try to send him down, but, f they do, he won't clear waivers. He's a 24 year old guy with speed and a good arm who has proven he can hit at AAA and still has never been given a real opportunity to do it in the big leagues. Someone would claim him. The notion that they are playing him to increase his trade value is ludicrous. They traded for him. They are playing him to see if he can become their left fielder of the furture. I think they have played him less recently to take some of the heat off and to give Montanez a chance to show what he can do too. I love how it is so obvious that Reimold will be the LF of the future when he hasn't even had a ML at bat. It's harder than it looks bud. Ever heard of Jon Knott, Terry Tiffee? I hope Nolan Reimold is not a AAAA player like them, but no one can say he won't be before he even has had an AB here. My bet is Pie is on the team all year. If Reimold does well from the start, Montanez will be sent back when Scott and/or Jones are ready to play. If Reimold struggles, they'll send him back with words of encourgagement, and, barring injury necessitating an earlier re-call, we'll see him in September.

Pete,

I'm the guy that ran into you last night at the park...I told you I'd identify myself next time I wrote...

I think McPhail is a shrewd guy. He knew as the seaon wore on, most of the young prospects would get a chance in the big leagues. Injuries are a part of any sport. He continues to trickle in these guys, out of necessity, thereby eliminating some of the pressures associated with bring them all up at once. First Bergesen, then Montanez, now Reimold...I think this was in the cards all along.

One question...when do you see Hill getting called up?

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Pete's reply: I would think by tomorrow, effective Saturday. Just my opinion.

how can you have a delimma when you are floundering in last place?? time to change up the players, coach!!

how can you have a delimma when you are floundering in last place?? time to change up the players, coach!!

Pete, for those of us who have not seen Reimold play, how is his D? Can he play all three OF positions?

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Pete's reply: I don't know if he can play everywhere, but he'll be fine in left.

Pete, for those of us who have not seen Reimold play, how is his D? Can he play all three OF positions?

It's a start. Is someone at the FO using their collective heads? Reimold deserves this. Now get rid of the other deadwood pieces and call up Weiters and Tillman.

Im still at a loss from how putting Jones on the DL leads to only good? Isn't Jones youre best hitter along with Kakes?

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Pete's reply: Well, if you concede that they aren't playing for this year, there's no reason to take a chance on Adam tearing his hamstring and being out half the season. I'm all for babying him in this situation.

Pie seems to be coming around: let's keep The Experiment going. It would be painfully ironic for Pie to improve to the point where he won't clear waivers and get snatched up by another team who will then benefit from his experience with the O's.

I don't have a problem with bringing Reimold up, but unless he can pitch his impact won't be as significant as some may hope. Bats without arms do not a team make.

If Pie is sent down, then who plays CF when Jones is hurt or needs a day off? Montanez, Reimhold and Scott are all corner OFs. None of them have the speed to play CF.

I think Markakis better start practicing playing CF.

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Pete's reply: I don't think they'll send Pie down this week. If somebody goes down now, it would have to be Montanez.

I love Dave T's comment about having no idea what Reimold's role would be and that he hasn't thought ahead to tomorrow. What a dunce? No wonder the players disrespect him?

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Pete's reply: Players disrespect him? That's news to me.

Is it just me or does Troy Percival look like a right-handed, curve-billed version of Sherrill? Same angle when coming set. Same build. At least Sherrill hasn't been grooving pitches like Percival lately. I'd take flat breezy any day.

Also is it just me, or is Pie starting to come around? He has looked a lot smoother moving to the ball lately and he's shown a few flashes at the plate. This outfield could get very interesting.

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Pete's reply: The only thing Percival looks like to me is done. Don't know if Pie is coming around, but he better keep doing whatever he has been doing or he won't be around much longer.

Pete,

The future is still behind the dish in Norfolk.

Were you expecting Wieters to be here for this series against Kansas City instead of Reimold?

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Pete's reply: Two weeks ago, yes.

John the Baptist,
Yes, I meant that we should play Montanez, Pie and Reimold in LF & CF until Jones is 100% healthy. I would rotate Montanez and Pie according to righty/lefty pitchers.

For the people who are saying Pie needs a chance I agree but I think they are missing the point. Its not that he has been in a slump. He has terrible plate discipline and a swing that is way too long. They have tried to get him to change but it seems they realize he is always going to be a hitter who strikes out way too much and does not hit for consistant power.

Pete,

Two questions. Do you think Weiters gets called up if one of the catchers goes down, regardless of his stats?

And...how much notice do you think we'll have if he gets called up because they think he is ready, not to fill in for an injured Zaun or Moehler? I would like to go to his first game as an Oriole.

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Pete's reply: No. I think Wieters would get the call if Zaun went down, but the O's might go to somebody else for another week or two if Moeller goes down. I don't think there would be a lot of notice, because the team doesn't want to alert Moeller or Zaun that one of them is going to be replaced. You'll just have to watch closely and read the tea leaves.

Pete,

About disrespect for Dave T, you need to look an inch or two beneath the PR to see the facts. When players dog it, don't focus, continually make mental areas, and rush to the disabled list at the first opportunity, that says they've lost respect for their so called leader.

Some still feel Pie is worth a shot; I'm not one of them. He's not going anywhere . MacPhail is sticking with him because he has some of his reputation at stake if he fails or worse, catches fire elsewhere.
If he really wanted to take charge, MacPhail would have 'ordered' Trembley to play him daily and let the chips fall where they may. Let him play 50 straight games regardless if he bats .150 and has 80K's. In the overall scheme of things 30-40 hits by Pie or another 10-20 more by Scott etc isn't going to make much difference in the win column. Sending retreads like Eaton and Hendrickson on a regular basis is having a far more detrimental effect than having Pie hit .150 vs. a .260 avg from Scott/Wiggy/Montanez.
If nothing else, a steady diet of a clealry over-matched Pie might send a reality check to even Pie's most fervent supporters. This won't happen because the O's are often non-committable about making decisions-hence hanging onto DanCab too long or giving up on Maine too soon. Right now, Pie is in limbo and will likely remain there all year.

Jayson Stark has this on his scout grumblings:

" On Matt Wieters: "He's going to have to make adjustments, because he's still got holes in his swing. He could still hit his way to the big leagues by June or July. But by August, I'd give him a first baseman's glove. I really think that's where he ought to end up. I've learned never to give up on catchers because, if they work hard, they can get better. But … I don't know if I'd risk that kind of switch-hitting bat worrying about trying to catch."

Is this something we should be worried about, think they'd move him?

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Pete's reply: No, he's going to catch for the foreseeable future, but you have to assume he'll have his tough periods against big-league pitching.

Pete,
Just curious as to why on the Sports web page under football there was a link to an article:

Ravens/Football
SI gives Bisciotti thumbs up

While it was mentioned on the Ravens Insider about Angelos, was there any other article/comment from a baseball writer about SI naming Angelos the "Worst Owner in Baseball"?

Not looking for an opinion, but just wondering if it was mentioned.

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Pete's reply: Yes, it was in the Orioles notebook on the day after the list was released.

Jayson Stark once again shows his lack of knowledge by suggesting moving Weiters to 1b before he even makes it to the bigs. Having a switch-hitting catcher that can get it done defensively is a huge advantage. Look around MLB and see how bad the catchers are...most can't hit and very few are sound defensively-either one or the other, if that. The O's may have found themselves the next Johnny Bench/Pudge/Mauer so why even think of switching positions so early? Maybe he moves to 1B when he turns 36 but in the meantime, let's hope that we solve our catching problems for the next 10-12 years!

If Nolan Rheimhold does as well as predicted.....I bet the Orioles package Luke Scott & Pie in a deal for a pitcher in July.... LA, Kansas City or San Francisco..