Pete,

You left out Chris Ray who appears to have recently turned it around. With three candidates for the eighth and ninth inning role it appears that the Orioles are beginning to have parts available to trade to fill needed holes. Of the three, who do you think is of the most trade value?

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Pete's reply: Johnson. It's not close. You're right about me not mentioning Ray, so I updated the item.

I think Mickolio is the future closer. Watching the game today, I heard JPalm say for the umpteenth time that Johnson has "starter's stuff". Maybe that's the way this will pan out.

Mickolio has a full complement of pitches to be an effective starter, and he seems to have good control of them. The only thing is that he throws across his body.

I'll start a rumor for next season that I have not heard yet. How about Koji as the closer? I think it makes sense considering the difficulty he had staying healthy as a starter and his previous position as a closer in Japan. Something to consider.

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Pete's reply: I suspect he'll be a late-inning guy, but -- based on everything we've seen -- you'd take him in the closer role over JJ, a healthy Chris Ray or even Mickolio? I think he's third or fourth on that list as a closer.

Not only was the velocity there, the movement on a lot of his pitches was excellent. He's doing his best to send management a message to prevent future erratic promotion/demotions. Right now I have to think he's certainly one of the better bullpen arms. This time of year, an extra quality arm in the pen is a bonus.

Lost in all the awesomeness of his appearences is the fact that he's done this during all of his 1,000 call-ups this year. You figure with being called up and sent down every other day, it would wear on a guy, but apparently not.

All the bull pen is lacking is a quality left handed power arm and then the bull pen is set for next year unless of course MacFail messes with it in some sort of trade but it had better be a 2 or 3 for one of those guys or else its back to square one again. Championships are won in the back end of the bull pen and the Orioles all of a sudden are shining brightly there.

Koji Uehara needs to be considered for the closer role. He is death on hitters the first time through the lineup, which obviously coorelates well to facing 3-6 hitters per appearance. He was a closer in Japan, so any questions about his mental makeup for that role have to be tempered because of that. You can keep his pitch count down. Also, he's making $5M per season, and I don't think you really want to pay a long reliever/mop-up guy that kind of money.

You can try him at closer in September, assuming he's back by then. It can't hurt.

Agreed on Koji for Closer 2010, for all the reasons posted above. The biggest thing for me though, is that he can pinpoint his fastball with cut and sink, and he has a sharp splitter for an out pitch.

But if Johnson really excels, then Koji could also serve as a super utility pitcher that can regularly bridge the 6 and 7th, spot start, set up or close.

I think Koji would be worth getting a look at closer too, but on the radio after the game they were saying the whole reason he signed with the O's is because they gauranteed he'd be a starter.

Ultimately he's under contract and they can do what they want, but Ken mentioned one great point/problem. Koji was supposed to be our "in" to the Japanese market, but if we're seen as untrustworthy, we may never get another asian player again.

Hopefully he has the right people around him to help him see he's not an MLB starter and could have a much longer career closing or working from the bullpen.

KOJI being death for one time through the lineup makes him a very valuable long relief guy able to bridge multi innings...

I see Koji more as a middle innings guy. He can usually be counted on to give you 3 or 4 solid innings. The O's promised him a chance to start and they gave it to him. He couldn't do it. They may try him out again next spring, we'll see, but I still see him in the pen long term.
It is so gratifying to see Chris Ray looking good again, and Mickolio is impressive as hell.
All in all, the pitching situation is starting to look pretty good for next year.
Now, if the offense can continue to develop, we may have something.

Forget Ray? As soon as Koji's name is mentioned, everyone forgot Johnson and Mickolio. Sheesh.

The Orioles have some good things going. What they don't need this offseason is the search for lightning in a bottle. They need someone substantial. Period.

If such a character isn't available, then proceed with what we have. It may take some of these pitchers another year before they find comfort level with all that is being a major leaguer.

But if a legitimate player--pitcher or fielder/hitter--is available, I don't want another dog and pony show on why it would be a waste to do something at that point or a bogus second-best-after-the-best bid.

If The Warehouse (I don't care who gets the blame or takes the credit) makes a proper effort, I will return to Camden Yards. I'm not sure I will ever be able to afford an 81-game plan again given how the prices have risen since 2000, but I will be there for six games minimum. Otherwise, I will just go see minor league games.

What is the difference between a top-line closer and an average one, mabye 5 blown saves a year? A front-line starter is worth far more than that.

Move Jim Johnson to the rotation.