If Mora gets released I hope the Astros take him so he can be with Miggy. It would be cool to watch.

I can't see them releasing Mora and eating the rest of his contract when they can just force him to stay for two more months and then let him go. I don't really think he'll stir too much up as I bet he already regrets what he's already said and done.

Berken definitely should be sent down. I believed he knew how to pitch (not throw)when the O's called him up and I still believe he could be an ok starter or reliever but it's best for him to finish the year at AAA. (they need the bodies down there anyway)

Pete,

I live in SD and have followed the Padres as a local team but still root for the O's.

The Padres have two third basemen
(Chase Hedley and Kouzmanouf) and two first basemen (Adrian Gonzalez and a new kid named Blanco) on their current roster. Blanco has hit 6 HR's in like ten games. Adrian Gonzalez would love a small park like Camden Yard's, plus his defense is better than most in either league. I'm not thinking they would take Melvin, but do you see the O's making any trades to help fill the current holes?

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Pete's reply: They might, but that would happen in the offseason.

I say send Wieters, Reimold, Tillman and Hernandez back to Norfolk and let them get a taste of a championship team since that team was headed for a great season. Next year let them bring that experience to the majors and hopefully the championship pedigree rubs off on some of the veterans who've never even sniffed 1st place.

Bob, that's one of the most reasonable comments on the Mora situation I've heard. I've he was a class act, so I'm sure he regrets his decision to voice his opinions.

He's been a league-average or better 3B until this year. And he's been a good member of our community. So I'm sad to see him go out like this. I'm not going to say that he doesn't deserve the benching. It's a performance business, and he's not performing. But it makes me sad that the fans in Baltimore, who he has been loyal to, will be left with an image of him as a complainer and a whiner.

As for the topic at hand, Berken has to go. On a scouting level, he's got a straight and average fastball with average command. That's not a recipe for success at the big league level.

J -

Send four big-league ready players with nothing lef to prove in the minors back to the minors to win a championship against teams that have already called their best players up to the bigs? Then call them up to have a (minor league) championship pedigree rub off on guys who have been in the bigs for at least four years?

Nice idea.

I think Andy & Dave need to send a clear message to the young guys and any free agents watching - the club will not allow players to conduct themselves the way Mora has.

Rather than give in & release him, he should be benched for a minimum of the rest of this series. After that Mora may play again if he has stopped mouthing off. This will send a clear message that the behavior will not be tolerated.

The alternatives (trade, release) show any future Oriole that they can score a fat contract, underperform & throw a temper tantrum, then move on to the next team.

Is Wieters getting better?

I can't see why Melvin would veto a trade at this point. He might get to go to a contender, and he if truly does want to play next year, it might give him a chance to show he can still play. If he stays, he'll be nothing more than the world's most highly paid fungo bat. Or maybe he just wants to stick it to the O's by staying here and collecting his salary for doing nothing.

There's really no reason to hang on to him. True, he is the longest tenured Oriole and in some ways it would be sad to see him go, but it's not like he's the last link to the glory days. It's more like he's that last kidney stone you can't wait to pass. It hurts like hell when it happens, but there's a great sense of relief when it's over.

I agree with you, J- it is a good idea.

What are they going to prove up here for the rest of the season? That they know how to lose? Let them go down and get in a championship team(the AA team isn't doing poorly either). And then let them bring that championship feeling up to Baltimore next year.

This isn't without precedent, the Caps tried to keep their Hershey team together to win a cup, and they did. Now those guys are extra hungry to bring Lord Stanley to Washington. Maybe it could work with the Orioles. Would you rather them get a used to losing or used to winning?

It'll never happen, but it's not so far fetched.

Pete, any word on when Arrieta might make the jump? I'm sure he's chomping at the bit and if they're gonna call-up Tillman and Matusz, theymight as well bring up Arrieta.

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Pete's reply: I don't know. He has struggled some lately, which may have cost him the next opening.

I think the Orioles are taking a big risk{and going back on their word}by bringing Bryan Matusz up this year

Macphail's original plan was to shut him down at the end of the minor league season to avoid possible injury due to excessive innings pitched over what he was used to in College.

We don't need to "find out" anything about Matusz this year, his statistics and Frederick and Bowie are outstanding.

The organization is in free fall at this point due to a lack of pitching, a lack of hustle and leadership, and a lack of management on the field.

This year is over. Regroup over the winter, but don't risk the future out of desperation.

Everyone needs to take out the emotional factor in the Mora situation.Remember professional baseball is big business.Don't feel sorry for Melvin.He's had a good run and made more money than most of us will ever think of making.Baltimore does not have to be loyal to Melvin and Melvin does not have to be loyal to Baltimore.If Mora was having a great year and becoming a free agent you would see how much loyalty he would have for the Orioles and their fans.Not a knock,just reality.I think the Orioles should send a message and cut him loose now.

Berken has got the window seat on the bus to Norfolk, possibly Bowie. I really don't think Mora isn't moving until the offseason. It would be a good idea to try and trade him for some good prospects, but more than likely, he would invoke the no trade clause. I think next year, with addition of a couple of vets who knows how to win and an improved coaching staff (so long Juan!) this team will be turning some heads in the AL

Agreed, Gil, Jr.

And all the more reason to let the kids stay on the farm and win. Bring up Waters and Liz and the other none factors, let them have their last big hurrah in the majors, let the Big Three plus One and Wieters and Reimold and Snyder and heck, try to get Pie down there, too and let them win as a team and bring that up with them next year.

Let them get that winning feeling and next year, when some vet isn't pulling his weight, Wieters or Reimold or Snyder or Tillman, or heck, maybe even Pie can get in his face and tell him to get with the program.

There is a little arrogance that comes with winning, that quiet confidence that comes with winning. Look at Jeter. Let these youngin's get that arrogance.

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Pete's reply: Ken, you don't get that winning feeling in Triple-A. Everybody in Triple-A is playing for a call-up.

Pete, After tonight the orioles have probably seen the last of the so called calvery that is suppose to rescue this team from all the so called losing that this team has endured. I know you will say we still haven't seen jake but i have serious doubts if he is going to make it, for that matter i have serious doubts that all thses young kids are going to make it. So far only bergeson an hernandez to a much lesser decree have shown that they belong. By that last statement i have by no means am saying that tilliam or matusz would be as good as advertised. Pete as you know my concerns all along have been putting the feit of this entire oragnization on the shoulders of a bunch of young kids.Pete i know you don't respect my opinion on what i say about the orioles and view me as a negative person that just wants to find bad things to complain about. You asked me what should be down with this team and to be truthful i have always said that this team had to many things wrong with it to ver get fixed.I trully believe that Andy has meant well with what he is doing and yes you have seen many positive changes.But you can't build your pitching staff entirely of young kids without have a proven number 1 starter on here to show and lead them and i know in my heart they won't ever be able to sign one of those. I truly hope you are right about all the things you have said and written about because i would rather be wrong then have this team continue to be this bad. I still say that under the current rules of baseball they will never be able to compete in this division something that you continue to down play even with your 30 years in ths business.

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Pete's reply: Not playing it down. They've got their work cut out for them, but nobody's going to trade divisions to make it easier for them, so they have to do the best they can to find a way to compete. In my mind, what they are doing is the only way. They've already tried to sign free agents and rush their small handful of prospects. Now, they're trying to stockpile a lot of youth and buy select free agents when they are close. I think that's a better plan.

Guys,
All due respect but these thoughts of sending these rookies down who are having suuccess in the Bigs is ridiculous. They want to be Orioles despite how pathetic that is right now. Please stop.
Couple that with the pressure the FO and coaching staff are feeling; no way they want Liz and Waters up instead.
Take a deep breath. We split in Detroit and will continue the plan of re-building even though winning is farther out than we had hoped.

Send Berken down and let him work out his problems inder less pressure. The guy has decent stuff and can be an effective pitcher with work.
I think sending the youngsters back down is a crazy idea.
Wiggy needs to be the primary 3rd baseman for the remainder of the season, Mora can spell him occasionally and pinch hit now and then, but he has mouthed his way out of the starting lineup. I appreciate his service to the club and his long tenure here as an all around good guy, but he's a millionaire many times over and still young enough to do something else if he wants, so I can't say I feel sorry for him. The fact is he can't hit a lick this year and wasn't going to be around next season anyway, so lets see if Wiggy can do the job over there.

With this move today, the Oriole farm system is empty again!!!!!

Think about that.

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Pete's reply: Not true at all. The O's have brought up a big chunk of the youth movement, but Arrieta and Patton are still lined up on the runway, and the club has Brandon Snyder and Josh Bell in the wings at the middle infield positions.

J,

Wieters, Riemold, Hernandez, and Tillman have already played on a playoff minor league team together. The were called the Bowie Baysox and that was 2008. Would've been the champions too if the Indians hadn't sent that fat turd Travis Hafner down to their double A affiliate right before the playoffs.

DL,

Empty? Hardly...a brief list of better than average prospects follows:

Arrieta, Bell, Erbe, Spoone, Britton, Zagone, Turner, Aubrey, Synder, Johnson, Hobgood, Bascom

Totally irrelevant but Travis Hafner (physical appearance and career numbers) should be the standard for anyone you want to open a steriod investigation into.

Can't make up my mind about Matusz coming up but my curiousity has got the best of me. I don't mind our youngsters getting beat up early as long as they are learning and we have the coaching to help. I've seen too many early sensations that burn out. Actually I'm more worried about the offense.Still need a reliable bopper who makes the whole lineup better. Who's available this winter?

I"m tired of reading people talking about sending people who just came up right back down to experience winning and reduce future arm problems. Look people these youngsters are right where they need to be which is gaining experience and competing. Weiters and reimold certainly dont need to go back after they have came up and exceled as rookies. And the pitchers need to be facing major leage talent and competing..not dominating in the minors against hasbeens only to come up next year and then get massacred. And all this talk about logging innings on their arms...This is the major leagues what is the fo supposed to do???baby them their whole career. This is the perfect situation for them to be pitching bc as I've seen plenty of people post.."its a non stressful situation for the rest of the season bc no one expects much."

Chris W

I'd love to see Adrian Gonzalez and Kevin Kouzmanoff traded to the Birds. Unfortunately I doubt very seriously it would happen, although the Birds probably have enough prospects to make an interesting offer. I know the Pads don't want Mora, I doubt anyone really wants him at this point. I will say in Melvin's defense though, he's been a good soldier here for a lot of years, had a good career here, and in a few years there will be a spot for him in the Orioles Hall of Fame, and deservedly so. This was the one Oriole who had the decency to go to Elrod's funeral and show his respect.

Pete,

Did AM and PA kidnap you from your couch to stop you from creating more blog articles?

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Pete's reply: Yes, but I'm being treated well.

@ Ken - You do realize that winning in the minors means absolutely nothing, right?

Without looking it up, I challenge you to name two of the past five Champions of the International League.

And I'd love to see that dugout interaction when Brandon Snyder gets on Brian Roberts for not running out a ground ball...

Snyder: Damnit Roberts! You've got to bust your butt on every play! What's wrong with you!?

Roberts: Excuse me?

Snyder: I'm, uh, um, calling you out for not running out that grounder...

Roberts: Oh, right. Here's a tip, kid. Play a couple of full seasons, make a couple of All Star teams, and come back from a major injury before you tell me how to play the game.

Snyder: I know how to play the game! I was a part of a Championship team in Triple A!

Roberts: Right. And who did you face in Game 2? Some minor league lifer who only got the start because the team's two best starters got called up to the show?

Snyder: Um...

Roberts: Right. Sit down, kid.

Gary....back away from the keyboard....slowly....slowly

(6 duplicate posts???)

Why was Kam sent down and not Berken? This makes no sense.

Gary -

The big names are Jason Bay and Matt Holliday. Holliday would be huge in Oriole Park, but he seems more comfortable in the NL and his recent resurgence coupled with the fact that he's a Scott Boras client means that he's going to be waaaaaaaaay too expensive for the Orioles.

Other FA's: Nick Johnson, Adam LaRoche, Adrian Beltre, Rick Ankiel, Andruw Jones, Xavier Nady, Hank Blalock.

Of that group, I'm guessing the O's sign Beltre (if healthy) to a two year deal with an option. Also, LaRoche wouldn't be a bad sign for a one year deal if Huff doesn't return.

Just in case you were wondering, here are some notable FA-to-be starting pitchers: Erik Bedard, Doug Davis, Rich Harden, John Lackey, Jason Marquis, Brad Penny, Jarrod Washburn, Randy Wolf.

I wouldn't be surprised if Bedard signs an incentive based deal with the O's. Any of the other guys would be a nice addition to mentor and take some stress off Tillman, Matusz and Hernandez. Most likely? Davis or Penny.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Recalled pitcher Brian Matusz from Bowie of the Eastern League (AA); optioned pitcher Ken Mickolio to Norfolk of the International League (AAA).

HUH??

b - there is no way the O's would sign Bedard and his holier than thou attitude, not to mention the constant injuries.

I'd grab Washburn for whatever $$ it takes.

Pete - if you don't start making an appearance in your blogs you are going to have to rename it to...

The Schmuck Stopped Going Here

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Pete's reply: Bob, sorry, but I have some medical stuff I have to do every morning that delays my arrival here. I'll be back up to speed when I can.

WOW! Berken has the slack in the world! Did they keep him up to maybe try out in the pen??

Bob F

Considering all the spin we find on this blog it should be renamed
The Schmuck starts here

They probably optioned Mickolio so that he could get some regular work. I'm guessing they are going to have Kranitz work with Berken to get some movement on his fastball, which has been his recurring problem. If one of his offspeed pitches is not on he gets burned going with his fastball because it's been to high & straight.

Now now Anonymous...Pete's just a "Cup Half Full" kinda guy. We are the ones that are supposed to be the pessimists.

I kid Pete.

Pete,
Why send Mickolio down instead of releasing Mora? Mickolio has pitched well here and he is part of the future. Yes I know we have to eat $3 mil if Mora is released but if he is gonna ride the pine and fester like a boil for 2 months while taking up a roster spot whats the difference? We got to pay him either way!! Unless Andy has a deal in the works this will be the first decision of his that I dont like.

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Pete's reply: I don't know, but I'm hearing everything is hunky dory now between Melvin and the club.

I know, I know. But, what the he*ll. At least, he can ask BRob how all of his years in the show have prepared him not to run out ground balls.

Jeff, you forgot Brandon Waring.

What I'd really like to see is, if the Jays expose Halladay to the draft, the Orioles claim him.(By all accounts, a veteran number one is on the Birds' list, and you can't get more number one than Halladay, so why not grab him. The teams get to grab those waiver claims in order of worst record and I don't think the Royals would claim him. So he just might fall into the Orioles grasp. I believe the team that loses him gets a pick or two, not sure about that.)

That gives the Orioles a rotation of Halladay, Matusz, Tillman, Arrieta, and Bergeson/Patton. Then you take some of the other blue chips and trade them to DC for Zimmerman and voila! Problems solved.

Sorry, time for my medications!

Pete.....I have a question for you. You have been around the O's for a long time. Would you please review for me what O's pitchers have come thru our minor league system in the past 20 years that have had a decent major league career?
Then how about listing position players in the last 20 years that have had an impact.
Now lets talk about if it makes sense to draft pitchers, or position players.
Maybe Andy has it all backwards....maybe we should draft position players, and sign free agent pitchers.........

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Pete's reply: Well, if you go back to 1989, you've got Ben McDonald, who was good for while before arm problems did him in. Of course, Mike Mussina was the best. Now you've got Bergesen, Matusz, Hernandez, Jim Johnson and the rest of the new wave. Basically, Brian Roberts, Nick Markakis and now Matt Wieters and Nolan Reimold are the best position players to come up from the draft. I think a good balance of both is probably best. Andy's philosophy also presupposes that the position players don't get her as fast and he doesn't have time to draft the best ones and wait for them to get here.

This may sound like the typical 'blame the manager' posting; however, I firmly believe that Dave Trembley has to GO ! He is way too laid back and, at many times during the course of the past 2 seasons is overmatched against managerial counterparts. I understand that the 'pickings' of replacements are very slim right now, but how much longer do we need to give this guy ?

Mora is of zero use to the baltimore boys. He is really a negative-no patience-attitude and when he plays he will retard the development of a player who may be here when things turn around.