From O's Ministry of Propaganda,

Memorandum:

Type: Classified

To: all MASN and Baltimore Sun sports writers and bloggers

Dear leader Angelos has instituted code "Damage Control". Find any positives from tonight's game and flood the media with them. We must try to hard to retain our fan base and keep reminding them that it is not Trembley's fault. Look to see if Pie had any incidents in the clubhouse. Someone needs to find out what he did to make A.J Burnett mad. Anything to distract from the loss. But please only use news that are true events. The last thing we want to do is damage our integrity and good reputation around baseball.

Yours Truly,

Andy MacPhail

Lots of Yankee fans here at the watering hole in Myrtle Beach tonight, probably like Camden Yards. Couldn't believe a couple of them actually quoted that Idiot John Sterling after a Yankee home run (the it is high, it is far) babble. The Yankees are a team that's very hot, but very old and vulnerable. By the way, all the Yankee fans are scared s---less of the Angels; almost made the evening worthwile.

Back to the O's, I'd like to have seen Trembley leave Sarfate in after Jeter's chop hit - regardless of the lefty/lefty matchup Trembley ofted to (it's the 6th inning). And the dropped force play ball in the 2nd inning by Cano which was called an out; a real game changer.

At least tonight was acceptable - marginally. Better day are ahead.

I ask again..where's Mikolio, what are we saving him for . Is DT afraid we'll win one?

ROFL

Slugger your a funny dude!

Pete,

I have a question for you so please enlighten me with your baseball wisdom by clearing this up for me.

Buck Martinez said during the game tonight that Andy MacPhail decided that the young arms need to be shut down.

Is it true that he made that decision? Can a GM do that? Well maybe the latter question is dumb, but I thought the manager decides how players are used, and not the GM. If that is the case Dave Trembley isn't the one running the team, MacPhail is.

I'd like for you to clarify this, because if the answer is what I think it is, I will send Dave Trembley a fruit basket and a long letter of apology for ripping him all season long.

It's hard to believe, but Felix Pie and Adam Jones have reversed roles on the team. Pie looks like he's destined to become a superstar. And Jones now looks like a guy who will never fulfill his potential.

Pete,
I don’t care what these crybabies say I think the Orioles and your blog are awesome! When I was locked up in Jessup the New Yorkian guards would punish me and make me watch the MASN network as they looked away and ducked for cover but I loved it! I think Camden Yards is a great place. Its Cheap cold beer and you get to see them play a lot of teams! Also if the Orioles lose you don’t even remember the next day from the booze! Well another great game tonight go birds baby!

WHHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

Guys! Guys! BREAKING NEWS!! The Orioles have mathematically been eliminated from playoff contention. I am shocked and sadden by this.

32 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"From a certain point onward there is no longer any turning back. That is the point that must be reached."

-Franz Kafka

Why don't the orioles hire a classical music DJ to serve as the public address announcer at the stadium when the yanks are here? That way the yankee fans will feel right at home!!

So if Jones is out, Matusz and Tillman are getting shut down soon and with the upcoming schedule, September is going to be dreadful for the O's I'm thinking. Do they win five games this month? Conventional wisdome says they would, but everyone remembers 4-32 I'm sure.

I appreciate the fact that compared to the last group of young starters we had in here (Cabrera, Olson, Liz,etc.) these guys aren't afraid to throw the ball over the plate. The opposing hitters seem to be appreciating it, too.

Until yesterday I was not one of those guys screaming for Dave Trembley's dismissal. I realize he does not have the talent at his disposal that some of our rivals do. However, I have always thought he over does it when it comes to using the bullpen. So often he takes out a reliever who is sharp after only a few pitches. That way he has to hope that everyone is sharp. Last night Dennis Sarfate did not have it and allowed both batters to reach base. Then Alberto Castillo does a great job and we are almost out of the inning without a run. What does Dave do? He takes out Castillo who is sharp to bring in Ray who has never been able to handle ARod. Ray was a disaster. I think last night's loss is on Trembley. He should have left in his obviously effective reliever.

Lets hope the team gets a smarter manager next season to guide our young talent.

Pete-
Tell me this, why is Chris Ray ever brought into any game against the Yankees or Redsox. It's way too much for him. Look up his stats. This guy cannot handle it at all. He's a thrower not a pitcher.

Pie does it again! I tell you the Os really need to work with this guy big time. With some extra time and patience, he can be an All Star easily.

I am of the opinion that Trembley is finsihed as an Oriole. Perhaps he will find greener pastures elsewhere... a bullpen that synchronizes well with his theory of pitching and a team that can run the basepath without looking like like something out of a bad Charlie Chaplain film.

A replacement will be found, who will be showered with messianic expectations and huzzahs. 2.5 seasons later, the replacement will be gone,and so forth.

I've seen this movie too many times. Hold the football Lucy, here we come!

I'm hanging in there but the losing is getting tough. Some observations. Every team we play seems to be noted as having patient hitters who go deep into counts. Why don't we? Adam Jones seems to be gravitating towards last year's stats and seems to be an undisciplined swinger. Need work or is potential limited? Sure would like to see Wieters really crush a homer to the pull field. I'm begining to think I'd rather see him at first base. Every so often, Nick Markakis looks like he's thinking "why did I sign that contract?" Both Yanks and Red Sox would love to have him in right field. Why can't we get good Latin-American players? Will I be making these observations 3 years from now? If so, our destiny will be that of the Cubs and formerly Red Sox and Phils.. no World Series for decades upon decades.

Ugh, It never fails does it? the offense finally comes to life and scores 6 runs only to have the recently reliable Chris Ray blow up.
When the O's get decent pitching they can't score, when they score they can't get anyone out.
I was really hoping for a different ending to this season. Something to give me a sliver of hope for next year instead of the inevitable humiliating meltdown that we've become so accustomed to.
Oh well.

I don't know why all the complaints. The O's have likely had another good season. The payroll was reduced (23 out of 30 teams) in time for the economic downturn. Despite the team's struggles, they are on pace to increase attendance from last year. Bottom line is the team is likely not losing money. They may have come out in the black. That's a successful year for a business, especially in this economy. Angelos is content, and I suspect so is MacPhail. Any GM who sees the company through this downturn must be in the good graces with ownership.

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Pete's reply: I think you're take is a little simple-minded. Peter Angelos is worth about $1 billion. Do you really think he wants to look like the worst owner in professional sports just to make a couple million more. Let's take it to a more basic level in terms relative to real life. If I offered you $500 in exchange for you being reviled and disrespected by virtually everyone you know for the next decade or two, would you take it? And MacPhail was not desperate for this job. He doesn't need it. He viewed it as a challenge, and it is quite a big one that can't be met by doing things the way they used to do them. This winter, there will be fans all of the map wanting every free agent out there, but there are only going to be a couple who actually will help the team improve in the right way. But all winter, we're going to hear how cheap the Orioles are for not signing a bunch of big-money guys who don't fit. That's just the nature of the blog, because there are thousands of different people with different opinions, but somehow that notion will become popular, even though Angelos -- for all his many flaws as an owner -- has never been cheap. He has spent tons of money, and most of it unwisely. Andy is the one making sure that doesn't happen again, not Angelos. I don't care how you feel about the guy, but at least have your facts straight.

Whats it gonna take for these pitchers to start knocking some guys off the plate when they're swinging like its batting practice

Hernandez has Major League stuff but Minor League command at the moment. This is not unusual as young pitchers learn that they can't get away with leaving the ball belt high in the middle of the plate at this level. He needs to learn to spot his fastball low and away to be succesful. He has four pitches all of them end up in the middle of the plate, and then he tries to nibble. I still think he will master his command and next year will be an integral part of the rotation.

When the Orioles play the better teams, the contrast in the quality of middle relievers is pretty startling, but if you step back and look at what we brought to the party this year, it is understandable. We just do not have a group of proven, healthy middle relievers, just some beat up and burned out ex starters. Macphail will address this shortcoming over the winter.

Once again, all losses are bad but Macphail is working the plan and we have to be pragmatic about the phase of rebuilding the team is in. As I have said before, this offseason will be absolutely critical to Macphail's plan. In addition to stockpiling and developing young pitching, Macphail must go out and add a big bat or two so that the team can compete in the American League East. That may not be on his agenda until 2011, but next year it's time for the chronic losing to come to an end.

We don't have to win the pennant in 2010, or the wild card, but the team needs to stop losing and play at least .500 baseball next year.

Given that the Orioles and MacPhail have all but conceded they will be going to a minor league pitching staff in September, the team would have some nerve to keep charging major league prices to its suffering fans.

I would hope the O's would at least have another $1 deal like they did last season for the last week of the season. Have you heard any talk of that again, Pete?

I took my son last year to the Rays-O's doubleheader -- a good, ol' traditional doubleheader -- for $1, which had to be the best deal in the majors. Then again, as with this season, the O's trotted out a totally forgettable cast of stopgap, scrap-heap pitchers last fall that didn't even come close to resembling the majors. The quality of that pitching was embarrassing, and I fear we're in for more of the same. Is Victor Zambrano still available?

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Pete's reply: Your wish is their command. They just announced a $1 section, but you have to buy the tickets in advance on the website.

"Once again, all losses are bad but Macphail is working the plan and we have to be pragmatic about the phase of rebuilding the team is in."

Let's see. Next year, we'll likely have one starting pitcher that has had a full year of experience in the majors. Depending on what happens in FA, we may have two although that second pitcher probably won't be any good. In addition, two of our three best pitching prospects(Matusz and Arrieta) will likely start the year in AAA. The third prospect(Tillman) will have had about three months experience and will be the only guy in the rotation with #1 starter potential.

In addition, even if we get a big bat(who?), that means we still won't have a good 3b or 1b/dh. Don't forget that Bell won't be ready for the majors until the all-star break and he'll probably struggle when he first gets here.

From a pragmatic perspective, why do you think this team needs to play at least .500 baseball next year? Why do you think this team would even be able to play .500?

Wild Bill,

http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/bal/ticketing/masn.jsp

Hi Matt,

Because the specter of 13 losing sseasons in a row is unacceptable when Macphail will be then 4 years into the rebuilding plan. Planning to lose is only Ok on a temporary basis, and by next year that time will be up.

At some point the team needs to start winning and I believe that next year is it. Results did not matter last year or this year. Next year they do, if the Orioles want to salvage some part of the fan base. With a veteren pitcher to stabilize the rotation, and a big bat or two, the team is capable of competeing next year. We paid the price this year and last. Patience is only patience for so long, and I think Macphail understands this.

Pete, if you are out there, do you agree with me that the Orioles need to start winning next year?

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Pete's reply: Yes, I do. I don't know if I would go so far as to say they have to be a playoff contender (in that division), but they've got to be a good team. That's possible, but it will depend on whether the young pitchers continue to bloom and they get a big bat for the middle of the order.

At this point I would be content with a letter of apology from Peter Angelos and Andy MacPhail like the one that the Washington Nationals sent their fans.

http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/07/13/nationals-apologize-via-e-mail-to-fans/

The O's front office has to come out and admit we have a huge problem instead of worrying about public opinion and warm and fuzzy feelings. You can't change what you won't admit.

Slugger,
In response to your question about MacPhail making the decision about shutting down Tillman and Matusz, here is my best guess.

I would say that is MacPhail's call because he is fulfilling his roll as "President of Baseball Operations", which is his official title I believe. System-wide decisions start and end with him, and I would say the choice to shut these guys down is an organizational decision.

On the other hand, Trembley as manager is responsible for day-to-day decisions. Yes he sets the rotation and fills out the line-up card (for better or worse), but he must do it with the players provided to him. Thus once the young pitchers are shut down by the organizational head, they're no longer available to the manager.

And I definitely agree with you that it would have been nice for the O's PR department to release a letter similar to the one that you linked to above from the Nats. Maybe if they totally bomb next year that'll happen (yeah right).

Technically, the O's are not eliminated from the playoffs, just the division title (Sox lead the o's by 24 for the wildcard and there are 29 games left).

Pete: I would take the $500.

Hit a nerve or made a three point landing with the complaint that the O's season is a success because they aren't in the red. It was not meant to be a serious. It's a cynical take on the constant state of the ineptness that has plagued the Orioles. If we can't root for a winner on the field, perhaps we can all cheer because they owner did not lose money in this economic climate. It is not a stretch to think that given how pathetic the O's have been under Angelos years, finishing in the black is at least one little source of yearly satisfaction. If he were losing money and putting this product on the field that would be a double whammy.

I'm sure there are people who would take money (much more than $500) to be "reviled". Specifically in baseball, Jeffrey Loria pops into mind. The business world is littered with people who have sold out their good name to make or take a buck. I'm not conjecturing on Angelos' motive. I'm surmising that he's at least content to have not lost money during this economic downturn while enduring another crummy season in the standings and at the gate.

BTW, the only facts I mentioned are that the O's were 23 out of 30 teams in payroll and the attendance looks like it will beat last year. I believe those are correct. The conjecture that a reduced payroll has helped them through this downturn is likely accurate. The conjecture that the O's not losing money this year is probably viewed as a positive in the front office is also likely spot on. I never said that Angelos is a penny pincher. I conjecture he's be happy not to have not lost money during yet another losing season. I never said that wasteful spending on free agents was a panacea. The O's have excelled at throwing away money on washed up ones.

As for MacPhail, I've always defended him as one of the only bright spots this organization has had in years. If the O's have not lost money under him in this economy, you can take it to the bank that Angelos is happy with that fact. Now lets see the O's make money while also putting a decent product on the field so the fans can have something to feel positive about.

Gil,

I agree that losing sucks. And I agree that it's hard to be patient for so long. But if the Orioles start winning, the fanbase will come back.

For the first time in awhile, the Orioles actually have talent. I can see how that makes people optimistic. But even the Orioles "veterans" are very young.

At the moment for next year, we're going to have a whole five players(Roberts, Izturis, Moeller, Uehara and Wiggy) that have more then six years of service time. We'll have only another seven more guys(Guthrie, Albers, Ray, Pie, Jones, Scott, Nick) that have enough service time to have reached arbitration and most of those guys will be in their first year of arbitration. This has got to be one of the youngest teams in the majors.

The young pitching isn't going to be top six in the AL next year. It would be nice, but it's not experienced and also not ready for the majors quite yet. We could get a veteran pitcher like Lachey but if Matusz, Arrieta and Tillman pan out, Lachey might well only be good enough to be our #4 starter in three years. Is that worth paying 5 yrs and 90 million?

There are very few good bats available in FA this year. I suppose we could trade for one but it would make more sense to wait until next year when there will be many good bats available in FA.

Or we can overpay for a veteran pitcher and a decent but not great bat and totally cripple our flexibility for the next five years. By doing that, we'll threaten to be .500 next year but we won't be able to afford getting that great bat we really need to actually become a playoff team.

We're close to potentially having all the pieces we need to make a real run and the payroll to buy the rest. I'd like to see a real run in two years then a .500 season next year.

Gil,

I agree that losing sucks. And I agree that it's hard to be patient for so long. But if the Orioles start winning, the fanbase will come back.

For the first time in awhile, the Orioles actually have talent. I can see how that makes people optimistic. But even the Orioles "veterans" are very young.

At the moment for next year, we're going to have a whole five players(Roberts, Izturis, Moeller, Uehara and Wiggy) that have more then six years of service time. We'll have only another seven more guys(Guthrie, Albers, Ray, Pie, Jones, Scott, Nick) that have enough service time to have reached arbitration and most of those guys will be in their first year of arbitration. This has got to be one of the youngest teams in the majors.

The young pitching isn't going to be top six in the AL next year. It would be nice, but it's not experienced and also not ready for the majors quite yet. We could get a veteran pitcher like Lachey but if Matusz, Arrieta and Tillman pan out, Lachey might well only be good enough to be our #4 starter in three years. Is that worth paying 5 yrs and 90 million?

There are very few good bats available in FA this year. I suppose we could trade for one but it would make more sense to wait until next year when there will be many good bats available in FA.

Or we can overpay for a veteran pitcher and a decent but not great bat and totally cripple our flexibility for the next five years. By doing that, we'll threaten to be .500 next year but we won't be able to afford getting that great bat we really need to actually become a playoff team.

We're close to potentially having all the pieces we need to make a real run and the payroll to buy the rest. I'd like to see a real run in two years then a .500 season next year.

Slugger -

You're getting delusional...

Positives in Pete's post:
-Hernandez only gave up four hits
-Scott hit a home run
-The O's hit Burnett well

Negatives in Pete's post:
-Three of the four hits given up by Hernandez were homers
-Hernandez walked six
-Hernandez needed 107 pitches to get through five innings
-Hernandez's start was short enough to expose a weak bullpen
-The O's bullpen isn't very good
-Dennis Sarfate walked the leadoff batter in the sixth
-Chris Ray gave up back-to-back homers
-Four Yanks relievers held the O's scoreless

So three positives and eight negatives.

Seriously, man. Lighten up. If you keep trying to make yourself miserable, you're only going to become more and more miserable.

B,

Thanks for caring. I'm cool. If you haven't noticed, I've tried a couple of lame (yes, I'd be the first to admit it) humorous posts to cheer up some overzealous, propaganda eaters, orange coolaid drinkers like you. I've checked out emotionally years ago when it comes to the O's, but one thing hasn't changed. I call BS when I see it and I don't call it chocolate and eat it like the rest "Glass Half Full" personalities displayed here.

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Pete's reply: You've checked out emotionally? Really? You're here more than I am.

Slugger -

Since you seem to be primarily an O's fan, I know that the last 12 years have been difficult for you.

If you're wondering where my hope is coming from, here's you answer:

Brian Matusz, Last four starts:
25 strikeouts, 6 walks, 4.70 ERA

Chris Tillman:
ERA on August 3rd: 6.75
ERA today: 4.24

These two guys, along with Markakis, Jones and Wieters, are the future of this team. And the fact that they've both been steadily improving over their last five starts is exciting.

I know that the present is ugly. Anyone who has to watch Melvin Mora, Ty Wigginton, Cesar Izturis, Mark Hendrickson and an imploding bullpen deserves simpathy. I also know that any kind of hope is hard for you to see through your crap covered goggles. But I encourage you to take off those goggles and take a closer look at the future of this team. You'll like what you see.

P.S. -

I'm an A's fan primarily. Which is why I'm excited that, after several half-hearted, failed attempts, the Orioles have finally entered an actual rebuilding project.

I also live in New Mexico, so I don't get to watch the O's (or much baseball at all) with any regularity. Maybe the fact that I don't watch every game makes it easier for me to see progress over time instead of focusing on single games.

OK Anonymous
Whats with the "fire trembley" comment everyday? Name another manager who, with the same players, would have a significantly different outcome (say a 10-game differential)? And why? Otherwise, I would say you're just blowing balloon juice.

Fire Schmuck! He has already given up on the Os ...

I'm being a realist today and here's what I see about the O's pitching: Starters; we have one and he's on IR. Guthrie was a failure, Tillman, Matuez, Hernandaz and Berkin we not up to the challenge and thus failed as well. Relievers: The onlyn releiver who has shown over time he can get anyone out is no longer with the team-the rest have proven they are inept. I'm sorry to say that the cupboard is bare. The O's remain incapapble of finding quality pitchers-period.

Tillman, Matusz, Hernandez and Berken combined have a grand total of 46 big league starts.

YOU have failed.

Goodbye.

So, anonymous, you are obviously a believer in potential rather than performance. Let me ask you, wise guy, how's that been working out for you over the last 12 years?

Tom -

Not sure why I came up as Anonymous last time. But...

No, I'm not "obviously a believer in potential over performance." I'm a believer in giving a guy more than 96 innings (Berken's total) to prove himself in the bigs.

I'm just going to go out and say it, because this is what all of you "realists" are doing: STOP BEING SUCH A SHORTSIGHTED PESSIMISTIC ASS.

Seriously.

And if you think I'm full of it and you want results, here you go:

Tillman: Lowered his ERA from 6.75 to 4.24 over his past six starts

Matusz: 4.70 ERA, 25 strikeouts, 6 walks over his last 23 innings

And I'm not even that high on Hernandez and Berken but I'll give them some credit too...

Hernandez: Take out two most recent starts vs. Yanks and Angels, the two best offenses in baseball, and he's got a 3.91 ERA on the year. Not bad for a 24-year-old who still needs to find command of his pitches.

Berken: Probably the most overmatched starter in the game and he's got a 4.41 ERA over his last six starts.

In short, you're being ridiculous. If your kid was pitching in high school ball and he got rocked in his first few starts as a freshman, would you tell him to quit because he failed? No (at least I hope not). All four of these guys were brought up before they were ready. Tillman (40 innings) and Matusz (30 innings) have shown over their past few starts that they have the skill and the poise to be top of the rotation big league starters. Hernandez (79 innings) has shown that, if he can gain command of his pitches, he can be a middle of the rotatio guy. Berken has shown that he can fill in the back of a rotation. If you really can't see that, I feel sorry for you.

I think you really should send Dave Trembley a fruit basket and a long letter of apology for ripping him all season long.

Fruit baskets is a really unique and interesting idea for apology.