Pete, if the Dodgers don't pick up Garland's option, do you think the O's would make another run at him? The guy pitches a lot of innings, makes his starts and is consistent, just not spectacular, but perhaps a guy like that is needed with all the young kids. The young pitchers in AZ, praised him, as both a leader and a guy that is willing to take the time to help the staff out.

Andy, said that he thought he could make deals without giving up the top prospects so I would assume that perhaps Guthrie, Scott and if the O's are dead set on keeping Nolan in LF, Felix Pie might be guys that could interest some teams. You have to think the Cubs, might move in a different direction given all the money they've spent in the last two years and not much to show for it which could leave Lee, as a potential guy they might want to trade which would be great for the O's because he is far and away, better than anyone we've had play 1B since Raffy Version 1.0 and it gives time for guys like Snyder and Bell, to improve in the minors. I have a feeling that this winter will be interesting, but the O's will have to take some risks. I hate to harp on the failure to sign Adam Dunn, but it's hard not to think of what it would be like to have him bat behind Nick, for the next 2-3 years. I think if they could get a guy like Atkins on the cheap, do it!

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Pete's reply: I just don't know where Andy is coming from yet, so I haven't got a real opinion.

It sure would have been nice for the O's to sweep, but you can't be too bummed at taking 2 of 3.
While listening to the Yankee broadcast of the game though, John Sterling made a comment that many O's fans could support.
Right after Turner scored on Damon, he gave credit to the Orioles for playing heads up ball, playing aggressively and stealing a run, and then said: "If the Orioles had played like this, like they have this weekend, all season, they wouldn't be as far back as they are now."
That in a nutshell is why I don't think Trembley is the manager for the future. Of course we'd still be out of the running and below .500 even if we had Earl Weaver, Joe Torre, and Tony La Russa running the club, but I bet we'd also be playing the sort of heads up, aggressive baseball Sterling complimented them on this weekend, and the club would find it's fan base feeling a lot better about next year. A field manager's effects go beyond just changing pitchers and making out the lineup, he sets the tone for the whole club.

You think MLB will have the same gumption that the US Tennis Association has, and nail A-Roid and Girardi like the Tennis folks did Serena Williams? In both cases, it is clearly an attempt to bully and intimidate the officials (umpires). Give A-Roid and Girardi credit for trying it, and setting the stage for umps to be pressured into giving them the close calls going into the last couple weeks of the season and the playoffs.

Regardless, totally uncalled for (not like it was a foot outside and this game really meant something), and MLB should drop the hammer on these two. Substantial fines AND suspensions (1-3 games), with a "and if you do it again, we'll up the ante on both". Otherwise, it will encourage others to "gang up" on the umpires.

Boorish behavior should not be tolerated in any sport.

Roy,

Just curious, but who is the manager that is getting them to play like this? Geez, I can't place his name, tip of my tongue, but...no, I lost it.

Hey pete what did you think about that last touchdown yesterday. All the naive fans that don't get involved with points spreads just think it's part of the game.They are just suppose to take a knee and go home instead of trying to score you have been around way to long and seen way to many games not to understand what i mean. You do understand what i mean don't you pete wink wink wink.

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Pete's reply: I joked about that in the press box, but I don't believe there was anything untoward there. The Ravens could not take a knee. They would have given up the ball there with it still a one-score game, though the chances of the Chiefs doing anything was nil. Harbaugh is a probability guy and the probability of something going wrong on a field goal attempt is much higher than on a six-inch dive. Keep in mind, that if he had chosen not to try and score, the people who had the Chiefs to cover would be saying the same thing on the other side of the spread.

It was a good weekend. As Brian Billick used to say,"A win is a win is a win". I don't put too much stock either way in opening day as a precursor to the rest of the season.

I hope to see a solid performance from David Hernandez tomorrow, especially as it relates to his command. He is auditioning for next year and so far he is getting worse not better.

My old Alma Mater is shaky at best and I'm glad we don't schedule Navy anymore. No need for that embarassment.

I totally agree about A-roid and Jumpin' Joe needing to be fined and suspended. A-roid is such a pathetic baby, when he got called out on the strike the started whining and throwing a temper tantrum like a 6 year old. It was a darn good pitch and the right call. I can't stand the sense of entitlement that comes from these jerks and their $200m+ payroll.

Can people PLEASE stop mentioning Garrett Atkins. The guy is a Coors Field product, and a washed up one at that. Signing him would be a disaster, exactly the sort of band-aid approach the Orioles have taken throughout this stretch of losing seasons.

Birdland Todd;

I would not hold my breath waiting for AM to sign or trade for an ace starter. I do not see that free agent signing with a team that just lost close to 100 games, and I do not see a team trading one away for less than the top prospects that AM says he will not trade.

Given that, what is left for AM is signing a 2nd tier pitcher, a reliable veteran 3 or 4 guy. Would he do that given that he will most likely have to overpay while at the same time taking away the last rotation slot that Berkin, Hernandez, Arrieta, Patton, etc would be competing for.

I do not see it. I think AM goes for bats this offseason, shoring up the bullpen, and letting 2010 be the year for the kid starters to sort themselves out.

Pete: the way Guthrie was behind every hitter with deep counts & baserunners everywhere, I think we all knew the implosion wasn't a matter of if but, when.
I feel his chance to escape one more time was lost when he refused to challenge Henske who was up for the 1st. time & he ended up walking him to then bring up Matsui. Guthrie nibbles more than a 500lb. gorilla.

I would think that Garland would be a great fit here, however they still need a number one starter. If you take away his two seasons when he won 18 games back to back, he is a sub .500 pitcher in his career. His option is something like 9 million, and that is not so bad I guess, the Dodgers may just keep him. If he goes to a new club there will be a fresh contract and I am sure that Garland would be asking for a three to five year contract at around 9 million a year. Why not just spend the extra money to get a guy like Lackey, however you know the Angels will do everything they can to keep him.

I would hope the Orioles either go after a real winner and just bite the bullet, and pay the money. If not just just go with what they have in starters and build a better bullpen.

I think we should forget about adding a veteran starter as the free-agent crop is pretty thin.
I say pick the 5 best from the current team coming out spring training and take out chances that way. For the first time in awhile, we wouldn't be clogging up the rotation with duds like Eaton/Ortiz/Cabrera and we may have some competition for starting jobs. Those that lose out and have some upside should be used in long/middle relief.
We still have to build a better pen but having better starters helps and maybe someone like Micklio grabs the closer spot because I'm not sure about either Johnson and Ray.
Save the $$$ to sign a 1b/Dh but only if there's an impact-type available.

The Dodgers were given the money to buy Garland out next year as part of the trade. I could be wrong, but it doesn't sound like they're keeping him.

Last year, Garland was a Free Agent and he only got a one year deal for 6.25 Mil with a 2010 mutual option. He's having a better year this year then last, but he's not having a great year by any definition.

Garland at best will get 2 years 20 mil next year. By contrast, Lackey rejected a 4 yr 60 mil extension last year despite having an arm injury. After a great year where he's proven he's still healthy, he will get in the ballpark of 5 yrs 115 million. A major difference is price between the two.

If the Orioles do sign a project starting pitcher ala Hill, if he doesn't pan out, he'll end up either on the DL, the bullpen or off the team after a few months. That means some of the youngsters get a bit more time to develop in the minors(and their service clocks get delayed).

James C: So you are satisfied to see them play hard aggressive baseball one weekend a season? If so then I guess Trembley is just fine.

Hey james who should i make the check out to. And where should i send it. Also please don't get carried away with dave t. This team can't win with him as manager.

James C, CB Coach, and anyone else with an opinion:

If you owned the Orioles, what goals would you set to accomplish over the winter as far as:

1. Trades or Free Agency, and potential
Roster Moves

2. The Manager's positon

3. Wins and Losses in 2010

Gil, my top 3 :

1) Manager. The O's have to make a decision ASAP! Say the Manager they hire is liked by a certain free agent than perhaps he might be inclined to sign here. You aren't going to get a lot of guys to come here when they have no clue who they will play for. Allow the Manger to pick his staff. If he likes some of the guys here, fine, but if not, it's his team.

2) The O's don't need the young kids to only know losing. They have to take chances on the free agent market and explore trades. If they come into the season with Wiggy at 3B and Scott at DH, you are asking for trouble. Take some risks on guys that are proven. You can't expect Bell and Snyder, to do what Nolan did. Having a lot of good player is a nice problem. Guys like Thome, Abreu and Dye, all could be plugged into the DH role and give the O's, guys that can knock in runs on a nightly basis. Scott's #s look pretty good, but isn't he at . 185 after the All Star break? Can't win when guys are streaky players. Wiggy's #s are on par with Mora so the word upgrade has to actually mean upgrade!

3) I don't think you can pick a number and say we must win x amount of games, but this team has to be competitive, night in and night out. The attendance is a joke and for MASN, to produce the money that will allow the O's to be players for years to come, a good product has to be placed on the field.

Gil;

Let me answer your question by starting with what I would not do, not unless someone knocked my socks off. I would not mess with our ourfield. What a great bunch of young guys who will be with the Os for the next 5 years or so. Ditto for Roberts, Weiters, Bergesen, Matusz, Tillman and Arrieta. I also would not mess much with the depth of young starters we have backing them up. While it is tempting so see them as trade bait, they are also a feature of a good team.

First, third and the bullpen would seem the obvious focus, by either signing them or using anyone I have not mentioned in a trade. I will leave it to more knowledgeable posters to suggest some names.

DT is like anyone else on a ball club. If you can get a better one, you do. That said, I am not as negative on him as some. As Roberts said, there were no buttons that DT could have pushed that would have made the Os a winner.

As far as wins next year, IF the Os can get first, third nailed down, add a quality arm in the pen, and most importantly, steps forward by their young starters, an 80+ win season is not out of the questions. There will probably be some bumps along the road for them though, so I will say 75.

Roy,

I'm just saying that there is something to be said that the team has made improvements in some of the fundamental areas that were an issue earlier in the year. If he was completely incompetent, then I think we'd see regression and we haven't. I don't think any one manager could have handled the raw deck Trembley got to start the year in terms of the rotation and projects like Pie who were even more raw than advertised (no options in the case of Pie, and probably some directive on having to get him into games) or the rookie carousel into the rotation and bullpen. Most of which were guys a year ahead of their player development schedule. Then there was when Walker's arm died, Sherrill, Huff and Zaun get traded and Bergesen goes down. So yes, after a season like that, it does mean a lot to me as a fan to see them fight it out still when they're playing the best team in the league and beating them in New York on 9/11 when Jeter surpasses Gehrig.

I know they'd be a lot better off if they played that way all year, but that's the best compliment someone can give when it's been a process to get to that point. In the past the compliment has always been "you guys sure were better in April." Usually followed by "wtf happened to you guys?" A lot of those O's teams that swooned late didn't have the subtractions this team did either.

Hi Gil,

I guess first things first. I would not the Orioles to trade for any middle of the road starting pitchers, or sign them as free agents. If you do not go after someone that is 31 or younger that is a winner, like Lackey, just stick with the starters they have. Paying 9 million for someone like Garland to me is a waste. Just get good bullpen pitchers to protect the starters.

Second, everyone knows the Orioles need a clean up hitter, I do not think it matters if they were an outfielder,Shortstop, DH or corner infielder, I think you get the guy and then put the pieces together in the spring. I am not sold on Pie even though he has impressed lately, happy with how Reimold has played, but really there is nothing locked in except second base, Catcher, center field and right field. Find a hitter regardless. That is what the Yankees did when they went after A-Rod, they brought in a shortstop, when they already had a future hall of fame shortstop. So find hitter, and one that is not over 32 years old.

The manager can stay the same. With the right bullpen, another power hitter in the lineup combined with the fact you will have Reimold and Wieters the whole year, we should be able to win 82 games, that would be a huge improvement.

Bob,

I think we're at a push with 4 wins so far, but any donation to the MDSPCA of Baltimore (3300 Falls Road) would be great. Though I'd settle for you coming by to get a calendar this week. I'll be at the games tomorrow and Wednesday.

As to Dave T, I'd like to think I'm not too carried away. I'm not convinced either by any means, but I think he deserves a shot where another manager could win in the same situation. I do still firmly believe we're under .500 this year with any manager. There are some coaches I'm definitely not sold on, but we'll see how things shake out. If DT stays, I think someone gets sacrificed.

Gil,

I'm not sure I realized you were a Terrapin alum before. I'm Class of 02. I went out with a bang. Basketball National Title and the ACC Championship for football (I won't count the Orange Bowl as much of a good thing, although I had fun on the trip down).

I like the question though:

1. I still don't like what I heard from McPhail about not trading away too much. I think it's a little posturing to say "we're not selling the farm," but I'd hope the phone is still set to take incoming calls.

I think we need two legitimate additions that are long term investments and not just band-aids. If we don't trade, I saw a good list at http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/12/2010-mlb-free-a.html

I was liking the idea of bringing in Thome as a DH/backup 1B, but he's got a heel thing going on and we all know how those can go. There are some intriguing pieces out there though. I'm surprised at the outfield talent. Hate to say it, but especially in left field (Crawford, Bay, Holliday). A recovered Troy Glaus at 3rd would be interesting. Not much going on in terms of guys playing 1st already.

Pitching wise There are some interesting options. Lackey and Webb are the obvious ones. Hudson would be interesting if he became available, but then I just need to smack myself and say we need to stay away from the "risks."

I think starters are the way to go as opposed to the bullpen(just my thought, no offense Bob C). A lock down closer in 2011 if no one nails it down this year would be good, but a shaky rotation will destroy any bullpen (especially in Baltimore). Plus, I think this will be the year to admit some guys aren't ever going to make it as starters that are in the system. Guys like Hernandez and Waters who have no where to go atm.

- At manager we're fine. No room for error though. If there is a massive skid, he should be gone. The rookies will have had their toes in the water this season, fall ball and a full spring training to be ready to take it to the next level individually and as a team next year. Hopefully a couple FA's that aren't just projects give him a fighting chance. As I said before, maybe shuffle a coach or two.

- I think we need to be within 5 games of .500 most of the season. Anything under 10 is my redline for DT unless there is just nothing done this winter. I think it will be interesting if we're somehow .500 at the break. When's the last time we considered buying in July? There could be some real talent available at the deadline to acquire more for 2011 that we may never see in FA after next year. At some point we'll be ready to move some guys and not many teams could match what we have to offer.

God that's good Kool-Aid.

Hi James C,

Yes, I was in the class of '68, my oldest daughter the class of '91, and I have a son who was born in 1983 and is still there apparently vying for the record of carreer student at changing majors.

I could not agree with you more on your assessment of what the Orioles need to do and where thery need to be. As I said once before, you are the voice of reason.

Gil,

You might have seen my dad's uncle play at UMD (Carlson...not the same C as mine). I was a major changer too, he's just a committed Terp.

Thank you again for the kind words. Here's hoping there are some moves we can all agree about this winter.