*yawn*

and this is an improvement over Melvin Mora?? Oh, yes, it is, in the checkbook as always.

"and this is an improvement over Melvin Mora?? Oh, yes, it is, in the checkbook as always."

Given that he's younger and hopefully won't rant about being disrespected when he can barely hit his way out of a paper bag then yeah it's an improvement.

Really Bob? Not an improvement over Mora?

*Eight years younger.
*More HRs and equal RBIs in 2009 despite 100 fewer ABs (in a down year).
*Playoff experience.
*Zero complaints about how he's an All Star that isn't getting respect.

I loved Melvin and they'll definitely miss his D, but do you hear anyone beating down his door right now? Atkins is a stopgap measure for a Orioles that can play 3B or 1B, serving as a hedge on whether Bell or Snyder can come up first. And yes, let's be a little respectful of payroll. Great gamble at $4M and taking the extra $4M they saved from Mora's salary last year and spent it on Gonzalez. At worst, he has another 2009 and goes away quietly after a year when the youngsters take over. At best, he recaptures his stroke and the Orioles exercise the option in 2011.

Really Bob? Not an improvement over Mora?

*Eight years younger.
*More HRs and equal RBIs in 2009 despite 100 fewer ABs (in a down year).
*Playoff experience.
*Zero complaints about how he's an All Star that isn't getting respect.

I loved Melvin and they'll definitely miss his D, but do you hear anyone beating down his door right now? Atkins is a stopgap measure for a Orioles that can play 3B or 1B, serving as a hedge on whether Bell or Snyder can come up first. And yes, let's be a little respectful of payroll. Great gamble at $4M and taking the extra $4M they saved from Mora's salary last year and spent it on Gonzalez. At worst, he has another 2009 and goes away quietly after a year when the youngsters take over. At best, he recaptures his stroke and the Orioles exercise the option in 2011.

His numbers look Wigginton-esque, including the drop-off in 2009.

May he and Ty both return to their better slugging ways in 2010.

I wasn't advocating keeping Mora by any means. It was definitely time for him to go. I just don't see Atkins as being much of an improvement over last year. His home runs totals were inflated playing in the thin air at Coors Field for half the season. I just hope that even though he's signed for only one year he doesn't block the progress of Bell if he's ready. I'd much rather see a young guy try to prove his worth than a mediocre stop gap.

Uh... I believe it was Atkins who "barely hit his way out of a paper bag" last season.
Meanwhile, Mora had one subpar season at the plate and we just send him away after all those years of faithful service?
I'm sorry.... that in itself just wasn't right...
But at least get someone to replace him who represents an upgrade other than in age alone.
Mora's best years far surpassed Atkins' best years.... plus he remained one of the league's best third-basemen.
I think McPhail jumped the gun on this one in trying to cover up the Orioles' poor handling of the Mora situation.

On the other side, I think Mike Gonzalez was the perfect acquisition for closer, as I had campaigned/blogged several times previously.
I still think we should get Bedard because we need another lefty in the rotation..

why is mora's name even mentioned? the guy should have been gone years ago (and i liked him). atkins is a very good move by the o's. i like it. thanks, andy.

Bear -

Mora and Atkins put up the exact same production numbers last season, and Atkins matched Mora in 100 fewer at bats, yet Atkins is the one who "barely hit his way out of a paper bag"?

Come on, man. Melvin was great while he lasted, but he's going to be 38 in two months and his best days are clearly behind him. Why go through some stupid negotiation where he demands respect based on his better years when you can just sign Atkins for less money and less drama and hope for a rebound year?

Oh, and I'm not sure how Mora's best years "far surpassed" Atkins'. Mora's 2004 season was a bit better than Atkins' 2006, but that was a ridiculous outlier for Melvin.

Before the nosedive last season, Atkins' average season over the previous four looked like this: .301 avg, .846 OPS, 22 hr, 105 rbi.

In the five seasons prior to 2009, Melvin's average season looked like this: .291 avg, .824 OPS, 21 hr, 87 rbi.

How do Melvin's numbers "far surpass" Atkins'?

Bob,

I think that's the whole point. If they signed someone like Beltre, how likely is it that we ever see Josh Bell in 2010? Atkins holds down the fort, isn't a malcontent and is easy to bench and/or trade should Bell prove ready by July.

If Bell never gets ready enough to move up, they can keep Atkins if he breaks out or dump him and be free to sign from a much better FA class in 2010. Again, if they signed anyone else, they'd be locked in for a couple years and on the hook if he stunk it up.

It's not a sexy signing, but it's probably the smartest one.

Plus, it frees Andy up to hopefully do more than kick the tires on A-Gone and even Holliday now.

Interesting thing about Atkins is that his home run numbers aren't inflated by playing on Coors Field. For his career, 48 homers at home, 50 on the road, 87 doubles at home, 75 on the road. His average is a lot higher at Coors Field (.327 to .250) but it appears his power is for real. And its not as if Camden Yards is the Polo Grounds. I love this move, particularly for one year and the price.

Interesting thing about Atkins is that his home run numbers aren't inflated by playing on Coors Field. For his career, 48 homers at home, 50 on the road, 87 doubles at home, 75 on the road. His average is a lot higher at Coors Field (.327 to .250) but it appears his power is for real. And its not as if Camden Yards is the Polo Grounds. I love this move, particularly for one year and the price.

Matt's comment about the paper bag wasn't even about one player being better than another.

"Given that he's younger and hopefully won't rant about being disrespected when he can barely hit his way out of a paper bag then yeah it's an improvement."

Implication was they could perform the same, but Atkins will be a huge improvement by his attitude alone.

"Grow the arms, buy the bats"is still in effect. When do we add an impact bat and spend some of the payroll they've been saving every year ?

My bad, should read:

"Grow the arms, buy the BARGAIN bats"is still in effect. When do we add an impact bat and spend some of the payroll they've been saving every year ?

I just read on Fox sports that the Os made an offer for Matt Halladay. this only makes sense if we intend to package one or two of our outfielders (Pie, Reimhold, Scott) and maybe a younger pitcher or two, in order to land someone like Gonzalez from the padres. otherwise, if it is true, why would we offer Halladay??!?!?!?!? Hear anything Pete??

"Matt's comment about the paper bag wasn't even about one player being better than another."

No it wasn't. I didn't even want to think about better player, better numbers, etc. My point was that my comment alone makes Atkins an upgrade.

"I think McPhail jumped the gun on this one in trying to cover up the Orioles' poor handling of the Mora situation."

How was Mora handled poorly? He kept his power position in the line-up for weeks when he wasn't producing, he was still trotted out day after day, even after publicly dissing the manager, and he was given a standing ovation and a good bye the last game of the year. Not to mention his saying throughout the season that he didn't want to come back.

Even if Mora and Atkins have similiar numbers, what's the point of keeping Mora in Baltimore. He has been on this team the entire time this organization has been in the dumps and he doesn't know how to win. It's time to bring in some new blood.

acquiring atkins and gonzalas was a good deal. i am surprised that they got atkins at what the indstry source is saying. the big catch of the off season would be if they sign mat holliday,for which i won't hold my breath. it does make me wonder what would happen with reimold and maybe pie or luke scott if the orioles were to land mat holliday.

I like it...a lot

I'll not bother defending my comment for the sake of someone who obviously cannot read. What I said was that Mora's BEST years far surpassed Atkins' BEST years. I'll stand by that.
As for the respect issue, I think Mora was absolutely justified in his complaint that Trembley had not communicated his intentions to Melvin regarding changes in the lineup and sitting him out. Whether those changes were justified or not was not the issue. In fact, Mora admitted all along that they were indeed justified. His complaint was that Trembley was not forthcoming about them until they actually happened.... a legitimate expectation from a veteran player.
In his ten years with the Orioles, Mora was never a complainer or a "whiner" as some here have made him out to be.
There was only that one incident from last season, and I think he had a valid complaint.
He didn't go out of his way to express that complaint, either. He was simply responding to the ever-inquiring ritual of the news media concerning every little thing that happens on the baseball field such as the real hidden meanings in lineup changes or of batting glove colors. They asked Melvin how he felt and he told them....... period.

I don't see any downside to this deal because if Atkins rebounds, we not only have him for 2010 at a bargain price, but also a very reasonable option for 2011. I know his #s were down last year, but this is such a low risk gamble that the O's would've been dumb to not do it. Change of scenery can do wonders, as a lot of people thought Mike Lowell was dead till he went to Boston so hopefully Atkins gets back to his career #s.

PS About F'ING time that Brooks got a statue outside OPACY. I love that this is happening and only adds to the great winter the O's are having.

WHOOOPS!!!
I stand corrected concerning my comment that Mora's best years far surpassed those of Atkins.
Actually they were quite similar.
Atkins: 329/29/120 301/25/111 286/21/99
Mora: 340/27/104 283/27/88 285/23/104

I apologize for that.
I was thinking of the guy with San Diego that we were looking at...... Kazurinsky or whatever his name is.
I do stand by the rest of the stuff I said about Mora, though.

Well that brings a certain irony to Bear's remark about people who "obviously cannot read."

But why does McTurtle ALWAYS grab a low-risk (and low salary) player? I guess becaise there's no downside to his part in the acquisition.
"Not my fault that he didn't play up to expectations" says McT. Meanwhile the O's tread water in 5th place in the East and battle against the A's and Royals as to which team is the worst in the AL.
Guess the O's will start this decade as an extension of the last decade.
MAKE THE TRADE, Gonzales for one major leaguer (low salary) and one or two minor leaguers (even lower salaries)! The other Pete won't be happy but at least the fans won't be denouncing him as the worst owner in the AL IF the O's rise up like the Phoenix>

I was one of the Atkins detractors when the story first game out....but I'm fine with this to be honest. A one year deal truly can't hurt. If he posts the numbers he did last year, they'll waive him midseason and call up Bell. And to be honest, as much as I criticized him and pointed out that his numbers have slipped for four straight years in every offensive category, I still think it's extremely unlikely that he doesn't improve over last year's aberration.

My guess is the O's are getting a guy who, if he gets 500 ABs, hits about .260 with 20 homers and plays lousy defense. Do I like it? No. But neither Bell nor Snyder are ready to play, so I don't really mind having a veteran who is at least a ML player hold the spot. It's a one year deal, so we really have nothing to lose here. I much prefer this to signing Beltre or any other FA third baseman to a multi-year deal while blocking our two top position prospects. Really nothing to lose here. We're still $30 million under payroll.

I just hope that Garrett Atkins is as good as his hair ( http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/GarrettAtkins.JPG/250px-GarrettAtkins.JPG ). Go Orioles!

Jason,
I think they will buy the bats when there are better ones available. I'm not wild about locking Holliday up for 6 years considering his downward trend. The big difference between MacPhail and previous O's management is that MacPhail only give big money to who deserves it (Roberts, Markakis), he will not overpay. Duquette would have given big money to any old, downward player. Younger, better free agents on the way next year.

warehouse bloggers,

Stop! You have lost any cred you had and you simply sound ridiculous now!

People are wise that the organization plants the positive spin (on everything) through you all.....

Maybe try not to be so obvious however?