Fanfest: The kickoff
FanFest is under way, and Andy MacPhail and Dave Trembley are on stage addressing the season ticket holders. Nothing earth-shattering, but Andy again hinted that he's very close to adding the second corner infielder of the offseason.
"I'm confident we'll get something done in the not-to-distant future,'' MacPhail said.
Considering MacPhail's legendary reluctance to commit himself before a deal is a deal, it sounds to me that he's got something brewing that could pop at just about any moment. The O's probably won't announce anything today, since any deal would require the completion of a physical, but I wouldn't be surprised if there's something more definitive floating around by Monday.
Will it be Miguel Tejada? I think the chances have improved steadily over the past couple of weeks, and listening to MacPhail on the radio on Friday night talking about Joe Crede's injury history seemed kind of telling to me. There are other possibilities out there (Russell Branyan), but when I listen to Andy and try to read between the lines, I keep coming back to Miggy.
A fan just asked Andy to put a percentage on the likelihood that there would be one more starting player added to the lineup by spring training. His answer didn't change my opinion of the situation.
"About as close to 100 percent as I can get,'' MacPhail said.
Haitian relief: The Orioles are holding a silent auction here today to raise money for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. If you can think of a better reason to overpay for a piece of Orioles memorabilia, I'm all ears.
Wayne update: The MacPhail/Trembley question and answer session is just about over, and I'm still waiting for Wayne to pop up and call out Andy on the slow progress of the rebuilding program.
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Comments
Why don't you ask Andy and company how they expect to compete in the AL East? Honestly? Why don't you ask Andy and company why, 3 and a half years after Peter Angelos stated (to PressBox) that a payroll of about $110 million would make this one "hell of an interesting ballclub", the Orioles are going in to 2010 with a payroll of half that? Should the fans expect them to be "interesting", or should the fans expect them to win a lot of games? What is their definition of interesting anyway? And also ask, as Andy and company continue to model the organization more and more after the Devil Rays financially, if they think it's acceptable to have one or two "contending" seasons out of every 10 to 15 years? Is that "interesting"?
Posted by: Eric | January 23, 2010 11:01 AM
Also feel free to ask them how dropping nearly 20 million dollars in 2010 on Millwood, Atkins, and Gonzalez is a whole lot different than the brilliant acquisitions of Benson, Payton, and Baez a few years ago? Why should we expect better results from foolish spending on players of almost identical caliber? Millwoord's 5+ ERA in 2007, 2008, and the second half of 2009, Atkins abysmal numbers in general, and extra-abysmal number away from Coors Field (Jay Payton anyone?), and Gonzalez mopping up blow-outs in the 7th... The possibilities here are so exciting...
Posted by: Eric | January 23, 2010 11:06 AM
Eric -
"Gonzalez mopping up blow-outs in the 7th..."
Most of your concerns are legitimate, but perhaps you should do a bit of research before you speak.
Here's a link to Mike Gonzalez's 2009 game log: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?n1=gonzami02&t=p&year=2009#pitching_gamelogs
As you can see, Gonzalez entered just one game before the 8th inning all season in 2009. And, just from a quick skim, it appears that a vast majority of the games in which he pitched were most certainly not "blow-outs".
So, continue with the negativity if you must, but at least look up some facts before you spout off something that is 100% false.
Posted by: not brooks | January 23, 2010 12:19 PM
Thanks for the Wayne update. Don't tell me we called his bluff? Don't tell me that he declined the perfect opportunity to air his gripes to the source of his angst?
Posted by: jim66 | January 23, 2010 12:38 PM
edit: "pop at *must* about any moment."
:-)
..............................................................................................
Pete's reply: Thanks, I fixed that.
Posted by: steve | January 23, 2010 12:45 PM
WAYNE!!!!!
You gutless wonder! I'm very disappointed! Your credibility just took a nose dive! All that trash you talk is nothing but noise!
Posted by: dave in glen burnie | January 23, 2010 1:49 PM
Pete- thought you weren't dignifying Wayne with attention anymore?
You're just a shill of the Baltimore Sun!!! the editors make you talk about him to sell more newspapers!!! (notice how I made something up out of delusional paranoia, then gave that an action an effect that has nothing to do with said action)
Posted by: SHAMROCK | January 23, 2010 9:24 PM
Pete ole boy,
See my post about said session! You must admit, even you had to be a little disgusted!
Maybe not!
Posted by: wayne | January 24, 2010 9:43 AM