Guess it was closer than you thought, huh Pete?

I know Gil is happy. Cheers, Gil!

Who comes off the 40 man to make room?

Pete,

Any rumblings on Bedard around the campfire? As excited as I am about our version of the "The Big Three", AM can't possibly think they'll all hold up for 200 innings this year? Right?

Excellent offseason!
Bedard would be icing on the cake!

Hi Chris,

I am happy. Not just for Mark who now gets to commute 55 miles straight down 83 for home games, but I think he is the sold middle relief guy who can give you 4 or 5 innings to keep the game close after a starter gets blown out.

Bedard is not an answer for much of anything. When can he pitch? May? June? after the All Star Break? If he was worth much, do you not think that other teams would be knocking his door down for his service?

I am not opposed to signing him, but to think he will be of much use this year, is silly. Basically a rehab year, looking for a good payday the next year. He is a huge risk, if the young guys are really struggling, maybe he can help by July or August.

I would be wiling to wager that Bedard pitches very little this season. If he is signed it will be for 2011. One does not come back from that type of surgery very quickly.

Jim, Doug M,

After Bedard had the surgery it was described as very similar to the labrum surgery Troy Patton had on his left arm two yaesr ago. Patton has yet to recoup his velocity and was younger. As much as I would like to see Bedard healthy and in an Orioles uniform I'm afraid that you are right.

This is good news. Hendrickson did a good job for the O's last year, especially after he found his role as a utility pitcher.

I think 2010 is The Season of Trembley. MacPhail hasn't (yet) bolstered the bullpen much, nor has he added a big bat to the lineup, so a lot of games will hinge on Trembley's decision-making.

First of all, the O's have failed to deliver on fundamentals, something that Trembley claims he has emphasized. That has to change this year: improvements in fielding, baserunning, etc. have to be seen.

Also, while we have some pretty good hitters, we lack mega-power, so we're going to have to manufacture runs the old-fashioned way. The O's left a lot of runners on base, particularly in scoring position, last year. This is going to have to improve: better line-up decisions, better use of stealing opportunities, etc.

Bullpen decisions: again an area of concern. How long to leave in the starters, use of situational lefties, etc. is one of the most visible areas of managerial decision-making. Trembley can't allow the O's to lose (many) games in which they were leading going into the 8th or 9th inning now that we once again have a legitimate closer.

Finally, Trembley must combat/abate the Late-Season Swoon. This is a matter of leadership. This club cannot nosedive to finish the season as it has during most of the past 10 or so years.

While I don't think that the O's have a great roster, I do think that they have enough decent players to finish with 80+ wins if they are managed well.

This is good news. Hendrickson did a good job for the O's last year, especially after he found his role as a utility pitcher.

I think 2010 is The Season of Trembley. MacPhail hasn't (yet) bolstered the bullpen much, nor has he added a big bat to the lineup, so a lot of games will hinge on Trembley's decision-making.

First of all, the O's have failed to deliver on fundamentals, something that Trembley claims he has emphasized. That has to change this year: improvements in fielding, baserunning, etc. have to be seen.

Also, while we have some pretty good hitters, we lack mega-power, so we're going to have to manufacture runs the old-fashioned way. The O's left a lot of runners on base, particularly in scoring position, last year. This is going to have to improve: better line-up decisions, better use of stealing opportunities, etc.

Bullpen decisions: again an area of concern. How long to leave in the starters, use of situational lefties, etc. is one of the most visible areas of managerial decision-making. Trembley can't allow the O's to lose (many) games in which they were leading going into the 8th or 9th inning now that we once again have a legitimate closer.

Finally, Trembley must combat/abate the Late-Season Swoon. This is a matter of leadership. This club cannot nosedive to finish the season as it has during most of the past 10 or so years.

While I don't think that the O's have a great roster, I do think that they have enough decent players to finish with 80+ wins if they are managed well.

Agreed,

Bedard 'would' be icing on the cake indeed!

Let's add a 6 inning (at best), pitches when he wants to pitch, injured, malcontent to the list of game changing 2010 free agent signings!

He'd be the perfect addition to a team that's already set to lose more games then they'll win!

I've got goose bumbs just thinking about it!

DFA Brian Bass.

Pete,

You need spring training, and quick!

Not only is this team one of the worst in all of baseball, but it must be one of the worst to cover as well.....

Good luck finding something to write about. Maybe you can interview Cal, or perhaps check in on Brooks?

How about a scouting report on the Rays...... so everyone can see how they'll kick the O's ass again this year, and well into the future.

At least it would be interesting!

wayne - havn't you found a bus to step in front of yet?

Hey Schmuck, I would just like to let you know that I was the first to break that about Hendrickson: posting it last night.

Thank you

I'm going to throw another name out there. Noah Lowry. He pitched in SF a few years ago and was up and coming. He got sick and is now mended. The guys is left handed and had 40 wins in under 4 years. If we took a flier on Rich Hill...no reason he shouldn't be looked at.

leftyfields, good analysis. Despite some on these blogs who are blind to anything positive about the Os, they do look a lot better than they have in years. Lot's of question marks and a lineup without a lot of power though. Fudamentals will be important. Composing the best lineups will be important. But, managing the pitching staff will be most important of all. That's why I'm concerned because Trembley is too much a formula manager and seems incapable or unwilling to adjust his formula based on how the pitcher and the game is going. He also has a real problem producing a winning attitude among the players. Somehow, they expect to lose and he enables that in his post game comments.

To put it another way, with Trembley managing the Os may win 75-85 games. If Davey Johnson, for instance was managing, this team may win 85-90 games. In the long run, neither is acceptable to me. To move to be competitive in the AL East they must acquire a big bat to hit number 4. Unless they truly are just interested in making money without regard to challenging for top dog in the division.

They need another starting pitcher for sure buecause there's no way they let Matusz, TIllman & Bergy pitch 200 innings this year. Young guys have to build up their arms to get used to that many innings or you chance major injury probs. I expect they'll be shut down at some point in late Aug unless they've been sidelined for some other reason earlier in the season. Unfortunately - these shutdowns will probably help steepen the depth of the annual late season swoon this year.

Wayne, I like the way you think, buddy.
Why don't you meet me at The Palm in Tyson's and we can talk some player personnel over drinks? Looking forward to it, friend.
Btw, please wear shoes and a shirt.

Bring Biemel in... at that point your bullpen competes with the Yankees and Red Sox

JJ 3.00
Gonzo 2.50
Meredeth 3.50
Koji 3.50
Mickolio 3.50

Hernandez ??
Berken ??

Everyone, less Hendrickson, has the potential to be a sub 4 ERA guy. A sub 4 ERA bullpen will save you a lot of games.

I would like to see Biemel get signed.

JJ 3.00 4.11
Gonzo 2.50 2.42
Meredeth 3.50 3.77
Koji 3.50 4.05
Mickolio 3.50 2.63

Hernandez ?? 5.42
Berken ?? 6.54

Everyone, less Hendrickson, has the potential to be a sub 4 ERA guy. 4.37

Please tell us you're not operating a motor vehicle. I know the sales pitch was "potential," but everystinkingbody is going to have a career year at the same time?

Only "Gonzo" (love the immediate attachment to our buddy our pal our savior) has a credible track record as Mickolio (not "Mickey" or "Daddy Mick"?) contributed all of 13 2/3 innings.

The Orioles are currently undefeated, however.

every yr for as long as i can remember, ppl on here claim that (insert the yr here )is the best team we've had in ages and every yr we lose.we are up to 12 triaght losing seasons, no? this yr will be no different

this yrs reclamation du jour is Atkins, last yr it was eaton and we saw how that turned out

If u could go back to last yr's posts, you would see these same exact statements

and for all of the rookie projections that are penciled in as sure things, didnt we do the same thing but with different names

Just replace tillman, matusz and bergeson with riley, loewen and cabrera and go back a couple of years and you will look like you are reading posts about this year's pitching staff, People never learn

Who uses era to compare bullpen pitchers anyway ?

Wouldnt whip or inherited runners scored be a better barometer ?

A guy could come in with the bases loaded, they could all score and it wouldnt count against his era. Does giving up 3 of someone else's run sound like a successful appearance ?

Trade, reassign, or release Izturis, Johnson, Hernandez, Andino, Berken, and Albers.

Reacquire Sherrill.

Sign Bedard. We need a veteran lefty in the rotation.

Move Jones back to shortstop where he will be less injury-prone and have a chance at an actual career.

Put Pie in CF and leave him there.

Reimold, Scott, Atkins, and Wigginton share and rotate between LF and DH.

Move Guthrie to the bullpen where he excelled initially with the O's.

SW Roberts 2B
L Pie CF
R Jones SS
L Markakis RF
R Tejada 3B
L Aubrey 1B
R Reimold LF
SW Weiters C
R Atkins DH

RHSP Bergesen
LHSP Bedard
RHSP Millwood
LHSP Matusz
RHSP Tillman

Gonzalez L closer
Guthrie RH setup
Sherrill LH setup
Uehara all-purpose RH
Hendrickson all-purpose LH
Mickolio all-purpose RH
Meredith all-purpose RH

L Scott DH LF
R Wigginton DH 3B 2B 1B LF RF SS
R Turner 3B SS 2B 1B LF CF RF
R Moeller C

Then we can start to win.