Yay?

Luke Scott is Jay Gibbons deja vu

I'm not a huge Scott fan (though I do think the team should let him sport a Grizzly Adams during the season), but he's no Jay Gibbons.

He's not: a) Ginger b) Roided up c) Being grossly overpaid.

Scott will be dealt whenever the birds think Bell is ready. I do think we are going to sign a 3rd basemen before (or during) Spring Training. When Bell comes up, it would make sense to have him split time with that third basemen and DH the man not playing third.

I like Scott, but he is too streaky a hitter and not likely to change. Of course, if Bell doesn't develop as the O's would hope, having Scott around wouldn't be a bad thing.

Any ideas on how much Guthrie could/should make this year? I'm not much interested in the money side of the game, but the fact that Scott is set to make nearly seven times what Guthrie made last year is mind-boggling.

Oooooohhhh the Orioles made a signing.......wait.....we already had him....lol

Sounds like we are paying him for the first half year and forgot his lack of production after the fourth of July. Trade him while he is worth something.

I know it's really petty of me, but I have a hard time getting behind somebody who points to the sky after getting a good hit.

"I know it's really petty of me, but I have a hard time getting behind somebody who points to the sky after getting a good hit."

What's wrong with thanking God and/or a deceased relative?

Pointing to the sky could be seen as thanking God, or could be seen as saying "look at me, everybody.' Jesus didn't like the idea of displaying religious practices in public (Matthew 6:5), but maybe in some other religions it's a good thing.

Dear God,

I know that there are literally millions of people starving in third world countries and all, so thanks for ignoring them and helping me out on that bloop single.

Scott will be traded. Pie gets his ab's. Improves both the offense and defense.

I don't mean to start a Holy War here but...

Danny -

Keep reading Matthew. Up to the beginning of the next chapter, at least.

Chris -

It could also be...

"Dear God,

Thank you for blessing me with the talent to play this game so that I can make enough money to support my entire family while still giving some away to help the millions of people who are starving in third world countries."

Keep in mind that we have absolutely no idea what most of these guys point to the sky for. We have no right to judge them.

uh oh. i got a bad feeling where this thread is about to go...

A batter points to the sky, he might be doing the legendary Babe Ruth thing: "Next at-bat, I'm hitting a popup!"

"A batter points to the sky, he might be doing the legendary Babe Ruth thing: 'Next at-bat, I'm hitting a popup!'"

Or saying, "Hey, isn't that a pretty cloud!?", to the opposing team's shortstop.

PS - According to Ed Price, Guthrie asked for $3.625M and the O's offered $2.3M. I've got a feeling that, if they don't settle, the O's will win the case. $2.3M is three and half times what Guthrie made in 2009, which wasn't a very impressive showing...

FanFarce:

When the execs have their question and answer session, I'm thinking of stepping up to the mike.......

Keep in mind, one person after another will ask soft ball, 'kiss-up' style questions. There will also be planted questions from warehousers.

If they have the guts to allow me the mike, what question should I ask? I certainly have an idea, but i'd love your feedback.......

Thanks, not brooks, for the answer. But gee, with the salaries being thrown around today, you can't blame the agent for any starting pitcher who's survived a few years for thinking it's his turn for the big score, even after a disappointing year. And I really like the system where the two sides submit proposals and the arbitrators must pick one or the other, and not compromise. Otherwise, the team and agents would have incentive to make outlandishly low or high offers, like when the utility companies ask the legislature for a 15 percent rate hike and 'settle' for 5.

wayne -

Unfortunately, they'll find a way to spin around/not answer any question you ask. And the mike will be taken away before you have a chance to ask a follow up question.

Wayne,

Ask Andy what fans are suppose to do after another losing season. And if he actually planned for 2010 to be another losing season.

Danny -

I don't have any problem with Guthrie's request. I just don't expect him to get it.

However, if he returns to something resembling his 2007/2008 form in 2010, he could be in line for a nice arb raise ($5-6M?) for 2011 or maybe even a two or three year extension.

Here's a Q some of us were asking the other night in a different form: Imagine all the GMs throw their managers into a pot, and a randomizer lets each GM in turn select whichever one he wants. How many teams would take their turn before Trembley is chosen? And please put your answer into the form of a number, from one to thirty.

wayne - How about asking MacPhail how many games the birds have to win in order for Trembley to keep his job.

You may want to follow up by asking him when the front office should be judged by wins and losses.

i'm with not brooks though. They'll surely take the microphone away from you quickly

not brooks,

Agreed, thus why it's likely a non issue. May look for my spot though.

Here you go everyone..... mull on our possible corners for 2010:

2009 stats:

Atkins - 226 avg, 9 hr's, 48 rbi's

Crede - 225 avg, 15 hr's, 48 rbi's

Give me a few days to think of something positive to say about these studs.....

Wayne... Atkins was hurt and had an off year. Does that mean he should be relegated to the Culiacán tomato growers?

Lots.of.upside.

@wayne

Hey buddy! How's it going? You should ask if Andy has been paying attention to everything you've been writing on Schmuck's blog!

@not brooks RE: the whole players/sky pointing thing...

I'm sure they are thankful for exactly what you said, but wouldn't it be more appropriate to say that prayer before and/or after every game, not necessarily after when they get a hit?

I just don't think a player praising their deity, regardless of who that might be, is something that should be performance based.

Wayne... Atkins was hurt and had an off year. Does that mean he should be relegated to the Culiacán tomato growers?

Lots.of.upside.

Shamrock ,

It is very well documented that Atkins simply plummeted last year, and simply lost his job. Where did the injury come into play?

Not suggesting he should be relegated to Cullacan tomato growers, but why do the last place orioles have to sign him?

Chris,

Sorry, Not getting involved with the whole religion thing. I'll leave that to you guys!

WAYNE,

You're nuts to think they'll let you ask a question. I'm an Oriole fan from DC, and I'll be at Fanfest or Fanfarce as you call it, and I'd love to see someone finally ask a tough question. Odds are they won't let you though. HIt em hard wayne. They deserve it.

Since there's so many people dying to ask the tough questions, why don't you all get together before hand so you can get in line and all ask the tough questions? Why don't you all be pro-active in stead of just complaining on the internet?

Seriously. If you want answers, ask questions. If they screen questions, just give them a couple innocent ones that you won't actually ask before you get up to the mic.

THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO VOICE EVERYTHING YOU'VE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT TO ANDY HIMSELF!

If you don't, well...

Wayne- ask the media members what they think of the game day ticket price increases. I'd love to see Jim Hunter's face.

So you mean to tell me that there's a gestapo on sports media in Baltimore? Is someone looking for their Geraldo of AL East baseball?

Get the hell over it. As a Skins fan, I know what it's like to have the sports "Patriot Act" take over your local venting outlet. It's unfair, and it's sweeping the nation. All rich owners buy out dissenting opinions. FM/AM, it doesn't matter.

One day you unsuspectingly wake up with Colin Cowherd, the next day your neighbor's murder/suicide doesn't shock you as much as present you with an idea.

The newspaper itself is a last resort of the independent journalist. MUCH MORE OBJECTIVE THAN TALK RADIO ON CERTAIN STATIONS!!! Leave Schmuck alone, he's from an area with good weather & better baseball. He has no vested interest in making the O's an ugly baby with pretty clothes. No reason for him to romanticize. He'd rather talk about Kendry Morales & Jeff Weaver, and who can blame him? He left THAT to come to THIS. He's a baseball fan in a great baseball city with poor baseball production. More objective than one thinks.

The Sun is one of the best, he is one of the best. Welcome him. Appreciate him. The Sun cannot afford to keep such talent much longer. MLB Network is in need of better color guys, and Schmuck knows it. You want a new guy from a crap pedigree replacing him? it could be worse.

More attention on awakening the fan base, and less attention on the guy writing the blog please?

The pseudo-revolution in DC worked. Cerrato/Zorn got canned. That shows Snyder was afraid of alienating his fan base. Obviously, abandonment can have an impact on CFO's and the like.

Unfortunately, the sweetheart deal with MASN & Bud Selig has softened the blow of fan abandonment. Angelos is going to rake for the next ten years thanks to Bud and the agreement.

In all fairness to Angelos, he tried Belle, he tried Miggy, he tried Raffy. All resulted in epic fail. So the new philosophy of wait & see is welcome. We weren't gonna compete this year anyway folks, even before Lackey & Vazquez signed. Bedard & Miggy coming back for dirt cheap would speak volumes for the overall methodology of the FO.

I've waited 10 years to see a truly good Orioles team field Camden Yards, I can wait one more if it means Tillman, Matusz, Arrieta, Markakis, Jones, Reimold, Pie and crew will all be more experienced while the Yanksox deal with high priced guys in the mid 30's.

Chris,

What would you ask? I mean are you actually happy knowing it'll be another losing season? Does anything ever upset those like you?

I don't men to sound sarcastic. I'm just asking. People say the team is better than last year, but I remember reading the same things last year. Then, 2009 because almost unwatchable.

So at the end of 2010, when the losses will be greater than the wins, and not all the young kids will have performed as hoped, what will people say?

So as to not simply be sucking up to Andy, what would you ask? or are you really that satisfied? It's just so hard to understand you as well as a couple other.

You sound like a good fan. But wouldn't you be tired of losing if you were someone like Brian Roberts? I know he says all the right things, as he did last year. But don't you think he envy's almost every other team?

Hey Wayne,

Ask them why all the hype on Josh Bell? Has anyone read what Gil wrote? That Bell had 48 errors at 3B last year. Are you kidding me? 48 errors and he's our guy in waiting? That would be fine if he was a stud hitter, but he obviously has holes. And it's not like the guy is 21. He'll be 24 at the end of this season. 48 errors? Wayne, ask them about that.

larry,

Hmmmm... well, I'm not resigned to a losing season in 2010. I mean, there's still a month left before spring training starts... but what would I ask him...?

I might ask if (considering that he traded for Millwood this year) he might consider looking past the grow the arms and buy the bats next off season, when there looks to be a couple of legit Aces on the FA market, similar to the way the Braves added Maddux to a solid home grown staff in the 90's. I'd be sure not to mention specific names as most GMs won't talk about specific players currently on other teams.

Another question I might ask would be, "What shape would you like to see the minor league system in before you would consider making a 'blockbuster' trade, potentially getting a superstar back for a handful of high prospects?"

And yet another one might be, "Considering the state of the O's international scouting when you signed on, where do you think we are now, and where do you see us going forward? Where do you think we could improve as far as international scouting?"

In any case, the key to getting a good answer starts with phrasing it in a way that (and I'm not trying to put anyone down here) doesn't seem like you already know the answer.

Chris,

Thanks for answering Chris. Good questions all. I don't think any are the type of tough questions that would indicate to Andy that the fan base is really tired though. In other words, I would think he'd just give one of his generic answers that have become so frustrating as he enters his 3rd losing season.

You're right though, asking the question without being arrogant is important.

Ryan,

Go back and see my response to Gil. The 48 errors Gil posted was off by 24 errors. I'm not sure where Gil got his info, but I got mine from the article I linked to in my post.

larry,

I think MacPhail understands that the fan base is tired. I also believe that he is trying to get the club back to it's winning ways. The first thing he had to do was restore respectability on a national level, which I think you're seeing now, with all the positive press the team is getting regarding its youngsters. The next step would be to see improvement in the standings, which will only happen with the success of our young talent. Once that happens, not only will fans start coming back a bit, but Baltimore will be a more attractive place for FAs. Once that happens and you can attract big name FAs without grossly overpaying, I think the club will be at a point where they are perennial contenders like Boston.

I guess the Oriole management wasn't interested in Zach Duke of the Pirates but he was definitely available this off-season. They could use a experienced left-handed starting pitcher.

http://www.denverpost.com/rockies/ci_11925909

Larry... he was hurt coming out of spring training...

Yep this move puts us over the top to win the division.

Now Luke can buy even more guns!

God + Guns + Trucks + Texas + Kids + Mullet+ StreakY = +Luke Scott+

baseballs version of another Scott

WITH ARMS WIDE OPEN!!!

311 i WILL fIgHt YOU!!!!!!!!!!

Guns dont kill people. Luke Scott kills people. Well mainly diehard Oriole fans with his lack of clutch or streaky hitting...

2010: The Year we make contact..

Strange black monolith object appears in Peter Angelos office.....

DA

Picture Angelos running around his office

DA

He pokes the phone and plays with it

DA

He picks it up

DA DA

He calls Cal

DA DA DA

He sells the team!

DA DA DA!!! DA DA DA!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then the Orioles evolve

Cal asks Fail5000 to clean out his desk hes fired.

Newly hired manager Davey Johnson says yeah Fail GTFO

MacFail replies

I’m afraid I can’t do that Dave…

Chris,

Granted there's more respect then there was, but I believe it will be very short lived if it looks like the orioles will have another losing year. I just think they look better because they were so bad as recent as last year.

If the first half is well below 500 ball, I think the national press will go away. Sure, they'll still have a few prospects to talk about, but so many teams have their prospects as well.

Then of course there's the chance that because we have so many inexperienced starters, the chance that a second half collapse is once again possible.

It sure seems like a risky way to go.

Shamrock,

I understand that about Atkins during spring training. Come mid April, then through the season though, everyone said he was injury free.

The club sure lost faith in him quickly. Combine that with the possibility that his previous years stats were partly due to the thin denver air, and one has reason to be less than optimistic.

I could see it if we had a quality corner on the other side, but that doesn't seem like it'll be happening. I guess we'll have to see.

Pete:

Who is Guthrie's agent these days? As I recall, he parted ways with Scott Boras.

Great, another exciting move by the Orioles. How I look forward to his strikeouts with men on base and his 2 for 34 slumps and occasional 4 home runs in 12 games all culminating in a .252 season batting average and more men LOB than I have hairs on my head.

How exciting. Way to go Andy.

Peter-

Playoffs here we come! lol. Why is this guy still on our team? How many 250 20 HR complimentary players must we have?
Yes, its fine to do that. But, THAT ISN"T WHAT WE NEED.

Its like, sure, Aubrey would be a fine 1b I'm sure, similar to when the Yankees had Grudzelaniak play 1b those couple seasons. Defense only 1b, sure. But they also had Arod, Jeter, Posada, Giambi, Abreu, etc.
The fact that we are talking about going into the season with Wiggington and Aubrey at the CI is just disgusting.

Wiggington is such a defensive liability, not even for the errors, but because of all of the plays that go down as hits, that a normal 3b would have had no problem.
He can't even hit 20 HR anymore. Neither can Atkins, probably.
But still. How mediocre can you be when you have 4 or 5 up and coming superstars, and you fill out the roster with 4 guys that are locks to hit sub 250, and maybe 15-20 HR?

It really sucks to know the season is lost when the snow hasn't melted yet.
There is NOTHING to get excited about. I hope, that the staff comes together and Tillman, Matusz, and Bergy, each win 15 games, and we look back and say,
had we made the trade we should have made, we might have made a run at the Wild Card, but, we wrote off another season, cuz thats what we do here.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Hey Wayne,

Ask them why all the hype on Josh Bell? Has anyone read what Gil wrote? That Bell had 48 errors at 3B last year. Are you kidding me? 48 errors and he's our guy in waiting? That would be fine if he was a stud hitter, but he obviously has holes. And it's not like the guy is 21. He'll be 24 at the end of this season. 48 errors? Wayne, ask them about that.

Posted by: Ryan | January 19, 2010 9:26 PM

He would probably say "check your sources" because Bell didn't have 48 errors last year. In fact, the most errors he's ever had in one full year was 37, which came at A-ball in '07.

Last year he had 24 errors, which isn't terrible for a 3B.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=bell--005jos

What I'd like to know is why I should care which one, Miggy or Crede we get? Either one is as best a place holder, neither one is going to make any real difference in how this team finishes the season.
So far, this off-season has been a lot like the ones in the past, as we sit idly by watching the Yankees and Red Sox make major moves while we pick up a small handful of low risk, low salary, place holders.
We're now about to enter the 3rd year of "the plan" and our prospects of even finishing at .500 are pretty dim. I know the O's problems are deep and couldn't be remedied in a single season or two, but surely a .500 season isn't really asking all that much in the third year of a rebuilding plan is it? Yes, I also know that the FA market this year didn't match up perfectly with our specific needs, but the fact remains that there were high caliber players available and I just don't see how picking up a great talent, at any position, ever hurts you.
I stick by my pledge to withhold final judgment on the off- season until it is completely done, but if I'm supposed to get all worked up over the big decision between Miggy and Crede, it's not working.

How does a guy hit .308 with 18 hrs and 50 rbi's before the All-Star Game, and .208, 7 hrs, and 27 rbi's afterwards? Strange. Like two completely different players. A half a season slump. Yikes. Let's hope Scott gets off to a great start to increase his trade value.

And in other news, Ty Wiggington wants to lead off!

A guy over at you're old buddie's blog posted this - is this true or did they really cut Guthrie's salary?

Roch seemed to reinforce what this guy said - What's the deal?
---------

FRANK said:
Here's the deal with Guthrie - I don't know the dollar figures off of the top of my head but I do know how his contract worked.

Guthrie was a first round pick of the Indians and received a bonus. That bonus was spread out over multiple years and was front-loaded. Imagine getting a signing bonus from a new employer of $100,000, spread out as yearly payments of 40k, 30k, 20k, 10k - That's how his bonus worked and was still the responsibility of the Indians. He received his standard pay increase from the O's last year as a non-arb eligible player. YES, his total compensation decreased - his original signing bonus contract stipulated that it would. Also, the O's can only increase a non-arb eligible player's salary by so much year over year - if I remember correctly, they increased his pay by the normal amount for a player in a similar place in their career.

Bottom line, his total compensation (salary + pre-negotiated bonus) decreased BUT the salary paid by the O's to Guthrie increased. I don't remember if Guthrie was upset about it last year (I think it was just the trolls blowing it out of proportion to blast the O's). But if he was upset about it, he needs to call his agent and get someone that understands it to explain it to him...

In the end, it's a moot point as he is arb eligible this year and should be in seven figures...

---------------

Thanks!

BobbyWoontz, great comment!!!!

It's so sad that instead of Luke saying that wants to be the player he was before the break, he talks about the sacrifices he's making by not playing in the field plus he says he's always been very good defensively which is true because I heard he was great on his 5th grade baseball team. The guy is 31 and a streaky hitter which is something that's' not going to change. I still hope he's traded before the season so the O's are forced to get a DH like Thome. I can't take Mr. Streaky.

Well, Luke has been a good defensive outfielder his entire MLB career. As they say, you could look it up.