Good. Maybe Dennis and Anita can take the same train out of town.

In the time he's been here, Sarfate has shown he has a great arm, but a distinct lack of control. He ain't exactly a spring chicken anymore, and maybe the Orioles decided he is what he is, and that's all you're gonna' get, period, end of story.

I am not a MacPhail basher but this move is absolutely terrible. I do not understand it at all. Here are players I would have removed before Sarfate: Matt Albers, Alberto Castillo, and Armando Gabino (who?)

Sarfate looked very promising in 2008 before his injury. The guy can bring it. Unless the O's know something I don't (possible of course), this move is just inexplicable. Sarfate has every right to be upset.

O's fan in Montana. With 76 walks in 102 innings, Sarfate has no reason to be upset; the only ones that are probably upset with his release were the AL teams that faced him.
These are the kind of moves we should be applauding; our bullpen is already looking better without ineffective guys like Baez, Ray and now Sarfate.

Terry,

Don't forget Bass and Albers who all but certainly will not be in the bullpen next year. That makes it look even better.

who are these 6 guys invited? i've never heard of any of them. are they from our minor league system?

who are these 6 guys invited? i've never heard of any of them. are they from our minor league system?

Why release or designate Sarfate? This man will be an all-star elsewhere.......Just watch and see! This was Baltimore's Joba Chamberlain with some help.

Pretty easy to understand the Sarfate move...they needed is number for Bedard!

I'll give Andy Macphail credit on this move. Potential is only potential for so long. The odds that Sarfate is going to turn into a lights out set up guy or closer are not good. Time to move on and not look back. Mcaphail acquired Sarfate in the Tejada trade so that tells me a little more about Andy.

Why don't the Orioles throw out a contract proposal to Johnny Damon? A veteran hitter like that would be a fantastic addition to the lineup if we could convince him to come. He can be a fourth outfield/DH and would be a huge upgrade over Scott, in my opinion. We probably would have to overpay, but as you have said before, Peter: it's not like the Orioles don't have the money.

So the Orioles original trade getting rid of Tejeda ended up being Tejeda for Luke Scott.

Joe Foss,
I believe Patton was in that deal...

Joe and Bill -

I think George Costanza was in it also.

Mark Hendrickson has re signed. He announced it at a local sports banquet in south central Pa.

I just dropped my prediction from 71 wins to 70........ But hey, that's 6 more wins than last year. Warehousers rejoice!

Hey, Wayne Nayhouser:

I just raised my prediction from 81 to 85 wins. That will make me happy. REmember, Negatorio, baseball success is incremental. Tony LaRussa once said that a baseball fan must remember that the BEST team in baseball in a given year wins 3 out of 5 (.600), and the WORST team wins 2 out of 5 (.400). That one game multiplied by 32.2 (to equal the 162 game schedule) separates the Yankees from the Pirates. So, with the new roster, the Orioles are NOT THAT FAR away.

Sorry to hear about Sarfate - great guy and his potential looked to be on the upside after the circulation issues. Hope no other team bites on him and the O's give him an invite to ST.

Joe, Bill and PeteyPablo,

Patton hasn't pitched since 2007 and is still having issues after a torn lambrum.

Michael Costanzo, not George, hit .201 at Bowie and .206 at Norfolk. George would be more entertaining.

Funny thing is the Orioles could have traded Tejeda in 2006.

From Dave Sheinin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, December 13, 2007:
"According to sources with knowledge of the talks, they turned down offers from Houston that would have brought them all-star pitcher Roy Oswalt and either of two young infielders, Adam Everett or Chris Burke. "

Ouch.

Colorado O,

Only problem is.... The O's are the Pirates!

2009

O's - 98 L's --- Pirates - 99 L's
O's - Last Place --- Pirates - Last Place
O's - Sustained consecutive losing streak - Pirates - Ditto (Showing O's the way)
O's - Near bottom of mlb Payroll --- Pirates - Ditto
O - Dwiddling attendance --- Pirates -

Oh, I could do this all day.....

Joefoss (and anyone else who is wondering),

Patton has not pitched in the majors since 2007. He divided last season between Bowie and Norfolk, dominating AA to the tune of a 1.99 ERA/1.07 WHIP, but getting lit up in AAA, as evidenced by a 6.45 ERA and 1.70 WHIP. I think the jury is still out on him - this year should provide a more telling performance having a year under his belt after his labrum tear rehab. He's still just 24, so he has time to establish himself.

Terry P, PLEASE. Baez and Sherrill were the only (big gulp) pitchers on the Orioles last yr to post less hits given up than innings pitched. (Swallow) Baez should have been brought back (mistake number one) and the signing of Gonzalez if he pitches well, only replaces Sherrill's efforts but saw how far a stud closer got us by August? A closer is no use if you can't give him leads! Our 6th and 7th inning options should be aggressively addressed w one or two veterans now that the corner infield spots have been settled. Brian Bass has talent, just watch him pitch in the bullpen, but he needs another pitch, preferably off speed, even more preferably, figuring it out on an opposing team. Albers has a slider, whoopee! But can't throw it for strikes consistently. Maybe another year of seasoning has helped him. we'll know by May but that might be too late. Maybe Berken will be a great out the pen, but his stuff doesn't get anybody excited, probably not even his parents. On the positive, Matt Angle is the real deal, even more so than Bell, so there's some injury protection there for Jones or real nice trade bait. Still think AM might pull a trade before opening day for another Veteran starting pitcher or solid bullpen guy and Angle would bring someone of quality.

Sizemo,

Bass and Albers will not be on the Orioles 25 man roster this year. it's just not gonna happen. there's no room for them in the pen.

I think, barring another move, we're looking at:
1. Mike Gonzalez
2. Koji
3. JJ
4. Kam Mickolio
5. Mark Hendrickson
6. David Hernandez
7. Alberto Castillo (or one of a few other lefties in the organization. I just say Castillo because he pitched OK in Sept. for us last year).

4 righties, 3 lefties. 3 guys that can go long if need be (Koji, Hendrickson, Hernandez). A bunch of power arms. Good balance and much improvement over last year. not to mention the starters should be much better than last year, which means the pen should be a lot more rested.

You can kiss Albers and Bass goodbye and good riddance. The same goes for Sarfate and Baez.

248 days left

247 days left

enzo,

exactly. dead-on.

"Mcaphail acquired Sarfate in the Tejada trade so that tells me a little more about Andy."

It tells you that the fourth and fifth guys in a 5 for 1 trade are usually long shots. Scott, Albers and Patton were the top three.

Guys, Bass signed with the Pirates so he's not coming back. As far as Baez, seemed like he was good against poor hitting clubs, but very bad against the good ones. I am not going to miss him.

A lot of friends that I have in the Houston area say that Patton is an ace if he can recover. Big if, but I remember Andy said after the trade that he knew was hurt and would do it all over gain because Troy is a special pitcher. Let him take his time and see what happens for the Tide. He dominated AA so let's see what happens against AAA for an entire year. Last thing we need is a repeat of what happened with Chris Ray.

Just curious, what is going on with the search for Buck's replacement? Pete, is it Flanny or a revolving door this year till they get someone permanently? I thought they would've announced it at Fan Fest.

Enzo, buddy, didn't I say the same the same thing. Bah bye Bass and Albers, barring injury to others, of course. Read the post dude. Bass will develop elsewhere, he has a quality arm and makeup, bit seriously needs a 3rd pitch cause his slider is avg. Albers is just taller more sloppy version of Bass. Total batting practice fodder, tho he had his moments. AS for your comment on the pen, "a bunch of power arms" Uh, excuse me, Hendrickson couldn't break an egg w his fastball, nor Koji, and betting on Castillo to stick would get you .25 on the dollar in Vegas, though i will agree, on paper, as a group, they could be slightly better than last yr's pen w a healthy Koji out there and Hernandez tho he's better than Berken so don;t count Hernandez out on earning the 5th slot.

Enzo, buddy, didn't I say the same the same thing. Bah bye Bass and Albers, barring injury to others, of course. Read the post dude. Bass will develop elsewhere, he has a quality arm and makeup, bit seriously needs a 3rd pitch cause his slider is avg. Albers is just taller more sloppy version of Bass. Total batting practice fodder, tho he had his moments. AS for your comment on the pen, "a bunch of power arms" Uh, excuse me, Hendrickson couldn't break an egg w his fastball, nor Koji, and betting on Castillo to stick would get you .25 on the dollar in Vegas, though i will agree, on paper, as a group, they could be slightly better than last yr's pen w a healthy Koji out there and Hernandez tho he's better than Berken so don;t count Hernandez out on earning the 5th slot.

I never heard of half of these guys, and the one's I DO know are way past their prime....
Most of these guys never had a prime...
(ala Major League)

Monitor,

What I meant is that Macphail is not concerned about getting rid of "his" guys. I still think that Troy patton is going to be a starting pitcher in the majors. It generally takes two years to come all the way back from labrum surgery. His velocity has not returend to pre sugery levels when he threw in the low and mid 90's consistently. Late last year he was in the upper 80's and hit 90 on occasion. Let's see what the winter off did for the kid. Macphail knew about the problem at the time of the trade and was willing to take the chance that patton could get healthy and his comments at the time reflected the fact that there was no rush becuase the kid had potential.

Hey, I don't normally defend Macphail so all of the true believers who rip me on a regular basis should cut and paste this one.

Sizemo,

I just read your post through twice. There is nothing in there that would indicate that you thought Bass and Albers would be leaving.

Perhaps that's what you meant, but your structure and word choice indicate otherwise.

You say that we need to address our bullpen. Then you begin to discuss the flaws of Bass and Albers. This would seem to be reasoning as to why what we currently have is inadequate. At no point do you say that they won't be on the team. I'm not saying it's not what you meant. But it aint what you said, "buddy".

As to the power arms comment. I'd like to believe that you knew I didn't mean Koji or Hendrickson. But, JJ, Mickolio, Hernandez, and MGonz aren't too shabby.

BL Todd, good point on Bass.

Sizemo. I neglected to mention Albers and Bass but probably because I was trying to forget them! I certainly don't see them as part of the O's future.
Enzo-good analysis/prediction of the O's '10 pen. I'm not sure about Castillo and whether we need another lefty down there but overall, that 'pen looks a lot better than last years'.

I think Sarfate will get picked up pretty quickly but his control issues will always keep him off of a good team. I've always liked his fastball but he thought he could throw it by everyone rarely knew where it was going. I see him joining Bass and Burres in mullet town. Pride. Passion. Pittsburgh Pirates!

Gil,

yeah...your comments confound my small mind. lol. Defending Andy....temp check in hell, 2 degrees above freezing... I'm just messing.

But you're right. Letting Sarfante go might hurt, but I too think that the time had come and gone so I support the move.

Still think Ray coulda been salvageable...but even us "kool-aid drinkers" can find something not to like in Andy.

Must add Sarfate and Meridith to the pitchers who gave up less hits than innings pitched BUT Meridith's ERA was better than Sarfate's, by allot, 3.77 to 5.09, so there's your answer Pete, to why Sarfate was the sacrificial lamb. Glad Hendrikson is back and is not being considered for the rotation like last year. He was stellar in the relief roll and certainly will help those 6th inning, 7th inning numbers. In fact, Koji, Berken, and Hendrickson are going to be key in long relief when our young fireballers have off days. Moreover, I like that our starters all have decent heat (save for Millwood) then the long relief comprises junk ball specialists, then we shift abruptly on the back end to heat. Makes it allot tougher for lineups to gauge and get comfortable. Andy and Kranitz are building something here people. Don't need kool-aide to recognize.