Who were they bidding against???

You gotta think MacPhail justified the 8 mil to Angelos by telling him he's going to be dealt in July anyway so it's not going to cost us 8 mil when it's all said and done.

Ah, yes. When the O's don't spend money, they are cheap. When they do, they are bidding against themselves or have some other ulterior motive. Gotta love Baltimore fans.

"Grow the arms...buy the bats"
Andy Macphail

Potentially a solid move for 2011. Would rather had them put the $8MM plus another $12 into the scouting department and into signing some young Latin free agents with high upside.

If this deal is for 8 mill without any incentives, it's far too much in my opinion. Who were the O's bidding against because it seems like there wasn't much interest in Vlad?
This may go down as one of the worst O's signings ever as there is no guarentee that he's going to stay healthy and/or produce at his former level or even at last year's pace, which included a dramtic drop-off after the All Star break.
This move may actually weaken us defensively and maybe even offensively if Vlad continues his decline.
While this money isn't coming out of my pocket, it typifies another desperate and ill-advised move by McPhail. I'd rank this up with the Gregg move;he coughed up 13 mill for 2 guys that are worth half of that.
Guerrerro signed for more than Manny Rameriz and Johnny Damon combined and while neither was worth that $$$, combined they will put up better numbers.
Just when it looks like the O's are finally looking to take steps forward, they make a bone-headed move like this!

And by the way everyone.....

Who doesn't think Tampa is going to pick up Vlad? You see, a team like that won't lowball him like the O's, and they'll figure out a way to make it all work.

I'm not saying he's going there.... but you really think he's coming to Baltimore? Seriously? Really?

He's why Vlad isn't coming here people........

One reason...

He doesn't need to put '10 behind him.... thus not AM's kind of guy - SEE RECAP ABOVE.

Posted by: wayne | February 2, 2011 4:45 PM

Considering the overall strength of the FA market (fair to good), thats a strong spring. Would have liked to take the 8 mill for VLAD and added to the Victor Martinez offer, but other than that, hard to complain. Lets PLAY BALL!

Baltimore Teams could sign every big name player for all the money in the world, and we would still feel slighted or pissed off about something. We have some of the worst fans for always hating no matter what is done.

We will not be the fastest team on the field, but we will have a power lineup. Strike out or homerun......

solid solid move. the o's get an A for the off season.
our lineup is serious now. time to get excited.
everything is going to rest on how far our young pitching can take us. (and by how far, I mean besting a 500 season.)

if we were in another division we could talk about winning a division.

You people are ridiculous. Why do you care if we spent $8m, its not your money! At least they've justified raising ticket prices. This is an AWESOME move that will make this team at the very least exciting to watch and give credibility to PA's willingness to improve the organization. If our pitching replicates its success of Buck's tenure last year, Hardy and Lee have bounce-back years and Vlad has another solid year, there is no way we wouldn't contend for a wild card. Granted those are a lot of "if"s, but it'll give me a reason to hope.

"oops"- oops is right. Its pretty embarrassing to degrade your home town team like that 20 minutes before they sign the very star you said they wouldn't.

Quit crying already If they don't spend they are wrong if they do they are still wrong, lets play the games and then judge. Peter And Andy you did the best you could to prove you want players who want to play here..

Quit crying already If they don't spend they are wrong if they do they are still wrong, lets play the games and then judge. Peter And Andy you did the best you could to prove you want players who want to play here..

Quit crying already If they don't spend they are wrong if they do they are still wrong, lets play the games and then judge. Peter And Andy you did the best you could to prove you want players who want to play here..

Hey Wayne (or beaner if I may),
Thanks to your encouragement I learned to cut and paste!!
I posted the "oops" above.
I guess you weren't quite as accurate with that one as you normally are.

That's OK, I know I've been wrong plenty of times also. I predicted 80 some wins last year. This year I am predicting in the 90's. You sure hope that comes true don't you?....oh....red sox?....oh
Don't sweat it though. It's just a blog buddy I'm sure everyone will forget this big wrongy of yours...

Oh, I guess since AM has technically "bought some bats" at the appropriate time you may want to reconsider calling him a liar over and over and over again.

Come on O's fans, I am "Fired Up" about this! I am quite pleased, that the Orioles got this done! Party Down Tonight! Woo Hoo! Although, there is a part of me wondering what finally got them to spend the extra dough?

I can't believe all the crap about spending a whopping 8 mil on Vlad. Crap, all crap. The Skanks have a 220 mil payroll for crying out loud. If you want to compete then you have to spend. The O's are still nearly only a 1/3rd of the skanks. And with all that MASN money, who even cares? It's like all the fans griping about how bad this team is and at the same time worrying about Angelos going broke. Yeah, right.

I don't know that this was the best move for the organization, but it sure will add some excitement. If these guys all have average years, we'll score far more than we have in the past couple of years. And if we can pitch nearly as well as last August and September...

And by the way everyone.....

Who doesn't think Tampa is going to pick up Vlad? You see, a team like that won't lowball him like the O's, and they'll figure out a way to make it all work.

I'm not saying he's going there.... but you really think he's coming to Baltimore? Seriously? Really?

He's why Vlad isn't coming here people........

One reason...

He doesn't need to put '10 behind him.... thus not AM's kind of guy - SEE RECAP ABOVE.

Posted by: wayne | February 2, 2011 4:45 PM
Posted by: oops | February 4, 2011 7:53 PM

ROFL! Oops just ambushed Wayne! Glad to see Vlad...! We may not be the best in the east anytime soon but I wouldn't want to pitch against this lineup that's for sure and I'm thinking that some of the pressure is off the starters now too. Now if they make a mistake there's still a chance to get it back. Great offseason in my opinion. GO O's!

And by the way everyone.....

Who doesn't think Tampa is going to pick up Vlad? You see, a team like that won't lowball him like the O's, and they'll figure out a way to make it all work.

I'm not saying he's going there.... but you really think he's coming to Baltimore? Seriously? Really?

He's why Vlad isn't coming here people........

One reason...

He doesn't need to put '10 behind him.... thus not AM's kind of guy - SEE RECAP ABOVE.

Posted by: wayne | February 2, 2011 4:45 PM
Posted by: oops | February 4, 2011 7:53 PM

ROFL! Oops just ambushed Wayne! Glad to see Vlad...! We may not be the best in the east anytime soon but I wouldn't want to pitch against this lineup that's for sure and I'm thinking that some of the pressure is off the starters now too. Now if they make a mistake there's still a chance to get it back. Great offseason in my opinion. GO O's!

Good move , we now have the offense to compete with the Red Sox and Yankees .
8 mil for 1 year and we give up nothing in draft picks.How many posts down played the ability of the O`s to sign him? OK now they do and many of our "fans " question it.

Bottom line: The Orioles overpaid for a solid player.

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!

They needed this. I've been waiting for this moment for years. Hopefully, this will spur them to start overpaying for half-decent talent like they should have done years ago. What a refreshing turn of events.

Terry P - How is this potentially ever one of the worst signings ever?? It's for one year! If he sucks, fine, it's over after the season. If he produces somewhere along the line of his track record, awesome - either you grasp for a wild card spot, however unlikely, or you move him at the deadline. It's not a catastrophe if he doesn't work out. You're worried about the defensive impact? Really? It's left field. Left field!

People swear they are knowledgeable sports fans, but make terrible claims. It's cool if you're not on board, but to make the argument this could be one of the worst signings ever is ridiculous.

In the recent words of the immortal Artie Donovan in discussing this year''s Super Bowl, "Who cares?"

I have not been a big fan of AM.....too conservative......bad judgement......yadayadayada.
But I tell you one thing......he grew a major "set" this off season.
Look at the off season signings......this guy is putting it all on the line for 2011.
He could wind up being baseball executive of the year, or he could be out of work and looking for a job in 2012.
But you know what? I can't remember being more excited about the start of a season!!
Bravo Andy......thanks for putting together a team that will rekindle excitement and have everybody in town talking about the Birds.
If every ORIOLE player plays to their career averages we are going to have the funnest summer is a L-O-N-G time.
And best news of the week.... Bo is back in draft!
Life is good......GO BIRDS!!!

I am absolutely impressed with McPhail's work this offseason, and feel that the O's now have a realistic chance to be in the middle of the fight. Sure there are a lot of ifs -- there always are -- but now at least they have a chance and should provide some fun this year. Only downside for the offseason, in my view, is the increase in ticket prices. But at least they'll be worth the effort.

I guess wayne is going to have to change his line to...

"Aside from that whole Vladimir Guerrero thing, when have I ever been wrong?"

nb,
I think if the pitching holds up we can contend to win the division.
How do you rate our lineup against the others in the East?
You are the man when it comes to stats.
I have to think we are pretty close or ahead in many areas including projected OPS etc.
My rosy prediction:
O's
Red Sox
Tampa
Yankees
Toronto

we have waited the checkbook opened , no more trembly this has recharged the fans , i bought my tickets ,if pitching continues to improve lookout. and schmuck by some new sandles for spring

didn't think vlad would sign with the orioles. like you say peter the potential is there hope it turns out to be more than pootential

This is definitely exciting news, the O's needed a signing like this. However, fans who complain that the O's never overpay for players or that this might be the worst signing ever, there are examples such as Javy Lopez and Albert Belle that come to mind. Look how long it took to get here after those types of signings.

Perfect example as to how a bad signing or two can set a franchise back so far. I am happy to finally see the O's spending again, my hopes are high and am hoping all these new players aren't the start to another decade of futility for the franchise but the beginning of a fun run for a whole new generation of O's fans!

I try not to read any of Schmuck's articles since they drip of negativity from beginning to end. With that said, Vlad's signing is great news for the O's fans and I hope he has a better than average year since his better than average year is much more than any Oriole has produced in the past few years. Hopefully it will also keep the naysayers at bay with a decent year. Go O's!

Wish I lived in Baltimore still.
Awesome moves, some guys have to work out. We should be significantly better this year. /rebuilding will show for sure, we'll see if the plan "works." I've been hoping for a solid finish to a season for about 13 years, finally got one and the org spent some money to improve the lineup.
All that being said, Smitty your rosy prediction is delusional, but I love it.
Wayne, come back, it's OK.

smitty -

Vlad and Lee are the keys to the lineup. If those two guys are healthy and hold up for another year, I wouldn't be surprised to see the O's score 850 runs.

The reason? Because if Vlad and Lee do well, Markakis is going to be a beast. And Luke Scott has a much better chance of putting up another big year hitting behind those two. And with Vlad, Lee, Markakis and Scott producing, there will be much less pressure on Jones and Wieters. Toss in Reynolds' 30+ homers and anything Hardy can do is just icing on the cake.

Here's my most recent projected lineup:

1. Roberts, 2b (S)
2. Markakis, rf (L)
3. Lee, 1b (R)
4. Vlad, dh (R)
5. Scott, lf (L)
6. Reynolds, 3b (R)
7. Wieters, c (S)
8. Jones, cf (R)
9. Hardy, ss (R)

But, as always, the key is the pitching. I don't see why we shouldn't expect another 3.60ish ERA season from Guthrie, so we'll write him down for that. But after Guthrie, it gets shaky.

I'll probably reach for Brian Matusz in my fantasy draft, and I wouldn't be surprised to see "the experts" pick him as a breakout candidate, but remember, he's still unproven. I'm really excited about Matusz after the ridiculous way in which he ended the 2010 season, but I'm trying to temper my expectations, because you never know what's going to happen with unproven guys like him.

The same goes for Arrieta and Bergesen. And those two aren't nearly as talented as Matusz.

And Duchscherer is the biggest question mark of them all just because of his health. I have no doubt that, if he can put up 25 starts, he'll post a sub-4.00 ERA, but those are long odds...

So, as much as the offense has improved, it's all going to come down to the pitching. Can Matusz, Arrieta and Bergesen pick up where they left off last year? If so, the AL East better watch out. If Duchscherer can make a considerable contribution as well, the AL East better watch out some more.

But if those guys can't get it done, this team isn't going anywhere. Remember 2004? The O's scored 842 runs and they won 78 games. That year, their starting pitchers put up a 5.05 ERA.

It's all about pitching.

Hmmm, Wayne seems a little scarce today (though clearly not forgotten). Must be busy looking up that source that told him MacPhail really wanted Jack Cust, but Angelos talked him into going after Guerrero.

Pete you're right, all of the Orioles' acquisitions this winter have the potential to be very good or very bad. But for the first time since, what, '04?, '97?, we don't have to hope for a hundred things to go right in order to see improvement. To believe that we have a chance to win, not just games, but series against the top teams in the league. To come to Camden Yards and take it back from those carpetbagging interlopers from the northeast.

Overpaid for Guerrero? Maybe. But he will put a few more fannies in the seats to help defray that cost. With the schedule a little easier this year than it was last April, this team could get off to a decent start. And nothing succeeds like success -- momentum could start to build, and anything could happen.

Come on, Spring!

I too almost didn't read this column due the sometimes sarcastic slant Schmuck puts on topics, but I just wanted to see how many more losers complain that they would rather see the $8 mill. go to our minor league teams or scouts or whatever. Give me a freakin' break. Just like PA made this happen, he is free to spend whatever the hell he wants for his scouts and minor league teams. You all try to be his pseudo accountant and think the money is actually limited. Joke's on all of you losers...Wayne, oops "there he is, a fool" and "lower cased, grammar challenged leonard". I'm wondering when he'll ever give himself a CAPITAL L. Get a life you losers...REALLY, REALLY GOOD BASEBALL IS COMING TO TOWN, WITH OR WITHOUT YOU NEGATIVE PANSIES.

Smitty,
Your current literary ejaculations and your past effusive adulation of Andy McPhail has given me reason to laugh even in times of despair. Even while the O's were being pummeled you saw the bright side and kept your chin up. You have been a good loser.

Ponson, Lopez, Bedard, Chen, Cabrera... Seriously? You are comparing our current staff to that pile of stink???

Cheers to Andy...cheers, cheers, cheers!

I have been down on him for not opening the pocket book, as have others, and for the O's to land anyone decent, they're going to have to overpay more than most teams would.

The revenue Vlad will generate in fan interest and merch sales should alone make up for the signing.

I find it funny though that people are bashing this as a sign of Andy wasting money and making a bad signing. Some people are just looking for anything and everything to complain about. I love this signing and wish we'd seen this kind of aggression with V-Mart and others.

Andy deserves credit where it's due, and this is where it's due.

Not sure if this was mentioned but for those that are concerned about the long term impact of this deal, here is something from ESPN that should intrigue you.

As a Type A free agent who is apparently headed for a one-year deal, Vlad could return value next offseason in the form of draft picks, plus whatever he contributes with the stick in '11.

I really can't believe so many writers keep writing off the O's. Saying things like the O's are still far from contending. They're honestly not that far. Pitching can develop pretty fast, and it doesn't really have to happen. This is Matusz and Bergy's 3rd go round in the majors, and they both keep improving. Arrieta got better, and Guthrie has never been awful. The team has been awful. Now that the guys can play behind them, the pitchers will likely have a little less pressure on their shoulders.

Oh, and the bullpen is SICK. I can't believe no one appreciates how good the O's bullpen is. We have 4 closers in the bullpen.

The O's really shouldn't be written off so quickly.

In years past we needed career years from our players to reach goals. We went out and signed guys like Atkins and prayed for a turnaround year at the plate. No more.

Everyone is putting Lee at the 3-hole and Reynolds at the 6-hole. Lee will perform anywhere, but Reynolds thrives on fastballs. The 3-hole will get a steady dose of fastballs with Guerrero following and/or base stealers on base.

Plus Reynolds is faster than Lee and much more of a threat to steal. The difference for Reynolds could be 30 points in avg and 10 more home runs.

Been away since earlier.... I love the attention though.

I love the addition of Vlad. Do I like that he's another one year rental? Of course not.

I will now up my prediction to 79, but only if the offense stays healthy.

not brooks said it much better than I would have.... The W's will be all about pitching.

But credit where credit is due, AM finally spent some money..... which should tell people that it's likely not PA who is holding back the spending as much as you all think.

Regardless, here's a player who we can finally say doesn't want to put last year behind him.

Boston
Baltimore (Wildcard tie)
New York (Wildcard tie)
Tampa
Toronto

Baltimore over New York in one game playoff because they "want it more" than NY

Baltimore vs Boston in the ALCS.

You heard it here first.

Two words - 'Sammy Sosa'.

Still, if I am wrong and he has a Texas-size first half, a panicking team may pay a nice prospect for him.

Peter Angelos and Andy Macphail finally realized that unless a marquee offensive player was added, the Orioles were likely headed for a 14th losing season in a row and yet another huge drop in attendance. To date, Macphail's rebuilding program has been a dismal failure and the five one year rentals, including Guerrero represent an admission that that Andy's efforts have not caught the attention of the average fan. Even fanfest attendance was down nearly 20% indicating that even the diehard support base was continuing to erode.

Macphail should have been adding players of this calibre for four years and the franchise was on the verge of falling into local obscurity. Angelos pride intervened since he privately covets the success of the other professional franchise in Baltimore.

Most of the credit for this signing should go to the vocal long time fans who have severely critcized how indifferent Macphail has been towards reversing the losing streak at the earliest possible opportunity. The organization finally heard the fans.

Guerrero's insertion into the middle of the lineup changes the entire dynamic of the offense and gives the Orioles a punchers chance this year. I applaud the move and predicted the signing on Dan's blog. about 4 hours before it happened.

Pete

You forgot to mention that Guerrero's $8 million is deferred. So if he performs well, that means will have earned his $8 million. I don't see that as a waste. I see that as an incentive. The full $8 million isn't guarunteed, therefore I don't see it as "wasted money".

Paying Kevin Millwood $10 million of the remaining $12 million left on his contract was "wasted money" because he was playing barely above replacement level. If anything, this is a smart move the Orioles aren't obligated to pay the full amount if Guerrero stinks up the joint.

I like the deal because it just put the Orioles lineup into respectability for the first time in years. Guerrero's presence just completely changed how pitchers will have to approach the hitters batting ahead of him. Unless age really does play a factor, I see this as a win.

I'm also very happy to say that MacPhail finally did a good job on a signing. It sucks they're all one year contracts, which leaves the 2011 offseason a huge job ahead, but the '11 season will be interesting to watch.

This year will depend completely on the starting rotation. If those guys can gel together, there will be..............hope.

Sure, Angelos overpaid by a couple of million dollars for Vlads. But in the long run it's worth it. Attendance should increase by at least 25% because now the Orioles will be in the chase for a playoff spot well into September. That means the attendance will be greater in July, August and September than in recent memory. And there's still 3 weeks until the mandatory reporting date, so I guess other player moves may still happen.

To quote the legendary announcer Marv Alvert..................................................YESSS

When did this blog become the fiduciary protectorate of Peter Angelos! Folks they finally spent some money! Can I say AMEN. The guy is a future HOF player who put up better numbers than anyone in last years line-up and we signed him for just one year! What did we get when we paid Millwood $9 Million last year? Trust me we will get more from Vlad!

No it isn't Mark Texiera or Gonzo or Prince, but thats not the O's way, one year band aids, no long term plan. Putting Vlad in the middle of the line everyday makes our offense exceptional and protects everyone else!

Finally, AM demonstrates he has a set and the O's are at least trying to put an exciting and representative team on the field in 2011!

Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiicccccccccccccceeeee!

I am excited for the season, and have checked the Baltimore Sun for news since the day the season ended. One more thing to keep in mind--this offseason has produced a potent roster, but more importantly, has kept all the minor leaguers in place where they belong, to continue their growth. This finally feels like the first season for legitimately building a perennial contending team.

To the fan who said this may end up being the worst signing in the O's history........Take a deep breath and think about what you are saying. To the same fan that said the O's just got worse defensively and probably offensively if Vlad's numbers continue to decline...... What? Even if his RBIs decline by 30, he still leads the 2010 O's in RBIs. A career .320 hitter that declines to bat .300 in 2010.......What are you talking about?

Only twice in the last 12 years has Vlad played less than 140 games/season. So his proneness to injury is exaggerated.

Removing just 2009's stats where Vlad was actually hurt, he has averaged 34 HR over the past 12 seasons. His average is better than any single season O's leader since Palmiero's first stint with the O's.

Finally, the O's may not have been bidding against any other team at the moment for Vlad but I am sure that a contender that has an injury to one of their big hitters in Spring Training (which always seems to happen each spring) would have swooped in and signed Vlad. Probably for the same amount, or less, than what the O's were offering. The O's knew this and made an effort to overpay slightly to not allow that to happen.

And your gripe now is that we paid too much? There's something about people that will attempt to find the negative in any situation - you can't be very enjoyable people to be around.

To jon/EJR. Well, I'll admit that my 'worst signing ever' was a little over the top!!! Besides there are many past signings that in hindsight deserve that 'award'...Javy Lopez, David Segui, Syd Fernandez, Danys Baez, Albert Belle...
Like I said, it's not my money but feel that the O's could have used the 8 mill, along with the $$$ invested in the likes of Gregg etc and brought in a more solid bat, rather than counting on an aging player with health issues.
I think Scott performs better as a DH but having him in left field over Pie and Reimhold is definitely an upgrade offensively.
Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope that Vlad has something left in the tank for one more productive season. If he gives us 20-25 HRs and knocks in 90 or so, I'll be the first to say I was wrong.
But hey, just my opinion here, lighten up on the personal attacks--no fun to be around???Huh

They'll make part of it back in attendance, advertising, and television
if they can win and stay in play in August and September.
If the pitching holds up.

Beginning with the hiring of Buck, this seems like a different organization. I would really like to know what Markakis said to Angelos during their well publicized lunch meeting. Things began to turn around soon after and slowly but surely Andy is acting like a real GM. Signing Vlad is the action of an organization that wants to win and give fans a reason to show up and cheer.

HOW SWEEET IT IS! - Jackie Gleason

With improved run support maybe our young guys will pitch to contact and reduce their pitch count and walks. Maybe this will get us to the back end of bullpen which has the potential to be pretty good.

People have also mentioned concerns over vlad's fall off last year, Even if vlad falls off after the all star break again, he can help us get off to a good start. Ultimately are we better with or without vlad.

If people are worried about a defensive falloff thats what Buck gets paid to manage. Get the lead and insert Pie in left once you hit the 8th inning.

With improved run support maybe our young guys will pitch to contact and reduce their pitch count and walks. Maybe this will get us to the back end of bullpen which has the potential to be pretty good.

People have also mentioned concerns over vlad's fall off last year, Even if vlad falls off after the all star break again, he can help us get off to a good start. Ultimately are we better with or without vlad.

If people are worried about a defensive falloff thats what Buck gets paid to manage. Get the lead and insert Pie in left once you hit the 8th inning.

Finally! An O's team to get excited about. After so many years of rooting for a loser we finally have a respectable team. It would be awesome to turn the 13 straight losing seasons into at least 13 straight winning seasons. This year will definitely be a winning season. With luck, and a solid showing from our pitchers, we could win 90 this year. Only the O's and Red Sox have improved in our division. 3rd place at the worst this year. woo-hoo. It's again great to be an Oriole's fan.

This Blog proves Baltimore fans can go negative about anything. But 13 years of frustration leads to that. I prefer to look at the positive. AM and PA came through this winter. The players and Buck have the opportunity they need. This may not be the NY or Boston lineup but it is one that can compete with them at the plate. I don't see Vlad as a 4 hitter though, bat him third after Roberts and Markakis with Lee behind him. Not that he needs good pitches. I also think too little is being said about how this lineup takes the pressure off the starting pitchers which I think makes the whole pitching staff better. This is not selling out the future, this is providing support for the guys that are ready. No one is being blocked and no one is being asked to do more than they are prepared for. Reimold is the only guy that might get pushed back a little but based on last year it makes sense. If he regains form it won't be hard to find a place for him. Lee and Vlad only have one year contracts. Right field and 1B are not locked up long term and it never hurts to have a good bat coming off the bench. Start Reimold in Norfolk and let him and Britton push there way up. Seems a lot better than hoping a gaping hole will get filled.
Roberts
Markakis
Vlad
Lee
Scott
Reynolds
Weiters
Jones
Hardy

Guthrie
Matusz
Bergesen
Arrieta
Duchscherer

"Most of the credit for this signing should go to the vocal long time fans who have severely critcized how indifferent Macphail has been towards reversing the losing streak at the earliest possible opportunity."
From "Gil's Incidental Blog Posts" excerpt published by Simon and Shuster.

Thank you Gil! Thank You Wayne! I just knew somehow you deserved credit for this signing Gil.
Who says "severe criticism" can't get you places in this world?
"I think what really made this deal happen was the inside info. the warehouse had that you and Wayne were actually going to fanfest next year to publicly call AM out for the "dismal failure" his 4 years have been.
Anyone can see that this team should have been contending in year two of the rebuild if only we had purchased those impact bats you've been clamoring for.

But hey if they accidentally send you some tickets this year you shouldn't have as much trouble getting rid og them anymore.
Thanks again for the Vlad signing.
Did you and the other ticked off fans help broker the trade for Reynolds too? If so, I appreciate your disdain for all things Angelos and Macphail even more.
Have a good spring!

Again, foul weather Wayne has it all wrong. After all of the Angelos bashing, and I have been 1 of them, it's time to finally salute and thank the man for coming through. AM did his job, which is to find out the number with which we are not bidding against ourselves. When it became something more than money, which is to give Vlad what the Rangers originally offered, PA came through. Why? #1 We need him #2 He apparently understands the pride of a SUPERSTAR who now can come in with his head held high, not with his tail between his legs. BOTTOM LINE- Win-Win for everyone. PA says, "What's $3 mill. among friends?" FINAL RESULT- It's OK to be giddy about our O's again. This does feel like 97' again. I'll take that!

Post by me 9:52

"Most of the credit for this signing should go to the vocal long time fans who have severely critcized how indifferent Macphail has been towards reversing the losing streak at the earliest possible opportunity."
From "Gil's Incidental Blog Posts" excerpt published by Simon and Shuster.

Thank you Gil! Thank You Wayne! I just knew somehow you deserved credit for this signing Gil.
Who says "severe criticism" can't get you places in this world?"
I think what really made this deal happen was the inside info. the warehouse had that you and Wayne were actually going to fanfest next year to publicly call AM out for the "dismal failure" his 4 years have been.
Anyone can see that this team should have been contending in year two of the rebuild if only we had purchased those impact bats you've been clamoring for.

But hey if they accidentally send you some tickets this year you shouldn't have as much trouble getting rid of them anymore.
Thanks again for the Vlad signing.
Did you and the other ticked off fans help broker the trade for Reynolds too? If so, I appreciate your disdain for all things Angelos and Macphail even more.
Have a good spring!

Sun Writers express their concern over spending 8 million as if its tax money. A billionaire owner & you're concerned about whether or not the player who will take this team to level not seen in decades gets 8 million, while there no complaints about Markakis' 11 million or Roberts' 9-10 million. I suppose the writers can't accept the fact that lower class teams (Pitts, Os, Wash) have to pay extra. Would the writers prefer to continue to write stories on how McPhail low-balled another star player as if the Os are doing players a favor in allowing them to come here and stake a hold on 5th place? How did McPhail brainwash the writers into always bring what they don't believe a player is worth? I challenge anyone to find writers from ESPN, SI, MLB, talking about the pay being too much.

"I applaud the move and predicted the signing on Dan's blog. about 4 hours before it happened."
Gils Incidental Blog Posts Paragraph 4 2:18 A.M

Sorry Gil,
I almost missed this awesome and uncanny clairvoyance you have! So not only are you poetic, eloquent, hyper critical and repetitive in the extreme but you also make wacky off the charts predictions that come true, Truly you are an literary enigma and might i say renaissance man in the extreme.
Off the charts dude!
And thanks again for tightening the screws on AM and Peter and making them go get Guerrero. They wanted to be done. They wished they were done but they knew that Gil and Wayne would not let up til Vladdy was on board.

Touche my man! You have taken your quick success in the banking industry and put your skills to good use in the Sports Blog Forum of America (posters division).
I really feel like breaking out into "God Bless America" but I will resist the urge and head off to work!

P.S.
Umm, just one small favor....
Can you and the fellas just keep it up for one more season so we can get Pujols next year?

The SAD part of this signing is that Guerrero is only signed for one season. 2012 will be back to business as usual. No #3 or #4 hitter and back to the cellar.

i'm waiting for Gammons article about how this signing makes the Red Sox better.

Something magic happens... every time you go...

Smitty,

I'll make three more bold predictions..

Number One, Andy Macphail will wake up this morning after a three day binge and say, "I signed who?"

Number Two, he will cut off your allowance after he finds out what you have been spending it on :)

Number Three, I am getting ready to buy a limited season ticket package since the paradigm has finally changed.

Seriously Smitty, this was an un Macphail like signing and it was so illogical that it was obviously directed by PA who is getting tired of seeing all of the fans come dressed as empty seats. The public interest expressed in Guerrero at fanfest and the constant blogs about Guerrero by Sun Writers caught PA's attention, in my opinion. Sometimes PA stops to reflect on the people who help pay his bills.

As I said, Guerrero's insertion into the middle of the lineup does change the dynamic of the offense. I believe that it gives the Orioles a punchers chance in the division and will force the Yankees Red Sox and Rays to expend additional energy with no breaks in The AL East schedule this year for them.

As far as predicting the signing hours before it happened, even a blind squirrel like me finds a nut on occasion.

P.S. Wayne and I are already working on Pujols.

Are you kidding me? All I have read for weeks from you knuckleheads is the Orioles MUST sign Bad Vlad to be a success. Then once they sign him, a steady stream of complaints out spending too much for him. We are lucky that none of you has any power in making these decisions. The Orioles are a more interesting, more dangerous, better team with Vlad. And if you bothered to read the news, you would see that most of the $8m was deferred. Let me explain what that means, they get to pay it later. So, if the Orioles are in contention and wish to keep him, it will have been a good investment. If they are not in contention and have to move him in July, the bulk of the money will be someone else's responsibility. Good Grief, can we just freakin enjoy some good news about the Orioles? Can we just go to a game at Camden and (shocking I know) but EXPECT them to have a fighting chance of winning most games? There are serious problems in the world, but folks this ain't one of them!!
One final note, have you bothered to read the comments from the exisiting team, folks like B-rob has has entered every year in his term, knowing we had ZERO chance of even being competitive, express geniune EXCITEMENT? That is worth it all by itself.
I am VERY pleased with the efforts of management this off season. NO LONG TERM, stupid contracts, vastly improved the overall look and feel of the team and given us fans a reason to be excited even after opening day. Will the Orioles win the AL East or even the Wild Card? Probably not. Will there be more interesting, competitive baseball every single night at the Yards? Yes. Are there question marks? Of course.
Relax, enjoy the good news and actually enjoy watching Orioles baseball in 2011.

"P.S.
Umm, just one small favor....
Can you and the fellas just keep it up for one more season so we can get Pujols next year?"

HAHAHA!

The O's were probably not bidding against other offers per se, but bidding against other successful franchises. The Angels might have offered 4 million, The O's, a perennial loser, have to go $8mil. Who cares if they offered $15mil? Its a one year contract. They don't have to be worried about whether he can play SS still at 41 for $20 mil ala Derek Jeter. Or ARoid 3b at 42 for $30 mil. For Vlad, I think they should have gone 2 yrs $16 mil and hope he hits #500 in Bmore. They aren't sweating $8mil of dead money on their bench. By next year, that would only be 8% of their payroll.

The didn't overpay at all for Vlad. Overpaying is giving 32 year old Jayson Werth an 8 year deal of any kind (regardless of money). This isn't the NFL where you sign 35 year old Ray Lewis to a 7 year deal that you know will last for 3 years.

Are you kidding me? All I have read for weeks from you knuckleheads is the Orioles MUST sign Bad Vlad to be a success. Then once they sign him, a steady stream of complaints out spending too much for him. We are lucky that none of you has any power in making these decisions. The Orioles are a more interesting, more dangerous, better team with Vlad. And if you bothered to read the news, you would see that most of the $8m was deferred. Let me explain what that means, they get to pay it later. So, if the Orioles are in contention and wish to keep him, it will have been a good investment. If they are not in contention and have to move him in July, the bulk of the money will be someone else's responsibility. Good Grief, can we just freakin enjoy some good news about the Orioles? Can we just go to a game at Camden and (shocking I know) but EXPECT them to have a fighting chance of winning most games? There are serious problems in the world, but folks this ain't one of them!!
One final note, have you bothered to read the comments from the exisiting team, folks like B-rob has has entered every year in his term, knowing we had ZERO chance of even being competitive, express geniune EXCITEMENT? That is worth it all by itself.
I am VERY pleased with the efforts of management this off season. NO LONG TERM, stupid contracts, vastly improved the overall look and feel of the team and given us fans a reason to be excited even after opening day. Will the Orioles win the AL East or even the Wild Card? Probably not. Will there be more interesting, competitive baseball every single night at the Yards? Yes. Are there question marks? Of course.
Relax, enjoy the good news and actually enjoy watching Orioles baseball in 2011.

Jim66,

Hilarious.

@smitty,

"Grow the arms...buy the bats" -Andy Macphail

More like "Grow the arms ... rent cracked bats for a year".

It really is hard to believe that the same people who bitched and moaned about McPhail NOT spending $$, are now doing the same thing about SPENDING it. And worrying about "no #3 or #4 hitter in 2012"? In the immortal words of John McEnroe," You can't bve serious." Aren't you the same people who have said "get me a winning season NOW!"? These last two signings of Duke and Vlad are just what the team needs: low risk (although in MY world, $8mil is not low) and potential high reward players who can make the team relevant in August and September. Remember George Allen, "the future is now"? Well, maybe Mr. Angelos has decided he doesn't want to die a 15-season loser. Spring Training cannot start too soon. I hope, as I'm sure others do, that we are not setting our hopes too high, but since when has that been a problem for O's fans?

Gil;

After arguing for three straight years that PA was making so much money that he didn't give a damn about fielding a winner, nor was he concerned about the feelings of the O's frustrated fan base, it's a little startling that you now say, "Most of the credit for this signing should go to the vocal long time fans who have severely critcized how indifferent Macphail has been towards reversing the losing streak at the earliest possible opportunity."

That obviously says that you were dead wrong about about PA. I don't mean that as a crtisism. It takes a real man to acknowledge having been so wrong. My hat is off to you.

As far as AM is concerned, how about another theory to consider. How about that when PA was talking to AM about taking over, he asked AM, "So how long do you think it will take to turn this ship around." To which AM replied, "My best guess would be 4 years. If we're really fortunate in our trades and drafts, maybe earlier, but 4 years is the most realistic." To which PA replied, "Fine. Four years it is then. Here's a 4 year contract for you Andy, now let's get to work."

Heh. It's just a theory but it would explain why AM was inked to a four year deal in the first place. Considering how wrong about PA you've been, maybe you should give AM a little benefit of the doubt and give it some thought. Now if you did that I'd really be impressed.

I'm so glad the O's retracted their original low-ball offer, and gave Vlad what he needed. He is worth it, and we all know the benefits to him coming to the Yard.

I honestly believe the O's can square up a 2nd place spot in 2011. This move completes one of the best offseasons I've witnessed for this team.

Man, I cannot even come up with the words! Andy MacPhail, Peter Angelos, Buck Showalter, you guys listened to the fans, and got it done. I'm proud. I may even get another 13-game plan.

See you all in Sarasota!

I've been beating the drum for Vlad in every post since the winter meetings. So much so that Jeff Z called it my fantasy.

Now today, Wayne and Gil are taking credit for forcing this signing.

I don't think they make an O's cap big enough for either one of those guys...

@TerryP Dude, do me a favor. Dont call yourself an O's fan. For 13 yrs I've waited for this team to do something, anything that would get the fan base excited. This off-season it finally happened. And jackholes like you come here and poo poo every positive move. Theres always one in the bunch. And of course if we do have a magical season, TerryP will be here praising every move that was made. Freakin fair weather fans! Go away, get another team!

james e lee.. "dude'...Classy post!
Wow, someone doesn't share your opinion and he's a jackhole!
Thanks for your thoughtful, well-written, and not too subtle suggestion to find another team but I'll pass on that.
If you've read any of my other posts here throughout the years, you would see that I haven't dissed every move throughout the years.
I like the direction our starting pitching is headed in and our 'pen looks solid. Of course,like many, I disagree from time to time with the opinions of others but have always tried to do so in a respectful manner, but that's just me.
I don't slam others personally and make disparging remarks about other fans' character etc. This blog has sadly deteriorated in that regard.

MOUNTAINFAN hits it right on the head. It's ABSOLUTELY laughable for negative, losers on these posts to believe that their negativism actually had something to do with the turnaround this organization has taken these last 8 months. Hey LOSERS, let's try BUCK FRIGGEN SHOWALTER before we consider ourselves. What a joke!

@Jim66

Peter Gammons has lost his "A Game"
Signing Vlad Guerrero is a "Saucy Move"!
I am proud of Andy Mac, I really am! And Peter Angelos as well! I am giving everyone associated with the Orioles "Two Thumbs Up!"

Peter-
Any insight into how much influence Buck has had in these signings? It seems to me that the O's front office now has a nice balance of a credible manager that knows what he needs and a GM capable of making the moves - with of course some healthy friction between the two. I seriously can't imagine Trembly holding AM's feet to the fire to get all these moves done. He would have been happy just to be managing at this level. Buck wants to win and doesn't want this to mess up his legacy. Any insights you guys glean on Buck's offseason influence would be really interesting.

The Vlad signing will make the other players that much better. It says we really are trying now bring your best game to see how far we can go. I think this will spur the O's to be .500 or much better. I believe the O's will be able to be at least 3rd in the div. My prediction Bos O's Ray's Yank's Jay's. Now lets get it done.

Matt, I'll answer that one for you. It goes back to when the O's got Buck to sign. That's right, he wasn't PLANNING on coming here. What World Series winning manager would. No, you can rest assured that the groundwork was laid the day Buck signed. That is, he wasn't coming here for a paycheck. AM and PA just followed up on their end of the deal.

What do you think, Pete? Close enough?

OUTLIERS.

As much statistical analysis as Baseball lends itself to, there have & will always be things that can't be counted. Einstein (no relation) once said "Not everything that can be counted, counts. Nor everything that counts be counted." (or something...again, no relation)

New Manager.
New Infield.
New Middle-of-the-Order.
New Spring Training site.
New GM. (tactics)
New All-Stars.
New Managers EVERYWHERE.
New Club House "vibe".
New Respect.
New Excitement.
Same Youth (most entering 3rd/4th years in mid-20's)
Same Clutch Core 1 & 2 hitters.
Same "grown" Arms (and growing).

So many of these things can/must/could/should/will create a New result.

1988 O's (107 Losses) then turned into the 1989 O's (97 Wins).

In 1989 was Frank Robinson's first year back, and much like changing the culture than, so Buck can do now.

1989 was Brady Anderson, Steve Finley, Mike Devereaux, Greg Olsen, Chris Myers...

dan qz,

I have been right about Angelos all along. I am also right that he finally caved and ordered Macphail to go get Guerrero. Andy was stuck in neutral as usual when it comes to spending money on marquee talent. Even an old fool like Pa has a moment of vision, and that brief instance was good for the fans, the organization, and the city. Left to his own devices, Andy was still working on a 10 year plan, even though his time is up.

dan qz,

you'll soon learn that the only 2 people on this blog who are right 100% of the time are Gil and Wayne. Attempting to hoist either on their own petard, if you will, usually garners the type of response you see from Gil: In defense of my previous statements, I was right all along, and only something like, let's say, an epiphany, could possibly make it seem as if I were wrong. As I have stated many times I am right and will always be right. Nice try, but once again, I am right.

I think the GateKeeper fell asleep at the wheel. No Postings for a long time.....

Come on I want to see a lot of hop out there! Also, I want to here a lot of chatter at the Insider. We want a "Blogger" not an "Itchy Frogger"

Question for those of you in the know -

Is the Vlad signing going to cost us any draft picks?

Hey Jim66... You are a silly, silly man.

What you don't see (can't see) is... Gil does happen to be correct 99.9% of the time, while posters like you have been wrong so often that you've become the definition of empty words.

But you've got that going for you --- which is nice...

Ok, back to the Vlad signing...

While I like the move, as it gives me a legitimate major league hitter to cheer for at the park, does anyone see him or Lee being here after the trade deadline?

I mean if one or both are putting up respectable #'s, what's the chance of them being in the lineup late in the season?

Answer: Zero......

That's when Scott will be moved back to DH, Pie and Reimold to LF and some non hitting minor leaguer to 1B.

Then, we get to be all cheerful about the prospects AM's able to get in return. You know, prospects like Patton, Bell, etc, etc....

Sorry for the reality check folks...

What, wayne... "prospects like Patton, Bell, etc, etc...." ...you don't cheer for Adam Jones?

Hey Wayne

if Vlad or Lee are here after the trade deadline, will you go away then ?

"I am also right that he finally caved and ordered Macphail to go get Guerrero. Andy was stuck in neutral as usual when it comes to spending money on marquee talent."

Gils Inside the warehouse first hand knowledge......or not..... maybe just another lame attempt to slam Macphail at every oppurtunity.

Now tell the truth Gil, you have absolutely no clue as to how the negotiations went...correct.

Even if Peter got involved and said "pull the trigger" that changes things how?

Oh yeah, the one move you really seem to like a lot you don't have to give AM credit for.

You are quite the predictable one.

Hey Wayne (Beaner)
That's all you have now? Seriously, the TRADE DEADLINE??? LOL

THE TRADE DEADLINE??? c'mon man you can do better.

That is great. You are really running out of material my friend. You are now trying to catch me with how many times you've been wrong.

That's OK Blogs have short memories and new ones are starting all the time.

Wayne, do you think we will resign Vlad next year? Maybe that's what you meant all along?

I'm trying to give you some cover Dude.

Wayne, see if you can follow this:
If you make a blanket statement about something, and events unfold that prove that statement to be false,your defense cannot be that something happened to prove me wrong, therefore I am right. No matter how possible and at some point probable the event might be.
I mean, I could use you as an example, but there's no point in that, As I watch you in your clumsy attempts to now degrade the signing. Teams sign guys and trade guys for prospects all the time. Ever hear of Billy Beane?
You really are a buffoon.

What in the hell are all of you even talking about???? Draft picks... money in the farm system.... Angelos owns MASN... a TV network. 8 mil is nothing... This signing lets people know we aren't playing around... we got a chance to add him as our DH in our small ball park... brings automatic cred... He's 4th... everyone else fall in!!! He's gonna bang at least 30 in Camden Yards or he's gonna retire... Roberts, Jones, Markakis, Guerrero, Lee, Reynolds, Weiters, Scott, Hardy... What!!! That is sick.. Reynolds batting 6th??? He could hit 250 and bang 30+ hr in the 6-hole!!!!!

What in the hell are all of you even talking about???? Draft picks... money in the farm system.... Angelos owns MASN... a TV network. 8 mil is nothing... This signing lets people know we aren't playing around... we got a chance to add him as our DH in our small ball park... brings automatic cred... He's 4th... everyone else fall in!!! He's gonna bang at least 30 in Camden Yards or he's gonna retire... Roberts, Jones, Markakis, Guerrero, Lee, Reynolds, Weiters, Scott, Hardy... What!!! That is sick.. Reynolds batting 6th??? He could hit 250 and bang 30+ hr in the 6-hole!!!!!

Fang.
No Draft Picks.

Yes, Andy is showing how he managed to put together two World Series Titles with the Twins.

By shrewd, smart, balanced, thoughtful, and yes at times on a plodders pace.

jim66;

You're absolutely right. This time though Gil actually did answer my question. I've asked him to answer another one 3 times in the last couple of weeks, all of which he has avoided like the plague.

I asked him the question after Gil asserted that he had been an AM supporter up until AM failed to field a winner by 2009. As you know, that was just 1 full season after AM took over which seemed way too optimistic to me.

So I asked him, can you give an example, or examples, of another team, with a losing streak approaching a decade, that a new GM came on board and managed to turn into a winner after just 1 year.

Now honestly, I can't think of one but who knows, maybe Gil is right. I certainly gave him the chance to hit one out of the park and cinch his case, but he has yet to do so.

Gil simply can't back up his argument, hence the avoidance of the question.

see Wayne even when I post your drivel it's under my own name.
Like I said it's OK. I predicted 80 some wins last year and you made the prediction below.
We are even.....uh .......well you also said there's "NO WAY" the O's ever sign Buck....so I won't rub that in during this sensitive time for you.
BTW, Do you think we will re-sign Vlad in 2012 after we trade him at the deadline? You can get on board with that one now and we will forget about this little prediction below.

Waynes Greatest Hits in Blog Form

Who doesn't think Tampa is going to pick up Vlad? You see, a team like that won't lowball him like the O's, and they'll figure out a way to make it all work.

I'm not saying he's going there.... but you really think he's coming to Baltimore? Seriously? Really?

He's why Vlad isn't coming here people........

One reason...

He doesn't need to put '10 behind him.... thus not AM's kind of guy - SEE RECAP ABOVE.

Posted by: wayne | February 2, 2011 4:45 PM

smitty,

Why are you bringing up old shxt? That was, like, 3 days ago.

Let's talk in hypotheticals about the trade deadline deals, not about the reality of Vlad and Lee anchoring the middle of the line-up.

Why would Buck errr Andy bring in all these scrubs???

AMMO - BISO I mean AMMO - AISO no BSMO - AISO wait...

Deadline 2011

Come on CIH,

Of course I root for Jones. In fact, I've often acknowledged him as one of AM's few good signings.

Obviously, as anyone can see........ Jones is the exception, and not the rule.

Hey smit, since you're reposting, please post the legendary beaner post. I still can't wait to see it.

Jimbo, I'm sorry brother, but you simply don't have the chops to be able to criticize Gil. The guy is simply out of your league. Sorry

Again all, I do like the Vlad signing. I always marveled at the guy as he not only swings at everything, he often connects. He's a joy to watch. All I'm saying is..... if he performs, he'll be out of here. Same for Lee.

Question: Can you imagine what Vlad, Lee and Reynolds will be thinking when they first witness how Yank and Sox fans take over the home park?

I'm just saying.....

With Vlad at DH and Scott in left:

If trailing in the 7th or later - pinch hit for Hardy with Pie and put Cesar in for defense; or pinch run PIe for Wieters and put Tatum in for defense.

If leading in the 7th or later - substitute Pie for Scott in left after Scott's fourth AB.

Give Nick, Luke, Vlad and Adem at least a day off per week...

This keeps the reuglars fresh and keeps the reserves active enough to be productive when called upon.

Wow... not so much as a 'good job' from the trolls. I can't wait until this team makes the playoffs and loses at some point so you can all complain about and not appreciate that. I hope to hell they win 85 games this year so you all complain that they didn't win 90 and that we need to hold the WH accountable for their wrongdoing!

Gil-

So the same PA that doesn't need fans because he has a gold mine television network (that no one watches) decided to throw $8mil at a DH because he wanted to put cheeks in the seats?

(that is a compilation of troll comments and not exclusively yours)

So maybe all this time PA wasn't being cheap, he was simply putting the wrong people in place?

Question: Can you imagine what Vlad, Lee and Reynolds will be thinking when they first witness how Yank and Sox fans take over the home park?
******

It won't be much different than when they took over the stadiums in their previous cities. In 2007, AZ averaged 28k fans a game. Sox came to town? They averaged 45k for the 3 game series. They are everywhere and travel.

Keep finding fault smart guy.

Yankee fans and the Pink Hat Brigade are everywhere. The Pink Hat Brigade is getting much worse, because they aren't real fans, they just think it is trendy to be a Sox fan and in actuality, piss off the long suffering die hards.

Sox fans are notoriously fickle. When the team missed the playoffs last year, my buddy that lives up there got tickets behind the dugout for $20 a pop. When they are winning, retards pay $250 a pop for the same seats.

Even better, the Sox created their own stub-hub ticket reselling Cartel (Ace) to try to double dip on their own sales. They got jealous of the scalper ring and wanted to get in on the act.

All I'm saying is..... if he performs, he'll be out of here. Same for Lee.

***Deadline 2011***

Vlad and Derrek move over - Andy is starting over again

VADMO - AISOA

Paulie,

I get your point, but the '89 Orioles had 87 wins.

Dan qz,

To answer your question for Gil, Billy Beane fielded a winning team 1 year after he took over as GM for the A's. The reason - read Moneyball.

To quote Phil Jackman from the days of there being The Evening Sun and normal sized newspapers -- Reading Time, Two Minutes:

Whether one would have spent $8M for Guerrero or not is a matter of opinion. Very few posts addressed this point, but at least most were about Guerrero in some fashion. I only bring this up since that was the opening theme of this blog and if Pete doesn't post another one for a day or two, people will start to gripe.

$8M (I'm guessing it's all guaranteed) seems like a lot, partly because it is. Keep in mind that there is a price to pay when you haven't been paying the price.

Anyone who is the high bidder is "overpaying" in the opinion of the others who were bidding or on the sidelines willing to lowball. Unlike eBay, you don't know what the current high bid is. Like eBay, you make your best bid and hope you win.

Analogy II: Unlike Texas Holdem where there are five known shared cards (once the full hand is played out), this is more like five-card draw where you know precious little what the other players (29 others in MLB's case) are doing.

Probable Scenario: I think it would be foolish to think no other teams would be interested in Guerrero at any price. Let's just say the AL would be alone in wanting him for his DH abilities. Let's just say NYY and BOS wouldn't have a spot for him even as a bat coming off of the bench. That's still 11 other teams. Let's say cash-strapped TB would have paid Guerrero $5M, and they were the next highest bidder.

Possible Conclusion: Maybe Guerrero can talk TB (still just supposing from above) into adding some incentives to the $5M guaranteed. Guerrero then might pick TB because of where they've been recently and his confidence in achieving those incentives.

Guerrero will make the 2011 Orioles better.

The Orioles are built (right now) for hoping their long term players will blossom. There are always if's involved with that. They are making 2011 the Year Of The If's by supplementing those players with one-year players with if's.

If all works out wonderfully, the 2012 Orioles will have a new look but maybe/hopefully they can make some longer term investments to go with a core that will remain under contract.

If any of the short term signings are having a good year but the Orioles are sputtering for any playoff contention, these players may bring back needed depth for the future via a trade. Even a player like Markakis (gasp!) might be worthy of trading for the right package.

If little goes well, the Orioles will be on Square One again but without commitments to older players on the long term.

I see this signing as making Pie/Scott a sort of platoon for LF. Occasionally, Pie might play LF while Scott DH's or Pie plays CF while Scott plays LF. In some shape, manner or form the Orioles will have Pie, Scott, Guerrero or Jones on the bench. That makes the bench better. That gives Showalter flexibility.

The bench was already better. Remember, Izturis was a regular for the Orioles. Now, he can come in occasionally, play for Hardy if he's hurt, play for Roberts if he's hurt (I'm assuming he will get a look there in spring training), and come of the bench as a PR -- important in the late innings if you have a slow poke on the base paths and that run is important.

The Orioles still have Andino and Reimold. They give the Orioles legitimate depth at AAA while giving them the opportunity to grow.

This is not the approach I would have taken if I were running the Orioles. However, it is a legitimate approach. I hope it works out.

My prediction for 2011 is pending.

Twenty-five more seconds ...

When I said "for not paying the price," I meant with $'s. Obviously, the Boids have been paying the price with L's.

Instead of calling 2011 The Year Of The If's as I did, maybe I will borrow the theme of an earlier post comparing this year's cast of characters to the Why Not? season by calling this season What If?

My SB prediction was PIT from the end of the conference championship games until yesterday. Now, it's GB. I only mention this in that my predictions can be fluid. I won't change it after Play Ball, however. I will say I'm not sold on 82 wins yet which would be a 16-game improvement (and not a 32-game improvement as Jim Henneman would assert).

the orioles have an easy park to hit home runs out of. vlad will be productive here as long as he stays healthy. he's going to be the dh and he hasnt shown any signs that all of a sudden he cant hit cause now he's an oriole. some of yall comments are really dumb. we only signed him for one year. even if his home run production drops the threat of his career numbers alone should help the oriole tremendously. i think this was a smart signing along with the strength we now have with our relievers and potential closers. the only question mark is the starting pitching but we have enough fire power on offense to overcome a struggling starting pitcher. this will definitely be an interesting season. im scared to agree but i think we are going to make it to the playoffs. you heard it here first. boston and baltimore in the playoffs this year coming up. tampa and the yankees ends their disappointing seasons. lets go O's.

If I lived close to Baltimore I would be buying tickets!!!! I think the best sighning is Buck Showalter.... He reminds me of Earl.....Earl would bring in guys and get the most out of them,,,ie, Torrez, lee may, Mike Cuellar, Steve Stone....ect....I think Buck is gonna do something special with this group....Why not this year??? Go Roaring soaring scoring birds!!!!!!

Here's a reprint for ya, wang

Pete's reply: If I were you, my friend, I'd be the last guy going back and looking stuff up. I probably did say that and the Orioles did not stay healthy, so the same thing applies again. I also said for weeks that the Orioles would hire Buck Showalter, something you vociferously denied could ever happen under Andy MacPhail. I could go on and on, but what's the point. You're inside your own fishbowl, but if you're comfortable there, who am I to complain

Pete's reply: Wayne, really buddy, you need to get a life. How many times can you say the same thing. If the Orioles had signed Cliff Lee, you would still be banging the same drum. We get it. You hate Andy MacPhail. We all figured that out about a year ago or more. If that's all you've got, you need to get another hobby. I hope this doesn't hurt your feelings. I'm not angry at you. But you're not smarter or more insightful than anybody else. What you're doing is the easiest, least insightful thing you could possible do in this situation. If you keep predicting the past, you've got an excellent chance to be right.

Pete's reply: Pretty tough talk from a guy who claimed he was coming to FanFest a year or so ago to ask Andy a tough question, then lost your nerve. Now you spend a half-hour repeating yourself in this marathon post. At least those people went outside on Saturday. I noticed you didn't make any prediction, because the last thing you're going to do is put yourself out there and take a chance on being wrong. When does it become laughable? It became laughable years ago. Now, the real fans are hoping something better happens -- regardless of how faint that hope might be -- and you crap on them like you're some kind of superior human because your so good at predicting the past. I bet you go to movies twice and yell out the ending

dave in glen burnie;

I read moneyball and Beane certainly isn't an example that answers my question.

Number one, Beane became asst GM under Sandy Alderson in 1994 just before a change in ownership the next year that forced cuts to the payroll which in turn led Alderson to start rebuilding using sabrmetric principals.

Number two, a lot of rebuilding work had been done from 1995 to 1998 by Alderson and Beane before Alderson left and Beane took over as GM. Andy McPhail did't get 3 years as O's asst GM and a head start on rebuilding before he assumed command the way Beane did.

Number three, the Oakland A's won 96 games in 1992. They had only been a losing for team for 2 years before Beane came on board as assistant and for 5 years before he assumed complete control.

My question to Gil was to name a GM who took over a team that had been losing for a decade and turned it into a winner in a year. Sorry Dave, your example doesn't cut it. Perhaps you can think of another.

I have always been a big Vlad fan. He has put up monster numbers for years, and personally I don't think he cheated the game lie so many others in his era.

Yeah, $8Million is a lot, but that's what it took, and I will give credit to Angelos MacPhail for what appears to be an honest attempt to make this year's team competitive.

But let's not make this signing out to be the Orioles' Perestroika. It's not a big contract folks. Vlad is old in baseball terms. Even superstars fade out at some point. Check out Willie Mays' stats with the New York Mets.

All in all, this year's team looks much improved - but as some have mentioned above, it hinges on our starting pitching, and we have a big set of question marks there, and little to no depth in the minors.

SHAMROCK (why that name by the way? I like your others better)....

Anyway smart guy.....

You couldn't be more wrong about the Yank and Sox fans taking over other ballparks. Yes, they travel great and make noise everywhere they go.

But NOTHING is like when they take over OPACY. It's a different level completely. Thought you would have know that. Hmmm.

As for the fans in Soxville being fickle. Interesting again. You can call them tough fans, but 20 bucks for seats behind the dugout the year after they missed the post season?

Your buddy is either lying or deceiving you ShamSham. I'm surprised at you again. Not sharp so far in 2011 are ya?

And come on Smit,

Since you're posting my stuff, repost the so called beaner post I posted. Why aren't you doing that my brother? I want to see it.

OK, anyone want to try to give an intelligent answer to my question from last night?

In Guerrero, Lee and Reynolds, the O's have the 21st-century Rat Pack--a swinging group of cats who hopefully will be as productive with their bats as they have been wild...

However this plays out on the field, I applaud management for letting loose on the purse strings. Our young pitchers need veterans who can threaten the fences. Lee's a defensive upgrade; Hardy's an offensive on. Guerrero cannot be worse than last year's DHs not named Scott even if he hurst himself swinging and never plays. Good work, O's. Mission one (Excite the fanbase) is accomplished.

whats the 'beaner' stuff about?

Teach us how to copy paste. Then we'll post it for you. Oh yeah, you don't know how.

You read it already anyway. Quit pretending.

OK, anyone want to try to give an intelligent answer to my question from last night?

What, imagining what the players think, or the hypothetical trades?

Yeah. Let's talk in theory.

Those guys won't be able to think about anything but all the opposing teams' fans. 'Trust me, I know'.

They'll bat .200 because they'll be all twisted up over the empty seats/seats filled with 'Beaners'.

THEN since they're batting .200/5/20 at Deadline 2011, MacFail will trade them both for 3 mid-level 28 year old AAAA prospects.

Is that enough speculation for you?

VADMO - AISOA

Deadline 2011

Hey Wayne!

Be sure to drink your Ovaltine, today!
It might make us less "Grumpy"

Also, don't forget to Question Authority!
Maybe start by writing a letter!

It's a good day to talk baseball, even if it is Super Bowl Sunday. I was down at Mercy Medical Center this morning with the folks from the Babe Ruth Baseball Museum and had my pix taken with the rare 1927 Ruth bat, one that the Babe used when he set the season record for home runs (60), sans steroids, though likely with a lot of hot dogs and ale. I hung around for a while and was gratified to see so many people, from little kids to old timers, come out for a chance to hold the Babe's bat and also make a donation that helps the museum and Mercy's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit or NICU. The event runs til 2 p.m. today so check it out, mezzanine lobby of the new Bunting Center, 345 St. Paul...and if you can't, check your local news as all 4 TV stations were on hand to cover it, plus the Sun! Very cool...Go PACK and GO O'S!

@ dave in gb

Good looking out. I read your post and was thinking..."duh, that's what I wrote..." and than realized, nope, I did not...

87 wins, yes. (and 2 games back from the Blue Jays, with a 3 game series in Toronto. Soo close to a worst to first season...)

Buck must really be twisting the front office arms. I'll be happy with a .500 season.

Peter Angelos actually opened up his wallet, so it must be snowing somewhere in hell.

Some people are never satisfied.

We could have Hall of Famers 1-9 and people would still complain.

The O's didn't "low ball" Guerrero; he took the deal, didn't he? He's been in the biz long enough to know what to take and what not to take.

I think it's a good move. McPhail has impressed me this offseason. I know: we don't have a Carl Crawford, but Reynolds, Guerrero, Lee, etc. is a good place to start.

It's also good to hear that the players like the moves so much. That really makes a difference in my mind.

Gooooooo O's!

Someone had said something about this being Sammy Sosa II. I kind of chuckled until I saw the same assertion at the WNST site. So, here's my response there, and here:

From 2001 to 2004, Sosa's BA dropped from .328 to .288 to .279 to .253. His .221 may not have been expected but another drop in BA couldn't have been too much of a surprise.

Same span, his games played dropped from 160 to 150 to 137 to 126. Even being able to add DH'ing to his resume, he played in only 102 games for the Orioles.

Guerrero on the other hand played 152 games last year, was an all-star and a silver slugger. He batted .300 last year regardless of being "only" .278 in the second half. Sure, his .303, .295, and .300 are his three lowest BA's of his career (not counting his nine games as a pre-rookie in 1996) and they were his three most recent years. But even if Guerrero takes a Sosa plunge, he'll bat .278.

Oh, and one more thing about Sosa ... while the Orioles were 74-88 in 2005 (perhaps a proper prediction for 2011 although I haven't made one yet), they were 61-41 in the games Sosa played.

"beaner" is a name Wayne used (hypothetically speaking) when telling us he was from Boston. It was a couple posts back and of course Wayne has read it. I believe he wrote it.

But on to more pressing things...
Wayne, do you think the O's will re-sign Vlad next year after they trade him at the deadline (another prediction from Wayne's World)?
Seriously, with all these predictions being so far off, maybe you should give the gamblers on the site a Super Bowl prediction and they can run the other way with it.

@Waspman,

It's good to see you again!
However, do you really think Sosa had any real impact on the Orioles in 2005.
Bedard killed us, he was 1-7 from July till the end of the season. Also, that was the year, that they were in 1st place thru the All Star Break, then folded like a blanket. No, this Oriole team will be different. Buck is a wonderful strategist!
I just hope he has enough horses in the Rotation & Pen to get this done. If he does, this could be a wildcard team! If not we will be playing paddy cake with the Jays and Rays for the 3rd through 5th spots in the division!

"OK, anyone want to try to give an intelligent answer to my question from last night?

Posted by: wayne"

I'll try Wayne.....was it this question referring to Vald?

"I'm not saying he's going there.... but you really think he's coming to Baltimore? Seriously? Really?"

My answer is yes.

Or maybe it was this one.....

"Who doesn't think Tampa is going to pick up Vlad?"

I will answer.....ummm......me!

Did I pass?? I think I got 100. I Love it!

Meaningful blog questions in January!

Wayne,
Will you be deducting points for me putting the wrong month?
Anyway, I think I spelled everything correctly.
Thanks for the challenging questions though!

That's ok smit, I knew you wouldn't re-post beaners post. I love it....

You certainly are a funny guy. You have so many names on here now that I bet it even confuses you. But if that's your thing.....

Ever wonder why Pete never responds to you? It's because you're boring, never with anything interesting to say.

He knows you go by many names, and he knows you impersonated me for a while. Do you get that?

Maybe though, since I'm bringing attention to you with this, he'll reply to you. I hope so.

Pete.... give smit some love my man.

Squirrel, two things about Sosa in '05.

First, he batted quite well for the first six weeks or so (without looking it up) even without the power numbers. Second, his presence made the Orioles stronger in other areas.

To be clear, though, I did not say the Orioles were 61-41 because he played those 102 games. I just said they were 61-41 when he played.

His acquisition was not something I cared for on many different levels when it happened. The fact he didn't even meet my limited expectations made it even worse.

Yes, Bedard -- the same pitcher some were clamoring for years later -- was a let-down during a year Lopez gave us 200-pus innings (and 15 wins) and Chen had his career year.

The two biggest problems with Sosa was (a) his consistent drop-off that already outlined in my earlier post, and (b) the Orioles traded three players to get him. I don't remember who the three players were but they weren't Finley, Harnisch and Schilling. Still, it damaged minor league depth at a time when the minor leagues weren't a source for the Orioles.

Just adding Sosa, warts and all, even at below lowered expectations, made the Orioles better, however. It was very short term and even more short-sighted. Stupid is the word I believe I used at the time.

Adding Guerrero makes this year's Orioles better. Expectations are allowed to be better because his drop-off puts him in the still pretty darn good range. He costs the Orioles nothing in picks or players. And this is a team that wants to see their committed players grow while placing a focus on 2011.

Sosa, with and without his limited production, made the Orioles better -- probably not 61-41 versus 17-43 better -- but better. The cost was too high. The risk was too high. The rewards were too small. And it was all very obvious to many at the time of the awkward news conference.

I don't see a downside to the Guerrero signing. He stunts no one's growth. Even the $8M should generate more ticket sales and interest. I know I will go to a few games this year while trying to avoid the retarded walk-up fee.

But attendance isn't about me. The Orioles could do everything right, win 100 games each year, and even a championship or two, and it is very unlikely I will ever have an 81-game package ever again. Attendance should be about my generation's children and their children.

My daughter has been to dozens of Oriole games, and never to a Raven game -- mostly on the coat tails of my former season ticket plan. She doesn't know offsides from a foul ball but she follows the Ravens every week but won't follow the Orioles for a half-inning.

The Guerrero signing doesn't change all that. But it is a step. It could be a step in the right direction. It may just be a step. But I don't see it being a step in the wrong direction. And if it is a step in the right direction, maybe -- just maybe -- it will encourage more future right steps.

I can chronicle the missteps of the Angelos Era with the best of them. All of the moves done by Angelos and his subordinates screams bullheadedness. It is what made him successful in asbestos and cigarette litigation. However, unlike the Jacobs Era, I cannot wrap my mind around that Angelos doesn't want to win.

Yes, he wants to win on his terms. Yes, he is his own worst enemy when baseball doesn't react like a court case. And, yes, he got burned a few times when spending money backfired.

Perhaps a good 2011 -- rentals and all -- may encourage Angelos to make future investments in the team going forward. Perhaps he will have more faith in the folks he has hired and will hire.

I'm willing to invest in some hope. I'm not blind to what has happened but I'm not just blind with negative emotions. If the future generations can get back to hoping with this team, all is better. And if that hope leads to higher expectations and more hope, so much the better.

I know I have gone far afield from addressing Sosa, but I Guerrero could put up Sosa's exact numbers and it still wouldn't be the same. It would be a shame because it would be a dagger in the heart of hope. And hope sure beats the hell out of pissing and moaning out of habit like the Free The Birds sector.

last paragraph should read ...

... but if Guerrero would put up Sosa's exact numbers ...

And heeeeere's your daily ironic laugher, folks!

" posters like you have been wrong so often that you've become the definition of empty words" - Wayne | February 5, 2011 8:47 PM

That's like getting investment advice from Bernie Madoff....

"Ever wonder why Pete never responds to you?"

Wayne Gems 2011

uhhh...I'll try
A. Because I'm not a ranting lunatic who calls him out and claims he lacks proffessional integrity.
B. Because he pretty much only responds to those who get under his skin with their extreme hyper negativity like you and Blancione etc.
C. Because he has a serious man crush on you (I have to admit this makes me extremely jealous).
D. Because I'm Andy's nephew.
E. all of the above

I don't know beaner, but I'm going with D.
I do love these quizzes though.
You never gave me a grade on the last one though. Did I get them all correct?

F) maybe wayne is correct and you're just boring smitty?

Seems like the best fit

The post at 5:05 pm was not from me smitty. It takes a special kind of coward jackass to say things using someone else's name. I think we all know who that is.

Classic dan, I couldn't have said it better myself....

Now smitty, you can come back under one of your 8 alias's.......

Love ya bro

Now why would smitty write something insulting to himself and sign someone else's name to it. you're some kind of sick SOB wayne.

wayne,

Your job doesn't require much grammar, spelling or punctuation ability, does it?

Never mind. I forgot you work at the New York City Dirt Factory.

How can any of you morons think that this is a bad deal? This team has stunk for this entire century and someone is really going to pull out that "8 million is too much" bs. Personally I think that giving Garrett Atkins $10 an hour was too much because he hadn't done squat, but Vlad? Please, all of you should stop trying to be f-ing gm's and try being fans for a season, at least when we pick up proven guys who can knock in some runs.

hahaha.... good job smit, You just proved how dan gz is just another name in your now growing, growing list.

It really is sooo easy my friend.

I can't wait to tell beaner

dan *Q*z, wayne.

Can't you read, moron?

Get out your bifocals, pop pop.

Dan qz

My bad. I wasn't paying attention to your specs.

Look up Dallas Green.

Actually, it took Lee MacPhail a year to turn the Orioles around back in 1960. Paul Richards might deserve some credit though.

It is absolutely appalling to me when I read these "orgasmic" blog comments from so called O's fans. Every O's fan I know, or that I meet and speak to, are so jaded and sceptical about anything that the O's organization has done, is doing and will do. I have yet to meet someone drinking the delusional orange coolaid.

But yet, in these blogs, you see nothing but euphoria from the McPhail blowhards who are so inclined to throw their usual choice of words, like "give him credit". I've been reading and posting on these blogs for years and I constantly read the "give him credit" comment.

Credit for what? Credit for continuing on the miserable tradition of losing? It took Germany quicker to rebuild after WWII than it is taking McPhail to "rebuild" a team of a few dozen players. What's there to be so excited about, to go as far as giving McPhail credit for accomplishing absolutely nothing. The team hasn't broken 500 and you blowhards want to give him credit?

I can't imagine you all are true O's fans. You may be on the O's payroll, but that doesn't qualify you as fans. Or you've become fans in recent years as you moved to Baltimore, and you don't know much about the history of this franchise. Either way, I'm puzzled, and I can't really explain the hysteria around the undue credit that everyone is so interested about point out.

...............................................................................................
Pete's reply: Is it possible you just don't get out much?

You're puzzled? Really Meso? Sounds like you hang around with a real fun bunch.

It's a great offseason and even some of the other terminally angry posters have had to allow the ice to crack a bit and admit good things. Of course, by your posting name, it's clear that you're just an insufferable 24/7 Angelos-Hater who can't see the forest for the trees. Lots of guys like you filter onto blogs to press your "viewpoint" (which is giving it much more credit than blind, knee-jerk reactions really deserve) onto those of us who love spring and Orioles baseball.

Yes, I've sat in the stands when they have won a World Series and I've sat in the stands when they've been busy breaking records for futility and losing.

The true O's fans here will play George Bailey to your Potter. Hah, this is a good offseason, maybe a great one, so you know what Meso, deal with it!

FS,

That's exactly what I'm talking about, and you just proved my point. Yes, I'm an Angelo "Hater". Does that make you an Angelo Lover? (put your favority knee pads on)

Is there a reason not to hate Peter Angelos? I've got at least 13 of them.

It was a good off season last year when all the "talent" was about to bloom, but if it wasn't for Buck Showalter this franchise would have smashed the current definition of losing.

I used to be optimistic. I just became a realist and not fall for the delusional BS you're ingesting every day. That distorted view of reality that you have only to give you the false sense of self satisfaction. That long term pain you keep bottled up inside by putting up a happy front with the hope that one day things will get better, and that you could finally, say I told you so.

Well, I got news for you. As long as alligator face owns this team, it won't happen. But I do amire your sense of delusion or as you might call it, optimism.

Yeah, Meso, I bet you used to be a barrel of laughs.

Maybe someday I'll evolve into a wretched, miserable, angry person. In the meantime, I will keep enjoying sports because it's fun to enjoy sports, rooting for my favorite baseball team - the same one I've spent my whole life rooting for, not worry all that much about whether I like the guy who owns it or how he makes a living, and allow myself to be hopeful when 3/4 of the infield, the DH position and the bullpen are all, by most unbiased observers, much improved.

Guys like you will keep being miserable curmudgeons because you "know better." Right. You bellyache about the owner but you'll hate the next one too because that's what guys like you do. Saying "I'm against" gives you purpose and an identity. Talk about self satisfaction, look at you, you "realist." Here's a new identity to try on other than bitter, angry hater -- try sports fan.

You should lighten up, baseball's supposed to be fun. Rooting for Showalter, Wieters, Matusz, Arrieta, Tillman, Jones, Roberts etc is fun too. I'm pretty sure rooting for Lee, Hardy, Reynolds, Guerrero, Duchscherer and Gregg will be fun as well. That's a whole lot of fun to be had starting in April. Nah, then you'd have to root for old "alligator face" and a free-thinker like you could never do that.

Oh well, good look getting out early for good behavior. In the meantime, make the best of your time in prison. Maybe you could pen the "Angry Guy's Guide to Channeling Your Own Self Loathing Onto the Owner of Your Favorite Sports Team." A few people on this blog would buy it for sure.

dave in glen burnie;

I looked up Dallas Green. While he comes close to living up to the expectations that Gil placed on AM's shoulders, he didn't manage it. After taking over after the '81 season he didn't produce a winner until '84. That's two losing seasons.

In a previous post, I gave the example of the Rays, who changed management after '05 and had a winner by '08, also after two losing seasons. Close but no cigar.

You do win one though with Lee Macphail. He qualifies, although you're right to note that Paul Richards contributions should be mentioned. MacPhail's bio shows him signing in '59 but as having run the O's from '60 to '65. I can only assume that you're right, that he helped lay a goodly part of the foundation before MacPhail arrived on the scene.

Still, it would be quibbling not to count him. It's fair to note though that we've come up with just one example so far and we've had to go back 50 years to find it.

So far we've got 1 example in history of a GM doing what Gil expected AM to do. If we were to keep at it we might even find one or two more. With respect I think my point is made. There was nothing wrong with hoping AM could turn the ship around that quickly, but it was never a realistic expectation.

FS,

I could appreciate one's need for wanting to phase out reality for their own sake or sanity. I personally can keep my sanity with the current reality, instead of living in a fantasy world like you are. Those mind over matter jeddi tricks just don't translate in real life, as much as you try to brainwash yourself into the "everything is OK" mentality.

The fact is the O's will still be less than mediocre. Do they have better players than what they had last year? On paper yes. Does that mean they will break 500? No, it doesn't not. Vladimir Guerrero is not the savior. He is a washed up veteran with more downside than upside.

All acquisitions this year are at worst mediocre and at best average. Definitely not something that will guarantie any type of contention, or even a remote sniff at October baseball.

And this team that you're so excited about, has accomplished absolutely nothing. MacPhail has accomplished absolutely nothing. And yet you choose to be so rosy and bubbly.

I'd love nothing more than to have a conversation wth you around or after the all star break. It will be fun to see how you change your demeanor toward the O's and it's ownership. I actually doubt you will change. I bet you're one of those who think we're lucky to have baseball in this town, even if it means losing 120 games a year. If that's indeed true, you're a true representative of what a losing franchise can do to its fan base. Which is make them a reflection of itself.

from Jeff Z's report today...this does seem to differ with a couple of reports we have seen here on the blog.Seems to me like a couple of guys finding a creative way to meet the needs of a prospective client.

"The Orioles’ top decision-makers, mainly owner Peter Angelos and president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail, wanted Guerrero."

"The Orioles’ top decision-makers, mainly owner Peter Angelos and president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail, wanted Guerrero."

Nope. You and Jeff Z. are wrong.

AMMO - BISO

Therefore, Buck Showalter signed him.

And...

YOUR 2011 BS ACQUISITIONS:

3B - wants to put '09 behind him

1B - one year rental

SS - wants to put '08 and '09 behind him

RP - wants to put '07, '08 and '09 behind him

SP - wants to put '08 and '09 behind him

dan qz,

I was thinking Dave Dombrowski when he took over as president/GM in '02, but the Tigers didn't produce a winning team until '06. So that's 4 years.

When John Hart took over as Indians GM in '90, it took him until '94 to break Cleveland out of there infamous "30 year slump". Coincidently, he took over former O's GM Hank Peters after the '89 season ended.

The Kansas City Royals have only produced 3 winning teams in the past 20 years, so no cigar there......

Woody Woodword took over the Mariners towards end of the '88 season and produced a winning team by '91. So that took about 2 seasons + 2 months.

Hey smitty,

You meant to say AM acquisition, not BS. Otherwise, good post....

Meso,

Amazing post... Do you realize how much you get under their skin when you speak such truth?

Even Pete can't help it. That's his response? Funny, when someone is positive about the O's, Pete gives a respectable reply. But when a fan puts up a negative/truthful post, he always has some sarcastic reply that is meant to somehow demean the poster.

Which is why of course, posters like FS worship him.....

lol @ Mes. FS took it to you buddy.

MY GRIPE about the team is this...

Right Handed Power.

This is clearly a move by the Greek Pete for bigger profits. Everyone knows the best part of the park is the Right Field Deck, but the Left Field seats make more money than loitering on the deck.

c. o. n. s. p. i. r. a. c. y.

further more, now I'm left to root for a 35 HR season from Luke Scott. As a true Blue Marylander And as appalling as Luke's Constitutionally guaranteed political and civic views maybe, Homers from Lefties is Awesome. And that liberal, leftist, dyed-Blue, socialist, Democrat, commie, Pete the Greek has made me have to choose between a chilled enthusiasm toward Luke, or Loving Lefty Homers...

c. o. n. s. p. i. r. a. c. y.

...but I choose Dingers, and will be "LUUUUUUUUUKE"ing my head off all season long.

...but now I have a seething hate of that greedy-commie Peter Angelos. damn you sir. damn you.

so feel you Mes.

{the preceding rant has been brought to you by the letter "O", and copious amounts of dripping sarcasm}.

{the preceding rant has been brought to you by the letter "O", and copious amounts of random capitalization}.

The question stands:

Wayne and Meso, if you hate the owner, the GM, the state of the franchise, and the fans, why on earth are you still here?

There's a difference between disagreeing with the way things are done and spending incredible amounts of time being bitter, vitriolic, and venomous on a blog devoted to a subject that you're committed to hate.

I can't wait for this season because I love baseball, spring, the Orioles, and the hope that each Opening Day brings. This season, I feel that some of that hope is even justified given the lineup that we're putting on the field.

It's pretty clear that you guys aren't hopeful or happy about what is happening. Fine. We get it. After 13 losing seasons, you're entitled to be skeptical. Just try to understand that solely venting your frustration and bitterness doesn't always equal constructive, compelling, or even interesting conversation when there are significant changes going on with our ballclub.

Real sorry you can't enjoy this.

Go O's!

Meso says >> Vladimir Guerrero is not the savior. He is a washed up veteran with more downside than upside.

Wow !! Washed up veteran ?? I hope he sees Mesotheliangelos sitting in the stands, charges through the crowd and beats his teeth out right out of his head. If he wasn't making $8mil this year I'd even offer to pay his bail.

BA HR RBI OBP SLG
.30029 115 .345 .496

There are a hell of a lot of players that would like to be that washed up.

Birdfan,

We have more in common than you think my brother. We both LOVE baseball.

The big difference of course, is that I don't blindly follow consistent losing like a shill. No, I'm not calling you a shill... I'm just saying.

To prove how incorrect you are, I love the Ravens. I loved them when they lost in the playoffs this year and I loved them when they didn't make the post season. Why? Because they consistently put a great product on the field for their fans. They're competitive year after year and they play meaningful games.

The Orioles?

Well... they don't.

With fans like you Birdfan, PA and AM would NEVER do anything to even attempt to improve the team. Because of overall fan disgust though, they at least have made an attempt to do something (anything) this off season.

I'm not saying they're great moves, by any means.... but at least they see how horrible things are.... enough so that they're actually making a move or two that may get noticed by a fan or two that has completely lost interest in the team.

So yes my friend....... We are haters. Complete (not afraid to say so) haters.

Haters of losing my man...... You should be one too.....

Hey Meso,

Did you find it ironic how paulie say you FS took it to you? You know who paulie and FS are, I'm sure.... I mean it's just sp funny to watch.

GO O'S

Wayne,

You're funny. In the way that watching a self-absorbed narcissist preen in front of department store mirror is funny. I don't worship Pete. I visit his blog periodically and appreciate the O's opinions and updates and chuckle at how you, day after day, week after week, and month after month seem to have so much time on your hands to attend to your blog posting duties. But then, see "narcissist," supra.

You're not a hater of losing Wayne. You and Meso are just haters. It's what you do. You type the words "Go O's" but you don't mean it Wayne. It's more important for you to be right than it is to see the Orioles succeed. You are Brett Favre at the Super Bowl, proclaiming your kinship with the fans, then secretly and stridently rooting against Green Bay so you can be right. Again, narcissist.

You're a static analysis guy. You can't look forward and see the possibility of change. You can only look backwards and say "well, if that's where we were, then that must be where we're going." You're too protective of the sense of superiority your negative rantings produces within you to notice that the present has changed, so maybe the future is about to change as well.

You're just in denial boys if you can't admit that the lineup and bullpen are substantially stronger (yes Meso, on paper but that's all we've got until Opening Day) than they were this time last year.

Meso, I'll pause though and give you credit on your "letter O" and "copious amounts of random capitalization" bit. That was funny.

By the way Meso, I don't think Guerrero is a savior. In fact, I am pretty sure I didn't even imply it. I think the sum of the additions is likely to be a significant net plus and he is one of those additions. Will it be enough? We'll see. Will it make it more interesting? To me, absolutely.

Wayne, finally, you should hold off on your conspiracy theories. Most of us don't care enough about you to try to trick you or anyone else on this blog. It's merely a post, an opinion contrary to yours, as inconsequential as your rants are. In short, your conspiracy theories are more evidence of your narcissism. The rest of us don't really care that much. We just enjoy hitting the obnoxious weenie in the back of the head when he becomes too much of a pest. Nothing more, nothing less.

Tell me Wayne, what's ironic about it? Answer, nothing. Do you understand irony or is that just another thing that you think you know something about when you really don't.

Cue some ridiculous retort.

Seems like every discussion on here devolves down into Wayne's World. Which is kind of like an internet version of Dantes Inferno, different day, same posts, different level of hell.

Sometimes I read these posts and it's like the old gag from the Newhart show,"Hello, I'm Larry, this is my brother Darrell, and this is my other brother, Darrell.

How does anyone expect that anybody in their right minds can read this stuff and not realize we're dealing with one or two people that post over, and over again, under different names?

This blog is like, Who's on first?

And in the end the "Dark Side of the Force" that resides in an evil place known as "The Warehouse" will send out it's cast of evil minions to crush Wayne's small, but plucky, army of naysayers, who all reside in the same computor, and restore the terror of the the MASN funded evil Warehouser's over the land.

Oh Peter! we're ready for a new subject, this one's now offically in Blog Hell...
Wayne's taking personal credit for improving the Orioles this winter, but we're all still out to get him....

You meant to say AM acquisition, not BS. Otherwise, good post....
wayne

So are you saying that Andy didn't move over and Buck didn't take over?

AMMO - BISO, like you posted 500 times last fall?

Two things are possible:

1) You were wrong with the AMMO - BISO crap.
2) Buck Showalter signed all those scrubs.

Which one is it? I'm only following your post logic.

apropos of MountainFan's last post - personally I think it has become something of an art form to attempt to capture my inimitable style. I personally take responsibility for not only the improvement of the Orioles but also the quality (ahem) of discourse on this blog.

(I kid.)

- the unWayne

MLB's Harold Reynolds said ...

"Mark Reynolds could have Josh Hamilton jump."

Wow!

Oh Peter! we're ready for a new subject, this one's now offically in Blog Hell...

Yes, I agree with Mountain Fan... new topic....It could be "What have you done for me lately Andy Mac. Seriously, though Peter maybe you could write about the Orioles are considering trading for Papelbon....I'd be happy! Sadly, though as hard as I have tried to get that banwagon started it has fizzled!

Maybe, if I can somehow conjure up the "Force" like young Darth Vader here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R55e-uHQna0

Maybe, I can get some of the Oriole faithful to see it my way. LOL

FS,

Can you repeat your post? I inadvertently erased it.

All I noticed is that it was addressed to me, followed by 'you're funny'.......

I was then interrupted and lost the rest of it by mistake.

Thanks bro.

GO O'S

We had to do something we have gone far to long without something to cheer about. Hell i think they should have put a Os option year on it just in case he shows that there is more in the tank then anyone thought