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If you haven't already, you can read my column for tomorrow's print edition right here, right now. I weigh in on the possibility or a J.J. Hardy contract extension and try to make sense of the rest of the midseason trade possibilities.
Peter Schmuck wants you to know that, contrary to popular belief, he is more than just a bon vivant, raconteur and collector of blousy flowered shirts. He is a semi-respected journalist who has covered virtually every sport -- except luge, of course – and tackled issues that transcend the mere games people play. If that isn’t enough to qualify him to provide witty, wide-ranging commentary on the sports world ... and the rest of the world, for that matter ... he is an avid reader of history, biography and the classics, as well as a charming blowhard who pops off on both sports and politics on WBAL Radio. That means you can expect a little of everything in The Schmuck Stops Here, but the major focus will be keeping you up to the minute on Baltimore’s major sports teams and themes, whether it’s throwing up the Orioles lineup the minute it’s announced or updating you on the latest sprained ankle in Owings Mills. Oh, and by the way, that’s Mr. Schmuck to you. 
> Schmuck column archive
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Comments
"Decisions about 2012"
Rinse, wash & repeat. Buy day old bread or even older or even moldy. Don't miss the bargain bin or scratched & dented either.
"... even if (Hardy) wasn't the ultimate Buck Showalter kind of guy."
Pete,
I like Buck, & i like Hardy; but i'm curious. What is it about Hardy that is lacking from "the ultimate Buck Showalter kind of guy." ??
Thanks
Posted by: dave | June 15, 2011 2:30 AM
At this point I have trouble really caring very much what Andy plans to do. He's shown that whatever he does it won't work. 4 years of rebuilding now and what exactly have we seen in terms of improvement? So he won't be able to trade Vlad and Lee at the deadline. So what? All he'd get for them are two more broken down projects or a couple of low level prospects that will never pan out.
Might as well keep them in the faint hope they will start playing somewhere close to what we were asked to expect from them.
I didn't expect the four pick ups this season to propel the O's to the division title, but I genuinely thought the team might actually be able to get a man in from third occasionally.
I try very hard to keep a small flame of hope alive that Buck will be able to somehow get this team playing like they did the last half of last season, but the fuel's almost gone and the wind is blowing.
Posted by: Roy | June 15, 2011 9:36 AM
Hi Pete,
I wait every year for your annual"throw in the towel" column. That officially marks the end of the functional season. I thought you would at least wait until the All Star break this year, but I'm sure after you had a peek at July's schedule....you decided it was time. I agree with you. I threw it in around mother's day.
..............................................................................................
Pete's reply: Apparently, reports of you being blocked here were greatly exaggerated. Welcome back.
Posted by: Gil | June 15, 2011 10:53 AM
Peter
Why get excited about mid-season trades? We've dumped how many players mid-season over past 10+ years & NOT one prospect is on our roster or even a top minor league player.
These are pure salary dumps as we take other teams minor league garbage rather than hold the vet til season-end for compensatory picks. We'll never catch TB & Toronto (much less NY & Boston) when they get 15 of the top 60 HS/College layers while we get ONE.
Posted by: Don I | June 15, 2011 11:17 AM