Cowhered...you're such a tool

Someone needs to put you in the old folks home where you belonging...or send you to the toolpen

Baseball is a great support that has been ruined by a few teams, and Bud Selig must stand to account for this.

I simple solution to the problem is if the rest of the teams simple refused to travel to New York or Boston to play those teams. They are welcome here, but we are not going to help you generate more revenue by showing up and playing you in your stadium. We'll be happy to take the forfeit. Maybe the Yankees and Red Sox can just play each other every day. Have fun playing with yourselves.

Ending in 3rd plc. in 2011would be OK with me!

Is this an upgrade for the Red Sox? Yes, of course, undoubtedly. However, don't forget they've lost Victor Martinez and Adrian Gonzales is essentialy a replacement for Adrian Beltre, who had a good year. Also, Ortiz, JD Drew, and Mike Cameron are all a year older at an age where it's bad to be a year older.

Ultimately, the point of your post is well made. The rich do get richer while the anything less than rich have to trade off their best players because they know they won't be able to retain them, but the Red Sox do have their problems and aren't just adding riches to riches. I don't predict them to be unbeatable in 2011.

I disagree - I can't seem to recall how often those two teams have been said to have it all locked up only to end being out of a lot of money and nothing to show for it. Yes, they got some really great players in Crawford and Gonzalez but I wouldn't sell the O's short. I think we are improving and I like the direction and while the other two may win the division a lot can happen in a season with injuries and the like. Nope - not going into this season with a defeatist attitude.

Kevin:

I hope one of the Sun's reporters would do an exposee on how baseball stacks the rules in the favor of the large market teams like NY and Boston. Lack of a salary structure is one thing, but the amateur draft and the awarding of supplemental picks for lost free agents is really how the tables are tilted in the larege market teams' favor.

I may not have all the facts straight but when a team loses a Class A free agent, they are awarded up to 2 sandwich picks btwn the 1st and 2nd rounds as compensation. Class A free agents are the best players at their position and likely carry the largest contracts which only the big market teams can afford. Therefore, they stand to benefit the most when a free agent leaves a team and signs elsewhere. This allows them to reload their farm system with high ceiling prospects, making it possible to trade for players like A-Gon in the future.

Further, by not including the international players in the draft, that talent goes to the highest bidder which is again likely to be a large market team.

Unfortunately the real shame in this is that the owners are not likely to make the system fair since their motive for profit far outweighs their desire for a championship. Owners understand they make more money when the large market teams are in the postseason, especially NY, Boston, Chicago and LA, because they can negotiate larger TV contracts when they renew given the higher viewership. So why would they risk altering the system in the name of fairness when it could negatively impact their pocketbook?

Fans need to realize that they are being taken advantage of, especially those in the small markets. The system is rigged against them and while they might win a division title here or there, it's not going to be on a sustained basis. It's even worse for the Orioles who have to battle in the same division as the two largest beneficiaries for whom the system is designed.

Sorry to sounds so cynical buit it sounds as thoug the fix is in. Don't waste your money on tickets and risk having your heart broken when your small market team inevitably falls short in the end.

Instead of having a world series to determine the best team each year, we should have a world series for the worst teams of the year... i mean it's only fair

The point is correct, of course, but baseball isn't played on paper. Free agents are always assumed to be great additions when they're signed. Last year everyone was crowing about the Mariners, for example--and the Bosox finished third despite buying Lackey. I'm not saying the Orioles will compete well this year--just that baseball is about more than dollars spent and how things look on paper.

It's such a joke to me. I live in LA, and you'll hear the local news talk about the Angels losing out on such and such player to the Yankees or Red Sox... but the fact of the matter is, they really don't care- as long as it's not a team in THEIR division stockpiling all those all-stars, no skin off their back.

I really wish there was a way to have fans unite to end the ridiculousness that is the Yankees and Red Sox. It's no fun to be a baseball fan when you know the only chance your team has is MAYBE a once in a millenium miracle season. Cuz it certainly would take multiple miracles (ie. lots of injuries to kep players) for any team in the East to contend (other than the Sox or Yanks).

You got all of that right Kevin. Meanwhile, I keep glancing at these message areas, watching hundreds of Orioles fans wasting away their holiday season arguing about Hardy, Pena, Reynolds, Konerko etc.... We just IMPROVED the team (supposedly) by adding Reynolds and Hardy. Yipee, they might win 5 to 8 more games by doing all of that, if they are very lucky. Meanwhile the Red Sox just added REAL major league baseball players. If the Orioles wanted to offer Crawford enough money, he'd have listened, at the very least. There is no position player in the Orioles system better than Crawford, so it would have been a great improvement. Instead, I'd presume the Orioles are okay with being even further behind the Red Sox and Yankees than at the end of last season. Because, quite plainly, the Orioles HAVE LOST GROUND to both of those teams so far, during this offseason.

Why would you say that , Kevin?

Lets evaluate:

1) The O's signed one free agent - Koji

2) The O's traded for 3 players - two of which hit below the Mendoza line in 2010.

3) The O's were out bid on Dunn by $16mil over 4 years.

4) The O's didn't bother to bid on Konerko.

5) The O's didn't bother to bid on Pena.

6) The O's didn't bother to bid on Crawford.

7) The O's didn't bother to bid on Werth.

8) The O's didn't bother to bid on Beltrie.

9) The O's didn't bother to bid on Young.

10) The O's didn't bother to bid on Lee.

Well, you might be right.

You're a real ray of sunshine.

This is why MLB needs to reorganize along the lines of the NFL in terms of revenue and spending management. It is absolutely insane that 2-3 teams dominate the market for the top 10 free agents every single year. The Yankees and BoSox can fill their rosters with Cy Young winners and all-stars while the Orioles have to make do with trash heap acquisitions who, if we're lucky, will hit .250 and strike out less than 200 times this season. That's hard for any fan to get excited about.

The current luxury tax and revenue-sharing regime is wholly ineffective and the sport needs to implement a hard-line salary cap immediately. It should be clear that what the players' union and the Yankees want is not what is in the best interests of the sport, 90% of the teams, or the fans.

I would propose that a cap be set at ~$90 million, with a hard spending floor that would set salary expenditures across the league at or above current levels. This should be enough to garner the support of the players' union as well as to force the "cash cow" teams (including the Orioles) to start spending their fans' money on the team instead of on lining the owners' pockets. Perhaps exceptions could be made to allow teams to keep home-grown players, which would have value to fans and put a premium on capable front office work.

All the league and players need to do is look at the NFL. When competitiveness increases, so does the size of the revenue pie and consequentially each team and player's cut. The NFL doesn't thrive by giving the Cowboys a fast track to the Super Bowl every year (as much as Jerry Jones would like that)- it thrives by giving every team and every fan a reason to believe in the fairness of the competitive playing field, and in their team's chances of winning in any given year. The MLB (and players' union) would do well to remember this, before baseball becomes even more irrelevant than it already is.

What is this?!? These teams do this every year, and yet somehow the Rangers and Giants played in the World Series anyway. What is the point of this post? That it is time to crown Boston the 2011 Al East champs?

Geez, Kevin. Maybe they shouldn't even play the games! Everyone KNEW the Rays would win the AL East and the Giants the title last year, right? Yup, these things are a foregone conclusion so why even bother playing, eh, Cowherd?

While adding Crawford and Gonzalez (50 HR, 201RBI) boosts the Red Sox chances, don't forget they lost almost the same amound of offense in Beltre and Martinez (48, 201). The return of Youkilis and Pedroia will make a big difference and recovery of their pitching staff are key for the Red Sox. The Yankees are still getting older, even if they sign Lee. I think you overestimate their improvement. (Psst, tell the Orioles to get Garza, if only as a roomie for Luke Scott!).

It will make beating them that much sweeter, Kevin.

Possibly true, but, ummm, have you noticed how the Miami Heat is doing after signing three amazing players?

As to Cliff Lee, let the Yanks have him. For some reason, we beat him a lot-- maybe we'll do better against them if they sign him.

It's official. Boston fans can no longer complain about the Yankees' payroll.

I understand that the Orioles are trying to balance their team and improve but untill they go out nd spend millions they will neer compete with the Yankees and now the Red Sox. they need to go out and spend the money and get Prince Fielder.

Regarding my previous entry, the article that examines player development based on signing team is called "The Traded Away All Star Teams" by Bill James, available at www.billjamesonline.net. Is it evident from reading this and looking back at the top draft picks the Orioles have made (By the way, why is nobody cheering about Billy Rowell surviving the Rule 5 Draft?) that the Orioles have done a lousy job in player development. And that's why they've been on the outside looking in for so long.

Ooops, I posted my previous comment to the wrong article. I will go find the right place now. Sorry.

I will start off by stating this:
The Boston Red Sox are just like the New York Yankees. Red Sox fans can no longer hate the Yankees for buying players. They are doing the same thing!
Secondly, I see this hurting the game of baseball. Two teams can buy anyone they want and most teams can't even compete with them. MLB should step in here, but they never will. Everyone wonders why the NFL is so popular and has a huge fan base, it is because of the salary cap and every team has a legitimate shot at winning. I'm afraid that is not the case with the MLB.
One more thing, IF championships could be bought, how many would the Yankees have by now?

Classic O's. Go out and trade for sub par players that won't do them any good in the AL east BUT save some money for poor old Angelos......while the Skanks and Sox do what it takes year in and year out to compete. O's ..... 5th place in 2011 and 2012 ..... 30+ games back. Assured.

So what? Are the O's players now supposed to soil their underwear?

Crawford, contrary to popular belief, isn't the second coming of Willie Mays.

If Machado and Wieters pan out and the young staff developes, O's won't be doormats for long.

Yup,
Like I said yesterday, what a joke. Lets see: Red Sox get Gonzalez and Crawford
Orioles get Reynolds and Hardy????? I mean why even freakin bother. You need to do all it takes to get Lee and Fielder!!!! Cause you know the yanks will get Puljos next year.
A disgruntled Orioles fan in New England!!!

don't be so negative.
We have countered with JJ Hardy and the National League strikeout king.

This is depressing already, BFD on the O's moves so far. Pull out all of the stops and make a BIG splash and sign someone worth having, maybe two? Rip Lee from out under the Yankees and prove you intend to compete. It's desperation time!!

If it's just that we don't have the resources/money available to compete, that's one thing. If that's true then baseball has to change the playing field. It's a stake through the heart. More time and thought was spent on what to serve in the concessions than fielding a team.

"In the AL East, the Rays, Blue Jays and Orioles are all officially playing for third place -- if they weren't doing that already."

It's just like Selig to release these official announcements when nobody is paying attention.

And if the Rays, Jays, and Orioles were officially playing for third place already, I'm not sure how the Rays were allowed to win the division last year.

The Sox gave up Beltre and sign Gonzalez and Crawford. That does make them better, true, by one player. They have the same rotation as last year. They are definitely a good team, but it doesn't guarantee them winning the division. They were not that great last year. The Yankees have been buying teams for decades, but they get beaten as well and don't always finish in first even with all that talent. They are definitely getting older. True , Cliff Lee is a good pitcher, but the Giants and Orioles did pretty well against him. He is beatable. Certainly the Y.anis and Red Sox are favorites, but you never know what can
happen. The Giants won last year with goodnpitching and a rag bag offense. I think a lot will depend on how well our young pitchers step up and whether or not we can sign a decent 1B like LaRoche.

The Sox gave up Beltre and sign Gonzalez and Crawford. That does make them better, true, by one player. They have the same rotation as last year. They are definitely a good team, but it doesn't guarantee them winning the division. They were not that great last year. The Yankees have been buying teams for decades, but they get beaten as well and don't always finish in first even with all that talent. They are definitely getting older. True , Cliff Lee is a good pitcher, but the Giants and Orioles did pretty well against him. He is beatable. Certainly the Y.anis and Red Sox are favorites, but you never know what can
happen. The Giants won last year with goodnpitching and a rag bag offense. I think a lot will depend on how well our young pitchers step up and whether or not we can sign a decent 1B like LaRoche.

As the AL East teams continue to upgrade, there could (in theory) come a day when the best five teams in the league reside in the same division. Then, because they are beating up on each other so often, only one will qualify for the playoffs. It's time to get rid of this piddly divisions, creating two divisions from the present three and playing with a balanced schedule (at least within the new divisions), making it more likely that the best teams will qualify for the post season.

While I understand some of the resentment and frustration expressed by Orioles fans/fans of other small market teams, it seems to me that most forget that there was once a time when the Orioles were on top and the Yankees and Red Sox were battling it out for third fourth and fifth. While I agree the Yankees have an outrageous payroll and even more absurd ticket prices, they have an ownership that is willing to invest every penny they get out of the team/YES network/licensing to put an attractive product on the field year-in and year out with the goal of winning it all - the same can be said for the Red Sox (Full disclosure if its not obvious yet: I am a life long Yankee fan).

Having lived in the Baltimore area for several years, besides a gorgeous Stadium that is unsurpassed by "retro" ballparks elsewhere - I'm not sure I can say the same for Angelos and the Orioles' ownership. While "$5 Student Nights" are of fantastic value and definitely draw fans, its the product on the field every day that draws the fans. Why complain about the lack of a salary cap when many teams refuse to invest in their product regardless.

Sure, a salary cap would decrease the gap between the high-rollers and the bottom of the barrel, but the bottom of the barrel in my opinion is artificially low given that some teams take out alot more than they can and should put in (See Florida Marlins). Besides that, the nature of sports is that there are winners and losers - this isn't high school gym class where everything needs to be "fair". If anything fans should insist that their teams and owners do and spend whatever reasonably possible to win in terms of personnel decisions.

While I'm biased so it doesn't bother me, if you are someone who truly cringes at the salaries that some of these players take home - be mad at the owners who four decades ago allowed for the free agency we see today allowing Cliff Lee to take home 140/6 years or whatever the terms of this 7 year deal are. Anyway, thats just my opinion.

The fact is that our record under Buck, 34-23 during a time of the year when competition is the most heated and when we have usually collapsed, is cause for much hope in 2011.
The players obtained this week are definite upgrades....it would take some career years from many Orioles- namely the starters continue to step up bigtime, Adam Jones has a career year, Wieters has a breakout, BRob returns near close to form, Hardy reverts to prior power numbers, Markakis gets better pitches and produces more effectively....but, hey, these are all possible and would put the Orioles in contention in 2011.
34-23 repeated for the other two parts of the season leads to mid 90s in wins....let's go Os!!!

Mr. Kevin Cowherd, You are right in saying that the O's are really ready to compete yet in the AL East. You Right... However I don't like the tone of your blog. I don't need you to rub the obvious in my face. I understand your job is to tell the truth and you are, however there is a difference when your being callous about it. Why don't you go write for the New York times or the Boston Herald since Baltimore is too pathetic for you.

Despite the feeling that these large contracts are creating a larger and larger chasm within divisions, I think we should take a moment to look at the positives. How many times have we seen teams go out and give such long-term contracts on such a consistent basis? What we are seeing is a tendency for teams to revert back to building long term single unit/core teams (something the Yankees have been doing for years). When teams go out and buy 7 year players, they are locking a substantial amount of money up and leaving less wiggle room for future buys. This, in my opinion, is like maxing out a credit card early and then not having the flexibility to use the available credit down the line. This may, in fact, free up the free agent market down the line(in the short term), and perhaps open up opportunities for mid level clubs. True, Crawford is a game changer, so is Lee and even Werth. But they do not change the fortunes of a mid level club with major structural problems. The Orioles are doing more with less under McPhail. That is what we should have been doing for so long. We have, with the exception of a 1st basemen or bona fide starter, an opportunity to load up an inexpensive team that should start to compete. That doesnt mean we are in the running for a division title right now. But what it does mean is the opportunity to start winning, increase revenues on par with that success, which will allow us to make meaningful acquisitions down the line as they are needed. We all say the O's could afford a 130 million dollar payroll, but there is no point in escalating to that level without a solid base in place, making impact acquisitions when the time presents itself. Otherwise, we end up like we did in 1998. A team full of expensive players, but no solid core, allowing the rich to make substantial gains through the FA market, passing our team which desperately tries to hold on to mediocre success with a bloated and inefficient budget. That being said, the worst thing that can happen to our team by the end of next year is watching McPhail get fired because we didnt realize instant success in this model. McPhail is a serious baseball talent, as is Showalter. Those two, with time and a little money, can and will make a substantial difference in the makeup of the AL East.

While I would love to have Konerko, or Dunn, or Crawford or Lee, I dont see how any of those make sense given that fact that Jones, Markakis, Roberts, Weiters, and Guthrie (the only true "core" we have with established MLB experience) have not yet established themselves as solid building blocks given their volatile state of play.

Adding Reynolds and Hardy and hopefully some others, will add depth and reliability in a lineup that has zero room for error if it wishes to see success in the East. The off-season isn't over. I see some other acquisitions that will add more depth without the price tag that hopefully, given a strong leadership presence in the locker room, should provide a solid and reliable base from which making a large FA bid makes sense. Without these steps, we wind up a hollow, fragile, and inconsistent team that asks too much for too long from few players. We all know that wont lead to anything but late season failure.

If we cannot see the value in the team we are building, then we should find another team. For the first time in a long time we are seeing substantial progress being made on all fronts, including our farm system and our spring training facility. I am actually glad we have the likes of McPhail and Showalter. They are instilling a sense of discipline and fortitude that this organization has severely lacked for some time. I can only pray that Angelos will make the right decision in salvaging his reputation by allowing people with proper baseball experience and knowledge build a team fit for the jewel division of baseball. Time, in this rare instance, even as it tests the very convictions we have about baseball and the love of our city's team, is a luxury.

OF course the orioles are not to be picked to compete in this division, but they are certainly improved.. The orioles can only hope for a sudden one year outbreak of their young pitching getting out of the chute and never breaking stride..ONE team does it about every 5 years and they often play in the series.. This is what they have to hope for and continued improvement on their record, not just to compare to the money teams.

I guess the Orioles should of signed Beltre, Lee, AGon, and maybe inked a deal with Adam Dunn to DH. Then Baltimore would be happy. The fact is, Buck just got here, the changes are just starting, you can't build a house without a foundation, but I like the comment from one person on here, if this team isn't making you happy, pick another, there are a ton of teams you can choose from, but AM has only been here for 3 years, its not his fault we've been losing for 13, any moves he made were going to be overanalyzed, but if you look, we got some good value without losing much, we will build upon our "Cavalry" and things will get better, but if your a true fan, you have no problem staying Patient, I'm not going anywhere.

A long time ago, before Angelos destroyed the team with his tight-fisted approach to finances, the Orioles were winning and drawing over 3 million fans every year. This changed because of Angelos and now he poor mouths and says he can't afford to compete with New York and/or Boston. First of all, I don't believe that; he's just a cheapskate, and secondly he's totally responsible for the O's decline. They seem to have a promising stable of young talented pitchers but, they will never be able to compete with the other teams if they continue to acquire second rate position players that nobody wants. Angelos needs to open his wallet. Once they start winning, the fans will come back.

Hmmm...makes sense.'cause the 2010 WS winner was the Yankees who spent the most.

Well said, rayfromNebraska!!!

Buck and the O's will let their play do the talking when it comes to competing with the stankees and sox. Buck, please prove this clown wrong next season.

Stop the Whining...Birdland, All we gotta do is look to Tampa Bay, you know, the team that actually won the division last yr and two yrs ago for a blueprint on how to compete AND win in the AL East. Better drafting, better player development and patience on the young arms. Pitching & Defense levels all playing fields in baseball.

I may be in the minority here but I really believe Boston's improvements were minimal. They lost two solid players and added two . I think it was a slight improvement .

Boston's moves were terrific I don't know how one could argue otherwise. They locked up two marquis players through their peak years and really did not give up much when looking at their club. Between the contracts they got rid of this year and the ones they have coming off next year, the money isn't even that bad. They gave up nothing that affected their team in the Gonzalez trade, I mean they are running Dice-k out as their 5th starter and the other four aren't exactly on the tail end of their careers. Third is covered with youk, their infield / outfield is set. What in all reality could you argue with this other than it sucks they and new york get everyone. I hate is as much as anyone but you can't help but respect what boston has done, i have the baltimore bias to hate the yankees at all costs but this was beautiful. We should have more money to throw around but we don't do it, the farm can be replenished a lot quicker but we really don't use any muscle regardless of our locale. A 16 year old dominican kid isn't going to care where more money than his family has ever seen comes from if its shoved right in his face. This franchise has just lost all of its testicles and its getting old. Good job Theo.

Kevin:
Congratulations. You sat down and banged these few paragraphs in, what, 5 minutes?

How about doing to some reporting on why the Orioles might create some noise. Go find out what Markakis has been doing this offseason to improve his above avg. game. Or dig through the stats and tell us what we could expect from a very talented Adam Jones who has improved at the plate every year in the majors. Or begin to predict how a bat like Reynolds and (hopefully) what another big bat at first or DH will impact the younger bats in the line-up.

I could have written what you posted. How about using your access to write something most people can't.

I agree with many here - you can buy a team but you still have to become a team. There have been many years when a team jells with enough talent and a great manager to surprise everyone. I like the way the O's are rebuilding. And I believe the steps they have taken are sound. Will they win the division - if we are even dreaming we could compete - is that not progression? If we solidify a winning record and make third place (or better)... then it may be time to open up the wallet and compete with the big guys for a couple Arms or Power Guys to complete the package. We finally have a true leader (versus average manager) and again - if our young arms mature - we might already have a few future Cliff Lees on our team. Also as Sizemo says above - Pitching and Defense Wins in Baseball. I like our chances to vastly improve this year and think by 2012 or 2013 we could be competing to win it all.

Cowherd, you are the master of stating the obvious. cute beyond comprehension. really annoying to some.

Maybe Tampa Bay and Toronto are playing for 3rd place, but the Orioles are playing for the same place they've been playing for over the past several years.....5th place.

everyone is forgetting who won the A.L. East last year... THE RAYS! Look at their roster!! Bunch of scrubs. Look who won the Series! Giants!! Led by CODY ROSS! Let's all take a chill pill, and look forward to the Orioles beating the Sox in the season series for the second season in a row eh?

Cowherd, buzz off with your negative columns on the Birds. If you don't like them leave town and take your negative co-columnist Dan Connolly with you.

If you want to write on the Birds then acknowledge the Birds can compete with any team in the American League.

It does NOT take free agent money only to make the Orioles a viable contender. As I said before to contend takes ATTITUDE and a WILL TO WIN, then comes the money.

The Orioles have these characteristics but have yet to exploit them effectively to counter the Yankees and Redsox thanks to improper management from the owner and the FO.

Go back through Orioles history and see how they won 3 World Series titles and numerous Division titles WITHOUT any big name free agents nor having spend billions to win either but had proper management from the owner and the FO.

The Orioles 1966 to 1983 winning dynasty started with a 1965 trade with the Cincinnati Reds for Frank Robinson. Notice I said TRADE. Not free agent spending.

How did the Rays build their team into a contender? They didn't win the division by spending billions on free agents too.

In fact, how did the Mets beat the Birds in the 1969 World Series? Look at their roster too.

Fans and the media need to get off their free agent spending spree high horses and understand to build a contender takes more than money.

Oh, look! The Yankees didn't sign Cliff Lee! Kevin Cowherd was wrong! Wait, that never hap-....ahh, who am I kidding, that always happens.