If you want to discuss what the Orioles really need? They need position players, and since all the Orioles have as an answer to their left field situation in a post-Luke Scott world is Reimold and Montanez (both defensive liabilities), Pie makes sense for MacPhail’s game plan as he came at a huge discount at the expense of the Cubs. He may not pan out, but he’s young and has a huge ceiling. He could be the Orioles left fielder for many years.

Bigger still is what happens to the Orioles infield after 2009 since Huff, Roberts and Mora are all free agents, and Scott and Izturis don’t project to be on the team as long term options either.

Kevin Towers has said that he’s interested in Olsen, something Jim Hendry was well aware of. Hendry doesn’t have any interest in trading Josh Vitters for Peavy, so he’s worked over the past weeks to accquire the pieces necessary to avoid ditching Vitters.

If it works out so that Hendry wiggles Peavy from Towers by only unloading DeRosa and Pie (plus Cedeno and Olsen), then hot damn that would be amazing. Time will tell.

He actually is a little better than Corey patterson, who has hovered bwteween 294-311 since 2002. With the plus defense that Pie has showed so far in the major leagues, he’s probably a league-average centerfielder, not as good as Adam Jones, with a bat that will not be playable in a corner.

Garret Olson
2008 22 219/271/311 261
2009 23 218/262/315 257
That’s just bad. He’d have to have an outstanding glove to even sniff the majors.

**Edit – should have read further – apparently there’s more than one Garret Olson, and I was looking in the batting stats.

Yes,I agree with you that Felix Pie has more upside than Garret Olson. I believe Pie’s added potential was compensated by the inclusion of Hank Williamson. Also, I did use OPS as a verb, but I feel no guilt.

So next – Murton/Johnson. The answer to this one is that Murton cannot play CF. Ironically, when the Cubs dealt Murton, I posted the following on fangraphs.

“I’ll say this. I’m glad Matt Murton is finally going to the A’s. That way, everyone who goes on and on about how he’s not given a fair chance, can enjoy seeing him ‘contribute’ hundreds upon hundreds of choppers to SS and 3B. Murton absolutely plays pepper with the left side infielders. He is creeping up on 27 and has been falling in the big leagues in both OBP and SLG every season. That his VORP is still in the + as recently as last season boggles my mind. He’s like one of those geological formations that defies gravity. At least all the debate will be able to stop soon on whether or not Murton is under appreciated, or just not all that great.”

As I reflect on that, I think Murton has taken a defining step towards settling that debate with his ’08 performance in Oakland.

Ronnie Cedeno? Blocked by Cub farmhand Ryan Theriot. Hard to critique the Cubs for stunting a prospect with another prospect. Aaron Miles is DeRosa’s roster spot, for better or for worse, not Cedeno’s.

Lastly, I don’t get what you’re saying, sorry. If Soriano, Murton & Fukudome are healthy, then Johnson will play CF vs lefties giving the Cubs 3 righty bats. Against righties, Fukudome plays and they have 2 lefty bats. Seems logical to me, but maybe I’m missing your point.

In the end, I have no issue with the trade for either team. I agree that it’s wise for the non-competing Orioles to take a chance and see what happens. But I don’t fault the Cubs for doing what they did, I think they’re doing what they need to do to win the Central again in ’09. I fault Pie for having two smelly turd seasons and forcing Jim Hendry’s hand.

He doesn’t look like a can’t-miss prospect, but I’d put my money on him before I’d put it on Olson.