Comments on: The O’s Enviable Outfield Logjam

By: GPK

GPK — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:46:45 +0000

The weird thing about Pie is that even though he’s a really good CF, he’s a bad LF. He’s not comfortable there and it shows.

By: SoBoHoBoS

SoBoHoBoS — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:06:50 +0000

Ben…2010 1B FA class? That’s this years. Did you mean 2011 1B FA class? According to Cot’s Baseball Contracts, I wouldn’t exactly say the market is “loaded”:

Lance Berkman HOU *
Wes Helms FLA
Jason Giambi COL
Ross Gload FLA
Paul Konerko CWS
Derrek Lee CHC
David Ortiz BOS *
Lyle Overbay TOR
Carlos Pena TB
Albert Pujols STL *

* player whose current contract includes 2011 option

Pujols would be nice, but we all know he’s staying in St. Louis. Berkman’s about the only other guy I’d give 2 cents for.

By: Ben

Ben — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 23:32:52 +0000

The biggest problem with the trade: Markakis + Prospects for AGon is that SD would not want Markakis. The only reason they trade AGon is to get 4 high upside prospects with minimal major league service time. If they got Markakis they would almost immediatly look to ship him out to. The O’s are probably best off keeping their pitching prospects realizing only 50% may pan out. the 2010 1B free agent class is loaded so we don’t need to blow our prospect load on one.

By: Canton Terrier

Canton Terrier — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:25:11 +0000

I agree with those who suggest Reimold should move, and I’d say to first (leaving Scott for DH or trade). Learning new positions is partly what the off-season and spring training are for, so get Reimold a first baseman’s mitt asap. When he came out of Bowling Green, scouts weren’t raving about his glove, but his bat. Pie still has time to become the hitter some scouts predicted he’d be (Matt is right; the Cubs jerked him around too much), but he will absolutely shine in left field. He’d do the same in center, but, understandably, the Orioles won’t want to tamper with Adam Jones’ psychology after his successful 2009.

By: Lucky Horseshoe

Lucky Horseshoe — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 22:46:25 +0000

Thanks So-most Oriole fans I floated the idea by thought I left the box out in the rain and ran over it (several times) with a big truck. I recognize Kouz is not David Wright or ZImmerman, but if he was, we would be talking about giving up a ton for him too. He is apparently a no range fielder but will catch what is hit to him and has the arm to go corner to corner. I dont mind a steady but unspectacular fielder while waiting to see what Bell turns into. Similarly he is a power hitter who will never hit for high average and will strike out some. Gee, he isnt the first power hitter with those downsides. He is serviceable, young and if Atkins or Bell keep him from 3B, can be a DH. He doesnt have any more holes than Scott, is probably better at 3B than Scott is at 1B and fits the holes in the roster better than Scott does.

GMAN- I believe trading for a 1B is part of the plan under the section headed “Buy the bats”. I do not want to throw money or prospects willy nilly at every recognizable name, but for a player like Tex ot AGon, I say the plan has to be flexible enough to go for it. These are impact hitters, gold glove defenders, young and in their prime and high character guys who are not risky moves. They are consistent and known quantities. This does not mean that a trade like Glenn Davis doesnt happen but holding your pitching prospects can end up like the Mets class of Isringhausen/Pulsipher/Wilson or the Cubs Wood and Pryor. We cant ignore history but cant let it paralyze us either. MAYBE we can find a decent power hitting 1B, but AD is not decent; he is superstar quality IMO and a good guy, young, no injury history and a high likelihood to continue (or improve based on moving to a better hitting park) his level of performance. His numbers are consistent. The risk is of signing him long term, but for this guy I would offer Tex money or maybe even an ARod contract. If Wieters is the real deal and our pitching develops as expected, I feel that this AGon trade could be the Frank Robinson-like final piece in the puzzle. Granted the rest of the team needs some maturing so the payoff would not be quite as fast as the F Robby deal.

By: GMAN

GMAN — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:06:22 +0000

I have this blog and not seen anyone take into account injuries happen over 162 games, see Orioles 2009. Depth is not only nice but needed. Keep all 4 young outfielders and let the manager do his job and find playing time for all. And as for the suggestion we trade Markakis and or are young pitchers for AD i think that would be crazy. We can find a decent power hitting 1st baseman without trading our young talent. Stick to the plan and we will get there!

By: SoBoHoBoS

SoBoHoBoS — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:44:41 +0000

Lucky, haven’t heard that one before. Kudos for thinking outside the box. Seems that SD and Balt match-up nicely as trade partners. Always liked Kouzmanoff too. His career .345 minor league BA hasn’t been reflected in the majors. Thought he was all-hit/no-glove, but his major league record (low) 3 Es changed my perception of him.

By: Lucky Horseshoe

Lucky Horseshoe — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 05:23:50 +0000

The solution no Oriole fan wants to swallow but which potentially results in the strongest team on the field is to trade Markakis with either Tillman or Arietta as the core of a trade for Adrian Gonzalez. It lets you put Reimold in right which was his best position in the minors, Pie in center which is his best position and Jones in left. Gonzalez fills your two biggest holes, an impact middle of the order hitter and gold glove first baseman. Markakis fills the hole left when Blanks moves to 1B. By trading Markakis we dont have to dig too deep into our pitching depth to fill out the trade. I would try to expand it to add Scott and get Kouz. This lets the Pads move Scott to left when Headley takes Kouzmanoff’s spot at 3rd. Atkins and Kouz fill DH and 3B based on how they perform in spring training. Only glitch I see is whether SD would take on Markakis’ salary.

By: Travis Bickle

Travis Bickle — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 01:09:12 +0000

Just in case anyone needs reminded UZR is for stat geek morons who never played the game. And the minute it`s quoted it renders all other statements moot. Ask yourself if any GM`s use this stat? Do any players? Former players? Managers? It`s total B.S. And the sooner you all accept that the sooner more than 15 people a day will read these articles.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 22:07:59 +0000

wow. im am so surprised people think pie is a good fielder he made so many bone headed plays last year like holding on to the ball when people are taking an extra base. Hes fast but stupid. He did come on strong with his bat towards the end of the season and i loved his intensity.