Comments on: Wigginton Lands in Birdland

By: alskor

alskor — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 07:18:26 +0000

We’re already there. A strong case can be made that the three best teams in baseball are all in the AL East.

By: gotowarmissagnes

gotowarmissagnes — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 22:12:01 +0000

Wiggy has not played 2B in more than a year, and given his UZRs over the past 4 years at 3B, I think you’d have to be crazy to put him at 2B.

By: Hans

Hans — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:30:04 +0000

Anyone think this is a hedge against either failed contract extension talks with Roberts or the possibility of Mora being shipped?

Wiggy can cover both second and third and provides a good safety net should either of those situations result in a player leaving the team.

By: joser

joser — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 17:25:11 +0000

Stick to values on free agents and focus on drafting/scouting/player development.

It certainly worked for Tampa Bay Now the rest of the AL needs Baltimore and Toronto to follow that pattern, so the AL East can spend most of the unbalanced schedule beating up on each other equally, thereby making room at the top of the wildcard standings for somebody else.

By: Heath

Heath — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 17:15:24 +0000

Technically, MacPhail did not draft Wieters. MacPhail was brought is after the draft but he did make sure he got signed, no sure thing in Baltimore in years past.

By: Justin

Justin — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:04:01 +0000

Eric—-why did you delete the pervious article……that may not ave been Bill Simmons……

By: KC

KC — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:55:38 +0000

Of course, there are always other GMs willing to step up when the stupid GM quota seems on the decline. See CHC and HOU.

By: Bill

Bill — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 11:43:25 +0000

MacPhail deserves some credit for drafting Wieters. I mean, Pittsburgh had a shot at him but didn’t draft him. I guess this is more a testament to Littlefield’s incompetence than to MacPhail’s abilities. As I recall, some of their smarter fans set up a walkout over this. And robbing from awful GM’s is an essential duty of a good GM. Where would Billy Beane be without the Royals? Of course, with so many teams getting smart in recent years – Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Seattle – good GM’s will have to begin to rely on building honestly.

By: alskor

alskor — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 05:50:52 +0000

You have to really like what MacPhail is doing… JP Ricciardi should be taking notes.

This is the perfect way to run a team in the position that the Orioles are in. Stick to values on free agents and focus on drafting/scouting/player development. They have consistently made moves where they gave up little and acquired young, cost controlled players with upside. Further, they have still been aggressive in finding cheap, nice fits in free agency that will ensure the product on the field is respectable… theyve shown the younger guys they wont accept a culture of losing. Quite a remarkable rebuilding job… has to be considered ahead of schedule. Of course, drafting Matt Wieters and having Chris Tillman and Adam Jones gifted to you sure helps.