Baltimore Orioles Off-Season

[Alexir]

Thought we would keep a thread up of for the other Baltimore Birds as they begin their off season.

They have moved pretty quickly actually. HItting coach Terry Crowley has been "promoted" to another unknown position in the organization (probably hot dog vendor) and the Orioles are currently searching for a new hitting coach.

Apparently they are considering Mike Barnett, Rick Down and Jim Presley.

Also, Showalter is currently looking for a new pitching coach as well possibly bringing in Mark Connor. Foxsports.com also believes that Orioles are interested in Rangers coach Wayne Kirby.

Rumors also going on that Showalter wants to bring Billy Ripkin and Mike Bordick to end up on the coaching staff.


[url="http://www.rotoworld.com/content/clubhouse_news.aspx?sport=MLB&majteam=BAL"]Rotoworld[/url]

What does everyone think?

I personally think it's about time we clear house, especially on Crowley. He has been with this organization so long and we haven't done much with the bats consistently under him.

I think bringing guys in like Billy and Bordick would be good for both morale, knowledge from a former player's standpoint and name recognition for fans.

I like it.

GO O's!

[Ed_Reed20]

I think the bats haven't been consistently good under Crowley because most of the players haven't been very good. A coach can pass on all the knowledge and encourage the players to watch film all day but once a guy steps into the batter's box, he's on his own. Markakis and Roberts have both been among the league leaders in doubles with Crowley as the hitting coach. Why? Because they're good players.

I'm looking forward to seeing who Showalter brings in staff-wise but the player additions are what will truly help this team next year in my opinion.

[JO_75]

Should be a very interesting off-season. Hopefully we spend money for at least 1 key Free Agent and I'll be happy. I found this list on Yahoo with key Free Agents, I bolded the players I like to see as a Oriole.

- Cliff Lee: Obviously a far fetched option, I expect the Rangers to keep him or the Yankee$ to over spend for him to buy another World Series.

[b]- Carl Crawford[/b]

- Zack Greinke

[b]- Prince Fielder[/b]

[b]- Jayson Werth
[/b]
- Adrian Belte

[b]- Rafael Soriano[/b]

[b]- Adam Dunn: Signs With White Sox 4 Year, $56 Million[/b]

[Alexir]

[quote name='JO_75' timestamp='1288198363' post='522201']
Should be a very interesting off-season. Hopefully we spend money for at least 1 key Free Agent and I'll be happy. I found this list on Yahoo with key Free Agents, I bolded the players I like to see as a Oriole.

- Cliff Lee: Obviously a far fetched option, I expect the Rangers to keep him or the Yankee$ to over spend for him to buy another World Series.

[b]- Carl Crawford[/b]

- Zack Greinke

[b]- Prince Fielder[/b]

[b]- Jayson Werth
[/b]
- Adrian Belte

[b]- Rafael Soriano[/b]

[b]- Adam Dunn[/b]
[/quote]


I would love Prince Fielder or Adam Dunn. All of those guys really, but Im a huge Fielder fan.

[FlaccoFlicker]

The team has declined the option on Mark Hendrickson.

[1/28/01]

Negs here we come....

Sell the team and bring in an NBA team (sorry, but I HATE baseball).

[Gtown Purple]

The O's need pitching, just like they have for the past few years. They haven't been able to produce good pitching from the farm system that has actually staid around and done something.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='Gtown Purple' timestamp='1288982945' post='527968']
The O's need pitching, just like they have for the past few years. They haven't been able to produce good pitching from the farm system that has actually staid around and done something.
[/quote]

A true ace is still a need but what Guthrie, Matusz, Arrieta and Bergesen did towards the end of last year was very impressive.

[Gtown Purple]

Yeah, but we've seen that before with other guys. If a couple of these guys can develop into consistent big league pitchers I'll change my tune.


[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1288984007' post='527987']
A true ace is still a need but what Guthrie, Matusz, Arrieta and Bergesen did towards the end of last year was very impressive.
[/quote]

[JO_75]

I'm watching Sports Center and Derek Jeter is a FREE AGENT! Would you guys want the Orioles to take a chance on Jeter and bring him in to help our team?

[H8R]

Well, missed out on Victor Martinez. He has allegedly signed with the Detroit Tigers ( Pending Physical). The O's wont be able to sign a top Tier free-agent until some of this "Young Talent" equates to a .500 or better team record..... We could be waiting for awhile!

[JO_75]

Apparently the Baltimore Sun believes The Orioles should sign Derek Jeter.

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/thetoydepartment/2010/11/orioles_need_to_sign_derek_jet.html

[quote]They need to sign Derek Jeter.

The Orioles have many holes -- first base, third base, veteran starting pitching and the bullpen. But they also need a shortstop. More importantly, they need a leader.

[b]They need Derek Jeter.[/b][/quote]

Not sure about the Need part but hey if we can get Jeter in for 3-4 years, to go along with Jones and Markakis... we would have enough hitting power to counter the horrible pitching and I would be for it. Only 3-4 years though.

[H8R]

Jeter is faaaaar beyond his prime and he's hungry for dollars.

[Purple Punishment]

[quote name='H8R' timestamp='1291170362' post='555739']
Jeter is faaaaar beyond his prime and he's hungry for dollars.
[/quote]


This is something the O's have done forever. Go out and get a past his prime superstar, drop some big money on them and they do nothing. Remember Albert Belle? remember Eric Davis? remember....

[H8R]

[quote name='Purple Punishment' timestamp='1291171404' post='555755']
This is something the O's have done forever. Go out and get a past his prime superstar, drop some big money on them and they do nothing. Remember Albert Belle? remember Eric Davis? remember....
[/quote]

ERIC Davis was SOLID, IMO. I met him after a game before and he was an awesome guy, maybe that has swayed me though...

[Purple Punishment]

[quote name='H8R' timestamp='1291206434' post='556041']
ERIC Davis was SOLID, IMO. I met him after a game before and he was an awesome guy, maybe that has swayed me though...
[/quote]

You are right. He had colon cancer and his time was cut short by that and his age at the time. He was very productive in our wire to wire year. Too bad we got him in the twilight of his career.

[BlackSunday]

[quote name='JO_75' timestamp='1290619867' post='549908']
I'm watching Sports Center and Derek Jeter is a FREE AGENT! Would you guys want the Orioles to take a chance on Jeter and bring him in to help our team?
[/quote]

Jeter is on a steep decline and probably won't even be worth having in 2011.

However, we definitely need a corner infielder with big power such as Adam Dunn. In addition, I'm hoping to see increased power from Markakis and Jones. Remember a few years back when Markakis actually had power?

[JO_75]

OK here is some big news.... The Orioles have offered 1st Baseman Paul Konerko a contract along with offering contracts to other free agents.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/12/orioles-have-offered-paul-konerko-a-contract.html

[quote]The Orioles have made Paul Konerko a "significant offer," according to Jim Bowden of Sirius XM Radio (on Twitter). O's President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said last week that the team was disappointed to have missed out on Victor Martinez despite offering a competitive deal. MacPhail said that the Orioles are "looking at other options."

[b]Konerko, who hit 39 homers and posted a .312/.393/.584 line last year,[/b][/quote]

What do you guys think of this and do you think they could get him or will they miss out on him like they did Martinez?

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='JO_75' timestamp='1291265875' post='557137']
OK here is some big news.... The Orioles have offered 1st Baseman Paul Konerko a contract along with offering contracts to other free agents.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/12/orioles-have-offered-paul-konerko-a-contract.html

What do you guys think of this and do you think they could get him or will they miss out on him like they did Martinez?
[/quote]

I was listening to the radio and one of the hosts said a source close to Konerko has declared he won't be coming here. Not surprising considering Konerko can actually contend for a championship in Chicago.

[JO_75]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1291266240' post='557144']
I was listening to the radio and one of the hosts said a source close to Konerko has declared he won't be coming here. Not surprising considering Konerko can actually contend for a championship in Chicago.
[/quote]

Yeah it seems even with Buck we can't get Free Agents to come to Baltimore. Now what will be interesting is that I just read the White Sox just signed 1B Adam Dunn to a 4 Year $56 Million deal... so I wonder if they will bring back Konerko even with Dunn and will this help our cause now that Dunn is a White Sox?

[H8R]

We WILL NOT GET A DECENT FIRSTBASE FA, this off-season. We need to have a decent season FIRST.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='JO_75' timestamp='1291340641' post='557968']
Yeah it seems even with Buck we can't get Free Agents to come to Baltimore. Now what will be interesting is that I just read the White Sox just signed 1B Adam Dunn to a 4 Year $56 Million deal... so I wonder if they will bring back Konerko even with Dunn and will this help our cause now that Dunn is a White Sox?
[/quote]

Buck is a fine coach but even the success the O's had after his presence alone isn't going get FAs interested. To me, the O's will have to look to their own players to produce and get the team back to respectability for them to attract impactful FAs. They can take fliers on guys and hope they don't bomb like Garrett Atkins but guys like V-Mart aren't serious options even now.

What the White Sox do will be interestering. They could bring back Kornerko and alternate him and Dunn at DH and first base.

[H8R]

I still don't get why we CAN'T build from the draft, sure we have a few pitching prospects but infielders aren't being produced with success. I hope Machado can do something. B.Rob has been the only decent infielder in years. I still don't have confidence in Weiters bat.... Look was Buster Posey did... Weiters has been disappointing at the plate for me.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='H8R' timestamp='1291348683' post='558117']
I still don't get why we CAN'T build from the draft, sure we have a few pitching prospects but infielders aren't being produced with success. I hope Machado can do something. B.Rob has been the only decent infielder in years. I still don't have confidence in Weiters bat.... Look was Buster Posey did... Weiters has been disappointing at the plate for me.
[/quote]

Pitching has been the biggest problems for the team for years so it's no surprise they've invested so much in pitching recently and we saw the potential of guys on the field field.

Wieters has had his struggles at the plate but bringing up a Posey isn't fair to me. Not only did he obviously play on a much better team with more protection, how many rookie catchers make the impact he did period, especially for a terrible team?

[JO_75]

[quote name='H8R' timestamp='1291348683' post='558117']
[b]I still don't get why we CAN'T build from the draft,[/b] sure we have a few pitching prospects but infielders aren't being produced with success. I hope Machado can do something. B.Rob has been the only decent infielder in years. I still don't have confidence in Weiters bat.... Look was Buster Posey did... Weiters has been disappointing at the plate for me.
[/quote]

Well... the problem with that is MLB is not the NFL so we really can't just sit there and build through the draft. I wish it was so simple like the NFL because maybe we could have had some over .500 seasons by now.

[FerrariFan87]

We whiffed on Victor Martinez, and now we missed out on Adam Dunn. Paul Konerko will most likely re-sign. What in the world is Mac"Fail" doing???????

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='FerrariFan87' timestamp='1291385131' post='558271']
We whiffed on Victor Martinez, and now we missed out on Adam Dunn. Paul Konerko will most likely re-sign. What in the world is Mac"Fail" doing???????
[/quote]

Honestly, what could he have done to make those guys more interested? Martinez and Dunn are two veterans who likely still want to compete for a pennant and have more than enough juice left in the tank.

As for Konerko, he took less money than the O's offered him to re-sign with Chicago back in '05 and won a World Series. Considering the Orioles haven't got much better since then, I doubt there's much they could do to lure him here now.

[H8R]

[quote name='JO_75' timestamp='1291351477' post='558149']
Well... the problem with that is MLB is not the NFL so we really can't just sit there and build through the draft. I wish it was so simple like the NFL because maybe we could have had some over .500 seasons by now.
[/quote]


Tampa built with the draft, Minnesota built with the draft.... You really cant afford to miss over and over in baseball either, especially of you're a perennial LOSER like the Orioles have been.

[H8R]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1291350726' post='558145']
Pitching has been the biggest problems for the team for years so it's no surprise they've invested so much in pitching recently and we saw the potential of guys on the field field.

Wieters has had his struggles at the plate but bringing up a Posey isn't fair to me. Not only did he obviously play on a much better team with more protection, how many rookie catchers make the impact he did period, especially for a terrible team?
[/quote]


I certainly can bring Posey into the discussion, Weiters was a Baseball America top pick yet we can't develop him as a hitter...or atleast not yet. What are we doing to these players to stunt their growth? as far as players making an impact on a bad team? It's almost easier because a good team doesnt generally start rookies, when you're on a bad team you get a jump start ( thrown into the fire). I NEVER bought into this whole protection thing... If its a strike you swing and hit it where it's pitched.... If it's a ball, you let it go. You just need to be more disciplined at the plate.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='H8R' timestamp='1291404498' post='558486']
Tampa built with the draft, Minnesota built with the draft.... You really cant afford to miss over and over in baseball either, especially of you're a perennial LOSER like the Orioles have been.
[/quote]

It took TB over 10 years to build through the draft though and they had consistently good management during that time.

The Orioles had a terrible farm system for a long time but we've seen MacPhail make a difference since he took over in 2007. He's invested heavily in pitching and within two seasons, we've seen young arms like Matusz, Arrieta, Bergesen and Tillman move up the ranks and into the majors. That leads me to believe the positional players will be on the way as MacPhail shifts his focus.

[quote name='H8R' timestamp='1291404822' post='558495']
I certainly can bring Posey into the discussion, Weiters was a Baseball America top pick yet we can't develop him as a hitter...or atleast not yet. What are we doing to these players to stunt their growth? as far as players making an impact on a bad team? It's almost easier because a good team doesnt generally start rookies, when you're on a bad team you get a jump start ( thrown into the fire). I NEVER bought into this whole protection thing... If its a strike you swing and hit it where it's pitched.... If it's a ball, you let it go. You just need to be more disciplined at the plate.
[/quote]

Wieters being highly-regarded by Baseball America and a top pick didn't guarantee he'd produce big numbers right away or even in two years.

No, he didn't make the giant leap as a hitter from his first to second season but I don't see how the coaches are stunting his growth. Some players simply take longer to develop.

As for young players making an impact on poor clubs, being thrown into the fire isn't always a good thing in the majors. Some players thrive right away, others take longer to get into a groove.

Line-up protection is a very debatable topic so I won't harp on it.