The Baltimore Orioles Thread (merged)

[ieddyi]

Baez, who they signed for 3 years for $19M, has elbow problems and sucked this year and might miss all of 2008.

Money won't solve their problems

[bobby jr]

The Baez injury just goes to show what bad luck the O's have had in 2007. All these devastating injuries to their pitching staff, along with losing an inordinate number of 1 run games, which is in large part a matter of bad luck.
Too bad, the talent on the field in 2007 would normally have resulted in a better W-L record. The team would have finished about .500 in a typical year.

[Lucen]

The Baez injury just goes to show what bad luck the O's have had in 2007. All these devastating injuries to their pitching staff, along with losing an inordinate number of 1 run games, which is in large part a matter of bad luck.
Too bad, the talent on the field in 2007 would normally have resulted in a better W-L record. The team would have finished about .500 in a typical year.

Part of doing your due dilligence when signing a player, is to consider their medical situation carefully. And injuries are not an excuse for poor play. Part of building a good team is building a team with depth. The Orioles couldn't absorb their injuries because they built a team that was prone to them in the first place, and didn't add enough depth behind the primary guys.

When you consistantly finish as one of the lesser teams in the majors, you should be able to build a farm system that provides that kind of depth, so don't try to use the money excuse for not being able to do so. Money is only one way to build a team. The Twins have been successfull doing it another way, and since the Orioles have finished below .500 for 9 straight years (10 if you count this season), you have no excuse for not having some depth to fall back on. Here is their AL East, AL and MLB standings for each year:

Year   AL EAST   AL    MLB
1998     4th     8th   16th
1999     4th     8th   14th
2000     4th     11th  20th
2001     4th     13th  28th
2002     4th     11th  24th
2003     4th     10th  22nd
2004     3rd     9th   18th
2005     4th     10th  22nd
2006     4th     12th  26th
2007     4th     11th  27th

Of course, 2007 is the current standings, but with so little time to go, I don't see much reason to think they'll finish significantly better than they are now.

With finishes like these, your team has had the opportunity to draft some of the best players available in the last decade, and yet here you are, tied for the second worst record in all of baseball. You have a money advantage over 20 teams in the league, and have had a draft position advantage over 16, 14, 20, 28, 24, 22, 18, 22, and 26 teams respectively (2007 doesn't count until that draft happens). That's an average drafting position of 9th over the last 9 years.

Your team's problem, as always, is poor management. There simply isn't a single plausible excuse for how awful they've been in the last decade. Why can't you face that, bobby?

[Cuban Connection]

The Baez injury just goes to show what bad luck the O's have had in 2007. All these devastating injuries to their pitching staff, along with losing an inordinate number of 1 run games, which is in large part a matter of bad luck.
Too bad, the talent on the field in 2007 would normally have resulted in a better W-L record. The team would have finished about .500 in a typical year.

Support your case right now.

Do you still think Daniel Cabrera could be the next Sandy Koufax?

[YASS]

Support your case right now.

Do you still think Daniel Cabrera could be the next Sandy Koufax?

Very unlikely that Daniel Cabrera will begin throwing lefthanded at this stage of his career.

[Lucen]

Very unlikely that Daniel Cabrera will begin throwing lefthanded at this stage of his career.

Yeah, but that's only because the Orioles don't have the money to pay for a right/left brain swap operation.

[#1PaFan]

Part of doing your due dilligence when signing a player, is to consider their medical situation carefully. And injuries are not an excuse for poor play. Part of building a good team is building a team with depth. The Orioles couldn't absorb their injuries because they built a team that was prone to them in the first place, and didn't add enough depth behind the primary guys.

When you consistantly finish as one of the lesser teams in the majors, you should be able to build a farm system that provides that kind of depth, so don't try to use the money excuse for not being able to do so. Money is only one way to build a team. The Twins have been successfull doing it another way, and since the Orioles have finished below .500 for 9 straight years (10 if you count this season), you have no excuse for not having some depth to fall back on. Here is their AL East, AL and MLB standings for each year:

Year   AL EAST   AL    MLB
1998     4th     8th   16th
1999     4th     8th   14th
2000     4th     11th  20th
2001     4th     13th  28th
2002     4th     11th  24th
2003     4th     10th  22nd
2004     3rd     9th   18th
2005     4th     10th  22nd
2006     4th     12th  26th
2007     4th     11th  27th

Of course, 2007 is the current standings, but with so little time to go, I don't see much reason to think they'll finish significantly better than they are now.

With finishes like these, your team has had the opportunity to draft some of the best players available in the last decade, and yet here you are, tied for the second worst record in all of baseball. You have a money advantage over 20 teams in the league, and have had a draft position advantage over 16, 14, 20, 28, 24, 22, 18, 22, and 26 teams respectively (2007 doesn't count until that draft happens). That's an average drafting position of 9th over the last 9 years.

Your team's problem, as always, is poor management. There simply isn't a single plausible excuse for how awful they've been in the last decade. Why can't you face that, bobby?

Great post. Junior won't even acknowlege it.

[Seth]

Year   AL EAST   AL    MLB
1998     4th     8th   16th
1999     4th     8th   14th
2000     4th     11th  20th
2001     4th     13th  28th
2002     4th     11th  24th
2003     4th     10th  22nd
2004     3rd     9th   18th
2005     4th     10th  22nd
2006     4th     12th  26th
2007     4th     11th  27th

I'll say this about the Orioles in the last decade. They're consistent in their crappy 4th place finishes.

[YankeePride1967]

Great post. Junior won't even acknowlege it.

I am really beginning to think Bobby, Jr. is one of those automated "bots" that submits a random message when something prompts it to.

[hardrain]

Although the outcome of tonight's game is clearly up in the air (It's 2-0 Yanks in the 6th) it's really upsetting to see a "Major League" team like the Orioles just lay down and give up. As a whole, they are playing like they can't wait to go home...

I haven't seen two guys just completely give them selves up when they could slide into second. The first guy should have been safe. Payton, too, doesn't seem to want to be on the field. Earl Weaver would kick some butt.

[In Mo I Trust]

The Baez injury just goes to show what bad luck the O's have had in 2007. All these devastating injuries to their pitching staff, along with losing an inordinate number of 1 run games, which is in large part a matter of bad luck.
Too bad, the talent on the field in 2007 would normally have resulted in a better W-L record. The team would have finished about .500 in a typical year.

Baez just isn't that good. That was the typical example of overpaying for a reliever just because he has racked up saves. Good bullpens are not purchased on the open market, they are built from within.

[yanksphan]

Although the outcome of tonight's game is clearly up in the air (It's 2-0 Yanks in the 6th) it's really upsetting to see a "Major League" team like the Orioles just lay down and give up. As a whole, they are playing like they can't wait to go home...

I haven't seen two guys just completely give them selves up when they could slide into second. The first guy should have been safe. Payton, too, doesn't seem to want to be on the field. Earl Weaver would kick some butt.

Come on, give them a break.

Huff & Payton were clearly thinking about the payroll disparity in MLB distracting them from the task at hand.

[Lucen]

Although the outcome of tonight's game is clearly up in the air (It's 2-0 Yanks in the 6th) it's really upsetting to see a "Major League" team like the Orioles just lay down and give up. As a whole, they are playing like they can't wait to go home...

I haven't seen two guys just completely give them selves up when they could slide into second. The first guy should have been safe. Payton, too, doesn't seem to want to be on the field. Earl Weaver would kick some butt.

I doubt that even with every player on the O's roster playing as hard as they possibly can that the series would have turned out differently. The Yankees are simply playing incredible baseball. Not much you can do when you are a poorly constructed team and you run into a team playing as well as the Yankees are.

[Why Not?]

I doubt that even with every player on the O's roster playing as hard as they possibly can that the series would have turned out differently. The Yankees are simply playing incredible baseball. Not much you can do when you are a poorly constructed team and you run into a team playing as well as the Yankees are.

You're right. It's a good team at the top of the game vs. a bad team at the bottom of its game. We needed a top-notch game from a pitcher, which we got from Burres. Yet that still wasn't enough. At least we were competitive in one of the three games.

[#1PaFan]

Hey Junior!!!

The Jays CLINCHED the win for our bet. Now, it's just a matter of how much you OWE a Yankee Website!!!

I'll tell you what, Junior. I'm a good sport and I hope you are too. So, once I hear from Jim Frasch, the owner of this website, that you honored your word and paid him what you & Peter's O's lost in the bet, I will pay him Double what you lost in our bet.

As it stands right now, you owe this website $26. So, if the season ended right now, I will pay $52, also.

I sincerely hope you are a Man of your Word.

It really wasn't a fair bet on my part since I KNEW your Owner screwed you and the other fans of the fine City of Baltimore over YET AGAIN. Everybody here knew that the O's would stink up the AL East. AGAIN. Except you, apparently.

But anyway, pay up and I will too!

Here's to ya, Junior!!! May you learn from this!!!

[YankeePride1967]

Standing in line at Disney today, there was an Oriole fan to my left and a Met fan in front of me complaining about how the Yanks "buy" their titles. First, no Met fan should complain and I'm wondering if Bobby took the family to Disney this week?

[#1PaFan]

We haven't heard from Junior since last Sunday. I hope he's OK, man! I hope he's able to pay this website what he owes!

[Cuban Connection]

Hey Junior!!!

The Jays CLINCHED the win for our bet. Now, it's just a matter of how much you OWE a Yankee Website!!!

I'll tell you what, Junior. I'm a good sport and I hope you are too. So, once I hear from Jim Frasch, the owner of this website, that you honored your word and paid him what you & Peter's O's lost in the bet, I will pay him Double what you lost in our bet.

As it stands right now, you owe this website $26. So, if the season ended right now, I will pay $52, also.

I sincerely hope you are a Man of your Word.

It really wasn't a fair bet on my part since I KNEW your Owner screwed you and the other fans of the fine City of Baltimore over YET AGAIN. Everybody here knew that the O's would stink up the AL East. AGAIN. Except you, apparently.

But anyway, pay up and I will too!

Here's to ya, Junior!!! May you learn from this!!!

So even the Yankees fans outspend the Orioles fans? That's unfair!

[ieddyi]

Very unlikely that Daniel Cabrera will begin throwing lefthanded at this stage of his career.

I didn't know he was Jewish either

[Bronson'sCornrows]

I didn't know he was Jewish either

Rod Carew got in his ear. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[ieddyi]

Rod Carew got in his ear. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Not according to Sammy Davis ( hey maaan, I don't sing heavy metal, I wear it )

[YASS]

I didn't know he was Jewish either

I was going to throw in a little comment about his unreported conversion to Judaism, but I thought better of it and left it on the cutting room floor.

[yanksphan]

So even the Yankees fans outspend the Orioles fans? That's unfair!

Nice.

[#1PaFan]

So even the Yankees fans outspend the Orioles fans? That's unfair!

[Norman]

I am really beginning to think Bobby, Jr. is one of those automated "bots" that submits a random message when something prompts it to.

Naw...bots are right once in a while.