According to Jon Heyman, the Orioles have agreed to terms on a contract with former Braves pitcher, Jair Jurrjens. The value of the deal is $1.5 million, with incentives to bring the total to $4 million. The Orioles needed another pitcher to slide into the rotation in 2013. Jurrjens has experienced some success at the major league level previously with Atlanta. His career high in wins is 14, set back in 2009. Recently, he has endured some injuries and was not brought back after the 2012 season in Atlanta.
This was an example of yet another low risk roster addition by Dan Duquette. Jurrjens can eat innings and showed previous potential to pitch effectively. He is still ONLY 26 years old. He should slot in as the possible fourth or fifth starter in the Orioles 2013 starting rotation. This signing also most likely takes the Orioles out of the running to re-sign last season's postseason hero, Joe Saunders.
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Showalter Extending His Stay in Baltimore
It is not a done deal yet, but it looks as though manager, Buck Showalter, will be signed to a contract extension some time in the near future. It has been rumored that it will be for three years. This is an excellent move for the Orioles. I think Buck fits the Orioles perfectly. Ask anyone who has ever played for or against Buck, you get the same comment. He is one of the most detail-oriented and best prepared managers in the game today. For a fairly young team; or at least young core, I'd rather have that, as opposed to some drill sergeant in the dugout.
All of that is before even mentioning that Showalter turned an abysmal team from 2011 into the Wild Card winning Orioles we all got to enjoy in 2012. Baseball pundits say that part of that was luck, especially since it's widely known that Baltimore plays in arguably the most competitive division in baseball. The powerhouse teams in this division make it that much harder to succeed, having to play each of them 18 times a year. I think a great bit of our success in 2012 came from Showalter's magnificent use of the bullpen to hold all those one run leads. He made all the right switches; trusting his players to deliver, which they did. The Orioles roster had good players, but Buck did the best with what was considered mostly average players. For that, he deserves all the credit in the world. Each player put forth his best effort in contributing to what has now become a winning mentality in Baltimore.
The Orioles finished with the ONLY winning record and playoff appearance since the 1997 season in 2012. The record switched from an embarrassing 69-93 in 2011 to the reverse. The term "Orioles Magic" is occasionally thrown around in conversations today, and for the first time in a long time, I think we have it.....in Buck Showalter! Kudos to Peter Angelos for making every effort to keep this intact.
The Buck STAYS here....in Baltimore!
All of that is before even mentioning that Showalter turned an abysmal team from 2011 into the Wild Card winning Orioles we all got to enjoy in 2012. Baseball pundits say that part of that was luck, especially since it's widely known that Baltimore plays in arguably the most competitive division in baseball. The powerhouse teams in this division make it that much harder to succeed, having to play each of them 18 times a year. I think a great bit of our success in 2012 came from Showalter's magnificent use of the bullpen to hold all those one run leads. He made all the right switches; trusting his players to deliver, which they did. The Orioles roster had good players, but Buck did the best with what was considered mostly average players. For that, he deserves all the credit in the world. Each player put forth his best effort in contributing to what has now become a winning mentality in Baltimore.
The Orioles finished with the ONLY winning record and playoff appearance since the 1997 season in 2012. The record switched from an embarrassing 69-93 in 2011 to the reverse. The term "Orioles Magic" is occasionally thrown around in conversations today, and for the first time in a long time, I think we have it.....in Buck Showalter! Kudos to Peter Angelos for making every effort to keep this intact.
The Buck STAYS here....in Baltimore!
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Orioles Offseason
As the Orioles see all the division rivals once again loading up like it's an arms race in the AL East, Dan Duquette and company have been quiet this offseason. The biggest move(s) we have made include resigning Nate McLouth for $2 million and NOT bringing back former 1B/3B Mark Reynolds. The birds also added Adam Russell and signed Conor Jackson to a minor league deal, neither of which stole the headlines of the Baltimore Sun Sports section.
The Yankees added Kevin Youkilis while Boston added Koji, Victorino, and Dempster. Toronto made two blockbuster trades netting Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson, Mark Buerhle, and R.A. Dickey. Even the Rays made their own trade saying goodbye to "Big Game" James Shields and Wade Davis and getting the Minor League Player of the Year, Will Myers. With every team in "win now" mode, it will be extremely difficult for the Orioles to replicate their 2012 success if they stand pat and make no moves.
Personally, there is one player that I think the Orioles would be complete idiots to not get. He currently resides a short way down the beltway. Former Nationals first baseman, Adam LaRoche is sitting out there in free agency. The Nationals are not willing to go past 2 years in a contract offer for him, so they are currently at a stalemate. LaRoche provides that middle of the order presence that the O's need while being a plus defensive first baseman. I read that Duquette was hesitant at the thought of forfeiting a draft pick in order to sign LaRoche. The way I see it, they have no first baseman on the current roster or in the minors that would get the job done. Chris Davis, while great offensively, would not be my choice to start at the position come opening day. I'd much rather him at the DH spot. It's never great to give up a draft pick, but in this case, it is definitely worth the investment. The Orioles HAVE the money, time to go spend it. At worst we have a 3 year investment for $33-36 million for a player that I think would age well and fits Camden Yards perfectly. All Duquette needs to do is guarantee that third year. The hole that was left with Reynolds power numbers when he left needs to be filled.
That move, plus one more starter, will reverse my opinion of what has currently been a waste of an offseason. While I don't implore the team to spend for the hell of spending, I think this would be a wise investment for the franchise. I don't want to see the team fall back to non-contending like it's been for most of my life. Signing LaRoche should keep them competitive now and in the next few years. To me, a move like this is a no-brainer!
The Yankees added Kevin Youkilis while Boston added Koji, Victorino, and Dempster. Toronto made two blockbuster trades netting Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson, Mark Buerhle, and R.A. Dickey. Even the Rays made their own trade saying goodbye to "Big Game" James Shields and Wade Davis and getting the Minor League Player of the Year, Will Myers. With every team in "win now" mode, it will be extremely difficult for the Orioles to replicate their 2012 success if they stand pat and make no moves.
Personally, there is one player that I think the Orioles would be complete idiots to not get. He currently resides a short way down the beltway. Former Nationals first baseman, Adam LaRoche is sitting out there in free agency. The Nationals are not willing to go past 2 years in a contract offer for him, so they are currently at a stalemate. LaRoche provides that middle of the order presence that the O's need while being a plus defensive first baseman. I read that Duquette was hesitant at the thought of forfeiting a draft pick in order to sign LaRoche. The way I see it, they have no first baseman on the current roster or in the minors that would get the job done. Chris Davis, while great offensively, would not be my choice to start at the position come opening day. I'd much rather him at the DH spot. It's never great to give up a draft pick, but in this case, it is definitely worth the investment. The Orioles HAVE the money, time to go spend it. At worst we have a 3 year investment for $33-36 million for a player that I think would age well and fits Camden Yards perfectly. All Duquette needs to do is guarantee that third year. The hole that was left with Reynolds power numbers when he left needs to be filled.
That move, plus one more starter, will reverse my opinion of what has currently been a waste of an offseason. While I don't implore the team to spend for the hell of spending, I think this would be a wise investment for the franchise. I don't want to see the team fall back to non-contending like it's been for most of my life. Signing LaRoche should keep them competitive now and in the next few years. To me, a move like this is a no-brainer!
Monday, July 2, 2012
D-Train Comes Off The Track For The Final Time
Dontrelle Willis has officially retired. The pitcher with the funky wind-up, otherwise known as D-Train closes the book on his career. Dontrelle's best days came as a member of the Florida/Miami Marlins early on in the major leagues. He had some great years for that franchise. He has a 22-win season to his credit, as well as a ROY award, plus two All-Star selections. He also was on the Marlins team that won the 2003 World Series. Willis most recently pitched for the Triple-A affiliate of the Orioles, Norfolk. It was a good career, spanning nine MLB seasons. Best of luck to Dontrelle in his future endeavors.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Orioles Release Tejada and Moyer
In the span of three days, the Orioles released both Jamie Moyer and Miguel Tejada, both at the request of the players. Roch Kubatko reported the Tejada release on his Twitter. The team had announced the request and release of Moyer on Saturday.
Moyer was lighting it up in Triple-A Norfolk, posting a 1.69 ERA over three starts. He had 16 strikeouts in 16 innings for the Orioles affiliate.
Miguel Tejada was not fairing quite as well in the minors. Also playing for Triple-A Norfolk, Tejada had a slash line of .260/.327/.290. He hit no home runs and drove in 18 runs in 35 games played.
Best of luck to the two of them as they look to continue their careers and make it back to the major leagues!
Moyer was lighting it up in Triple-A Norfolk, posting a 1.69 ERA over three starts. He had 16 strikeouts in 16 innings for the Orioles affiliate.
Miguel Tejada was not fairing quite as well in the minors. Also playing for Triple-A Norfolk, Tejada had a slash line of .260/.327/.290. He hit no home runs and drove in 18 runs in 35 games played.
Best of luck to the two of them as they look to continue their careers and make it back to the major leagues!
Friday, June 8, 2012
Orioles Bring Back Moyer
In a career that has spanned what seems like forever, Jamie Moyer has once again signed on with a major league franchise. The Orioles, one of Moyer's former employers, decided to give the 49-year old pitcher another opportunity. Moyer previously pitched for the team from 1993-95 and compiled a record of 25-27. Before he inked a deal with Colorado this past offseason, the Orioles were the other team that Moyer had narrowed his choice down to.
The career of Jamie Moyer started in 1986 with the Chicago Cubs. As of right now, Moyer has 269 career wins and has an outside shot at 300. If he makes it, he may be the last 300 game-winner to be seen. Due to the specialization of the bullpen, pitchers not going as deep into games, and five-man rotations, 300 victories looks unreachable nowadays.
According to Baseball-Reference, Moyer has finished top-10 in the Cy Young award voting three times in his career. While it's clear that those days are behind him, I still believe Moyer can be a serviceable arm at the major league level. His fastball may not blow hitters away, but he is a crafty pitcher. As of now, he will start in Triple-A tomorrow. Remember, he is coming off of Tommy John surgery, so there may be some good starts up ahead as he completely heals.
I think it's a good move by the Birds. Definitely low-risk, but could potentially pay some dividends. At the worst, he can tutor the young pitching staff. Who better, then a pitcher who has been around 26 years? I can't help but root for this guy. He's a class act!
The career of Jamie Moyer started in 1986 with the Chicago Cubs. As of right now, Moyer has 269 career wins and has an outside shot at 300. If he makes it, he may be the last 300 game-winner to be seen. Due to the specialization of the bullpen, pitchers not going as deep into games, and five-man rotations, 300 victories looks unreachable nowadays.
According to Baseball-Reference, Moyer has finished top-10 in the Cy Young award voting three times in his career. While it's clear that those days are behind him, I still believe Moyer can be a serviceable arm at the major league level. His fastball may not blow hitters away, but he is a crafty pitcher. As of now, he will start in Triple-A tomorrow. Remember, he is coming off of Tommy John surgery, so there may be some good starts up ahead as he completely heals.
I think it's a good move by the Birds. Definitely low-risk, but could potentially pay some dividends. At the worst, he can tutor the young pitching staff. Who better, then a pitcher who has been around 26 years? I can't help but root for this guy. He's a class act!
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Orioles Roster Changes
Amidst the teams recent stuggles, the Orioles have made more adjustments to the major league roster. First off, 3B/1B Mark Reynolds has been activated from the disabled list, replacing pitcher Stu Pomeranz, who suffered a torn oblique. Roch Kubatko also reported, Endy Chavez will rejoin the team and pitcher, Miguel Gonzalez has been summoned from Triple-A Norfolk to the big leagues. As a result, young outfielder Xavier Avery and pitcher Tommy Hunter have been sent down to the minor leagues. Both are going to the Orioles Triple-A affiliate, Norfolk.
Hunter had his worst outing of the year the last night, getting touched up for 6 runs (five earned) and 9 hits over just three innings. With Zach Britton inching closer and closer to returning, Hunter's spot is definitely in jeopardy as the season progresses. Xavier Avery had a good showing for a young player being thrust into the big leagues. Avery still needs to learn to play LF since he is a natural CF.
Next injured players to keep your eyes on for returns are Brian Roberts, Zach Britton, and Nolan Reimold. Hopefully Mark Reynolds can have a power surge to help out Adam Jones and Matt Wieters with the offensive support. I only hope Buck Showalter puts him nowhere near starting at 3B.
Until then, let's hope the O's can snap out of this funk tonight against the Blue Jays as we have more AL East rival games upcoming.
Hunter had his worst outing of the year the last night, getting touched up for 6 runs (five earned) and 9 hits over just three innings. With Zach Britton inching closer and closer to returning, Hunter's spot is definitely in jeopardy as the season progresses. Xavier Avery had a good showing for a young player being thrust into the big leagues. Avery still needs to learn to play LF since he is a natural CF.
Next injured players to keep your eyes on for returns are Brian Roberts, Zach Britton, and Nolan Reimold. Hopefully Mark Reynolds can have a power surge to help out Adam Jones and Matt Wieters with the offensive support. I only hope Buck Showalter puts him nowhere near starting at 3B.
Until then, let's hope the O's can snap out of this funk tonight against the Blue Jays as we have more AL East rival games upcoming.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
