Orioles News - 10/30/07 - Ripken's Tour

Happy Halloween! Well, now that I've got that out of my way, I can speak some baseball. Baltimore Orioles baseball, that is. To be more specific, I can speak about Cal Ripken Jr. and what he is doing China. I'll do just that.

Longtime Baltimore Oriole Cal Ripken Jr. is in China right now. Not as a coach or manager in a Chinese League, but as a special envoy for the State Department. He is attempting to get the Chinese youth more into baseball. This way, in a few years, everyone will know baseball and hopefully want to play it. This in turn will produce more Chinese baseball players and grow the market for Major League Baseball in China. There's not much more information right now about the trip that is available. But, from what I could tell, the trip is going well. - John T.

Orioles News - 10/29/07 - First Base Coach Named - Special Assistant Named

The Baltimore Orioles named John Shelby to the position of first base coach today. Finally. It had took long enough. O's manager Dave Trembley hired Shelby, who was on the Orioles 1983 world series team. Good idea from Trembley here, as he is reaching out to former players who were a part of winning teams. Good thinking. Even more good thinking: Trembley has been calling upon former Orioles to join his coaching staff. That's a great idea because they had been in the organization for years as players. Several were also fan favorites as players. You can't go wrong with that. If the fans liked someone as a player, they'll like him as a coach too. Great call. This move filled one of the two vacancies on the coaching staff that were left.

In more Orioles news, Andy MacPhail has hired his nephew, Lee MacPhail IV, as a special assistant. Andy is still looking for a top assistant to replace Jim Duquette, who resigned earlier this month.

That's all for today, check back in tomorrow for more Baltimore Orioles news. - John T.

Orioles News - 10/28/07 - Birkins Claimed Off Waivers

Left handed pitcher Kurt Birkins has been claimed by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays off of waivers that the Baltimore Orioles placed him on. This reduced the amount of players on the O's roster to 39, one less then the limit of 40. Birkins wasn't a huge loss for Baltimore. If you look at his stats, he wasn't great. He wasn't even mediocre really... He was drafted in the 33rd round in 2000, and in his major league career for the Orioles, he went 6-4. Nice record. But the ERA... That's where it goes down hill. A 6.61 ERA. Ouch. That's not good. That's actually pretty bad. - John T.

Orioles News - 10/27/07 - Iron Man Is Headed For China

Longtime Baltimore Orioles great Cal Ripken Jr. is headed to China. What is he doing in China? He will go on a 10 day tour through China teaching baseball to the Chinese youth and coaches. What he does to teach baseball to the youth will be similar to what he does in Aberdeen. He will set up skill clinics just like he does in Aberdeen for the Cal Ripken Jr. baseball camps. Cal will leave for China today, and arrive on Monday. On Tuesday he will host two baseball clinics with the youth. On Wednesday, Cal will host two more baseball clinics for the young and a coaching clinic too. On Friday he will have a meeting with the Chinese Baseball Association followed by two more clinics. He will have a clinic with kids and a clinic with coaches on Saturday. On November 4th, there will be a coaching clinic held. On November 5th, Cal will host two clinics and meet with the Chinese Baseball Association. On Tuesday, November 6th he will go the airport and depart home after a long trip of helping out the youth. - John T.

Orioles News - 10/26/07 - Radio Ratings Up

Even though the Baltimore Orioles attendance is dropping, the O's radio ratings went up. The younger male audience ratings, which is considered to be the most wanted, went from a 3.6 share in 2006 to a 7.7 share in 2007. As a matter of fact, every single division of the O's listeners went up. Some even doubled their old shares from 2006 to 2007. Why the sudden increase? A big reason for this is he fact that the Orioles changed radio stations in 2007. The O's games used to be broadcast on WBAL, which is an AM station. Last year, the Orioles switched to WHFS, which is an FM station. That is the most likely cause of the Orioles increase in radio ratings, because it's not like Baltimore is winning a lot of games... - John T.

Orioles News - 10/25/07 - How Are The Prospects Doing?

How are some of the Baltimore Orioles' prospects doing right now? In the Hawaii League, several players are doing and well and a few are doing not so well. The same can be said of the Arizona Fall League.

The good first.

First round draft choice Matt Wieters and former first round pick Brandon Snyder are doing great so far. Wieters is hitting .273 so far, along with a .379 on-base percentage. He has walked 9 times in his first 16 games. Nice numbers there. Snyder isn't playing a whole lot but when he plays, he puts up numbers. He is now hitting .370 with a .404 on-base percentage and a .565 slugging percentage. Great numbers for him, and I hope they can both keep it up.

So now that I've showed you some good players, you might be thinking, "Maybe there is hope." Well, after seeing these players, your mindset might change - for the worse.

Hayden Penn, a pitcher, has done poorly so far this season. He has a 13.50 ERA through his first three starts. In those starts, he has lasted 6 total innings. He has struck out 10 batters so far, but that means nothing if he keeps giving up large amounts of runs. Also, Jeff Fiorentino, an outfielder, has done badly. And I mean badly. He is hitting .091 on the year. He has whiffed 8 times so far too. Ouch. That's not what we need. - John T.

Orioles News - 10/24/07 - Goodbye Etch, 3 Others Also Gone - Who's The 1st Base Coach?

Goodbye Andy Etchebarren, Doc Watson, Tom Lawless, and Bien Figueroa. Right now your probably saying, "Who?" Andy Etchebarren, the manager of the Aberdeen Ironbirds, a Baltimore Orioles Single A minor league affiliate. Doc Watson was the minor league pitching coach and Tom Lawless was the infield and base running instructor. Bien Figueroa was formerly the manager of the O's Double A minor league team, Bowie. They were all fired and it appears Etch took it the worst. He was obviously upset. In his days as manager of the Ironbirds, he compiled a 102-124 record. He had been a coach or manager for the Baltimore Orioles franchise for the last 15 years. Adios Etch.

The O's have until 10 days after the World Series to decide on whether or not to pick up the option on Pitcher Kris Benson. It shouldn't take that long, as Benson should be outta here.

Who will be the 1st base coach for the O's next season? There's no word yet, but former Orioles catcher Chris Hoiles still remains a candidate for the vacancy at first base coach.

That's all for today, check back here tomorrow for more Orioles news. - John T.

Orioles News - 10/23/07 - Two Players Come Up From Minors, Five Taken Off DL

Well, it's official. The Baltimore Orioles took two players up from the minors yesterday, and took 5 players off of the Disabled List to bring their amount of players on their roster to the limit of 40. The players who came up were right handed pitcher Fredy Deza and right handed pitcher Bob McCrory. They both came up from Double A Bowie.

Also, five players came off of the 60 day Disabled List. Those players were pitcher Erik Bedard, pitcher Kris Benson, pitcher Adam Loewen, closer Chris Ray, and Outfielder Jay Gibbons. My first thought: Kris Benson is still here? My second thought: If Gibbons took steroids, why is he still on the team? Weren't the O's going to release him after it was found that he used steroids? It appears the O's were all talk and no walk. Ain't that the story of the last 10 years? - John T.

Orioles News - 10/22/07 - Surhoff Declines Offer

It was an offer he could refuse. I'm talking about B.J. Surhoff, a former player, who was offered a job as a coach for the Baltimore Orioles. He declined the offer, probably because he wants to spend time with family. He has been gone from his family all throughout his playing career, so it would make sense for him to want to stay with his family. But if he had said yes, it would have been a great sign. Surhoff played outfield, 1st base, 3rd base, and was drafted as a catcher. He was also a good hitter. Now that would have been a great addition. A coach who did it all as a player. Maybe he'll want to come in a few years. It was a great idea from Dave Trembley though. He was going after a great player who would have been a great coach. Great job thinking outside of the box there. We are going to need that if we want to compete. - John T.

Orioles News - 10/21/07 - Was Millar Wrong?

Before you call out Kevin Millar of the Baltimore Orioles for last night first know the facts. Millar was at Game 7 of the American League Championship Series in Boston to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Was he fine in this move? Or was he in the wrong? To me, he was wrong. Boston is a hated division rival and though he played for them when they won the World Series in 2004, he is not a player on their team any more and therefore should not be doing things like this. To me, this move shows that he still wants play in Boston, even if it's only a little desire. If he didn't want to play for Boston anymore, he wouldn't be there to throw out the first pitch. So, the long and short of it all was that Millar went to a hated division rival and threw out the first pitch and cheered them on. You play for Baltimore so you should support Baltimore. You shouldn't be showing support for a team in which Oriole fans hate. Millar was way out of bounds with this move. - John T.

Orioles News - 10/20/07 - How Much Is The Orioles Franchise Worth?

You may want to sit down for this one, because it should come as a shock.

The Baltimore Orioles' franchise is worth roughly 395 million dollars as estimated by Forbes. Yes, 395 million dollars. Wait - This is the Orioles who had their 2nd lowest average attendance at Camden Yards last year, correct? And the O's who have had 10 straight losing seasons? Yes and yes. It's hard to believe, I know, but a main reason is because of MASN. The Mid Atlantic Sports Network, which is 90% owned by the team, is worth about another 400 million dollars at least. That's a main reason that the Orioles' franchise is worth that much money. Also, the O's are worth that much because of their stadium. Since it is a top ballpark, it increases the value of the team. But, 395 million dollars? Hey Peter Angelos, there's never been a better time to sell... - John T.

Orioles News - 10/19/07 - Who Will Close Next Season?

Since the Baltimore Orioles' season is over, the main personnel is focusing on next year. A major question is: Who will be the O's closer next season? Our real closer, Chris Ray, will be out most of next season after having Tommy John Surgery. So, who else? Not reliever Dany Baez (who took over once Ray got hurt earlier in the year), because he too is having Tommy John Surgery. So who will it be? Chad Bradford? Jamie Walker? Or someone else that the O's sign or trade for this off season? My money is on a new closer that will come in via trade or free agency. Why? Well, Chad Bradford is one of our few good relievers, so Baltimore will keep him as a reliever simply because they really don't have many more good relievers. The same can be said about Jamie Walker. He is a top reliever for Baltimore and when your relievers are that thin, you need to protect what few relievers you have. So look for a new closer to come into town via trade or free agency. Otherwise, we might be in trouble. - John T.

Orioles News - 10/18/07 - O's Send Players To Minors

The Baltimore Orioles sent 3 players to the minor leagues yesterday. They were all sent to Triple-A Norfolk. The players who got sent down were Eider Torres and Val Majewski and Adam Stern. Torres is an infielder but Majewski and Stern are outfielders. This leaves the O's with 33 players on their roster, though they do have 5 players on the Disabled List.

There is more news on Pitching Coach Rick Kranitz. His deal is believed to be a 1 year deal. The official terms of his contract were not released. This will mean that Rick's contract will expire at the same time as several other coaches. Hopefully he won't be going anywhere... - John T.

Orioles News - 10/17/07 - Odds Of Re-Signing Corey Patterson

What are the O’s odds of re-signing free-agent to be center fielder Corey Patterson? Though Corey is a great defensive player, but he isn’t great at hitting. He’s a good base-stealing threat but other then that, he is poor on offense. And with other free agent center fielders such as Torii Hunter and Andruw Jones, Patterson will be over looked by many teams. Patterson has been around for 8 seasons, (not full seasons) so teams know what they can expect from him if they have interest in signing him. But what about his asking price? Well, his price he’s asking for will likely be more then he is truly worth, and with other stars on the market like Hunter and Jones, there will probably be little interest in Corey. He’ll probably find out that no one will meet his asking price, and he’ll reduce his offer to an amount where more teams show interest in him. So unless his asking price is low, the Orioles are not likely to re-sign him. – John T.

Orioles News - 10/16/07 - Kranitz Named Pitching Coach

The Baltimore Orioles named Rick Kranitz pitching coach, a move that should pay off for the O's immediately. Kranitz spent 22 years in the Chicago Cub's organization. When he was there, he spent time with Dave Trembley (The Orioles current manager) and Andy MacPhail who is Baltimore's president of baseball operations. He also worked with bullpen coach Alan Dunn. His experience with these people was a big reason that he was hired. Besides the fact that he was named Baseball America's 2006 Major League Coach Of The Year. And the fact that he took a very young Florida Marlin's pitching staff to the 5th best ERA in the National League. And that in 2007 he led the Marlins bullpen to their 3rd best ERA in team history. But this all comes with an extra advantage: Since he worked with all of these men when he was with the Cub's organization, he has chemistry with all of these men. If he's already got chemistry with them, that is a huge advantage over another coach who would have to build up their chemistry with the team first. Maybe we will have a decent pitching staff this year.... - John T.

Orioles News - 10/15/07 - O's Claim Pitcher From Cubs

The Baltimore Orioles claimed pitcher Roberto Novoa (Above with Chicago) off of waivers from the Chicago Cubs. Novoa spent all of the 2007 season on the disabled list after suffering a right humeral head fracture in spring training. Wow. That shows how cruel Major League Baseball can be. Suffer a fracture in your head, and your canned by the team. Ouch. Roberto has a 7-7 career record with a 4.51 ERA. This was in 131 relief appearances. All in all, not a bad pick up. But after suffering an injury such as a fracture in your head, some pitchers are never the same...

Orioles News - 10/14/07 - New Video Board Coming

The Baltimore Orioles and Maryland Stadium Authority have reached an agreement that will replace the video and audio systems at Camden Yards. It will cost 9 million dollars. This deal was made as the Orioles and MSA can now avoid arbitration. Under this deal, Stadium Authority will pay 3.75 million dollars for a larger, high definition scoreboard and screen. The O's will pay for improvements like a revamped scoreboard for the out-of-town games and a new audio system. Hmmm. Looks like that could be the Orioles biggest off season pick up. (No pun intended.)

Also, the O's announced that pro scout Jim Howard is now an advance scout. This job was formerly Deacon Jones' job.

That's all for today, check back here tomorrow for more O's news. - John T.

Orioles News - 10/13/07 - Crowley Will Stay As Hitting Coach

The Baltimore Orioles announced that hitting coach Terry Crowley will return next year for his 10th straight season as Baltimore's hitting coach. Terry is the only person on Baltimore's staff who was with the Major League team at the beginning of 2006. Now that's an overhaul.

The O's didn't make much more progress in their search for a new pitching coach today. They are, however, expected to make an offer to Rick Kranitz soon for the vacant pitching coach job. Kranitz interviewed with the Seattle Mariners for a job there, and could be a candidate for a job with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

A little bit of sad information: Alex Rodriguez could get a contract at the end of the season. What he's seeking: The rumor is that it could be a 12 year, 360 million dollar contract. That's 1 million dollars more then the entire Baltimore Orioles franchise's estimated worth. That's what's wrong with baseball. - John T.

Orioles News - 10/12/07 - More On Mazzone's Firing - 3 Players Opt For Free Agency

Leo Mazzone, the Baltimore Orioles' pitching coach, was fired yesterday. I put that information in my last blog, but more information has come up. A possible replacement, (If he wants the job), is Rick Kranitz. Rick led the Florida Marlins young pitching staff to the 5th best ERA in the National League in 2006. Mazzone was going to take us there and higher right? Wrong. Under Leo, the Orioles had the 29th worst ERA in the League for 2 straight years, both his years in Baltimore. It wasn't hard to tell he was going to leave after longtime friend Sam Perlozzo was fired earlier this year.

Also, 3 O's decided to opt for free agency. The players that chose this are pitcher Rob Bell, pitcher Victor Santos, and Catcher J.R. House. Not big losses there, but with a bullpen that thin.... - John T.

Orioles News - 10/11/07 - Looking At The Daniel Cabrera Situation - Leo Mazzone fired

Now that the Baltimore Orioles season is over, one of the many questions on every one's mind is this: Should Daniel Cabrera leave or at least head to the bullpen? I will answer that question today.

Should Daniel Cabrera Leave Baltimore Or At Least Head To The Bullpen?

By now we all probably know the situation. Daniel Cabrera has been inconsistent in his short MLB career so far, dominating the strike zone one night, and missing the strike zone a lot the next night. So what should Baltimore do? Should he be traded while he still has a little value? Or should he be released? Should he move to the Bullpen? Or should he get another chance as a Starter in Baltimore?

I say see you later. Why hang onto him for another year, hoping for him to show his once-promising form again, only to be disappointed when he leads the league in losses or walks again? Why waste more time? After 4 frustrating seasons, it's time to be shown the door. Place him on the market just to see if any team wants to make a deal for him, but if not, then release him. It's been too long. After a career in which he has walked 388 batters, Cabrera should be outta here. So Danny, thanks for the memories. Even though most were bad memories.

In more Baltimore Orioles news, pitching coach Leo Mazzone was fired. With the way the O's pitching was, is this a surprise? Not to me... It appears that the front-runner for pitching coach is Alan Dunn. Manager Dave Trembley worked with Dunn in the Chicago Cubs organization. With that said, I'm out... - John T.

Orioles News - 10/10/07 - Looking At The Miguel Tejada Situation

Now that the Baltimore Orioles season is over, some of the many questions on every one's mind are these: Should Miguel Tejada leave or at least move to 3rd base? Should Daniel Cabrera leave or at least head to the bullpen? Today I will answer the first question, Should Miguel Tejada leave or at least move to 3rd base? The other question will be answered in the coming day.

Should Miguel Tejada Leave Baltimore Or At Least Move To 3rd Base?

This is certainly a big issue for the Baltimore Orioles this off season. Tejada has said he doesn't want to play 3rd base and that he would rather be traded to a team that would let him continue playing Shortstop. He has also complained about playing for Baltimore in the past few years because he doesn't think Baltimore is a winner. He's right on that part. The O's aren't a winning team. But does he have a point? Should we trade him to a team that would play him at Shortstop? But who will play him at shortstop? His defense is declining as he made 15 errors last year. Yes, 15. And he believes a team would want him playing Shortstop? My take: Miggi, you have helped this team in past years but unless you change your mind and decide that you wouldn't mind playing 3rd base or designated hitter, then thanks for the memories. Your not the player you were a few years ago, and it's obvious that your play is declining. Unless you change your mind, your likely to find out that not a whole lot of teams want you at Shortstop. Your going to have to find this out the hard way. You need to face the facts: your defense is declining and so is your hitting. There is not a huge market for players like you. Sure, some desperate team might make a deal with the Orioles for you but we all know that you can't get the job done. Admit you can't do it anymore and take whats left of your dignity and go to 3rd base. Otherwise, thanks for the memories. - John T.

Orioles News - 10/9/07 - Changes The O's Need To Make To Compete

Now that the Baltimore Orioles season is over, some of the many questions on every one's mind are these: What changes do the O's need to make to compete? Should Miguel Tejada leave or at least move to 3rd base? Should Daniel Cabrera leave or at least head to the bullpen? Today I will answer the first question, What changes do the O's need to make to compete? The rest will be answered in the coming days.

What Off Season Changes Do the Baltimore Orioles Need to Make to Compete?

The Baltimore Orioles off season checklist should look like this:

1. Relievers.

2. A good, middle-of-the-order hitter.

3. Starting pitchers.

Why is getting relievers ranked first? Well, reliever Dany Baez will most likely be out for all of 2008 with an arm injury that will require Tommy John Surgery. Not that he was all that great. He was 0-6 with a 6.44 ERA. He won't be missed by me. But, closer Chris Ray is also expected to be out for all of next year as he is having Tommy John Surgery too. Reliever Jamie Walker and Chad Bradford were good this year, but other then that, Baltimore didn't really have any good relievers. With two more arms gone from the bullpen, we need more relievers.

Why is a good, middle-of-the-order hitter a need? Well, the O's scored 756 runs last year, but the pitching gave up the 3rd most runs in all of baseball. Your not going to win a lot of games when your being outscored like that. Plus, this move would take pressure off of Miguel Tejada and Nick Markakis, because they would know they have a great hitter coming up behind them.

Why are starting pitchers a need? They are because our rotation has only 1 proven pitcher, Erik Bedard. Yes, Jeremy Guthrie is good but he was a rookie last year, and he'll need another good year to prove himself. Adam Loewen is good but who knows how he'll be after coming off major surgery. Other then that, we don't have any good pitchers for our rotation. We have young pitchers but they're just that: Young. And young pitchers means inexperienced pitchers. The O's need to pick up at least 1 veteran starter to help out the rotation and the younger players.

Coming tomorrow: Should Miguel Tejada Leave The Orioles Or At Least Move To 3rd base? - John T.

Orioles News - 10/8/07 - Looking At The O's Pitching In 2008

Now that the Baltimore Orioles season is over, some of the many questions on every one's mind are these: What will the Orioles' pitching rotation look like in 2008? What changes do the O's need to make to compete? Should Miguel Tejada leave or at least move to 3rd base? Should Daniel Cabrera leave or at least head to the bullpen? Today I will answer the first question, What will the Orioles' pitching rotation look like in 2008? The rest will be answered in the coming days.

What Will the Baltimore Orioles Pitching Rotation Look Like in 2008?

The O's pitching staff is one of the worst in the league, a fact that's not likely to change this year. But, with some key off season moves, the Orioles could have a chance at a mediocre pitching staff. Don't believe me? I'm not surprised considering the fact the Orioles pitching was ranked 2nd to last in ERA last year. But, the foundation has been laid. With left hander Erik Bedard as our ace of the present and future, the number one spot in the rotation is securely held down. Now comes number two. This will be close, as right hander Jeremy Guthrie and left hander Adam Loewen are likely to be duking it out for the number two spot. The runner up will likely take the third spot. Then there's the fourth and fifth spots up for grabs. It is unclear whether Daniel Cabrera will get a spot in the rotation after 4 frustrating seasons in Baltimore. If he does, it's likely that he does because of a lack of other good pitchers. There's also Kris Benson, the pitcher who was on the Disabled List all season. He could get a spot in the rotation once he comes back from injury. Throw in Radhames Liz, Garrett Olson, and Brian Burres and there is a 5 man battle for two spots in the rotation. It should be interesting during spring training...

Coming tomorrow: What Changes Do the O's Need to Make to Compete? - John T.

Orioles News - 10/7/07 - Looking forward to 2008

Now that the Baltimore Orioles season is over, some of the many questions on every one's mind are these: What will the O's everyday lineup look like in 2008? What will the Orioles' pitching rotation look like in 2008? What changes do the O's need to make to compete? Should Miguel Tejada leave or at least move to 3rd base? Should Daniel Cabrera leave or at least head to the bullpen? Today I will answer the first question, What will the O's lineup look like in 2008? The rest will be answered in the coming days.

What Will the Baltimore Orioles Lineup Look Like in 2008?

With Brian Roberts locked down in a contract, his place at second base is secure. Unfortunately, that's about the only spot that's secure in the Baltimore infield. Shortstop Miguel Tejada is unhappy and is likely on his way out of Baltimore. The O's want him to move to 3rd base, but Tejada is not going willingly as he has said that he would rather be traded to another team and continue playing shortstop. There's not much more certainty at 3rd base either as Melvin Mora's play has declined and Scott Moore is waiting in the wings to play. As for 1st base, Kevin Millar has played well but is obviously not the long-term answer. The catcher position is currently held by Ramon Hernandez, and it appears as if he will continue to hold that position. Now on to the outfield. Center fielder Corey Patterson is eligble for free agency this year, and it's not clear yet whether Baltimore will bring him back. The free agent pool is weak this year, so I think it would be wise to bring him back. In right field, Nick Markakis is holding down that spot and will continue to for years. Left field is a different story. Jay Payton wasn't spectacular and left field has been a weakness for years. That will probably continue this year unless the Orioles pull off a move to bring in someone new.

Coming tomorrow: What Will the Orioles Pitching Rotation Look Like in 2008? - John T.

Orioles News - 10/6/07 - Looking back at 2007

For the final part of the Baltimore Orioles season wrap-up, I will look back at the 2007 season and analyze some stats. This is going to hurt...

• The Baltimore Orioles gave up a total of 868 earned runs all year. That means the Orioles opponent's averaged over 5 earned runs per game. That is pathetic. How are you supposed to win when your giving up that many runs? This Baltimore team is not built for slug fests, as you can see below...
• The O's average 4 runs per game total. That's including un-earned runs too. So, if the Orioles pitching allows 5 runs per game, and the Orioles average only 4 runs per game, then you can see that the Orioles are being outscored, which means more losses for Baltimore. Sad.
• Baltimore's team ERA: 5.17. That's second-worst in the Majors, with only the Tampa Bay Devil Rays having a higher team ERA. Ouch.
• The Orioles hit only 142 home runs last year, which ranks them 23rd out of 30 teams. Camden Yards is a hitter park, one where the Orioles should be blasting many more homers.
• Baltimore walked 696 batters, the most in baseball.
• Roughly 1/6 of those walks came from Daniel Cabrera. And he's supposed to be our "future ace." Riiiiiiiight.

I'll leave you with that. - John T.

Orioles News - 10/5/07 - Grading the Position Players in 2007

As a part of the 2007 season wrap-up for the Baltimore Orioles, I will grade the Orioles position players. Here are my grades. (Note: Players who finished the year on the disabled list or not with the team are not included.)

Grading the Baltimore Orioles Position Players in 2007:

Player: Grade: Key Stat:
Nick Markakis A .300 batting average.
Tike Redman B More triples then 11 players.
Miguel Tejada C 15 errors at Shortstop. Time to move?
Luis Hernandez C+ Drew only 1 walk.
Brian Roberts B 50 stolen bases.
Aubrey Huff C- Only 15 homers.
Melvin Mora C- 10 errors. Time to leave?
Corey Patterson C- 37 stolen bases, but otherwise a bad year.
Freddie Bynum C Didn't get a whole lot of chances.
Ramon Hernandez D+ Only 9 home runs.
Jay Payton D+ .256 batting average.
Scott Moore D .260 on base average.
Kevin Millar C+ 2nd highest on base average on the team.
Paul Bako D+ 1 homer in 156 at-bats.
Brandon Fahey F 9 hits in 54 at-bats.

Wow. That is bad hitting. I gave out one "A". You can't compete if you can't score...

Coming tomorrow: The Final Part of the 2007 Season Wrap-Up: Looking Back at 2007. - John T.

Orioles News - 10/4/07 - Grading the Pitching in 2007

As a part of the 2007 season wrap-up for the Baltimore Orioles, I will grade the Orioles pitching. Some pitchers were good, but most were bad. Here are my grades. (Note: Players who finished the year injured are not included, with an exception of Erik Bedard.)

Grading the Baltimore Orioles' Pitching in 2007:

Pitcher: Grade: Key Stat:
Erik Bedard A 3.16 ERA in 182 innings
Jamie Walker B+ 81 games
Chad Bradford B 1 homer allowed all season
Jeremy Guthrie A- 175 1/3 innings for the rookie
John Parrish C+ 33 walks
Daniel Cabrera F 18 losses
Rob Bell C- 5.94 ERA
Brian Burres C- More hits then innings pitched
Dany Baez F 0-6 with a 6.44 ERA
Radhames Liz D Walks: 23. Innings pitched: 24.
Fernando Cabrera F 7.21 ERA
Jim Hoey D- 7.30 ERA
Jon Leicester D- More hits then innings pitched
Rocky Cherry F 7.71 ERA
Garrett Olson F 28 Earned runs
Kurt Birkins F 8.13 ERA
Victor Santos D- 5 homers allowed in 4 games

In other Baltimore Orioles news, executive Jim Duquette resigned. He has been with the team since October 2005. So long Jim.

Coming tomorrow: Grading the Baltimore Orioles position players in 2007. - John T.

Orioles News - 10/3/07 - Worst of the 2007 Season

As a part of the 2007 season wrap-up for the Baltimore Orioles, I will write about the Orioles worst moment and worst players of 2007. (And believe me, there were plenty of moments and players to choose from.)

Worst Moment in the 2007 Season:

It was one game, but it was a terrible game. The Orioles allowed 30 runs to the Texas Rangers on August 22 to lose, 30-3. The Rangers had 29 total hits, with every starter getting at least 1 hit, with one player collecting 5 hits. The Ranger's 8th and 9th hitters drove in 7 runs each!!! Each!!! That's 14 runs the Orioles gave up to a total of 2 players! That's terrible. But then again, it's fitting because the Orioles' season was terrible too....

Worst Oriole of 2007:

This dubious award goes to... Daniel Cabrera in a close race against Dany Baez! Cabrera, the frustrating flame thrower, had 18 losses this season, leading the Majors in that category. He also had a 5.55 ERA, gave up 126 earned runs, and 207 hits. Daniel led the league in walks too, with 108. He gave up 25 homers, the most on the entire O's roster. Well, every body's good at something. Unfortunately, Cabrera is good at helping the other team.

Runner Up:

Dany Baez. He was signed to a 3 year, 19 million dollar contract this off season to help out our bullpen. Well, he certainly didn't help Baltimore. Baez went 0-6 with a 6.44 ERA, in 53 games. He gave up 36 earned runs, and walked 29 batters while allowing 50 hits. Now you tell me, is Dany Baez really worth a 19 million dollar contract?

Coming tomorrow: Grading the Orioles Pitching in 2007. - John T.

Orioles News - 10/2/07 - Best of the 2007 season

As a part of the 2007 season wrap-up for the Baltimore Orioles, I will write about the Orioles best moment and best players of 2007.

Best Moment in the 2007 Season:

There were few great moments for the Orioles in 2007, but this one really stands out.

- Aubrey Huff hitting for the cycle. This was on June 27, as Aubrey hit for the cycle against the Los Angeles Angels. He began with a triple, his 1,000th hit, followed by a double, his 200th of his career, and then he homered. Only a single to go... And... Huff hit the single he needed, a bloop hit that gave him the cycle! He was the first Oriole to hit for the cycle at home. And what a game! His 1000th hit, his 200th double, and the cycle all in one day! Amazing.

Best Oriole of 2007:

There is 1 player that deserves this award the most. Here he is:

Nick Markakis, Right fielder, Baltimore Orioles, Number 21. That's what his bio says. They forgot to mention "Savior of the Baltimore Orioles." Nick Markakis has provided hope in another losing season. He has given fans hope for the future, that maybe, just maybe, he will be able to one day carry this team on his shoulders out of the cellar in the AL East, and into the playoffs. So by now your probably saying "Yeah right, fat chance." But just look at his stats. He hit .300 with 23 home runs and 112 RBI's this season. And he's only in his 2nd year, as he blew the sophomore jinx theory away with those stats. If these are his stats for his 2nd year, just imagine his stats in his prime...

Runner up:

Erik Bedard. He had a great year, going 13-5 with a 3.16 ERA and 221 strikeouts. He would have had even more impressive stats had it not been for an oblique injury that sidelined him towards the end of the season. He probably would have led the league in strikeouts too, had it not been for that injury. He is still a Cy Young award candidate, but his chances are slim due to him not playing late in the year. Oh well, there's always next year...

Baltimore Orioles Rookie Of the Year:

There's really no question about it. It has to be pitcher Jeremy Guthrie. Guthrie did good, finishing with a 7-5 record and a 3.70 ERA. In 26 starts, that is. Yes, 26 starts. That means Guthrie had 14 no-decisions. Those no-decisions are due mainly to poor run support. Guthrie, like Bedard, got hurt towards the end of the season but still came back to pitch one final game before the season ended. As of right now, he is still a possible Rookie Of the Year candidate, though his chances were hurt by his injury.

Coming tomorrow: The worst of the 2007 season. - John T.

Orioles News - 10/1/07 - 2007 season in review

This blog will be about the Baltimore Orioles 2007 season in review.

Season-changing moment:

Firing manager Sam Perlozzo and hiring Dave Trembley. This was key as the team did great when Trembley was the interim manager, but the same night that it was announced he became the Orioles' official manager, August 22, Baltimore lost to the Texas Rangers 30-3. That was a major turning point in the 2007 season as the O's would lose 8 straight after that and be stuck in a slump for the rest of the season.

What was good:

There were few things that were good, but I would say that Nick Markakis' season was the best thing for the Orioles this year. Markakis led the team in doubles (43), home runs (23), and RBI's (112). He also led the team with a .300 batting average. That's great because this shows that maybe, just maybe, the Orioles do have some good, young players that could help them win. But, I'll go into the subject of good moments in the 2007 season more tomorrow...

What was bad:

Just about everything. But to pick one main thing, I would say that injuries tore the team up. Adam Loewen, Jaret Wright, Kris Benson, and Chris Ray all suffered season ending injuries, with most of the injuries coming at the beginning of the year. Not to mention Miguel Tejada and Ramon Hernandez getting hurt... But, I will have more about the bad moments of the 2007 season in a few days...

In more Baltimore Orioles' news, pitchers Jaret Wright and Victor Zambrano were released by the team. Zambrano had a 8.76 ERA in 12 1/3 innings pitched and 11 walks during his stay in Baltimore. He won't be missed.

Coming tomorrow: The Best Moments Of The Baltimore Orioles 2007 Season. - John T.

Orioles News - 9/30/07 - Season ends in loss

It was a long, bumpy ride but now it's over. It ended on a sour note, but then again, the Orioles' season wasn't exactly sweet. The Baltimore Orioles lost yesterday, 10-4 to the New York Yankees to end their season. It was a bad season, as the Orioles didn't even hit 70 wins. Baltimore extended their streak of 10 straight losing seasons. Not a good streak, but a streak that could be turned around... But I'll have more about that in the coming days...

This game was a typical example of how the O's season has gone. Bad pitching, combined with poor hitting, and it's another loss. Want to see how bad the pitching was yesterday? Starter Brian Burres went 3 1/3 innings, giving up 9 hits, and allowing 6 earned runs. And it's not like reliever Victor Zambrano provided much relief as he gave up 3 earned runs and walked 4 in 1 inning. Looks like the bullpen will be a top concern this offseason...Again. But, I'll have more about that in the coming days...

The Orioles hitting was poor too, as the Orioles loaded the bases with no outs in the 4th inning, yet came away with only 1 run. Kevin Millar, Scott Moore, and J.R. House also drove in runs, but it wasn't nearly enough.

In other news, Right fielder Nick Markakis was named Most Valuable Oriole. Congratulations to him, but we need many more players like him to ever compete.

Coming tomorrow: The Baltimore Orioles 2007 Season in Review. - John T.