Goodbye

To all who read this blog, I'm leaving this site. I will continue my daily blog about the Baltimore Orioles, but I will now be blogging on camdenclubhouse.com. Check it out. Thanks, I just wanted to let you know what was happening. - John T.

Orioles News - Staying Or Going? (Part Four)

For the next couple of blogs, I will write about a player on the Baltimore Orioles and whether or not I think they will be back next season. The player I will write about today is Daniel Cabrera.

Daniel Cabrera, Starting Pitcher

Wait, is this the insanely inconsistent pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles? The guy who one-hits the New York Yankees on one night, but will come out and give up 6 runs and 7 walks the next? Yep, that's the same guy. He lead the Major League's in losses last year. Sure, he can throw hard, but will he ever get his control down? I can't answer you that, but I can answer the question of: What are the odds that he will be in an Orioles uniform next year? I'm 93% sure that Daniel will be back. I haven't gotten word of any rumors involving him so far. Plus, I think the O's are holding onto him for his potential. He has potential to be great, and has shown flashes of that at times. The O's don't want to give up Cabrera in case he does turn out to be good. I'm through waiting. I want him to leave, but it won't happen this off season. - John T.

Orioles News - David Segui Admits It

So, David Segui admits it. Admits what? Segui, a former Baltimore Oriole, admitted he has taken steroids in the past. He had already admitted to hGH use, but now he said that he has experimented with anabolic steroids. He said that he received them from a former New York Mets clubhouse attendant, Kirk Radomski. Segui became friends with Radomski when he was traded to the Mets from the O's. Kirk was just helping David with nutrition and weightlifting in the beginning. Then David began experimenting with many drugs, such as anabolic steroids and clenbuterol. What? Clenbuterol. It's a drug that supposedly melts body fat. It's on Major League Baseball's banned substance list. But that really doesn't mean anything because Major League Baseball's drug testing is so weak anyway... - John T.

Orioles News - Staying Or Going? (Part Three)

For the next couple of blogs, I will write about a player on the Baltimore Orioles and whether or not I think they will be back next season. The player I will write about today is Adam Loewen.

Adam Loewen, Starting Pitcher

Adam Loewen appears to be a pretty good pitcher. Too bad about last season... What happened last season? Let me fill you in. Loewen was off to a great start, 2-0 with a 3.56 ERA in 6 games. Then, he was injured. He needed season-ending surgery. It was frustrating from an O's fan's point of view. A player who was well on his way to having a breakout year, and he suffers a season ending injury and is forced to undergo surgery. He'll be able to return this year. But, what are the odds that he will still be in an Orioles uniform at the start of next season? There is a 95% chance that Loewen will be in a Baltimore Orioles uniform next season. How do I know this? No trade rumors have really involved him. And, he is happy in Baltimore. So, yeah, he'll be back next year. - John T.

Orioles News - Staying Or Going? (Part Two)

For the next couple of blogs, I will write about a player on the Baltimore Orioles and whether or not I think they will be back next season. The player I will write about today is Jeremy Guthrie.

Jeremy Guthrie, Starting Pitcher

Jeremy Guthrie, a great pitcher with some not-so-great run support. Guthrie is a great pitcher, but it seems every time he goes out to take the mound, the Orioles don't score. But, Guthrie could be the O's future Ace, especially since current Ace Erik Bedard might be traded. So, what are the odds of seeing Guthrie back in an Orioles uniform next year? I'm going to say that there is a 99% chance he will still be on the O's next year. Why? Well, no trade rumors have involved him. That's some convincing evidence, because it's not like the O's are going to release him. - John T.

Orioles News - Staying Or Going?

For the next couple of blogs, I will write about a player on the Baltimore Orioles and whether or not I think they will be back next season. The first player I will do is Erik Bedard.

Erik Bedard, Starting Pitcher

Ahh, Erik Bedard. A possible CY Young candidate late last year before he got injured. He also led all of Major League Baseball in strikeouts before he was injured late last year. So, what are the odds of him still being an Oriole by the start of next season? I'm gonna say 50%. Why? Well, he was trade bait at the Winter Meetings in Nashville, but he still has yet to be traded. Keep in mind that he is signed through 2009. Yes, contract talks with him and his agent have stalled, but I don't see the Orioles giving him up unless they get a very good deal. Which, apparently still hasn't happened because he still plays for Baltimore. Or it could be the fact that the O's are asking too much... Either way, there's a 50-50 shot that Bedard will be a Baltimore Oriole next year. - John T.

Orioles News - Gibbons Suspended - Rule 5 Draft

Baltimore Orioles player Jay Gibbons has been suspended. Gibbons has received a 15 game ban for violating Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Jay’s suspension will start right away at the beginning of the 2008 season.

Also, the O’s have picked Randor Bierd, a right handed reliever. He was taken in the Rule 5 Draft from the Detroit Tigers. Last year in Double A, he struck out more batters then he allowed base runners. The O’s could use a few more relievers like him. Also taken in the Rule 5 Draft was southpaw Ryan Rodriguez, first baseman Tim Brown, and right handed pitcher J.P. Martinez. And, to top it all off, no teams took any of the O’s players in the Draft. Wait, maybe that’s a message: That there is no player in the farm system worth taking… - John T.

Orioles News - Is Roberts Outta Here?

Could Baltimore Oriole second baseman Brian Roberts be leaving Baltimore? Apparently talks between the Orioles and the Chicago Cubs have gotten very serious. The talks have gotten so serious that the O's have actually contacted Rocky Hall, the agent of free agent second baseman Tadahito Iguchi. They have done this to see if Iguchi would be interested in playing for Baltimore, so the O's know they would have an option at second base should Brian Roberts be traded. It could be a three player deal, including a starting pitcher coming to the O's. But, this could be all talk. Roberts is a fan favorite, and owner Peter Angelos has killed deals in the past that would send Roberts to another team. I say that the Orioles should hold onto Brian, unless the deal being offered is too good to pass up. Roberts is a great player, (one of the few good players on the O's), and a fan favorite. Without him, what player would people come to Camden Yards to see? Erik Bedard could likely be traded, and he only plays every 5 days anyway, so what player would put the fans in the stands? Nick Markakis can't do it alone...

Bottom line: Keep Roberts unless the Cubs are giving some top pitching prospects away. - John T.

Orioles News - Most Wanted

Erik Bedard could be Major League Baseball's most wanted. Most wanted pitcher, that is. Yes, Johan Santana is still on the market, but it appears as if only the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees are the remaining candidates. The Yankees appear to be the front runner, though. At the Winter Meetings in Nashville Tennessee, the Baltimore Orioles have apparently had discussions with several teams about Erik Bedard and/or Miguel Tejada. The O's aren't currently negotiating with Bedard and his agent, but the door is still open to go back and sign Bedard to a deal.

Also, catcher Guillermo Quiroz was signed by the Orioles to a Major League contract. He will be the back up for catcher Ramon Hernandez. The O's also met with a few agents of free agent Relievers. - John T.

Orioles News - Great News For O's Fans

There is some great news for Baltimore Orioles fans right now. Slugger Miguel Cabrera has been traded. Cabrera was on the Florida Marlins, and almost every team was focused on getting him. (He was traded to the Detroit Tigers along with Dontrelle Willis as 6 players were sent to the Marlins.) Now that he is off the market, that means that Miguel Tejada could very well be the best 3rd baseman on the market. (Miggi has said he will play 3rd base, just for a winning team.) That means that the O's will be getting more interest in Tejada now, and they can hopefully pull off a deal soon an the Winter Meetings in Nashville Tennessee. Great news for the Orioles and their fans. - John T.

Orioles News - Not Again...

Why? Why can't the Baltimore Orioles stop scaring teams away? The O's have had several teams that have had interest in Miguel Tejada, but the Orioles have scared away most of those teams. Don't believe me? Then look at this: The O's have mainly been asking for two high-level prospects from teams that have had interest in Tejada. The Orioles scared away the St. Louis Cardinals, the San Fransisco Giants (They didn't want to give up either of their two top pitching prospects), and many more teams. Can't the O's just settle for one high-level prospect and a lower prospect too? Honestly, what team would give up two high-level prospects for an aging shortstop who has declining range and isn't all that great in the field? Not to mention that Miggi has 26 million dollars left on his contract over two years, and the fact that his power is declining too... It's upsetting when another team has interest in a player you NEED to get rid of and you scare them away. (Sigh.) - John T.

Orioles News - Winter Meetings

A slight change has been made to my blog. I will no longer put yesterdays date in the title, a habit that was useful during the season when the O's were still playing games. From now on, my blogs will not include a date in the title.

For all of Major League Baseball, the Winter Meetings will begin Monday in Nashville, Tennessee. So, what are these Winter Meetings? It's where GM's and top executives from all of the Major League teams go and talk baseball. They talk about trades, rumors, etc. So, which Baltimore Orioles players could be moving? Well, Andy MacPhail has said that no Orioles player is untouchable, but there are a few leading candidates to go. Disgruntled Oriole Miguel Tejada will probably be traded at the meetings. Ace Erik Bedard could also be traded. Several teams have offered good packages for him, and since contract negotiations between his agent and the O's have stalled, it is more reason to believe that he will be dealt. Also, Aubrey Huff, Jay Payton, Ramon Hernandez, and Melvin Mora could also be traded. What will the O's be looking for in return? The Orioles will most likely try to add a few relievers. The O's had their worst bullpen ERA in franchise history last year. Plus, Dany Baez and Chris Ray will be out for most of this year, leaving the O's short two more relievers. The O's will probably try to add some young arms. That's a good start... - John T.

Orioles News - 11/30/07 - Arbitration Deadline Approaches

As the arbitration deadline looms, it is appearing more and more likely that the Baltimore Orioles will not offer any of their free agents arbitration. The arbitration deadline is at 11:59 P.M. ET on today, Saturday. The O's aren't likely to receive any compensation draft picks for their free agents leaving. A main reason for this is that none of the Orioles free agents are ranked as Type A or Type B free agents. So, whats that mean? It means that the O's aren't losing any great players, so they won't get a free compensation draft pick. It is true, the O's really aren't losing anyone big. Their biggest loss to free agency will be Center Fielder Corey Patterson. Patterson had speed and could field very well, but he couldn't hit all that well. It won't be a huge loss, so the Orioles won't get compensation. Oh well. I guess that's a good thing... - John T.