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 - 11/28/07 - Mora In The Outfield?

Melvin Mora in the outfield? For the O's? Not quite. Mora should spend some time in the outfield, but for a different team. You mean that Melvin Mora is going to be traded? No, he is just going to be playing for Venezuela in a winter league. He'll also play some 3rd base too. Mora hasn't played in a winter league for several years. Mora hasn't played in the outfield since 2003, but the O's could ask him to move this season. If Miguel Tejada isn't traded, and that is a major if, then Mora could be asked to move to the outfield to make room for Miggi at 3rd base. Again, that's doubtful, but if it does happen, it's good for Mora to get some practice time in the outfield. After all these years, he definitely will need it... - John T.

Orioles News - 11/25/07 - Random Thoughts On The O's

Sorry I couldn’t write my blog yesterday, my internet went down. Here is my blog for today.

For this blog, I will just spit out my thoughts on the O’s. It just may become a weekly special… Anyway, here it is.

Aubrey Huff recently went on the Bubba The Love Sponge show, and he talked bad about Baltimore. Nice. You can tell Huff was thinking clearly. It’s not like the fans that he dissed on help pay his salary or anything like that…

Miguel Tejada just might be leaving Baltimore soon. My response: Finally. Haven’t the O’s been wanting to trade him for years? Oh yeah, they have, but they’ve never been able to finish the deal. Maybe this is the time… (Fingers crossed)

Ace Erik Bedard could be traded too. Andy MacPhail has said several times that no player is untouchable. I don’t want Bedard to go, but if the deal is that good that Baltimore will trade their Ace away, then I just might believe in it. Then again, the O’s have made some very bad trades before… I’ll leave you with that. – John T.

Orioles News - 11/23/07 - Why The O's Haven't Made Any Moves

Question: How bad do I hate Miguel Cabrera right now? And what about A-Rod? How bad do I hate those two players right now?

Answer: A lot.

Why? Oh, I don't know, maybe it's the fact that they froze the trade market. When A-Rod was a free agent, no one in baseball seemed to care about anything other then A-Rod being a free agent. Teams stopped trading and signing other free agents. It was like the whole market in baseball just froze over. The same thing is happening with Miguel Cabrera. Now teams like the Baltimore Orioles, who desperately need some different players, can't even trade. Almost every team has interest in Miguel Cabrera, so until he is traded or taken off of the trading block, all of Major League Baseball will be focused on one player. Which means teams like the Orioles can't make any moves. And it's not like the teams in the bidding for Cabrera really need another player. The O's are desperate for some new players. The O's are also desperate to get rid of Miguel Tejada, but the market is frozen. Fat chance of that now. I'm not saying for the teams in the bidding for Cabrera to just all of a sudden end the bidding. I'm just saying it sucks for teams like the O's that one player can freeze the whole market over. - John T.

Orioles News - 11/19/07 - Champions! - Miggi Finally Moving?

Champions! A championship has been successfully defended for the 4th straight time in a row. Who? What? For who, it is the Phoenix Desert Dogs of the Arizona Fall League. They are a team under the Baltimore Orioles. For what, it is the Arizona Fall League Championship, which has now been successfully defended by the Desert Dogs for their 4th title in as many years. The O's definitely have some real prospects on the Phoenix team. Congratulations to them on their big win. Here's to a championship in Baltimore, just for the O's next time.

Is Miggi finally moving? It seems to be likely. The Los Angeles Angels have pulled off a trade sending their Shortstop, Orlando Cabrera, to the Chicago White Sox for pitcher Jon Garland. This now leaves a vacancy at Shortstop. The Angels have gone after Miguel Tejada in the past, and they have offered some pretty good deals for Miggi before. The O's won't get a deal that even comes close to those they used to receive for Miggi, but they could still pick up a prospect. Everyone knows the O's could use a few... But, different story. Anyway, Miggi is a option for the Angels. If the Angels can't get 3rd baseman Miguel Cabrera, they could go after Tejada. Since A-Rod and Mike Lowell are off the market, teams that need 3rd baseman could be forced to go with options they didn't want coming into the off season, like Tejada. Tejada has said he will play 3rd base, but only for a winning team. The O's definitely don't qualify in that category... - John T.

Orioles News - 11/17/07 - A Look At The Lineup

The Baltimore Orioles haven't made many moves this year in free agency. The O's haven't had any significant players leave either, besides outfielder Corey Patterson. So, will they make any big moves this off season? Probably not. But, if you look, the base of the Orioles roster is still set. Here is a look at the Baltimore Orioles lineup for next year, as of right now.

The O's still have their lead off man, Brian Roberts. He isn't moving spots. The person who is hitting second is still a little iffy, since Corey Patterson is no longer on the team. It's also still iffy due to all of the trade rumors whirling. The man hitting third is pretty obvious - Nick Markakis. He led the team in batting average, home runs, and RBI's last year. Nick stays in the number three spot. Now for the fourth spot. If Miguel Tejada has a change of heart and decides to stay, and that's a big if, he will likely hit here. Miggi can still hit, it's just that his fielding is declining. A lot. In the number 5 spot, Aubrey Huff is a likely candidate. Huff hit .280 with 72 RBI's last year. Those numbers are OK, even if Huff does run his mouth. Now batting 6th, Melvin Mora. Mora, if he is still in Baltimore, should hit about here. Kevin Millar could hit in 7th, with Jay Payton hitting 8th. Rounding out the lineup, Ramon Hernandez should hit about 9th. - John T.

Orioles News - 11/11/07 - Who Could Be Headed To New York?

Another rumor off the wire about the Baltimore Orioles. It also involves the New York Yankees. It also includes a player who could go to New York in a trade. No, not Miguel Tejada, the player involved in the rumor is Melvin Mora. The rumor has Melvin Mora possibly going to the New York Yankees to play 3rd base. Since A-Rod has left New York, the Yankees are pursuing other options such as Tejada, Mora, and Miguel Cabrera who plays for the Florida Marlins. Mora has a no-trade clause in his contract, but he might be willing to waive his clause. This would be great. And why not? Mora has played the position unlike Tejada, he has played in New York so he can handle the pressure, and he is good friends with several Yankees. So, why not? - John T.

Orioles News - 11/9/07 - Mora Outta Here?

There is hope. It could happen. Maybe, just maybe it could happen. What could happen? Baltimore Oriole Melvin Mora (pictured to the left) is thinking about waiving his no-trade clause in his contract if he would be traded to a winning team. My first thought: Remind me again why the Orioles gave him a no-trade clause in his contract? My second thought: This is huge news. This could open up 3rd base and let Scott Moore come in and play there. Or, it could help the O's to put more pressure on Miguel Tejada to switch over to 3rd base. Either way, it would great. - John T.

Orioles News - 11/7/07 - Tejada To New York, Others?

Miggi to New York? That's a maybe. The New York Yankees have shown interest in Baltimore Oriole Miguel Tejada. But, isn't Tejada a Shortstop? Don't the Yankees have Derek Jeter at Shortstop? Yes and yes. But, will Tejada play 3rd base? Apparently Tejada will play 3rd base, just not for the Orioles. With A-Rod opting out of his contract, (if the Yankees don't resign him), they would be willing to take Tejada at 3rd base. So Tejada won't play 3rd base for the Orioles, but he will play 3rd base for a winning team. Wonderful. Just wonderful. But, there are other teams with a little interest in Miggi. Miggi appears to be a back up option if other teams can't sign free agent 3rd basemen such as A-Rod, Mike Lowell and Miguel Cabrera, who is on the trade block. Hopefully the O's can get someone of value for Miguel Tejada... - John T.

Orioles News - 11/4/07 - Changes?

For the Baltimore Orioles fans, everyone wants change. But will it happen? More importantly, when will it happen? This off season? Possibly.

Miguel Tejada is likely to be traded. He wants to play Shortstop still, but with 15 errors in 124 games last year and a .971 fielding percent, that seems doubtful.

What about Melvin Mora? Why doesn't he get traded? Mora has a no-trade clause in his contract. Unless he approves the trade, it's unlikely that he will be shipped out.

Other then the 3 players who have already opted out of their contracts (Or had the option declined), the O's seem to have about the same roster as last year. The same roster as last year? Uh-oh. We all know how that turned 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 - 10/7/07 - 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 - 10/5/07 - 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 - 10/1/07 - 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 - 9/28/07 - O's win in extra innings

The Baltimore Orioles won last night, 10-9 over the New York Yankees. It took 10 innings and a great rally by Baltimore to pull it off...

Coming into this game, the Yankees were 85-1 when leading after the 8th inning this year. Throw in the fact that future Hall Of Fame closer Mariano Rivera is on the mound, and the game seems to be over for the Orioles. Now throw in a 2 out, bases loaded triple by Jay Payton, and the O's sent the game into extra innings. Then in the 10th inning, Tike Redman hit a 1 out double, eventually moving to 3rd base on a passed ball. Nick Markakis and Miguel Tejada were intentionally walked to load the bases. Kevin Millar then came up to bat with the game on the line and... he struck out. Ok, lets try this again. Melvin Mora came up to the plate with 2 outs, the bases loaded, and a chance to be the hero. And Mora.... laid down a bunt to bring in the game winning run! A walk off bunt! (How many times do you hear that?) It was a gutsy call by the O's, but a call that paid off.

Our starting pitching wasn't much last night, as Jon Leicester went 4 1/3 innings, allowing 7 earned runs and walking 3 batters. But, our bullpen did a nice job after that, as they allowed only 2 more runs all game in this rare Orioles win. - John T.

Orioles News - 9/21/07 - O's fall to Texas

The Baltimore Orioles lost on Friday to the Texas Rangers. The final score was 3-2. It was a heartbreaking loss for Baltimore. The O's left 6 men on base. But, Miguel Tejada hit a homer, his first opposite-field homer all year. Wait, his 1st opposite-field homer all year? And Tejada is a power hitter right? That's sad. After that homer in the 2nd inning, the Orioles bats seemed to fall asleep. Until the 9th inning. In the 9th inning, the bases were loaded with no outs and Scott Moore hit a sacrifice fly to bring in a run. Now with 1 out, Paul Bako came in with the game on the line and.... Bako struck out. Melvin Mora was then caught stealing, and the game was over. That hurts. So, it was another loss for the Baltimore Orioles. (Sigh.) - Jon T.