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 - 10/11/07 - 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.