http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-sp.orioles02mar02,0,1844464.story

While the signing of Eaton carries no risk, I do not believe there was a need for Eaton to be signed.

The Orioles have no aspirations of competing in 2009… as such, the main-thing that can be accomplished this year, is giving as much time as possible to the players you believe can comprise your future core.

People talk about the ‘risk’ of bringing up youth, and having them fail… the abuse that does to their psyche.

I find that to be an illogical argument.

Baseball is a game about adjustments, and dealing with failure. For the most part, many top prospects have never dealt with failure at any-level prior to ascending to the Majors.

Giving players time to go through failure at the Major Level, and make the necessary adjustments, is a required part of the learning curve.

How low can a players confidence get, if the Organization continues to show faith in them, and provide them innings/playing-time?

If you see a player not responding to failure, you gain a bit of knowledge about the player.

Getting past that tangent, lets get back to Adam Eaton himself, and why he does not make sense for this team.
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/E/adam-eaton.shtml

Eaton turned 31 in November…
In 2007, he was 10-10, with a 6.29 ERA, allowing 192 hits, in 161.2 innings, with only 97 k’s, and 71 walks.
In 2008, he was 4-8, with a 5.80 ERA, allowing 131 hits, in 107 innings, with only 57 k’s, and 44 walks.

Those numbers were in the National League.
In the American League, there is little reason to believe he even duplicate those numbers.

Liz, Albers, Pauley, Penn might not greatly exceed the production Eaton would likely provide…. (though I believe each of them would)… but at their ages, they can be part of the future solution… Eaton can not.

Giving innings and time to Eaton would be a mistake.

Chris Stoner
Chris Stoner

Owner

Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.

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