Andy MacPhail caused a stir in Birdland today with his comments regarding some of the under-performing bats:
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/2010/05/macphail_puts_hitters_on_notic.html
While I appreciate the obvious sentiment that there has to be improved performance – this idea of sending down a Jones, or a Reimold is ludicrous. Yes, their lack of production is a significant reason of why the O’s have underperformed to their current 7 – 21 record. Still, if you are 7-21 you better be playing the guys you expect to be producing for you going forward.
Jones and Reimold getting through their poor starts, and adjusting is something that needs to take place. At a minimum, if you continue to play them everyday and you do not see improvement – you are taking advantage of time, and learning something. If you send either player back to the Minors, just so they can feast on AAA pitching – not only are you losing games, you are losing time in their Major League Development and not really answering questions about what type of players you have.
I said it a couple of weeks ago, and I still believe it. When the season ends, Markakis, Jones, Wieters, and Reimold will each have an OPS over .825. Ultimately, you either believe in their talent or you do not. Beyond that, who are you going to replace Jones, and Reimold with? Corey Patterson, and Aubrey? There is nobody banging on the door to replace them, they are your core. You stick with them in their ‘down time’, if you look at them and believe in their respective futures. They are either going to hit (and the O’s will improve) or they will not (and the O’s offense will continue to look horrible). Either way, those are the players you are counting on now and going forward, and they need to continue to see Major League at-bats.
I think Oriole fans (and perhaps the O’s Front-Office) should stop worrying about the bats, and focus their intention on improving the staff. Overall, the O’s staff has been ok. For the most-part Millwood, Guthrie, Matusz, and Hernandez have kept the Orioles in games when they have been on the mound. Still receiving respectable outings should not be the barometer.
If Andy MacPhail is going to publicly state that wins and losses matter in 2010, and publicly state that he does not have a suicide pact with his bats – he should commit to giving the Orioles their best staff possible. If the O’s were to bring up Tillman, and Arrieta tomorrow – they both might eventually achieve Super 2 status. You can understand why the Orioles would want to avoid that. However the O’s can get past that by simply making it a priority to extend the players prior to their arbitration-eligible seasons. (Yes, I know part of the argument is that will be difficult to do – particularly with Arrieta.)
Again, in his own words MacPhail has stated that wins and losses matter this year. That he needs to see improved performance, and will be demanding accountability. If you want to improve this team today, and better prepare them for tomorrow (read 2011) Tillman, and Arrieta need to join the roster. Keeping in-mind that Uehara has been activated with Castillo sent back to Norfolk, I think the staff should now be:
Millwood, Guthrie, Matusz, Tillman, Arrieta
Hernandez
Simon
Uehara
Albers (could be Meredith, my preference would Albers)
Ohman
Berken
Bergesen (could be Hendrickson, my preference would be Bergesen)
Tillman and Arrieta might not be ready to out-produce what you have received from Hernandez and Bergesen – but the staff as a whole would be improved. Simon has added to the O’s bullpen by giving them another power-arm. Hernandez would do the same. He should be put into a position that maximizes his value. If you wanted to trade Guthrie, and continue to find starts for Hernandez; that would be acceptable. Hernandez continuing to receive Major League starts ahead of Tillman, and Arrieta can not last.
I think if the bullpen gained Hernandez, Uehara, and Bergesen – the group would be vastly improved as a whole.
Forget the bats, improve the staff.
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.