If you view the message boards of Orioles Hangout, InsideTheOs (Scout.com), Camden Chat, or the Baltimore Sun – you do not have to look very far to find irrational posts about the O’s increasing each day.

The irrational posts are also increasing in the comments sections of MASN’s School of Roch (Roch Kubatko), and The Sun’s The Schmuck Stops Here (Peter Schmuck).

If you tune-in to any of Baltimore’s 4 Sports Radio stations – WNST 1570, Fox 1370, 105.7 The Fan, ESPN 1300 – ( 5 if you count WBAL with Mr. Schmuck at night), the callers of these shows remind you that irrational thoughts about the Orioles are not limited to some message-board posters.

Let me state clearly, I am not claiming everyone is being irrational at each of the sites, or on each of the shows.
The reality is that the great majority are not. Most of these sites, and shows are comprised of people with knowledge.

However, there is a vocal-minority with each of these sites and shows that is getting harder to ignore.
It is great to have an opinion, it is better when arguments are based on logic.

The Baltimore Orioles came into the 2009 season knowing that 3 of the 5 best teams in baseball were located in the American League East. Since then, Toronto has exceeded expectations and shown to also be one of baseballs Top 10 teams.

The O’s knew that they were not built to contend. When you can not contend, the best use of time is to give as much playing time as possible to the players who can comprise their future-core.

Please note in the last paragraph I used the words ‘can comprise’ vs. using a definitive declarative statement where I said ‘will comprise.’

The O’s have long-terms answers at RF, CF, 2nd, and Catcher. You can make reasonable arguments that they also have long-term answers at LF, and DH.

With Brandon Snyder having produced in Hawaiian Winter League, Carolina League, Arizona Fall League, and the Eastern League – you could additionally argue that the organization has a legitimate 1st-base prospect.

Tillman, Matusz, and Arrieta are ranked among the best-prospects in baseball by everyone – not just by the people working in the Warehouse. Tillman, and Arrieta are both performing in AAA, and on the verge of call-ups to the Majors. Matusz is currently dominating at AA, and will be in an O’s uniform by June 2010 at the latest.

Troy Patton reached the Majors in 2007 at age 21 with Houston. He was a Top 100 prospect by Baseball America, prior to his labrum injury. 2009 for Patton was always about just getting him back used to pitching every 5th day, and setting up his 2010 season. Instead, you got him excelling with consistency at Bowie, and advanced to Norfolk.
Bergesen has proven he can be of value to a Major League staff. The 2nd-half of 2009 might show he belongs as a back-end starter, or even long-relief; but he can help a team.

In the previous two seasons, David Hernandez has put up a ton of k’s at Frederick, and Bowie. In 2009, Hernandez put up 79 k’s, with only 18 walks, and 42 hits allowed in 57.1 innings at AAA Norfolk. He has advanced to the Majors, and clearly has the arm to help. He might not wind-up staying in the rotation, but he can also help a team.

The infra-structure of the O’s organization has also continued to improve in recent years.
The Orioles finally launched their facility in the Dominican, which may provide immediate dividends, if the O’s sign Sano.

That Dominican facility, and the signing of Uehara, were signs that the O’s intend to improve as an organization with obtaining International talent. Credit goes to O’s President of Baseball Operations Andy McPhail, and the International Scouting Director John Stockstill.
Another example of the gains of the organization, is that the Orioles Scouting Director Joe Jordan has been allowed to draft the players he identifies, and sign them over-slot if necessary.
Perhaps the Player Development Director Dave Stockstill also deserves some credit for the O’s best prospects by and large improving as they advanced through the system this year.

MASN is improving regularly, and will continue to grow as a revenue producer for the organization.

Lastly, the Oriole Reach program continues to build, and shows how the O’s are committed to being civic partners in the community.

In the overall scheme of things, things are as good as they have been for the Orioles since 1997.

If you do not see that, you either have your head buried in the sand and refuse to see the obvious, lack basic analytical skills, or are aware of these things – and are intentionally striving to distort reality.

Instead of inane arguments such as, ‘Trembley does not smile enough in his press-conferences’, or wondering if Markakis’ lower zone-rating indicates he can no longer play RF, the items/questions below are what O’s fans should be concentrating on:

1) There are 79 games left in the 2009 season, including 43 games against the American League East. The O’s should be improving as the 2009 season ends. If the O’s do not improve down the stretch, and actually limp towards the finish-line; than Trembley deserves to be held accountable. Firing him now, when their rotation is comprised of players who might not crack the 2010 rotation is rather point-less.

2) The O’s have players that are marketable to contenders – Guthrie, Scott, Sherrill, Baez, Huff – are any of these players moved before the 7/31 Non-waiver deadline?

3) Between now, and the start of the 2010 season, how do the O’s address SS, and 3rd-base long-term?
3a) If the team is committed to not picking up Mora’s 2010 option, and Wiggington is seen as a 2010 stop-gap option for 3rd; how long does the team start Mora every-day in the 2nd-half? Is Mora in risk of being released?

4) Assuming Huff is not traded, will the team offer him salary-arbitration?

5) Chris Ray was crushed in 21.1 innings of work in 2009, but it was just that – 21.1 innings after missing all of the 2008 season to injury. His pure stuff was still apparent, and he did have 23 k’s, and dominate at AAA on his rehab. I am not sure he can again be an effective closer for the O’s, but I do think he is closer to the player he was in 2006, and 2007 vs. the player he showed to be this year.

The bottom-line is that the bullpen needs improving, and that will occur as the rotation improves. Sherrill, Johnson, and Albers gives the bullpen 3 valuable arms. That group can be augmented between now and next year with a Hernandez, a Berken, a Hill… a W. Perez, a K. Mickolio… and potentially a straightened out Ray.

The 2009 season is not a failure because the O’s are in last-place. The 2009 season is a resounding success, because the organization has taken necessary steps to be better able to contend going forward.
I knocked the Orioles for a decade, when I believed I had the cause to do so. On Orioles Hangout, I believe I was the first to use the terms ‘Lollypoppers, or Orange Kool-aid Drinkers,’ to derogatively attack those who I believed gave blind passing love to what I saw as a failed organization.

The difference is, I was using those terms in 2001 and 2002 with cause. It is now 2009, and things have changed for the better; even if they are not yet reflected in the record.

I am not telling anyone to be satisfied with the O’s being in last-place. I am not telling anyone that the O’s are above receiving criticism.
I am saying the gains of this organization should be obvious to everyone.
The O’s are still going to win the 72-77 games I said they would win in March. The organizations ability to win 85 games in 2010, should also be obvious to everyone.

Tell the vocal-minority to step-back from the ledge, refine their arguments, and to put down the panic-buttons.

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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