Drew's Bio
The only person in the history of Baltimore sports-talk to attend Game 2 of the 1983 World Series, shoot 64 in golf (twice) and sit next to Dave Grohl on a flight from Baltimore to Cleveland (1997), Drew is the host of The Comcast Morning Show from 6am-10am Monday through Friday. Topics routinely range from the Ravens, Terps and the Orioles and their decision to not improve the team for the (insert number of years here) consecutive season. His favorite movie is "Wiggle Bay" and his favorite member of Little Einstein's is June. Drew's son Ethan said, "Daddy, why do the Flyers stink so bad?" when he was only 8 days old. "Gotta start 'em young," the proud papa said that night.
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So the O’s finally started listening to WNST and the fans again and decided to go out and actually spend some money on baseball players yesterday.
There is a God.
I know Mike Gonzalez is probably deemed “decent at best” by most major league followers and Garrett Atkins is coming off a horrific 2009 season in Colorado, but those two Wednesday signings are fine by me.
The O’s need relief help.
The O’s need someone to play third base. And that someone needs to be able to hit…preferably, with power.
Gonzalez should help in the bullpen and Atkins will almost certainly be an upgrade over the 2009 combo of Mora and Wigginton.
However, unlike 90% of the apologists who quickly ran to the computer last night and pre-paid for their playoff tickets at the MASN and Orioles Hangout web-sites, I can’t “sign off” on the two signings without at least recognizing that money - particularly in Atkins’ case - was the major factor in the deals getting done.
Atkins hauled in $7 million a year ago with the Rockies.
Reports have the O’s weaseling him to town for $4 million in 2010 with an $8.5 million “club option” for 2011. If I’m Garrett’s agent, I’d suggest he rent rather than buy.
Here’s why the move really makes sense for the Birds: The Atkins deal is only for one year and it accomplishes the two things that are most near and dear to Andy MacPhail’s heart: they save money, by paying only $5, $6, or $7 million, and the one year deal limits their total financial exposure.
Chone Figgins would have cost them $50 million or so. They would have been on the hook for that money.
Adrian Beltre would have likely cost them $30 million or so. They would have been obligated to pay him that amount.
They’re obligated to Garrett Atkins for one year.
That’s the way they like it.
In fact, I’d assume the Orioles (and most teams in the league for that matter) would prefer to just have everyone on the roster on one-year deals.
But the really good players won’t sign one-year contracts. Not when they get four or five year deals elsewhere.
And Gonzalez was only able to secure himself a two-year contract at $6 million per-year. He should do jumping jacks and cartwheels today. That kind of expenditure is rare air for the O’s.
So…while I’m accepting of the additions of Gonzalez and Atkins, there’s still a gaping hole at first base. Nick Johnson and Adam LaRoche are still available, although both of those guys reportedly want 3-year deals and something a little more substantial than per-diem. When you say “three years” around the O’s, everyone in the negotiation breaks out in hives.
And finally…I spit out my Royal Farms coffee this morning when I read a few internet reports that the Orioles are “interested” in Matt Holliday.
Yeah…well…I’m interested in Alicia Keys. Really, I am.
And the Orioles have about as much chance of paying Matt Holliday the $70 or $80 million he wants than I do of getting in a hot tub with Keys.
“The Orioles are interested in Matt Holliday.”
Look up the phrase “smoke screen” in the dictionary and you’ll see this definition: ”What the Orioles are trying to do by hinting that they’re interested in outfielder Matt Holliday.”
It’s called, in practical terms, trying to appease a fan base that wants to see the team really try and win for once instead of settling for failure under the umbrella of, “It’s just tough for us to compete in the American League East with the Yankees and Red Sox there…”
Read this to yourself and repeat it if you have to: The Orioles are NOT signing Matt Holliday.
They are NOT going to fork over $70 or $80 million dollars for ANYONE. Jesus himself could show up at The Warehouse today with a glove, a bat, and sunflower seeds in his mouth and the O’s would say, “How about one-year and an option at $2.4 million per?”
If Holliday finds the market dry and is willing to sign for one or two years at $7 million per-year, the O’s and every other team in the majors would have a keen interest in him.
But that’s not going to happen.
I think Holliday is VASTLY overpriced and somewhat overrated, personally, but I also know some team who needs help at the plate will take him because - again - teams that want to be really good have a habit of spending money on really good players.
And the Orioles are NOT going to overpay for anyone.
It’s not the way they do business.
They do business by letting the really good players get really good money from really good teams.
Then they go “crumbs-hunting” and sign a leftover for $6 million for one year.
It’s just what they do.
Don’t get mad at me for saying it. Get mad at them for doing it.
That said, I still like the signings of both Gonzalez and Atkins.
They’re an upgrade, hopefully, over what the Birds had in 2009.
And if they turn out to be duds, at least the team didn’t spend a lot of money on them.
And that, as we all know, is the only thing that matters with our beloved orange-feathered friends.
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December 17th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Whether you agree or disagree with this, you have to admit “crumbs-hunting” was pretty funny
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December 17th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
It’s being reported that the O’s have an offer on the table for Matt Holliday and I have a hunch that Andy McPhail is trying to put together a package to pry Adrian Gonzalez away from the Padres. The Red Sox’s are rumored to be offering a packard that includes Ellsbury and Buckhultz. Andy may feel, since the Padres are looking for a left fielder, that a package including Reimold and either Bergesen, Tillman or Arrieta would be a better fit for the Padres. The O’s would then plug Holliday in left field to replace Reimold and the lineup would be unreal.
1. Roberts 2B
2. Jones CF
3. Gonzalez 1B
4. Holliday LF
5. Markakis RF
6. Atkins 3B
7. Wieters C
8. Scott DH
9. Izturis SS
Rotation
1. Millwood
2. Bedard (if he signs)
3. Bergesen/Tillman(whoever’s left)
4. Matusz
5. Guthrie
Bullpen
Gonzalez
Johnson
Uehara
Hendrickson (if he signs)
Mickolio
Meredith
Hernandez
That squad would be serious contenders for the AL East regardless of what the Yankees and Red Sox do from here out.
Note: It makes more sense for Holliday to sign long term with an AL team rather than St. Louis because he can finish out his contract as a DH
Even if we don’t complete a trade for Gonzalez, Holliday still brings the 4 hitter we need behind Roberts, Jones and Markakis. Reimold would have to be open to a DH role if Holliday wants to continue playing the feild. He is recovering from Achillies Tendon surgery anyway so it might not be a bad idea to DH this year and see how things playout from there.
Finally Drew, the reason why Atkins made more sense then Beltre or Figgins is they don’t want to block Josh Bell’s path to the majors. I personally think Atkins will be as good as Beltre or Figgins anyway without the long term commitment. Why should we be critical of that?
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December 17th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Gonzalez is decent at best? The guy has a career ERA of 2.57 and strikes out more than a batter an inning. The walks are a little high but the guy dominates left handed hitters and is no slouch against righties. Your disdain for Angelos and Co. seems to be affecting your objectivity. You can argue that a 70 win team shouldn’t spend 6 million a year on a reliever but if you are going to do so there are worse players to sign. Check out what Brandon Lyon signed for and look up his stats. As for your three year argument, look up the number of free agents that sign three year deals or longer, I would be surprised if it is more than 15-20. You think they should have signed Figgins and not give Bell a chance? (DF: I swear…I wish people could read. Really, I do. I didn’t say that I thought Gonzalez was “decent at best”…I said that’s what “major league followers” might deem him “decent at best”…that’s what some folks have said about him recently. I wrote - and if you put your reading glasses on, you’ll see this - that I like the signing of Mike Gonzalez. Let me say it once more…I. Like. The. Signing. Of. Mike. Gonzalez.)
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December 17th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Jesus already did show up at the warehouse. He wears #15 and is our starting catcher. And great post Joe
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December 17th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
I figured you’d be happy they spent some money but really it’s just a waste. The #1 priority for this team is finding long term solutions at as many positions as possible. None of these 3 qualify. Now an O’s official calls the Gonzalez rumors total fiction and says the Holliday interest waned weeks ago. I don’t think the O’s threw these rumors out there. As Roch correctly said, they have been telling the local media for weeks not to get there hopes up on Gonzalez,Holliday or Bay.
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December 18th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Drew-
Is Joe Mulqueen insane? Does he really believe that? The next thing he will say is that Angelos is selling the team, the Yard will be sold out for everygame, the city is building a new areana, the Caps are moving to Baltimore, the Easter Bunny is alive and well, the Loch Ness monster (and Chessie) is alive and well, and the Federal Government will balance the budget without raising my taxes!
Mark
(DF: The guy should just send his resume in and go ahead and apply for a position with the club. It’s hilarious.)