Orioles Among Six Linked to Burnett
It’s not exactly earth-shattering news, but the Sun is reporting that the Orioles are one of six teams on AJ Burnett‘s shortlist. There’s even talk of a “real nice conversation.”
Carry on.
Orioles Among Six Linked to BurnettIt’s not exactly earth-shattering news, but the Sun is reporting that the Orioles are one of six teams on AJ Burnett‘s shortlist. There’s even talk of a “real nice conversation.” Carry on. 19 comments to Orioles Among Six Linked to Burnett |
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The only thing I really remember about AJ Burnett as a player was the one game last season where I think the Orioles were playing a day game against them and we lit the Jays up BIG TIME. In response to Gibbons coming out to the mound to relieve AJ, the Toronto fans starting booing AJ (it was a blowout if I remember) and AJ sarcastically tipped his hat to the crowd. He was somewhat of a news item for doing that.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/06/07/ST2008060702144.html
That is my first impression of him as a human being whenever I think about him.
I remember that, too. But hey, everyone gets frustrated.
Let’s go get him.
From Steve Melewski:
http://masnsports.com/2008/11/os-could-look-to-japan-for-pit.html
Reports are that the two Japanese catchers that are interested in coming over here would never make it in the Majors… not enough power and they already play in bandbox stadiums. However, if signing one of them to a minor league deal opened up future dealings with Japanese players, I could live with that.
Yeah we really need one signing, any signing, in the Asian market to start to open some doors.
I would hope that ONE signing is a passable short.
The Markakis Extension is the most important thing to me this offseason.
Can’t argue with that.
I’m sure Burnett’s family ties to Maryland are going to make the negotiating any more difficult, right? His agent will say, “we’re not going to give in just because his family is in MD” and the O’s will say privately, “oh, sure you’re not.”
I think signing Lowe or Garland or even Livan Hernandez would be easier because they’re not tied into the area.
Hold on, need to rant for a moment. *breathes*
The timing for Mark Teixeira isn’t right. If we were closer to contending, I could see it being easier for us to make a move to get him, but we aren’t even a respectable team. I don’t really think that overpaying to compensate for how awful the organization is right now is in the best interest of the ball club, and yet I read so many opinions of people who will be utterly disgusted with the club if we don’t break the bank for Tex.
Personally, I’m utterly disgusted with that particular opinion. It’s completely shortsighted, flagrant and irresponsible on so many levels to assume that the Orioles should be careless in their player negotiations, or carefree with their spending to prove to the fanbase that we’re still relevant as a ball club.
WAKE UP.
The Orioles are NOT relevant as a ballclub, and haven’t been for over a decade. Being flamboyantly stupid isn’t the solution for that either. Orioles fans have felt entitled to something for a long time, and that has manifested itself as a “ME FIRST AND RIGHT NOW” attitude that absolutely sucks.
I absolutely believe that the Orioles will give the correct free agents the absolute best bids they feel is the price to get the job done, and if someone else chooses to overpay and blow us out of the running, then so be it. I think it is unfair that the fanbase that foams at the mouth will ultimately hold Andy MacPhail responsible when Mark Teixeira gets away with a huge contract somewhere else… but it’s unrealistic for Orioles fans to think that we have any shot of signing two of the top four free agents in this years pool, and especially when competing against Boston and New York. Again, it’s timing timing timing. One day, when we have built a strong core of players to find ourselves close to contending, the revenue will be there, the desire for players to play here will be there, and free agency won’t be so stilted towards the north east corner of the country. It will happen, just not in the short term.
As a result, my expectations are extremely low, but my outlook for 2009 is positive. Two cheap, solid free agent options will be available for supporting Guthrie and the other two youngsters we chose to fill out that role. Our bullpen will return in good shape and hopefully start out the year the way it did last year. Millar and Payton are gone, likely to be replaced by Salazar, Montanez and Reimold. We will likely have signed an upgrade at short, both in fielding and offensively. The pitching depth in the minors is especially deep and we wont be reaching for AAAA filler by the end of the year. Markakis will have gotten his extension. Roberts will too, if he isn’t traded for a nice basket of goodies. New fucking uniforms.
If there is no Tex and no Burnett, there is still a lot to look forward to, and I wish that fact wasn’t glossed over by everyone.
Right on, Greg. I think we’ll all be happy if the O’s somehow land Tex and/or Burnett, but I agree that we should not hold MacPhail or even Angelos personally responsible if they don’t sign here. If we were a contending team, then yeah, some of the blame would ultimately go on the FO (or the FA himself) seeing as there wouldn’t be a reason to not make that huge offer for the final piece. But how can we blame AM when Tex would more than likely choose to not come to a losing team?
I do think that Burnett is very much more signable than Tex, though. And if the O’s don’t budge on any more than a 3 year offer, then I might be annoyed with that. But you are very, very right that there is plenty to be excited about without big free agent signings. And after all, aren’t we supposed to be rebuilding and acquiring prospects for our barren farm system?
I actually reread my second paragraph and realized I described the Yankees, verbatim.
“Orioles fans have felt entitled to something for a long time, and that has manifested itself as a “ME FIRST AND RIGHT NOW” attitude that absolutely sucks.”
OK
If not “ME”, then who?
If not “NOW”, then when?
Talk about being lulled into complacency.
I’m a little bit torn on this one. I basically agree with you, Greg, and I think your analysis of the underlying condition of the club — and what’s needed to improve it — is spot on.
But…I still sympathize with fans who want a Big Splash. I don’t agree with them, but I sympathize. They don’t follow the club as closely as we do, and they probably don’t really care about baseball as much as we do. All they know is that it would be radi-cool to have a bonafide superstar to cheer for at the Yard in between sips of Corona and bites of Boog’s. I get where they’re coming from.
On top of that, while I don’t think Teixeira solves our problems I’d still be OK with it if the O’s want to bring him in. As long as that move is supplemented by value moves (Garland, et al) via FA or trade.
But, yes, if we have to choose just one course that will truly better the club, you’re right.
Offers are officially on the table for Tex, according to MLBTR. No word on who, but it appears the Angels are out of it for the moment and the only clubs that keep being mentioned consistently are the Sox, Nats, and O’s. Yanks will always be there, too, I suppose.
I understand that opinion Greg, and yours is probably the most prudent course, but we’ve been losing for 11 years. 11 freaking years! Fan frustration and entitlement is completely, utterly natural. We’re entitled to a winning team. If that’s the sense of entitlement you’re talking about, I have no problem with it. We deserve a winning team. All fan bases do. And not all fans have the patience and wisdom to sit and wait for the farm system to build up and the international scouting to take shape. They just see Tex potentially available and they want management to use the money available (and there is plenty of money available) to make a fair market offer for him. There is nothing wrong with that sentiment. While I’m certainly not saying go out and give Tex an A-Rod-type $250 million deal come hell or high water, I’m with Chris on this one. I’ll still be just as rabid a fan with or without Tex or Burnett, however, but perhaps just a little frustrated. And I see nothing wrong with that…
@Chris – It’s not a matter of “who”… it’s definitely the fans… but the when… the when is a moment in the future when we reap the benefits of playing our cards right and not splashing the pot unecessarily in an effort for that time to get here faster. Prudence is key, patience is key. “But we’ve been patient for 11 years!” I know, I lived in Baltimore all 11 years as a fan of the Orioles, but this is a new direction under new management that can’t be held responsible for the misdirection of their predecessors.
@sci – Entitlement is a feeling we all have. We all want a great team. I think as far as “value moves” go, as Neal put it, Tex’s price tag goes beyond his value.
Kind of like paying $100 for a Ruth’s Chris meal– great steak, one of the best you’ll ever have– but $100 is a whole lot of money for a meal. You could buy a ribeye from the store for $10 and grill it yourself and it would still be a pretty damn good steak.
Perhaps a dumb analogy, but if you could put Adam Dunn at 1B for 4/60 instead of Tex’s 10/200, doesn’t that feel like more of a value move?
My concern is that this sense of entitlement is leading to irrationality, particularly with regards to free agent signings. You said you’d be frustrated if we got disappointed on the market this year: Is it actually frustration or just impatience? The moves made during the Andy MacPhail Era has been at least 90% favorable… I see little reason to doubt his judgement on the outcome of the Tex debacle.
All good points Greg. My point is simply that we can’t judge the fans who are clamoring for Tex. The clamoring makes sense from a certain perspective. For me personally, it only makes sense if you follow up that signing with supporting value moves, as Neal pointed out. I do think Tex is a totally unique situation though, and that has to be taken into account. A hometown kid who is also an all-star in his prime coming onto the open market is extremely rare for Baltimore. That has to be taken into account.
To answer your one question – it would be both frustration and impatience. Then I’d get over it in a week or so and not be able to wait for spring training to start…
Hope everyone’s thanksgiving weekend has been positive.
Rumors are swirling that a Pads/Cubs/O’s trade is in the works, the major players involved have Greene/Pie coming to Baltimore, Olson and a high ranked Cubs prospect like Vitters going to San Diego, and Peavy going to Chicago. Speculation is all that is, but it’s nice to think about.
In former Oriole news, JR House signed a minor league contract with the Royals.