Touching the Terps and Orioles
I’m back in town after a harrowing handful of days. Exhausting and more than a little bit expensive. Not recommended. Thanks for holding things down while I was gone. Luckily, no news broke in that time…
Oh, except a complete meltdown involving Gary Williams and the Terps brass. Yikes.
I’ll say it straight up: this does not bode well for Williams and Terrapins basketball as a whole. These are the kinds of stories that only pop up when relationships reach the breaking point. If you read between the lines, it sounds a whole lot like the two sides are (perhaps unintentionally) laying the groundwork for a parting of ways.
No point in rehashing the frustrations of the past few years, so let’s look forward. The question facing the program is: should WIlliams go? Then, if he does, can they find someone who will make them better?
My instinct is to say “no” and “no”, but it’s tough. I can see the logic behind an argument for a new coach and a fresh start. I don’t necessarily agree with it, but I see it. Even more importantly, I’m finding it difficult to muster a powerful argument against change.
What I’m left with is, basically, hope. Hope that Williams can find his stroke again, make a run or two, and go out on his own terms. I think any fan of the program should want that.
As for the Orioles…
I’ve heard some things. Keep an eye out for the possibility of another pitcher coming on board before spring training. This is not an “I know it for a fact but just can’t say it” situation, but what I can say is that the possibility is real. There might be a surprise. I wish I had more but, hey, it’s something. I wouldn’t mention it otherwise.
Glad to be back.
Glad your back. I am happy to report that i bought my first orioles season tickets today (only 13 game plan).
awaiting drew’s meltdown…
More Hardball wants to know who has the hottest fans in baseball. We’ll be running a set of posts over the following weeks featuring images of each teams’ hotties, with a voting poll to crown a champion. We’re starting with the AL East and we’ll continue through the rest of the American League, then on to the National League. Sticking true to Major League Baseball’s roots, there will be an eight team playoff system where the winners of each division square off with addition of a wild card team to determine who wins the pennant and represents each league in the World Series of Hotness. Link- http://morehardball.blogspot.com/2009/01/hottest-fans-of-al-east_29.html
B-dizzle – Putting Anita Marks in anything you post won’t get you points around here. At least based on her sports media approval poll numbers.
That said, every thing else i approve of. DING.
Well, we all know that Looper is being targeted by the O’s, as I think he probably should be if it’s a one-year deal. However, Neal’s tone hints at something more than what the Sun ran today. Something perhaps bigger… Sheets? Who else is out there that would be a relative surprise.. acquiring Hill? Hmmm
Neal, are you suggesting someone who will be a total suprise (like a trade?)… or someone we might have been able to guess as far as free agaency?
curious!
My take:
It’s not Ben Sheets. We know that already. Nobody wants Ben Sheets because of the immense injury risk, and I guess that’s fine with the Orioles to pass on him.
Braden Looper isn’t going to set the world on fire, but if we replaced Garret Olson with Looper and the DC Cab with Koji Uehara, I feel like the entire pitching staff and therefore team becomes considerably better and less embarrassing.
I think Rich Hill is the real target. Another change of scenery guy from the Cubs who is out of options and unwanted in Chicago AND who put up good numbers in 2007 in a hitter’s park. He’d be a perfect pickup to buy low with strong upside.
I hope we get Hill and not Looper. I see Looper as Trax part deux. There really is no point for a guy like that to take up a spot in an acknowledged rebuilding year, aside from, as Andrew points out, preventing embarrassment. Doesn’t do a lick for our long-term prospects though, and isn’t that the point? I do like the idea of Hill though, and you know I’d love Sheets.
@Andrew in Rochester –
Stole my thunder. I think it’s Rich Hill as well.
***
I loved the headline today “Ponson To Pitch for Netherlands in WBC”
I heard he already flew to Amsterdam to prepare.
@ryan97ou – haven’t you heard? Drew’s not hanging around anymore because he moved from Baltimore to Texas. Amarillo, I believe.
I don’t think that what I heard relates to Looper, but like I said I don’t really know much. Rich Hill would work for me, but I wonder what we’d have to give up.
I believe Looper is an excellent choice if the O’s can reel him in.
Followed his career since Wichita State, and he’s a gamer, and I believe he’s just now going to hit his stride as a starter.
He’ll give lots of quality innings, and he’s got a fighter’s mentality; also, a good influence on the younger pitchers.
Hopefully we can get him signed, and he’d certainly be more than a single season stopgap.
Feinstein wrote an excellent article in the post regarding the situation in College Park, check it…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/28/AR2009012803320.html
And hey, there it is! The Orioles in the lead for Hill.
I think it would be a great pickup for a couple reasons:
1) We’d have Hill and Pie and Brian Roberts. It’s funny how things work out sometimes.
2) Yes, Hill was pretty awful last year but other than that has been good. I have a hard time believing he could pass a physical and still suddenly be unable to pitch.
3) Always buy low. Hill’s upside is pretty good, and he removes the definite need the O’s have right now for Mark Hendrickson to start (My potential staff would be Guthrie-Uehara-Hill-Penn/Albers-Liz/Waters/Hendrickson). There’s a lot of questions in that staff but the Orioles need to be taking more chances on guys like Hill.
Wait, Drew moved?
@dan the man – nah, I’m just ribbing him a bit. It’s a highly coded but tongue-in-cheek statement.