The Loss Column — Baltimore Sports Blog and Community

Wherein we begin with a few Orioles notes…

– The Mariners still have a strong interest in trading for Erik Bedard. I’ve also read that Toronto still likes him, and I suppose we can’t completely discount the Reds. Nothing appears close, though, which tells me that nothing’s going to happen before spring training.

– Here’s an interesting article about recently acquired Mike Costanzo. Dig this nugget:

Then, former Phillies general manager Ed Wade, now the Astros’ GM, called Costanzo and told him how much he liked him. But Wade had to part with Costanzo in the deal with the Orioles.

“He told me I was the key part of the trade, that they wouldn’t do it unless I was a part of the deal,” said Costanzo, who plays third base.

– Here’s a short piece on Dave Trembley. Nothing new there, but it’s worth a read.

– Here’s a piece on the O’s prospects. Again, nothing new but worth a look.

Moving on…

– If you haven’t been tracking WNST’s reaction to the Brian Billick dismissal, you’re missing out. Head on over to the site and read Nestor and Drew’s latest blog posts. There’s a whopper of a conversation taking place.

If you’re still out there, Drew, I’ve got a question. I heard you insist repeatedly this morning that Ozzie Newsome didn’t want to let Billick go. You refuse, though, to talk at all about your source. I understand you can’t give a name, but it’s simply not enough, journalistically speaking, to just say “trust me, I know.” What kind of source do you have? Are we talking a high-ranking official or just someone with the team? And have you done your due diligence to corroborate the story?

You’re effectively breaking the news that Newsome lied during the press conference and that there’s a high level of dissent within the management group. Those are serious charges that need to be treated seriously.

– Rex Ryan will be interviewing for the vacant spot in Atlanta, in addition to his interview with the Ravens. He’s also been contacted by the Dolphins, but no interview has been scheduled.

– Had enough football drama for awhile? Check out this article about the Dakar Rally. Seriously fascinating stuff, made even more so by the fact that an American has a legit shot this year.

All I want for Christmas is a big honking pile of prospects in exchange for Erik Bedard. Or for him to accept a big honking contract extension. Either/or.

One place I think he’s unlikely to end up is Seattle, as they are believed to be closing in on a deal with free agent Carlos Silva. My gut says that Silva is plan B because the price for Bedard is too high.

Then again, all the published reports lately say that likely destinations are still Seattle, the Dodgers, and the Reds. I think it’s a safe bet that he’s on the move at some point, probably for a pretty nice package of prospects.

Those Brian Roberts to the Cubs rumors seem to have died down significantly. Whether anyone admits it or not, the Mitchell Report has to play into that. I’ll be real, real surprised if Roberts goes anywhere.

Here’s an interesting article on the potential state of the ‘08 pitching staff. I continue to love how candid Dave Trembley is. The guy’s an absolute breath of fresh air.

And…well, that’s about it. We wait.

Leave it to the Orioles to break their biggest news in years on a day when I’m away from my computer. Bastards.

By now you’ve all heard that Miguel Tejada is blazing trails to Houston in exchange for a package of five players.

They are: 3B Mike Costanzo, outfielder Luke Scott, and pitchers Matt Albers, Troy Patton, and Dennis Sarfate.

First off, I have no problem with Patton’s reaction to the deal (he called it “really disappointing”). Let’s face it: who in their right mind would want to be traded to the Orioles right now? As far as this kid knows we’re nothing but a bunch of steroid-tainted, organizationally-challenged losers. His life has just been completely uprooted, and he’s frustrated and maybe a little worried. It’s completely understandable.

Now, if he proves to be a jackass after he’s been here long enough to settle in? Then we burn him in effigy. Or something. But for now I say we let the kid vent. I’d probably say the same thing in his shoes.

As far as the talent, it looks like there’s at least something there.

Scott, 29, is a .273 hitter with moderate power/RBI numbers. Albers, 24, hasn’t shown much at the major league level (5.87 ERA in 125.2 IP). In 546 minor league innings he went 35-25 with a 3.61 and 573 K. The aforementioned Patton, 22, is a fireballing left-hander who has had success at every minor league level. Sarfate, 26, has great major league numbers in limited action and could be a strong bullpen addition. Costanzo, 24, doesn’t strike out, gets on base, and seems to have developing power.

I can’t tell you a thing about how well any of these guys play defense — anybody know?

I can’t see how this is anything but a solid deal. Tejada had to go one way or another, and it looks like we got quite a bit for him. How many five player trades do you ever see? Unless these guys are bums — and we won’t know that for awhile — then I say “way to go”.

The question now is: what next?

I can’t seem to shake the feeling that the floodgates are about to open on Eutaw Street.

It’s a safe bet that Andy Mac will do something this offseason. I can’t fathom a scenario where we enter spring training with the same team that limped to the ‘07 finish. I have to believe that MacPhail is simply sorting through his options en route to at least one solid, large move.

Then again, I remember thinking that Willis Roberts might have been a diamond in the rough.

The latest buzz — to the extent that there is any — continues to surround rumors that the Reds are close to pulling off a deal that would net them Erik Bedard in exchange for Josh Hamilton, Homer Bailey, and Joey Votto.

I looked those three up and from where I sit it looks like a pretty good deal.

Hamilton, an outfielder, is a former #1 overall pick (1999) who has struggled because of drug abuse issues. That’s all behind him now, and it’s a pretty inspiring story. He’s still considered a fine talent, and I wouldn’t mind having this guy on the team.

Bailey, a starting pitcher, is another first rounder (seventh overall in 2004). He’s long been considered one of the Reds’ top prospects, and his name is Homer. Sign me up.

Votto, a left-handed first baseman, was a 2002 second round pick. It looks to me like he’s a guy who, at his best, will hit for very good average and decent power. Certainly looks like as good an option as anyone else we’d be likely to send out there.

It’s all rumor at this point, but I find these names encouraging. I just wish this deal — or another just like it — would happen sooner than later.

Lots of open threads these days, but that’s a good thing. Much of what makes this site takes place in the comments.

That figures to continue today as we stare down two huge AFC North matchups. At 4:15 the Steelers storm the land of the pink hats with designs on ending the Patriots‘ undefeated season. The dust should hardly be settled on that one by the time kickoff comes here in Baltimore, as the Ravens welcome the Colts to town.

The Browns, meanwhile (the in playoff contention Browns, that is), visit the Jets at 4:15 while the Bengals welcome the Rams at 1.

A Steelers win and a Browns loss would conspire to give Pittsburgh the division. A Browns win of any kind keeps them in a good position to claim a wild card berth (their main competition at the moment is the Jacksonville Jaguars, who welcome the Panthers today).

As an aside, that was a hell of a win for the Redskins Thursday. It’s a damn shame that it had to come at the expense of QB Jason Campbell. Hard to imagine how or why things just keep getting tougher down there.

Meanwhile…Orioles news could break at literally any moment.

The latest word in Erik Bedard interest appears to be, oddlly enough, the Reds, Mariners, and potentially the Cardinals. The Cubs remain interested in Brian Roberts, as well, while Miguel Tejada news has been all but nonexistent.

I’m going to to go out on a limb here and say that the impending release of the Mitchell Report has a lot to do with all of this. Another headache this organization doesn’t need.

Enjoy the games, folks…

The Orioles made a move in this morning’s Rule 5 draft, obtaining right handed reliever Randor Bierd from the Tigers system.

Bierd is 12-18 with a 4.39 era in four A/AA seasons. In 260.1 innings pitched he’s recorded 261 strikeouts and given up just 237 hits, 79 walks, and a paltry 12 home runs. From what I can gather off the internets he’s a high 80s low 90s guy with a good slider and a curveball, a guy who gets a lot of ground ball outs. Seems like a decent pickup.

In the AAA phase of the draft, Norfolk picked up Ryan Rodriguez and Tim Brown (about whom I know nothing yet), while Omaha drafted Ray Liotta (no lie).

The flurry of Orioles trade talk has got me thinking: is it the team or the players? The colors or the men who wear them?

When talk arises that the O’s might trade Brian Roberts it’s tough to know how to feel. By all accounts he’s one of the only guys on the current roster who really does things right. While Aubrey Huff goes out of his way to embarrass us all, Roberts is the sort of guy you go out of your way to build around. He’s well-mannered, respectful, active in local charity causes, and…oh yeah…one hell of a player.

Could we possibly justify trading Roberts when, in fact, we need 24 more players just like him?

Yes.

I love Nick Markakis and Erik Bedard and BRob. But at the same time I don’t love Jay Payton or Aubrey Huff or (especially) Jay Gibbons. If it was all about the players — and the players only — then the O’s would be a push at best. If I tied my rooting interests solely to how much I liked a given player then I’d be driving myself up a wall every time they played. It simply wouldn’t work.

I’m sure there are more than a few Twins fans fretting right now about the potential departure of Johan Santana, but what can you do? The Twins will still be there after Santana’s gone, the same way they’ve survived the departures of Kirby Puckett and Gary Gaetti. The same way we’ve stuck around through the exits of Cal Ripken and Mike Mussina.

So, yes, trade Bedard and Roberts and Mora and Tejada. Do it because it will help the orange and black. I’ll be sad to see them go, but I’ll take just about anything at this point if I feel like it’ll help reverse a decade-long string of defeats.

But perhaps I’m missing something?

Great news tonight for the Baltimore Orioles that has nothing to do with the Baltimore Orioles: the Tigers and Marlins have agreed to a blockbuster deal involving Dontrelle Willis, Miguel Cabrera, and a handful of prospects.

This bodes well for the O’s in two ways.

First, it opens up the market for both Miguel Tejada and Erik Bedard — two players who are, arguably, better at their respective positions than Cabrera and Willis. And you can bet that the teams who were looking at Cabrera will suddenly find Tejada a lot more intriguing. Odds are that something will happen soon.

Second, and less obviously, it gives us hope.

Drew was wondering aloud why we didn’t make a play for Johan Santana. No doubt he, and others, are looking at this trade and wondering why Andy MacPhail wasn’t on the phone to the Marlins himself.

Well, here’s why: it wouldn’t make sense. Not yet.

The Orioles aren’t a Santana or a Cabrera/Willis deal away from contending. You could go get those guys, but to do it you’d have to give up virtually all of our young talent. Somebody has to play around those guys, and the absolute last thing we need is another roster with 3-4 stars and a handful of spare parts. We’ve tried that way and it doesn’t work.

What the O’s need to do instead is exactly what the Tigers did.

Back in 2003 the Tigers went 43-119. Yes: 43-119. They did it on the backs of a core of young players — particularly young pitchers — who weren’t quite ready for prime time but who showed a lot of promise. The next year they went 72-90, then 71-91 after that. All the while they were learning what they had and planning for the long-term.

In 2006 they went to the World Series, and today they have themselves in a position to pull of a blockbuster trade that puts them — on paper — in position to legitimately contend with the Red Sox, Yankees, Indians, and Angels. Unless something goes dramatically haywire they’ll be a team to watch for at least the next two or three years.

Nobody wants to see the Orioles lose 100+ games, and nobody wants to think that we’re still three years from the playoffs. And who knows? We might not be that bad after MacPhail has made his moves. But whatever happens next season the Orioles’ first priority has to be rebuilding the organization and spending some time finding out just how good — or not good — the young guys are. We have to do it that way because we have to field the 25 best guys we can find, even if it means passing on a superstar or three in the meantime.

I’m just glad to see that we appear, finally, to actually be on the right track. Knock on wood.