Oriole Post - A Baltimore Orioles Blog
As we’re now well into baseball’s off-season, every team out there is currently looking over the inventory of players to see if they are ready for another campaign on the diamond, or there has to be some tweaking involved.
However, for the Orioles, one player is in limbo: Brian Roberts.
This week, OriolesREACH held their annual holiday party for local area children and the local media got to have a few words with Roberts and check up on his progress.
The answer the media from Roberts got was very interesting, and makes you wonder if he will be indeed ready for the 2012 season.
This is what he said (from the Baltimore Sun):
Among the Orioles attending the annual children’s holiday party at Dave & Buster’s at the Arundel Mills Mall on Tuesday was second baseman Brian Roberts, who is attempting to come back from a concussion that limited him to just 39 games in 2011.
“I’m just going day by day trying to do a little more,” said Roberts, who first suffered the concussion in September 2010, when he tapped himself on the helmet with a bat after an at-bat. “Just taking it slow and trying to get better every day. That’s about all I can tell you, really.”-snip-
“I’m taking it one day at a time. Seriously, I’m not saying that in a bad way,” Roberts said. “That’s where my life is right now. I feel like that’s the best way to handle it. I can’t look three months from now, and I can’t look three months back. I can take today and I can take this week and I’m very focused on what I’m trying to accomplish and what I’m doing, but that’s really all I can look at at this point.”
Over the past few years, Brian Roberts has obviously become a lightning rod for a group of fans. Obviously, he has been sidelined thanks to several concussions and recurring head issues.
Some people thought Brian Roberts was stealing millions from the Baltimore Orioles for his lack of productivity for the past two years; furthermore, there’s a minority who have accused him of grand larceny despite being out due to injury.
If one can read in-between-the-lines of what Roberts said, he’s not sure where he stands right now or if he will suit up for Spring Training.
However, as I said the other day: considering the history of several players who have had concussions as of late – NHL superstar Sidney Crosby, Ryan Church, Justin Morneau & Jason Bay – Roberts’ outlook may not be all that rosy.
Therefore, Roberts should not at all even come back unless he’s 100 percent.
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James brought this up over the weekend, so I’m going to give my two cents.
Unless you’ve been under a rock, one of the biggest news in sports today – to add to the pile of sordid stuff going on – involves the 2011 National League’s Most Valuable Player: Ryan Braun.
Of course, as we all know, Braun was found to have allegedly failed a drug test thanks to an elevated – or perhaps excessive –ratio of testosterone in his body.
If Braun is found to have violated baseball’s drug policy, he faces a 50-game suspension. Right now, he is vigorously denying the allegations, will appeal the charges and is mounting a defense.
Major League Baseball and their executive offices are giving Braun and his associates due process; therefore, it will be a while before any ruling is announced – perhaps sometime in January 2012.
Braun says that he didn’t take any drugs and is unsure what would have prompted a positive test. He failed MLB’s drug initial test noted found the positive results: however, Braun took another one, which he says that he passed.
Now, there’s talk (as unrealistic as it might be) in some corners of the media as to what to do with Braun’s MVP award.
I have no idea if Braun is truly innocent or just posturing like the other cheats have over the years, not only in baseball, but in various sports.
Frankly, I thought the man would have much better sense, but we don't know him based on his image – or any high profile athlete – aside from what we get from the media.
If Braun is found to have cheated, taking his MVP award back would be a bold statement. This would be to not so much to punish Braun, but to show guys, if you cheat or do PEDs -- not only will you not get your good name back, but you will lose hardware.
With the kind of risk these guys face with these products – you have to know what goes into your body. However, you don't have that kind of result from a test without taking something.
If Braun did take a tainted supplement, well he is a fool.
Remember the case with former Philadelphia reliever J.C. Romero? If you don’t know who Romero is, Google his name and the word suspension.
He took a tainted supplement/drink. MLB didn't care what the circumstance was; they threw the book at him.
Braun has a lot to lose -- not even monetarily -- with any negative press. He is not a fringe player, or a utility guy -- he's one of the faces of baseball, up there with Evan Longoria, Dustin Pedroia, Ryan Zimmerman, etc.
Sadly, he was seemingly better off with a DWI charge than an allegedly positive PED test.
To be quite honest, cheating can be awfully lucrative. Some of the suspected cheaters in the sport over the past decade have made off quite well in terms of their contracts.
I know that many people don’t want to change history, but there needs to be a much greater deterrent to drug use in sports than just serving a suspension for part of a season.
Drug use in sports will never go away, but the penalties for cheating should go much, much further than just a suspension.
If it means punishing a one of the faces of the sport, and from all accounts a good guy in Braun – if he is guilty without a doubt – then, so be it.
Seriously, I do really hope that Braun is innocent.
However, from what we have seen in the past, he very well may not be.
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As you know, the Baltimore Orioles made further inroads into the international market in the Far East this week by signing Japanese left-handed pitcher Tsuyoshi Wada to a two-year deal.
Here’s more from the Baltimore Sun:
According to an industry source, the Orioles agreed to terms
Duquette and the Orioles have not confirmed the pact.
Wada, a soft-tossing, strike-throwing lefty, starred for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks before becoming an unrestricted free agent Dec. 1. He did not need to be posted — there was no bidding process for negotiating rights — and, reportedly, several other teams expressed interest in Wada, including the Washington NationalsHere’s more:
Listed at 5 feet 10, 170 pounds, Wada consistently throws his fastball in the mid-to-high 80s, but he survives on a deceptive, three-quarters delivery and the ability to throw several pitches for strikes. He also misses bats, earning him the nickname "Dr. K of Tokyo" while in college. Throughout his career, he has maintained a strikeout-walk ratio of 3-to-1 or better. In 2011, he was 16-5 with a 1.53 ERA in 1842/3 innings with the Hawks. He struck out 168 batters and walked 40.
It’s good that the Orioles are *finally* using the international market to fill their roster after many years of seemingly bypassing it.
As for Wada, I don’t know much about him. He’s a small, soft-tosser and based on what we’ve seen from pitchers based out of Japan, it remains to be seen if he’ll be successful or not.
I’ll be curious to see how Wada does against a tough American League East and at Camden Yards – that’s if he is a starting pitcher.
What matters is this: can this pitcher get guys out, be deceptive on the mound and throw strikes? He's not all that expensive, and could provide some upside and stability to a pitchng corps that had issues last year during a sad 69 win season.
Here’s more links on the deal here, here, here, here, and here…
The Baltimore Orioles attended to some business last night as they will probably tender contracts to several of their players who are eligible for arbitration – including Brad Bergesen (a mild surprise); meanwhile, they have decided to cut slugger Luke Scott and pitcher Jo-Jo Reyes loose.
Neither Scott nor Reyes being cut was a huge surprise.
Scott was hurt for much of last year, his numbers dipped, so the Orioles made him expendable; however, it’s seems that both sides are up for a reunion. Then again, Scott is now a free agent, but the Orioles do want him back – at their price, and not at north of $5-6 million per year.
He’s got value as a slugger, despite his streaky nature; however, at 33, is Scott part of the future of the Baltimore Orioles?
I know he’s popular despite his politics and over-the-top statements at times. Then again, at this point, should the team move onto seeing what some of the younger guys could do since they are in a rebuilding phase?
Then again, Luke could come cheap (a key) and give the Orioles a left-handed power bat. Why not sign him to a year, or on a year-to-year deal without much risk.
That’s an interesting question to ponder.
As for Reyes, he’s just another arm and would give the team depth on the pitching staff.
Well, he’s not that good. The team can find better. Reyes could not be counted upon as a starter, but was a decent mop-up guy/reliever.
I thought Bergesen would be cut, but he’s got ability and his problem is consistency. Hopefully, he can find the magic he had in his rookie season; however, I think he might be a much better fit for the National League than the American league.
Also, the Orioles made some moves on the international market as they signed Japanese pitcher Tsuyoshi Wada to a 2-year deal, and are also looking at Taiwanese Chen Wei-Yin, a left-handed arm. One of the team’s targets in the Far East – pitcher Chong Tae-Hyon – will stay in Korea.
So far, I have not thought much of Dan Duquette’s moves. I do like that he’s going into the Far East and trying to find players of value who won’t break the bank.
I would like him to take more risks and bring a tenured veteran (pitcher or slugger) onto the squad; however, I do think he’s very much taking his time with his moves and may just be evaluating the organization than making a move to just make a move.
Right now, I do think that the organization must really focus on rebuilding the minor league before anything else.
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Well, it looks like Felix Pie is no longer a member of the Baltimore Orioles, as he signed a minor-league deal with the Cleveland Indians.
He held himself back at times due to injury issues; however, when Pie played over the past two years, he was woefully inconsistent at the plate and on the field.
Pie showed promise at the end of 2009, but could never translate that in the following seasons. That's just too bad.
The guy should be an amazing ballplayer (based on his look), but he lacked some basic baseball instincts, and in a results-driven league, you're only as good as your recent production.
Pie certainly needs to play often - whether in the majors or minors - to get better. That was not going to happen in Baltimore unless a freak injury occured to one of their regulars. However, it seemed like Buck Showalter and company gave up and moved on.
Bottom line, Pie was not doing much at all with organization and could not produce when given the chance to play.
He was basically taking up space on the squad, and it's better that the release came now, so that some viable young talent could be looked at.
Milwaukee Brewers' all-star, MVP, left fielder Ryan Braun has tested positive for PEDs according to ESPN's Outside the Lines. The story states that Braun tested positive for testosterone levels at least four times higher than normal and an additional test from the International Doping Agency in Montreal confirmed that the testosterone could not have been produced by Braun's body. The Brewers' star is, of course, appealing the decision and staunchly maintaining his innocence.
Braun has been considered one of baseball's post-steroid era golden boys. He is supposed to be one of the clean-era good guys that has proven big offense will still exist without chemical upgrades, all of that has come crashing down.
So now Braun is a cheater. He broke the rules, he cheated. The sad thing is even if he somehow does successfully appeal the charges many will still consider him to be a cheater. We live in such a cynical age that even a full-fledged press conference featuring the scientists, Bud Seilig, the President and assorted Gods bith full and demi will most likely not shake the accusations from Braun's record. There will always be a question.
This cynical age has also spawned a cabal of individuals that contend performance enhancing drugs do not actually significantly enhance performance in any real way, at least not in baseball. The same drugs that may give someone the ability to lift more weight do not necessarily help you get the barrell of a bat through the strike zone any faster; nor give one the hand-eye-coordination to hit that ball the necessary way. This may all well be true, but I do not subscribe to that belief. But at the end of the day it does not matter. It does not matter if the drugs did/ do nothing, maybe it is/ was all in the players' minds the bottom line is that they are banned and now serious consequences are associated with failing these tests.
Honestly, I see this argument everyday in my classes - particularly my government class when it comes to the criminalization of certain substances and the social acceptance of others. Children are quite remarkable divining rods of perceived hyopcrisy. When they see something they feel is unfair or violates their rights in some way they attack it like a cougar on a wounded baby deer. My stock responses usually range from playing devil's advocate to get them more engaged to claiming cultural and societal differences lead to variations in accepted behaviors. No matter which road I take as I navigate the class through the debate I usually end with this basic truth: It is against the rules, and like any other rule you may try and break it and even get away with it for a minute - but when you get caught all of these arguments will mean nothing because you broke the rules.
Ryan Braun has appeared to have broken the rules. some of the more "enlightened" among us may sit on their very high horses and condemn the discussion for even taking place because nothing has been proven. Does synthetic testosterone have any real impact on your ability to play the game? Or is it just another copper-bracelet or homeopathic remedy closer to snake oil than science? We can have that debate for the next century but it won't matter because currently there are rules banning these substances and Ryan Braun has tested positive so he must face his punishment. Unlucky? Maybe. Unfortunate? Yes. Tragic for the game? Definitely.
IMPORTANT UPDATE:
According to Foxsports.com's Ken Rosenthal:
"To clarify on Braun: What he did triggered violation of
#MLB steroid-testing policy. Source says substance was prohibited, but not PED."
As I understand this, it appears that Braun had something in his system that caused elevated testosterone levels but was not a performance enhancer. But the substance is still a banned substance and he is still subject to disciplinary action.
There is obviously still a lot left to un-pack when it comes to this story.
no commentsKey members of the Baltimore Orioles front office, along with Buck Showalter and Dan Duquette have travelled to the Dominican Republic to take a look at Cuban slugger and outfielder Yoenis Cespedes.
As you see in the video below, the man has some serious skills and the physique to boot; however, the question is – if and when he debuts in the majors – can he hit major league pitching consistently.
I’d hate to think that the Orioles would travel such a long way to just get a glimpse at a player and not make a move. At this point, I’d like the Orioles to take some risks and perhaps signing a player of Cespedes’ ability despite the price tag.
The Orioles need an impact player on the roster, despite having Adam Jones – who plays Cespedes’ natural position – and Nick Markakis in the outfield.
MASN Sports’ Steve Melewski recently had a blog entry on Cespedes and got some input from Ben Badler, who writes for Baseball America.
Cespedes is a 26-year-old right-handed hitting outfielder who defected from Cuba in 2011. He batted .333 with 33 home runs and 99 RBIs during the 2010-2011 season with the Cuban national team.
He has yet to officially establish residency and become a free agent, but that could happen any day now. Some speculate that Cespedes will be signed to a free agent contract in the $35-$50 million range.
Baseball America's Ben Badler, a writer who is well connected on the international front, is pretty high on Cespedes.
"He's probably, after Yu Darvish, the best baseball player available that hasn't played in Major League Baseball yet," Badler said. "He's definitely one of the best Cuban players that has ever come over. He's different from some of the other guys that came over when they were younger and needed a lot of minor league time.
"If he's not big league ready, he is very close to being big league ready now. I think that he is a guy that should make an impact in 2012 whether he starts out in the majors or possibly in Triple-A just to start the season.
Cespedes not a free agent as of yet, since he must setup residency in the Dominican Republic; however, one must bet that he will be great demand.
The Orioles need to make a serious move – perhaps Cespedes is one worth taking.
no commentsI’m sure a lot of fans were expecting the Orioles to do something of note at the Winter Meetings, despite the advance warnings of Dan Duquette and notes from the media.
Overall, the Baltimore Orioles did very little of note in Texas. While the Miami Marlins, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and some other teams made major moves, Baltimore traded for well-traveled pitcher Dana Eveland and potentially filled in some organizational holes with the Rule V draft.
The big move – if you want to call it that – was for Eveland, who has been in several organizations and has had his share of trips in the Major Leagues. I would think this is a clichéd, low-risk, high reward signing.
Or whatever you may think…
Here’s more about him from the Baltimore Sun:
Eveland isn't the top-of-the-rotation starter coveted by Orioles fans. He is 19-24 with a 5.52 ERA in 100 games (59 starts) in parts of seven big league seasons. But last year, the lefty sinkerballer was 3-2 with a 3.03 ERA in five starts with the Dodgers and was 12-8 with a 4.38 ERA in 25 starts with Triple-A Albuquerque, which plays at one of the worst pitchers' parks in baseball.
"He won 15 games this year between Triple-A and the big leagues," Duquette said. "He'd been up in the big leagues before as a starting pitcher, and he has gotten himself on track to compete for a starting job in spring training
I would gather for now that Eveland is just another arm in the picture and will contend for a rotation spot in Spring Training.
For some reason, I expected more to happen in Texas; silly me. Then again, the Orioles have more than two months until pitchers and catchers report down in Florida. I'm sure the Orioles will make most of their moves via trades and maybe sign a mid-to-low level veteran; however, only time well tell.
no commentsAs we’re on the final day of the Winter Meetings, the Orioles have done quite a bit of talking with various teams, agents and whatever; however, little has happened so far with the organization.
The various scribes and hard working media members who made the trip down to Texas reported that Dan Duquette said that Baltimore is in position to make a move or two at the meetings. Of course, the Orioles are looking for pitching -- and more pitching.
I’m going to assume that a trade or two might be made, but no big signings – at least from what has been put out there.
According to Pete Kerzel from MASN Sports, “Nippon-Ham Fighters have decided to post Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish. Major league teams will bid on the right to extend a contract offer to Darvish, a deal that collectively cost somewhere in the $100 million range.”
In a previous post in the last month or so on the blog, James brought up Darvish’s name and the hopes of the Orioles signing him. They have done little on the international front over the past several seasons, aside from signing Koji Uehara, and Duquette has made it known that the team will look abroad for talent.
Based on recent history, the Orioles have been hesitant to give any pitcher a long-term deal. They have stuck with trying to produce their own arms or have given free agent pitchers – bullpen and starters included – contracts that have been around two years or so.
That being said, should the Orioles go after Darvish since he was posted?
Yes, I would hope so and Baltimore should take the risk, just to show us fans that they are dead serious about reaching .500 and ending their long stretch of losing.
Darvish would be an ideal fit for the Orioles – young, internationally proven and could be a great top-of-the-rotation guy; however, once again you’ve got to wonder – will Baltimore pony up the money?
He will cost a lost and since we can’t see the financials with the Orioles, who knows if they want – or can – spend the money. Plus, I would think the competition would be fierce to acquire him – especially with the Rangers and Yankees as deep-pocket favorites.
Like I’ve been saying all week, I hope the Orioles just do something this winter and take a risk.
Going after Darvish – and getting him – would accomplish just that.
Finally, the Orioles selected Ryan Flaherty in the Rule V Draft, which was held earlier this morning.
Well, it looks like Albert Pujols is off the market. It's not like he was ever coming to Baltimore, but the Orioles could have used him...
The news of his potential signing came from Yahoo Sports, via MLB Trade Rumors.
The Angels are the bridesmaid no more. Albert Pujols
Sorry, that contract will kill the Angels later on.
As we've seen with Alex Rodriguez -- no one is worth that amount of money, especially when they reach a relatively advanced age for athletes.
Honestly, he should have stayed in St. Louis; however, the Angels have a solid organization and may be even loaded if C.J. Wilson signs with them.
I guess Pujols figured it was not worth being a Cardinal for life -- like Stan Musial -- if the Brinks' truck (from the Angels) came coming.
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