All Points Bulletin For A Shortstop...

In watching the Orioles this season, it was fairly evident to everyone that the shortstop position was nothing short of a black hole at the plate and at times in the field (depending who was there at the time).

When Andy MacPhail traded Miguel Tejada last off-season for five players from the Houston Astros, it was widely assumed that the Orioles' in-house candidate at the time, Luis Herandez -- a highly regarded defensive whiz -- could take over the position, while hitting for average at the plate.

He was woeful and forgot how to field when given the chance in early 2008; thus, he was banished to Norfolk. Then came in Freddie Bynum, Brandon Fahey, followed by Alex Cintron & Juan Castro.

The results were not good -- we had guys who could not hit worth anything -- with exception of Alex Cintron; however, he was a butcher in the field and made himself completely worthless.

If you want to look at some sobering statistics as to how awful the shortstop position was for Baltimore, check out the Washington's Post Baseball Insider blog and their analysis that was posted last week.

Here's a snippet of what was written.

From the Washington Post: However, just how badly the Orioles need a legitimate replacement for Miguel Tejada can't be fully appreciated without examining the work of those who tried to fill in last season -- Juan Castro, Freddie Bynum, Alex Cintron, Brandon Fahey and Luis Hernandez.

In short, they weren't just bad. They were historically bad.

ORIOLES SHORTSTOPS, COMBINED OFFENSE, 2008
Category Result MLB Rank (of 30)
Average .218 30th
On-Base .259 30th
Slugging .276 30th
OPS .535 30th

Anybody spot a trend here? The five players combined for arguably one of the worst offensive seasons for shortstops on any team in the last 35 years. Their collective inability to reach base was the most egregious sin. The Orioles .259 OBP was among the bottom 25 in baseball since 1974, and the lowest since by any team since the shortstops for the 1999 Anaheim Angels turned in an equally pathetic .256.

On top of the obvious holes that the Orioles need to fill -- getting a reliable starting pitcher or two, or three; another bat, along with chasing after Mark Teixeira or A.J. Burnett -- it goes without saying the team needs a *real* shortstop (one who could hit too)!

Teams may no longer need a shortstop to have the pedigree of Cal Ripken, Derek Jeter, Nomar Garciaparra (when healthy), or an Alex Rodriguez (when he played there), we need one who can do a decent job day in and day out -- at the plate and in field, plus not be an automatic out.

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The Juice -- O.J. Simpson -- Squeezed, Pathetic and Broken...

After he was found not guilty of the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, why did not lay low at all? He was not a childhood hero of mine growing up, but I remember he sort of was the All-American male -- however, in reality, it might have been anything but the case.

Friday afternoon in Las Vegas, Nevada, O.J. Simpson was sentenced to a minimum of 9 years -- a maximum of 33 -- for his role in a September 2007 incident that took place in a Las Vegas hotel room in which he robbed a pair of memorabilia dealers of merchandise that belonged to him at one time.

From MSNBC: Moments before, Simpson made a rambling, five-minute plea for leniency, simultaneously apologizing for the holdup as a foolish mistake and trying to justify his actions.

He choked back tears as he told her: “I didn’t want to steal anything from anyone. ... I’m sorry, sorry.”

The judge said several times that her sentence in the Las Vegas case had nothing to do with Simpson’s 1995 acquittal in the slaying of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman.

“I’m not here to try and cause any retribution or any payback for anything else,” Glass said.

Was this justice delayed? Payback? Who knows? I won't miss him, and nor will lot of lot Americans. I still remember the day he was accused of the murder, and the infamous chase down the L.A. Freeway. Just to think -- he could be potentially spending his twilight years in a jail cell.

It's just pathetic that this man had it all, a family, riches, fame, adulation -- many felt he got away with murder -- and pissed it all away.

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Dunn?

Right now, while the big lynch pin on the market – Mark Teixeira – decides on a new home or stays perhaps with the Angels, Birdland might as well start looking at Plan B just in case Plan A fails.

In a very quiet Hot Stove season, Adam Dunn’s name has not been mentioned much aside from the media in Washington (lest we forget, he’s very much admired by Nationals’ GM Jim Bowden from their days in Cincinnati).

In case Baltimore does not get Teixeira and they still have a few bucks in the bank they want to spend, why not on Adam Dunn?

He would not be my first choice – he’s better than Giambi, and far superior to Millar, but he could be a suitable bat in the heart of lineup who could strike fear into opposing pitchers.

From the Washington Post’s Tom Boswell (his piece is more focused on the Nationals, but here’s a snippet…

…The market for Diamondbacks left fielder Adam Dunn has shriveled along with the economy. Once thought to be a $15-million-a-year player, despite his weak defense and plentiful strikeouts, Dunn (29) may eventually be available for a few years at $10-million-per or even less.

Dunn has had five straight seasons of forty home run seasons – 46 in ’04 and 40 from 05-08 – and carries a career on-base percentage of .381; sadly, he leaves nothing to be desired in the field (he can play first or one of the corner positions) -- but Baltimore could use his power.

The big slugger’s real big downside – his career batting average of .247 – and his propensity to whiff (he had 164 strikeouts in ’08); however, his bat could be one of incredible value in the Oriole lineup – especially with the right field wall that’s ever so inviting.

He’s one-dimensional, ala Dave Kingman – with a better batting eye; however, but he’s only 29, and could come far cheaper than Teixeira. I don’t know if I would allow him to put on a fielding glove (let Huff hold the fort at first), but the big man could be formidable in the Baltimore lineup.

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Throwing A Wrench Into The Plans?

This could mean nothing, but it could mean something. It might look like business is about to pick up for Mark Teixeira...

He was in the region, but didn't meet with the Orioles, or Nationals -- but the Yankees?

From the New York Times: The gridlocked free-agent market is slowly starting to move, and the Yankees are helping push it along. General Manager Brian Cashman traveled to Washington on Thursday to meet first baseman Mark Teixeira, and he will meet C. C. Sabathia this weekend before the start of the winter meetings in Las Vegas on Monday.

The Yankees’ priority is pitching, and Cashman met with Teixeira and his agent, Scott Boras, who also represents Derek Lowe, Oliver Pérez and Manny Ramírez. Teixeira was visiting family in Maryland and is also being courted by the Washington Nationals.

“Mark is a good fit for a lot of clubs that want to win championships,” Boras said in a telephone interview. “He’s a great defender, an excellent on-base guy, a power guy, an R.B.I. guy, a durable guy, and he’s a leader. You don’t have many players in the marketplace who offer that package.”

Who knows what may result from this meeting, but I don't think Teixeira will sign at the Winter Meetings; however, the Orioles should perhaps make an offer soon and see what happens.

Khalil Greene Goes To St. Louis

Another deal in the Hot Stove season, this time in a trade with the Padres dumping salary and also garnering some prospects. It looks like our role in the rumored three team trade with the Cubs and Padres has gone up in smoke with this development.

In a slow-moving market, the Cardinals are acting quickly. St. Louis answered the biggest question in its 2009 lineup on Thursday, trading for Padres shortstop Khalil Greene. A day earlier, the Cards signed reliever Trever Miller to a one-year contract.

The Redbirds announced the trade on Thursday evening after a day of reports and speculation. St. Louis will send relief prospect Mark Worrell and a player to be named later to San Diego.

It's the second deal consummated between the two teams in less than a year -- in December 2007, the Padres acquired Jim Edmonds for Minor League third baseman David Freese.

Greene will make $6.5 million in 2009, and thus far there are no indications as to how much, if any, of that salary the Padres would pick up. If St. Louis pays the entirety of Greene's 2009 salary, it would be left with approximately $10-15 million more in payroll room to find a second baseman and perhaps another starting pitcher and/or another left-handed reliever. Greene will be eligible for free agency after the 2009 season.

I don't know how this move makes the shortstop position for the Cardinals that much better; however, they only have Greene for one year, and if his numbers pick up, he's going to be line for a great pay day.

I'm not so sure he'd be good fit in Baltimore anyway aside from his power, and not much else in my mind to jump and say "sign him".

Meanwhile, the Orioles keep looking -- with Renteria signed with San Francisco and Furcal most likely rumored to sign with Oakland, could Cesar Izturis be our next shortstop?

The Winter Meetings

As most fans know, the Winter Meetings are upon us and they will commence next week in the City of Sin -- Las Vegas Nevada.

With the market being ever so slow, one can assume there will be deals done and trades consummated, we all know the Orioles are still in a serious need of rebuild of their current roster. That being said, although most fans would love to see Burnett or Teixeira on the team, there needs to be a lot more done.

Oriole Nation is waiting to see what MacPhail and the Front Office will come away with when all is said and done next week. Can the Orioles pull off another deal where one of their tenured veterans can be traded for multiple prospects?

Obviously the team needs a) pitching, pitching, and more pitching, b) a shortstop, c) another big bat, preferably at first base.

Right now, I know people like to compare the Orioles situation with the Rays of a few few years ago. While they have emerged after several years worth of losing and rose at the right time, the Orioles will still probably struggle for a few years before a breakthrough occurs.

Baltimore needs to stockpile their whole organization with draft packs, trades for young talent and stick with the plan before anything really changes. Perhaps the they might also want to delve into the bargain bin and find veteran/high-value players that teams might overlook to fill into critical spots -- especially pitching.

The road will be painful, but I'm pleased to see the team finally stick to a viable blueprint in order to become competitive again.

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Burnett to Atlanta; Markakis and Pedroia

It looks like the Braves may be in the hunt for Burnett, and may be ready to offer him what he wants -- a five year deal.

Via the New York News: Just as they were finalizing a trade for Javier Vazquez, the Braves were preparing a five-year offer for A.J. Burnett, according to sources. Burnett, considered the No.2 starter on the market, was expected to wait for Sabathia to make the first move. But with the Yankees, Red Sox and Blue Jays all apparently hesitant to give Burnett a fifth year, the 31-year-old might jump at Atlanta's offer before Sabathia makes his decision.

The Braves need pitching and want to get back into the NL East hunt. At this point, who knows what happen and if Burnett may use the Braves to increase his price, or he if he'll sign. With times being so uncertain and the oft-injured hurler being signed to his 37th birthday, he may sign with Atlanta.

However, I think the Braves may be taking a huge risk with Burnett and considering the conservative nature in which they hand out contracts, signing him may not be wise and it was a definite surprise to hear this.

***

While many are waiting for news to come out from the Warehouse about any important signings, moves, etc., the Red Sox went ahead and signed Dustin Pedroia to a six-year, $40.5 million contract extension, with an option for 2015, that takes them through three arbitration and two free-agent seasons. Smart move for the Sox; thus, what does this for Nick Markakis and the Orioles.

Nothing at all.

A Markakis deal will get done at some point; however, with the winter meetings on the horizon along with the team trying to find arms for the rotation, as well as a shortstop (Khalil Greene?) the Orioles had to put the discussions on the back burner.

Folks, the sky isn't falling yet; therefore, we should not worry. Then again, it seems important the team sign simply sign the right fielder for credibility purposes amongst the fanbase, and he wants to be here, so let's let the discussion -- no matter how slow it may be -- take its course.

Markakis and the Orioles Halt Extension Talks...

Take this for what is it worth right now...

From the Baltimore Sun: Both club president Andy MacPhail and Markakis' agent, Jamie Murphy, confirmed that the sides exchanged proposals last week for the first time this offseason and that after several discussions, an agreement could not be reached.

Stopping short of calling it an impasse, Murphy said Markakis has decided to observe what happens with baseball's current free-agent class before negotiating again. Murphy said he expects talks to pick up in late January when the sides exchange filings for salary arbitration.

"In many respects the talks have been productive, but we've reached a point where we felt it would be beneficial to see how the market develops," Murphy said. "From our point of view, we expect to revisit these discussions. We felt that taking some time and seeing how the market shapes up may help us along in finding some common ground. And Andy agreed."

As a fan, I'm a little concerned that he hasn't been signed by now; however, Nick Markakis is holding back on extending with the team at the moment to see what deals are consummated with the free agents out there before he works on his own.

It may serve to be a smart business move on his part, as he tries to come back with a counter offer for the team in the near future; meanwhile, the Orioles can also formulate a deal of their own.

I don't think this is a big deal, as he's heading into his fourth season with the team. He's got another full three seasons to play before he becomes a free agent, and neither side is obligated to come up with a long term deal at this time.

The only problem with Markakis holding back on the deal is with the economy and how long this recession lasts. If it goes well into next season and longer, his value may not be as high it could have been in the past -- however, that's the risk you take. As well, though not likely -- his numbers could decline or he could get hurt -- nevertheless, he's in for likely a huge pay day no matter how you slice it.

Life, Interrupted.

For millions of people, life these days can be hard depending on where your 401K and investments stands, along with whether you still have a job or not.

Well, for me, the reality that many face in these scary times came down crashing on me as I told was told in a conference call with my boss and a few executive level people that my salary would be slashed.

To add insult to injury -- I will not be eligible for a raise in 2009.

Then again, some would say to me, "why should I complain" -- you have an excellent job, still getting fairly good pay, no kids, and all that jazz. To a certain extent, I should be so-called "thankful"; however, I'm getting less than we used to for doing the same work and I'm having a hard time reconciling that.

However, I could be out the door in about six months and on the unemployment line if the worst happens, or if I can't find another job? Maybe sooner?

Right now, while I'm taking a sizable hit in a salary -- if I elect to stay at my job -- therefore, I'll still renew my season ticket packages that I hold with the Orioles and other teams I watch during the year. I'll probably cut down on travel, vacation, extra stuff I really don't need, road trips, or not go to that many extra games outside of my plan, or may cut back until I figure out how I am affected by the economic meltdown. Do I put off buying a new car for yet another year, do I save even more money, do I not eat out as much, or not buy the nice shirt?

That being said, what does the market mean for sports in general?

It looks like the vast majority of teams like the Orioles and Red Sox have kept prices the same as the previously; meanwhile, a few teams like the Phillies, Rays and Yankees have jacked up their prices.

Will they try to take advantage of fans, or will there even be more bargain nights, sales, and concessions for families who want to see games?

I'm sure others might not renew their season ticket packages, may just stay home from now on, or not buy much or any merchandise at all.

In the end, I really wonder how big time sports will really be affected. I wonder if they will truly cater to fans who root ardently for their favorite team, but yet might be pinched financially. Times are changing, and I'm sure teams are taking notice.

What they do with that fact is up in the air.

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A Bit of the Obvious & Jay Payton...

Here's a small bit of news -- perhaps obvious to anyone who saw the team last year...

From the Orioles.com: All four of Baltimore's affected players -- first baseman Kevin Millar, left fielder Jay Payton and infielders Alex Cintron and Juan Castro -- were designated as neither Type A nor Type B free agents. That means that there is virtually no advantage to offering them arbitration, beyond the possibility that they'd accept and stay in the fold.

The Orioles aren't expected to make a serious play for any of their outgoing free agents, but Millar likely represents the best chance of the four to return...

and...

Millar has voiced his desire to come back to Baltimore for a fourth season, though, and will likely be available to sign late in the process. With that in mind, his candidacy may become more attractive over time.

I say bring Millar back -- if the team needs him, and he's willing to play a reserve role; however, let's see what's on the open market and via trade before considering him as an option.

Everyone else, we can live without on the squad.

***

The Boston Globe's Nick Cafarado has a general baseball round-up section on the Boston.com website (that does a bang-up job of covering the sport) and there's a Q&A with former Oriole Jay Payton.

It seems the Red Sox have a need for a righthanded-hitting outfielder. Any interest in coming back?

JP: "When I talked to my agent recently, Boston was the first team I mentioned. I don't know if it's in the cards or if I squished my chances of ever returning there. I know the circumstances of my departure from there a few years back were blown out of proportion. I've talked to Tito [Terry Francona] several times since then and we're OK. I'd love the chance to go back there because that's a winning organization and they're committed to winning. They do things the right way."

Enjoy your time in Baltimore and any chance of going back?

JP: "I wish we could have won more and I wish I could have played a little more, but it became obvious they're going with younger guys. I would never say never to anything, but it seems they're looking for younger players."

Interesting words. As it is right now, Jay Payton is obviously not coming back to Baltimore and the team is looking to get younger; however, he did do a decent job in coming off the bench and playing the outfield in spots while Jones was hurt. I'd be curious to see where he ends up in light of the economy, his numbers last year and also his age.

I would not say Payton was productive while in Baltimore, but he always looked to be in shape, and was intense as you could get on the field.

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A Trade In The Works?

Hope everyone is having a great Thanksgiving holiday weekend and recovering from Black Friday -- assuming you partook in it -- however, it looks like the Orioles may now be involved in some trade talk now.

Well, if you have had your pulse on the news, it seems like the Oriole and Cubs are annual trade partners; thus, there may be something in the works -- again.

From the Baltimore Sun: The Orioles have revisited trade talks with the Cubs about outfielder Felix Pie, according to industry sources, and could end up as the third team in a three-way deal that would send marquee right-hander Jake Peavy from the San Diego Padres to Chicago.

Pie, once considered one of the best young prospects in the game, was an Orioles target at this time last year when the two teams discussed a trade involving two-time All-Star second baseman Brian Roberts.

Orioles president Andy MacPhail said today that a deal is not imminent but acknowledged that Pie is the kind of player the Orioles are pursuing to broaden the club's position depth.

"We have a lot of different irons in the fire," MacPhail said. "We're in the process of determining who our trading partners might be and which free agents we might have a chance to sign. We're basically in the same position as everybody else, waiting for a couple of big dominoes to fall."

Right now, considering Jones is in the fold in center field and Markakis is in right, I don't know if he's a fit for the team unless someone is moved. However, Pie has promise, and a place like Baltimore -- assuming he can live up to his potential -- could be one where he shines, plus could be another young player to be added to Baltimore's long term plans.

Now this tidbit...

The Padres, who are limited in trade talks for Peavy because of the 2007 National League Cy Young Award winner's no-trade clause, covet Garrett Olson, a Southern California native. This offseason, the Padres asked for Olson in exchange for veteran shortstop Khalil Greene, but the Orioles rejected the offer. Olson, 25, is 10-13 with a 6.87 ERA in 33 starts over two major-league seasons.

The Padres and Cubs have been looking for a third team to get involved in the Peavy trade talks because Chicago reportedly doesn't have all the young, major-league-ready pieces San Diego is seeking.

I'm not sure we should trade Olson -- he's shown flashes of brilliance at times, despite being inconsistent in 2008; however, the Orioles need to yet younger, and a player of Pie's pedigree and potential does not come by too often. The Cubs have their needs, as do the Orioles and Padres -- two teams that will most likely be in the second division in 2009.

Again, Pie seems to be quite inciting. What would he coming to Charm City factor into Luke Scott or Lou Montanez's playing time?

I'm split on doing this move; however, if the Padres add another piece -- primarily an infielder -- it might be move worth making especially if it could perhaps open the door to what could potentially transpire.

Then again, there might be a significant hurdle too on making this deal happen as Peter Schmuck notes:

Don't hold your breath on this. There are some complicating factors, primarily the three-year, $52 million contract extension Peavy signed that guarantees him an average of $16 million per year from 2010 through 2012 (on top of his $11 million for 2009 and including a $4 million buyout if his $22 million option for 2013 doesn't get picked up). Taking on that contract probably is going to require approval from whoever makes the highest bid for the Cubs franchise, which is being sold by the Tribune Company. The deadline for bids is Monday.

Stay tuned. Something may happen, or it may not.

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The Birds in Asia; Around the Blogosphere...

Being that good pitching will more than likely come at premium, and many of the youngsters down on the farm are simply not ready yet for the majors, the Orioles are looking at the Far East for some more talent -- especially arms.

I first saw this development on Steve Melewski's blog on MASN Sports, and there was a follow-up article in the Baltimore Sun on Thursday.

From MASN Sports: Sources say the O's are looking at pitchers Koji Uehara, Kenshin Kawakami and Junichi Tazawa along with catcher Ryoji Aikawa.

Tazawa is a 22-year-old amateur who asked the Japan pro teams to avoid drafting him since he wanted to play in the United States. The O's are likely a longshot to get Tazawa, who has received an offer this week from Texas, while some in the industry consider Boston the front-runner to get this pitcher who will likely start next season in the minors.

Uehara is a 33-year right-hander, who is 112-62 with an ERA of 3.01 in ten seasons with the Yomiuri Giants. He pitched in relief in 2007 and had 32 saves. Uehara throws four pitches including a fastball that ranges between 86 and 92. Many big league clubs are looking at him for bullpen help but sources say the O's see him as a possible back of the rotation starter.

Kawakami is a 33-year-old righty who went 9-5, 2.30 last year for the Chunichi Dragons. He has spent 11 years with that club. He is a pitcher with excellent control who has hit 92 with his fastball. Like Uehara, he also projects as a fourth or fifth starter in the Majors.

While it looks like Tazawa will sign with the Red Sox and develop through their system, the Orioles are doing the right thing by tapping into Asia. The organization on the major league level need the depth on their roster, and perhaps they are looking in the right place, rather than the traditional journey to the Caribbean where there's obvious physical talent; albeit, most of the time -- very raw and in need of development.

Aside from gaining some professional level talent, the Orioles -- if they do things right and grab a tiny piece of the pie in Asia -- could perhaps open a market and start branding the franchise in that region of world, much like the Red Sox, Dodgers, Mariners and Yankees have done.

***

There's frankly not a whole lot going on with the Hot Stove; however, I expect that to change in the next couple of weeks during the Winter Meetings.

I think little has happened for these three reasons -- 1) the economy, 2) the market needs to establish itself as most are waiting to see where the big chips (Ramirez, Teixeira, Burnett, Lowe) sign, 3) owners may want to be cheap...

While we wait, Press Box's Amber Theoharis wants the organization to open the checkbook for Teixeira. I do want him on the squad -- obviously -- however, if he is going to eat up let's say a quarter of the payroll, there's better places within the organization where it could be spent. This team has a lot of holes and they are not probably going to contend in 2009, 2010 or even
beyond. The good old New York Times -- a paper that seemingly most of conservative America hates -- reports what most already know about the Orioles and how things are going so far - blah, blah...

Camden Chat thinks the team should be looking at Adam Dunn as a subsitute in case we don't get Teixeira; The Roar from 34 has a great post on the truth and urban legends of the Hot Stove Season and how players select their teams; Oriole Central hopes that the hiring of Krivsky isn't the big move of the off-season & Dempsey's Army looks at the career of Mike Mussina.

Giambi?

While Oriole nation watches and wonders whether or not Mark Teixeira signs with Baltimore, MASN's "What They're Saying About The Orioles" notes a brief little snippet from CBS Sportsline profiles on free agent first basemen.

It mentions someone who has been nothing but a nemesis to the Orioles, especially when it comes to the longball -- Jason Giambi. It now looks like they may be some scant interest in the slugger or this just might be a figment of someone's imagination; however, I am taking it all with a grain of salt.

He won't get anything near the $120 million, seven-year deal it took for the Yankees to sign him away from Oakland, but after hitting 32 home runs in 2008, Giambi should be able to find a job.

Potential suitors: A's, Yankees, Giants, Blue Jays, Mariners, Orioles.

Now Giambi is a free agent after the Yankees declined his option, and from the looks of it, he's not been garnering much attention. While he has not hit for average in several seasons and is a liability in the field -- he still hits for power, drives in runs, draws walks and has a relatively good batting eye.

I'm against signing guys on the wrong side of thirty for the most part; however, if Giambi is cheap enough -- and I mean cheap -- the Orioles might want to take a chance on him.

Then again, we have a serviceable hitter in Luke Scott, and also potentially Lou Montanez -- assuming he makes the club in spring training -- could serve as DH and do the job Giambi could accomplish.

Plus, they are both obviously just not one-dimensional players unlike the former Yankee slugger.

Former Reds' GM Wayne Krivsky Named To The Front Office...

The Orioles have added another member to the front office...

ORIOLES NAME WAYNE KRIVSKY SPECIAL ASSISTANT
TO THE PRESIDENT OF BASEBALL OPERATIONS

The Orioles today announced that they have named WAYNE KRIVSKY as Special Assistant to the President of Baseball Operations. The former Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Cincinnati Reds brings over 30 years of experience in baseball operations to the organization and will be involved in all aspects of the Orioles’ major league operations, including scouting, contracts and other baseball administration responsibilities.

Krivsky’s three decades of experience include nearly 27 seasons as an assistant or special assistant to general managers in the Texas Rangers, Minnesota Twins and New York Mets organizations, with scouting and player evaluation experience at all levels of development.

Krivsky most recently served as special assistant to Mets General Manager Omar Minaya during the 2008 season. Prior to that role, he spent over two years as Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Cincinnati Reds.

As General Manager of the Reds, Krivsky was responsible for the acquisition of some of the team’s best young players. He signed pitcher JARED BURTON and outfielder JOSH HAMILTON through the 2006 Rule 5 draft and acquired second baseman BRANDON PHILLIPS from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for a player to be named later in April 2006 and infielder JEFF KEPPINGER from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for a minor league pitcher in January 2007. Krivsky then sent Hamilton to the Rangers in exchange for 2008 All-Star pitcher EDINSON VOLQUEZ and pitcher DANNY HERRERA in December 2007.

The 54-year-old began his baseball career in January 1977 in the ticket department of the Rangers, moving to the Baseball Operations department two years later as assistant director of player development and scouting. He was promoted to assistant general manager in October 1980 and served in that capacity for Texas until he was hired by the Twins in December 1994 as special assistant to general manager Terry Ryan. He became assistant general manager for Minnesota in November 1998 and spent over eight years in that position before he was hired in February 2006 as the Reds’ General Manager.

Krivsky was born in Niagara Falls, New York and is a 1972 graduate of New Canaan (CT) High School. He attended Duke University, where he played baseball for three seasons and earned a degree in management science in 1976.

Now, Krivsky -- who had some hits and misses as the former GM of the Reds -- has nearly three decades of experience in Major League Baseball.

I don't know a lot about him aside from what I have seen from the media and some Reds blogs, but his knowledge might serve some value to MacPhail, especially on the scouting and talent side.

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2008 Grades: The Infield, Part One

Since we're well into the off-season now, I'm going to spend the next week or so and go through the roster and assign players grades along with some brief opinion what I think of them.

First Baseman, Kevin Millar
2007 Numbers: .234, 20 HR, 72 RBI, .323 OBP, .394 SLG, 145 games
Grade: D

Kevin Millar has had a fine career, but his career his obviously close to the end of the road as evidenced by the last two months of the season.

He was a decent glove at first base, and provided some pop; otherwise that, he didn't instill a lot of confidence with me at all. Keep in mind, his numbers weren't terrible, but they are not what you expect from a first baseman at all these days and his numbers were down all across the board based on what he's done career-wise.

Millar is a great clubhouse guy, and a fan favorite; however, he's 37, and I'd like the organization to move on from him along with see what's out on the market.

Hell, I'd rather give Huff first base than him, but I have a sneaking suspicion that he'll find his way back to Baltimore if we can't sign a slugging first baseman.

Second Baseman, Brian Roberts
2007 Numbers: 155 games, .296 AVG, 9 HR, 57 RBI, 40 SB, .378 OBP, .450 SLG, 51 SB's
Grade: A-/B+

Brian is no doubt one of the faces of the organization through his charity work and interaction with the fans, and his 2008 season once again proved why he's one of the best lead-off and second baseman in baseball.

He's a good all around player with speed, some power, hits for average, and was solid from the start of the season to the end.

Whether he should be traded is another topic, but I think if the Orioles consider his age (almost 31) to be an issue and do a full rebuilding program, he might be a name (to the sadness of some fans) that could, and probably should be moved if he and the team cannot come to terms on an extension.

Aubrey Huff, First/Third Base/DH
2007 Numbers: .304 AVG, 32 HR, 108 RBI, .360 OBP, .552 SLG, 48 2B
Grade: A

I didn't know what to expect about of Huff this season, but I was pleasantly surprised and elated at what he did at plate.

Considering the way he started things off with fans before the season with his appearance on the "Bubba The Love Sponge Show", the boos he encountered early turned to cheers because his bat did the talking for him.

He finally broke through in 2008 and showed why the Orioles bestowed such a contract on him in the first place. His numbers steadily improved throughout the season, and he kept the offense rolling, especially in the summer months.

I don't know if his season was an aberration, or a sign that he's back as a force at the plate, but the Orioles should be looking for a lot from him in 2009.

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Markakis, MacPhail and The Art of the Deal...

Keith Van Valkenburg of the Sun via his blog, "The Life of Kings", gives us another viewpoint concerning the way Andy MacPhail does business and his attempt to sign Nick Markakis to a long-term deal.

We all know MacPhail can be deliberate, methodical, intrepid and yet -- that word, again ... slow -- however, I'd prefer this approach at times rather than the quick, let-get-it-done and without covering all the bases way of thinking.

However, if you're Nick Markakis, you're probably saying, "why can't I get what's mine..."

Well, I'll go into what Van Valkenburg says about Markakis and his anticipation of a deal:

While it's true that the Orioles have plenty of leverage right now, the longer the team waits, the more valuable Markakis becomes. Literally, each day that passes is a day his value goes up. Maybe it's by $100, maybe it's $100,000, but the point is, he isn't getting less expensive the longer you wait. This is a stock that's only going to climb in value over the next 10 years. The fact that the two sides say negotiations are moving very slowly suggests, to me, that they are light years apart and that the Orioles haven't yet decided to get realistic about Markakis' value. When Tampa Bay locked in Longoria for six years at $17 million plus a number of option years even though he'd only played six major league games, it suddenly became the smartest deal in baseball.

The player gets financial security and peace of mind, and the team gets a gigantic bargain later in the contract when the player is playing for half of what he's worth on the open market. Fausto Carmona, Robinson Cano and Jake Peavy signed similar deals before they became arbitration eligible. Conventional thinking in baseball has changed. The rules might allow teams to pay their young stars the league minimum, but that doesn't make it wise.

Markakis got married last year and plans to make his home in Baltimore year-round. Right now is exactly the time in his life when he wants to make certain his family will be taken care of forever. He's not going to starve on half a million a year, but also might not be able to buy that dream house he wants just yet for his family (putting down permanent roots in Baltimore). And while that might seem, to most of us, like an absurd thing to worry about in this economic climate, it might tick off a professional athlete who has already proven he's one of the best in the league. The first $25 million matters a lot more than the next $25 million. If nothing else, it gives him immediate peace of mind and lets him go into spring training without a single distraction.

I'll never understand where the principals are coming from -- I'm just a fan, with a decent job and limited athletic talent -- and it drives me wild to hear billionaires, millionaires, and soon to be millionaires squabble and whine over money along with contracts. At this point, MacPhail is doing his job and trying to build the team in his own image; meanwhile, Markakis wants to get paid and have some financial security.

I'm an advocate of giving Nick Markakis a deal sooner, rather than later -- not because I'm feeling sorry for or want him to be secure -- because he's shown himself to be one of the best right fielders in baseball, and he may not have reached the top of his athletic ceiling.

He's now established as a cornerstone of the franchise, he's young, plus wants to be with the organization, so let's just have him content and focused only on baseball now.

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Throwing One Under The Bus...

Over the past few days, a lot of people have reacted in let's say in a negative fashion -- especially on the internet and on sports talk radio -- as to what the Orioles are doing so far with the free agent market. Of course, the man at the top -- Andy MacPhail -- is getting the brunt of the criticism for being, um, "too slow".

With the exception of a few years, the notion of a "winning" Oriole team since 1990 has not existed and that's why a change was made in the middle of last season.

MacPhail was hired by Peter Angelos -- with a nudge from commissioner Bud Selig -- to try to restore the Baltimore franchise back to prominence. So far, I'd say he's done a decent job and of course his two most notable deals involved the trade of Erik Bedard and Miguel Tejada in exchange for prospects and everyday major leaguers (Adam Jones, serviceable Luke Scott, George Sherrill).

Despite the changes to the roster and early success in 2008, the Orioles only finished with 68 wins. Considering how bad most though the team would be in the media, I thought things were going in right direction in light of the final six weeks.

However, after 11 losing seasons -- fans are restless -- especially with hometown players Mark Teixeira and A.J. Burnett on the market. Some fans want deals made (now) and the Orioles to be super aggressive although much very little has taken place in terms of transactions beside talk. Add to that, the situation with extensions for Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis, or not moving a few players -- you've got the seeds of discontent.

Whether or not we sign a marquee name or extended anyone, this much I am sure of -- MacPhail has a pretty good track record, and he should be given a chance to do his job. He's only been in town for about a year-and-half, and it's unrealistic despite signing Wieters along with the big names on the market for the team to improve -- especially being that the Orioles play in one of the toughest divisions in all of sports.

What has happened with the Baltimore Orioles over the past decade did not happen overnight -- it was a combination of bad drafts, limited player development, players not working out & bad free agent moves that have led to this state.

Honestly, it's not going to be fixed overnight, either. I expect at least two or three seasons to pass by before the team returns to respectability -- if we assume it all works out. If we get either Teixeira or any big name -- that's wonderful -- however, to build a consistent winner, spending on the market can help immensely, but you have to build an organization from the ground up.

Rebuilding is going to take time & a lot of patience, but at this point, do fans have it with the team and Andy MacPhail?

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Teixeira To The East Coast?

As if any Oriole fan needed additional intrigue with the Mark Teixeira sweepstakes, here's some more...

While up watching SNL and trying to kill some time this evening, I wandered to boston.com and read a short little post via Chad Finn's blog on their website about an appearance that the slugger made during the Georgia Tech/Miami Game on ESPN this past Thursday.

You probably don’t care about the beatdown Georgia Tech’s triple option handed Miami last night, but the broadcast, at least at one point, likely would have piqued your interest.

Mark Teixeira attended the game, watching from the sidelines with fellow free agent and Scott Boras client Jason Varitek. ESPN’s Erin Andrews chatted with Teixeira, who said his hope is to choose a team and sign a contract by Christmas.

"I don't want to put a timetable on it, but Christmas morning," said Teixeira, who, like Varitek, was an All-American at Georgia Tech. "I want to know where I'm going to be for the next couple of years, so hopefully, by Christmas it will be done."

And later:

“I want to go where I can win and my family is happy," Teixeira said. "Whether it's the East Coast -- that's where I'm from -- but I loved playing in Anaheim, too, so we'll see what happens."

I don't know what to think about the above series of paragraphs, but I'm still not totally convinced Mark knows where he's even going to play next year.

I'd like to be confident that he's coming to the Orioles -- most everyone knows I'm not -- but I think he'll still go to where he can make a fortune and have a chance to win.

Of course, Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com disproves my point.

It still appears doubtful that Teixeira will choose the Nationals or even his hometown Orioles when he has better options. But another Boras client, Alex Rodriguez, stunned the baseball world by joining the then-lowly Rangers as a free agent after the 2000 season.

Teixeira, 28, could justify signing with the Nationals by saying he wanted to be the face of an emerging franchise in the nation's capital. He could rationalize signing with the Orioles by saying he wanted to spark their revival at a time when the team finally is starting to develop young talent.

Right now, that eliminates Washington and Baltimore -- in my honest opinion -- however, anything can happen.

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Sports Illustrated, Teixeira/Free Agents, Rebuilding and the Orioles...

I was somewhat optimistic that the Orioles in 2008 -- at least until the end of July -- could approach the .500 mark and perhaps start looking forward to finally getting out the AL East cellar in 2009.

Well, obviously I was proven wrong and a couple of people called me out on my high hopes as the team flatlined from mid-August until the end of the season.

That being said, Sports Illustrated recently previewed our division and gave us fans a sobering look at the organization:

If the Jays should look beyond 2009, the same goes doubly for the 68-win Orioles, who employed the fifth-oldest lineup in the league, one in which only Jones and Nick Markakis were on the right side of 30. For far too long the O's have been in denial about their plight, which now extends to 11 straight losing seasons. A typical winter's patchwork involves trying to get them to 75 wins, a level that the Orioles have actually reached just once in this millennium. This only forestalls a more extensive rebuilding effort; they need to face the music and clean house. Take the rotation -- please. The unit's ERA as a whole was an MLB-worst 5.51, and Jeremy Guthrie was the only member with at least a dozen starts and an ERA below 5.25; in that light perpetually maddening Daniel Cabrera starts to make sense because of his ability to eat innings. The Orioles need another arm or two to stabilize a corps of not-so-young and none-too-effective pitchers like Radhames Liz and Garret Olsen, but they shouldn't overpay for name-brand studs on long-term deals, because they're a couple of years away from a credible run at .500, let alone the division flag. Paging Odalis Perez...

As much as I'd like to disagree with this assessment, I agree with it. It looks like your young pitching needs more time, seasoning, and at this point I would only pencil in Jeremy Guthrie as a starter.

I think no matter who we acquire from the free agent market -- whether it be a Teixeira, Burnett, Izturis, Byrd, or anyone else -- how does that impact the rebuilding process? Do we see steady improvement, or are we destined to repeat the same mistakes for the past decade? While we need some free agents to make the team more competitive in the near future, no one should be fooled into thinking we'll have a plan to contend unless the organization is built from the bottom up.

While the foundation and the blueprint may be laid out, the Orioles are not even done building the first floor of the house despite some promising arms in the minors and Matt Wieters.

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Ponson and The Roundup, News Around the Web & Blogosphere

For those of you who are curious, it looks like -- finally -- the Orioles and Sidney Ponson will have their hearing about the team voiding the portly hurler's contract nearly 4 years ago...

More than three years after the Orioles released and terminated the contract of Sidney Ponson after his third arrest in a nine-month span, a grievance arbitrator will finally decide how much money - if any - the organization owes the pitcher.

Orioles general counsel Russell Smouse confirmed yesterday that the grievance would start being heard Dec. 17 in Baltimore by arbitrator Shyam Das. The hearing could take several days, and there is no definitive timetable for Das to render a decision. The Orioles released Ponson in September 2005 and refused to pay him the remaining $11.2 million on his three-year, $22.5 million deal. The Major League Baseball Players Association immediately filed a grievance against the club, trying to recoup the rest of the money on his guaranteed contract.

"We look forward to a positive outcome in Sidney's grievance," said Barry Praver, Ponson's agent.

The hearing had been scheduled several times before but continually postponed as other cases took precedence. Another reason for the hold-up was that the Orioles had not received specific discovery documents they had requested from the union,

In my knowledge of the law, the case should come down to what the specific language in the contract states about behavior and what happened during his tenure with the organization.

Sidney may have been ornery as well as a lush, immature and utterly stupid -- however, it will be up to a third party to determine if his behavior warranted him having a contract voided.

***

WNST's Drew Forrester and Thryl Nelson give their thoughts on whether Teixeira is coming to the Orioles, or that matter -- anywhere else. Meanwhile, according to the nationals.com, Mark wants to play in D.C., while Team President Stan Kasten gives an awfully vague answer or non-answer depending on how you see it; Boston.com says the Red Sox are in love with him and that be an understatment if you read Tony Massarotti's blog on that same website.

My personal opinion: I see nothing at the moment that makes me think he wants to come to Baltimore for the sake of it being "home".

If that was the case, he (um, Boras - I should say and who seems to be clearly in the driver's seat) would have started some dialogue with the team as soon as they could. I think Mark going to the highest bidder and a place where he thinks he could win.

I also do think he is taking his time and exploring his options. Maybe Baltimore might be a place he'd come to -- albeit, assuming that the organization upgrades at a few positions -- or he chooses the lure and exposure that New York, Southern California, or Boston may offer him.

The Orioles *may* get him, but based on what I have read around the web and forums, a lot of people may be in for a rude awakening if he decides to go somewhere else.

Then again, right now, Baltimore has a good chance in getting Teixeira as anyone.

***

Roch Kubatko ponders about the Cubs and Roberts; meanwhile, the Sun's Dan Connolly debates whether former Oriole Mike Mussina goes in as a member of the black and the orange, or part of the Evil Empire (eh, I think he goes in as a Yankee) & Glenn Clark of WNST, Oriole Central, Camden Chat, The Washington Post, PressBox Online as well as Jay Trucker of the Examiner also join the fray.

The Orioles announced their 2009 Spring Training Schedule, and yes, they are going to play in Fort Lauderdale; The great Roar from 34 gives us news and bits from Oriole-land, including the struggles of the Sports Legends Museum -- which comes as no surprise to me at all -- considering how much the team has struggled.

Like I have said in the past, the struggles of the Orioles and the falling attendance for the past several years have had a dire impact on businesses near the ballpark, and it's no surprise to hear the bad news.

The profitability of the vendors around the ballpark, restaurants, bars and hotels are invariably tied into the success of the baseball team. If no one shows up to the games -- no one buys anything from the businesses around the ballpark; thus, it is little wonder why businesses in Baltimore welcome Yankee and Red Sox fans with open arms?

And finally, the Wayward Oriole takes issue with the Baltimore Sun...