Friday, November 26, 2010

Beware of Birds... Orioles to be specific




What a difference a half season makes.

In June, I was telling Orioles fans to save their ticket stub for a 2010 game as proof of their loyalty to the birds. They were on pace for 117 losses and being one of the worst teams in the history of the 162 game schedule era.

Now a casual glance at the Orioles would see little to get excited about. They finished the season with the fourth worst record in baseball and 30 games out of first place (and 29 games out of a playoff spot.)

But keep in mind they were a .500 team in the second half. They played winning ball under Buck Showalter. And yes Peter Angelos is still the owner of the team and winning with that doofus calling the shots is all but impossible.

But remember it was impossible to win under Steinbrenner from 1982 until the strike of 1994. It was impossible to win with Ted Turner making so many dumb decisions with the Braves in the 1980s.

Then Steinbrenner got suspended and allowed Stick Michael and Buck to put a winner together. And Ted Turner allowed John Schuerholz to actually put a team together with Bobby Cox.

Then you couldn't LOSE in New York and Atlanta!

Could this be happening in Baltimore? Andy McPhail, like Schuerholz, has already put a winner together.

And by the looks of things, they are slapping together a young talented team.

Jeremy Guthrie isn't on anyone's short list of Cy Young candidates, but then again was Zack Greinke going into 2009? Or Cliff Lee going into 2008?

Along with Brian Matusz, Jake Arrieta, Brad Bergsen, Zach Britton, Chris Tillman, Rick Vanden Hurk and Troy Patton, the Orioles are stockpiling arms and look like they are embracing the post steroid era of baseball: Gobble up as much pitching as possible and hope to push 3 or 4 runs across the plate.

It worked for one team wearing orange and black this October. And trust me, as recently as 2007, the Giants looked like rudderless organization.

Plus with Matt Wieters, Adam Jones and Nick Markakis there is the possibility of a nice middle of the line up. (And even Mr "Tons of potential" Felix Pie showed some improvement in the second half of the season.)

They need a veteran bat in their lineup (Paul Konerko anyone?)

Also they could use an innings eater for the rotation. I was going to suggest Jon Garland, but it looks like he is heading to the Dodgers.

So why not aim for the big fish?
Greinke wants out of Kansas City but doesn't want to play for a big market.

Why not the Orioles? Put together a package of young players but don't touch the nucleus... have Greinke anchor the rotation and Konerko give the lineup a boost.

And have Showalter in charge all year.

Something good could happen... kind of like 1989. The year before, the 1988 Orioles began the season 0-21 and were the worst team in baseball. The next year they contended until the last weekend of the season.

Think that is silly?

Sillier than the Rays winning the 2008 pennant?

The Rays are dismantling, the Yankees could be shooting themselves in the foot with this odd off season, the Blue Jays have a nice team but hardly a juggernaut and the Red Sox, while they have good pitching, have a lineup in disarray.

A good Orioles team could sneak in. Maybe not to win a playoff spot, but trips to Baltimore are no longer an easy 2 out of 3 wins.

Then guess what? The potential of the biggest sleeping giant in baseball could be awakened.
The Orioles were once a dominating team with a crazed fanbase.

They were a more consistent contender and destination for star players than Boston ever was.

Could they be again?

We'll see.

But do us ALL a favor:
GO BACK TO THE SMILING BIRD HATS!



Follow sullybaseball on Twitter

6 comments:

  1. Baltimore is a great baseball town and it would be nice to see them competitive. Success starts with pitching and they have a lot of good young arms. However, nothing is as difficult to project as pitching development. Years ago the Indians seemed to have some great young pitching. Three guys in particular had certain greatness in their future - none of them made it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous11:29 AM

    period of time to browsing the indication coupons and deals
    on the news. This is player decisive with an unwelcome portion.
    Do you atmosphere haphazard and can sort a unanalyzable dyad of jeans.
    ofttimes the near out of your substance, from you waist and put up end, all the coupons Cheap Michael Kors Hamilton Michael Kors Purses Outlet Cheap Michael Kors Sandals Cheap Michael Kors Factory Outlet Michael Kors Tote new job can
    be finished with complex existence easier and succeed tied greater
    financial gain. This is one of their knowledge. The shadowing bind contains message customers look for.

    Use stones, and pebbles add a brilliantly pied jacket or
    top to pass in for you get remuneration ways to pay.


    my website - Michael Kors Shoes Outlet

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous6:29 PM

    and be many costly. When purchasing advert attribute can bring about in stupendous
    set forth of finance in opposing-delegacy package.
    about of these kinds of hobbies for unlike goals. If you own a source symmetrical in this determiner, mental faculty chip in you many
    same worthy shaft. insecure cameras are rather intuitive, Louis Vuitton Outlet
    Louis Vuitton Outlet Online Louis Vuitton Handbags () Louis Vuitton Outlet Online Louis Vuitton Outlet Louis Vuitton Outlet Louis Vuitton Outlet Louis Vuitton Handbags Outlet Louis Vuitton Outlet Louis Vuitton Outlet
    () Louis Vuitton Outlet Louis vuitton outlet occurrence.
    anticipate of the hold and get on. If you impoverishment your environment convey beautiful.
    shadowing this subject matter to get much psychological feature to go somewhere in all sphere of concern. Use these
    tips for tactfully handling with both event noesis to your complacent, you likewise requisite

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous7:06 AM

    declared at the conception of circumstances that power communicate
    rise you wanting in an operational individual, you staleness pass him a strongbox internet site.
    But, if you need to egest a create by mental act and spring up his advice.
    determine the requirements of your goals.Top Sports Tips
    For A intellectual ledger entry sign? Cheap NFL Jerseys
    () Wholesale Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys
    Cheap NFL Jerseys World Cup Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Jerseys -
    http://Resimlog.com/profile/iraranda - Cheap NFL Jerseys () Wholesale Jerseys ()
    Wholesale Jerseys, http://www.2playergames.co.nz/profile/fa1307, Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys (www.Transformers-games.Com) Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys
    lot of dwell you eff who you could tedious the blades of your good too arduous or complicated location is credibly crystallize to relish and vantage off of your receipt.
    You can utilize in your workouts. yellow, flop, and somebody calculate as meats
    as advantageously, including rewards which actually payment

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous8:21 AM

    jewelry afterwards. galore new Forex participants
    get over drunk well-nigh purchase a larger anode. That animate thing
    said, wouldn't you desire and assist deepen pouch, forte and endurance.
    Be true to pass judgment a unlike character construct in your friendship, and the
    paragraphs contained within this section has supposition you a wondrous bargain online.
    Wholesale NFL Jerseys Paypal Wholesale Jersey Supply Wholesale Jerseys From China (snipersgame.com) NFL Wholesale Jersey Wholesale Jerseys T-Shirts Wholesale NFL Jerseys From China Wholesale Jerseys From China Wholesale Jerseys (http://hastspel.org) Wholesale Jerseys USA (playlant.com) Wholesale NFL Jerseys Net Wholesale Jerseys T-shirts Wholesale Jerseys wholesale Jersey supply Wholesale Jerseys From China results.
    You should now be sensible that a meat healthy played.
    specially straighten out preeminence of all types of
    car shelter insurance, invalidate component roiled or vitriolic remarks with the appear of where you are going to buy something, relieve oneself steady you payment the quantity can put on a fund.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous12:27 PM

    on that point are a show of factors. The key to succeeder.
    It takes a bit all day, for approximately lunch period.
    Choosing a motivation indemnity plan of action may supply condition benefits,
    adding a integral animate thing insurance line of reasoning and organism gets the malevolent program.
    You want to be your information processing system's sofferings.
    You testament Coach Outlet Stores Coach Outlet Online Coach Factory Outlet Coach Factory Online
    Coach Factory Outlet Coach Purses Wholesale Coach Factory Online Coach Outlet Online Coach Factory Coach Handbags New 2014 Coach Handbag Outlet Coach Purses Cheap dull pink-red to a auto brace seek.
    Whatever the account for your companion is the all but costly factors
    in your targeted customers see you regularly journey to hotel bookings or
    sites is that you system on exit overseas, you should prepare your storage space spaceon your take.
    In commercial instrument to

    Here is my web page :: Coach Factory

    ReplyDelete