Simon claimed by the Reds

[RZNJ]

Thanks. I was hoping they would get something for him, if nothing more than a low level minor-leaguer.

I would assume they tried, BUT 20+ teams passed on him for free. That could be the only way another team would take him.

[CA-ORIOLE]

I would assume they tried, BUT 20+ teams passed on him for free. That could be the only way another team would take him.

Certainly possible, but rosters are basically set this time of the year and guys have trained with their respective teams. If we had moved him earlier it might have meant more interest. Timing makes a difference.

[dan-O]

Not really analagous. They needed Simon off the 25 man roster and Bell can be on the expanded roster. I suspect Bell will likelly be gone soon enough.

Duh... Good point!

[Mayor McCheese]

I am waiting for the posts that will say "we should make a trade to bring him back..."

[playbaltimorecom]

My last post on Simon. I wish him the best. I think the Orioles are stupid for releasing him. Will be win the Cy Young? Proably not, but he is better than some pieces that we have, versatile and currently we have no long man on the staff. Bad decision here in an offseason of other questionable decisions.

We are going to be bad regardless, so I guess it really doesn't matter.

[Mayor McCheese]

My last post on Simon. I wish him the best. I think the Orioels are stupid for releasing him. Will be win the cy young? Proably not, but he is better than some peices that we have, versatile and currently we have no long man on the staff. Bad decision here in an offseason of other questionable decisions.

We are going to be bad regardless, so I guess it really doesn't matter.

Every AL team passed on him.. I repeat.. EVERY AL team passed on him

[playbaltimorecom]

Every AL team passed on him.. I repeat.. EVERY AL team passed on him

What AL team is worse than us? I think none. Again, not saying it is a groundbreaking move, just saying we have nobody to replace him.

So you are telling me you would rather have Gregg on this over Simon? I wouldn't.

[Jimbo81]

Another arm for Dusty Baker to destroy...

He didn't even have to play Madson and his arm fell off

Good luck Simon

[MurphDogg]

So you are telling me you would rather have Gregg on this over Simon? I wouldn't.

I would rather have Gregg on the team than Simon. Gregg has some track record of success while Simon had his first positive WAR season last year. Gregg has proven that he is a league average reliever, Simon has not.

Gregg has even splits with hitters OPSing just shy of .710 off of him, righties have an OPS of .923 off Simon and lefties have an OPS of .793. Neither player is young and likely to improve and neither is old enough to expect to fall off a cliff (Simon will be 31 this season and Gregg will be 34). Gregg has never had any off the field issues, Simon may have killed a man.

So what if Gregg's salary is way too high? That is a sunk cost, it doesn't mean we should release him to clear room for Alfredo Simon.

[CA-ORIOLE]

I would rather have Gregg on the team than Simon. Gregg has some track record of success while Simon had his first positive WAR season last year. Gregg has proven that he is a league average reliever, Simon has not.

Gregg has even splits with hitters OPSing just shy of .710 off of him, righties have an OPS of .923 off Simon and lefties have an OPS of .793. Neither player is young and likely to improve and neither is old enough to expect to fall off a cliff (Simon will be 31 this season and Gregg will be 34). Gregg has never had any off the field issues, Simon may have killed a man.

So what if Gregg's salary is way too high? That is a sunk cost, it doesn't mean we should release him to clear room for Alfredo Simon.

As much as I hate Gregg and am fond of Simon, there are some good points. Not so much about the personal issues though.

[DrungoHazewood]

What AL team is worse than us? I think none. Again, not saying it is a groundbreaking move, just saying we have nobody to replace him.

So you are telling me you would rather have Gregg on this over Simon? I wouldn't.

Nobody? This is the same team that's still trying to figure out if Matusz makes the roster over Wada. They've already demoted Chris Tillman. They had countless pitchers including many starters in camp. Simon's role of swingman could be filled by any number of players still on the roster or in the organization. Simon is kind of interesting because he throws hard and doesn't seem to care if he's starting, closing or pitching mopup work. But he's thrown 184 innings to a 5.18 and has been worth half a win spread over four seasons.

I'd rather have almost anyone over Gregg, but that's not really the point.

[El Gordo]

Nobody? This is the same team that's still trying to figure out if Matusz makes the roster over Wada. They've already demoted Chris Tillman. They had countless pitchers including many starters in camp. Simon's role of swingman could be filled by any number of players still on the roster or in the organization. Simon is kind of interesting because he throws hard and doesn't seem to care if he's starting, closing or pitching mopup work. But he's thrown 184 innings to a 5.18 and has been worth half a win spread over four seasons.

I'd rather have almost anyone over Gregg, but that's not really the point.

Let's say Chen is knocked out in the 2nd IN Sat. WHo are you bringing in for 3-5 innings on the 25 man roster? Gregg? You have to bring 3 guys in and hope they go 2 IN each. Then you can't use them for a day or two. I am assuming they DL Wada.

[RZNJ]

Let's say Chen is knocked out in the 2nd IN Sat. WHo are you bringing in for 3-5 innings on the 25 man roster? Gregg? You have to bring 3 guys in and hope they go 2 IN each. Then you can't use them for a day or two. I am assuming they DL Wada.

I agree that if they DL Wada it leaves them with no long man which is odd. However, in your worst case scenario, they could take the #4 or $5 starter and use them in long relief and have Chen come back on short rest after such a short outing. Looks like they might be tempted to stretch Patton out to 3-4 innings eventually. Let's see what happens with Wada first.

[CA-ORIOLE]

I agree that if they DL Wada it leaves them with no long man which is odd. However, in your worst case scenario, they could take the #4 or $5 starter and use them in long relief and have Chen come back on short rest after such a short outing. Looks like they might be tempted to stretch Patton out to 3-4 innings eventually. Let's see what happens with Wada first.

Why can't Patton pitch 3 innings of long relief ?

[RZNJ]

Why can't Patton pitch 3 innings of long relief ?

In an emergency he probably could. He just went two innings last night and I believe that's his longest appearance as an Oriole in ST and last year as a reliever. He's been mostly used as a 1 inning guy. Maybe they plan on keeping him and Phillips and using Patton as both a matchup lefty and a long man. I don't know.