Bourn to be an Oriole?Think Don Buford.

**Roy Firestone** · 01-26-2013 10:18 PM

I always thought that Micheal Bourn was a Don Buford type player, only a much
better outfielder. He's a high strikeout, low slugging, lightning fast player who can
play (and did play) all corner outfield positions. I dont think the Orioles are
interested, especially with Reimold and McClouth either playing in the field or DH
with Betemit available too. I know what Buford did for the Orioles from 1968 on as a
leadoff hitter. I just wonder if the Orioles are thinking about it.He's a rental and A.J.
NEED NOT move from CF. Would you add him? He's got to come alot cheaper than he wouldve been. Im tempted, but I want Reimolds bat as much as possible. I know
weve talked about it..anyone changing their minds?Could cost the club 10-15 million
and their top pick.And he's 30. Whatdya think?

**waroriole** · 01-26-2013 10:19 PM

If he's not playing CF, then McLouth/Reimold will be more valuable.

**El Gordo** · 01-26-2013 10:34 PM

Originally Posted by Roy Firestone

I always thought that Micheal Bourn was a Don Buford type player, only a much
better outfielder. He's a high strikeout, low slugging, lightning fast player who can
play (and did play) all corner outfield positions. I dont think the Orioles are
interested, especially with Reimold and McClouth either playing in the field or DH
with Betemit available too. I know what Buford did for the Orioles from 1968 on as a
leadoff hitter. I just wonder if the Orioles are thinking about it.He's a rental and A.J.
NEED NOT move from CF. Would you add him? He's got to come alot cheaper than he wouldve been. Im tempted, but I want Reimolds bat as much as possible. I know
weve talked about it..anyone changing their minds?Could cost the club 10-15 million
and their top pick.And he's 30. Whatdya think?

Buford career .744 OPS, 115 OPS +, 5 seasons of 120 OPS+ or better. Bourn career .704 OPS, 90 OPS+, 2 seasons over 100 OPS+. Meh.

**OriolesHash1** · 01-27-2013 12:49 AM

If he comes for 10m~ in one year.... I'll take him and make Mclouth the 4th OF..... We'll give up a pick, but can prob get one back next year if he does well enough

**El Gordo** · 01-27-2013 12:58 AM

Originally Posted by OriolesHash1

If he comes for 10m~ in one year.... I'll take him and make Mclouth the 4th OF..... We'll give up a pick, but can prob get one back next year if he does well enough

If he would sign for that why wouldn't TEX sign him?

**ba9oriole** · 01-27-2013 01:01 AM

The only reason I say no to Michael Bourn is because of the first round pick we'd have to give up to sign him. He's not worth losing a valuable pick.

**MikeyIce** · 01-27-2013 03:22 AM

To the draft pick, a lot of national media, especially on MLB Network suggest us along with TEX as a possible landing spot. Our draft picks are in the 20's, it's not like we have the #1 overall pick (it wouldn't be taken if we did). Even if we had the 11th overall pick thats a higher pick than 23.

As for the LF issue here is my feelings. Correct, I don't want to move Jones, but maybe Boras would suggest Bourn to be open minded and consider playing LF for a season to show other teams that he is versatile. Therefore, if we sign him for a one year deal in LF, his market could even be larger next offseason because teams in need of CF'ers and LF'ers may look at him.

Bourn IMO would be the best LF defender in the game. Think about this: all of the room he had to cover in CF and did it in a GG caliber...he would have to cover half of that in LF, so think of how his range would play in left. He would be able to get to anyting.

I don't buy into the whole "his bat wouldn't play there" if he can be an above average defender there, dynamic leadoff hitter, and make our team that much better (moving Reimold to DH and McLouth to 4th OF'er) why wouldn't we do it. Yeah, corner OF'ers usually have power, BUT if we can get that power from another position(s) what's the deal.

Jones has higher than average power numbers for a CF. If Bourn played LF, he would have severely lower, but Jones would pick up some of the weight, and Bourn's OBP and SB success/threat could be more valuable than the lack of power from LF.

Bottom line, if he helps the team and is willing to go to LF, why wouldn't we. If we can get Bourn for 1/12 and he was willing to go to LF would you do it? We could move Reimold to DH where he belongs, and push McLouth to 4th OF'er, making our team that much deeper and better.

**MikeyIce** · 01-27-2013 03:23 AM

Originally Posted by ba9oriole

The only reason I say no to Michael Bourn is because of the first round pick we'd have to give up to sign him. He's not worth losing a valuable pick.

I know they all count. But it's not like we have the 11th pick of the draft. It's 23.

**socalbirdfan** · 01-27-2013 03:31 AM

Originally Posted by MikeyIce

Bottom line, if he helps the team and is willing to go to LF, why wouldn't we. If we can get Bourne for 1/12 and he was willing to go to LF would you do it? We could move Reimold to DH where he belongs, and push McLouth to 4th OF'er, making our team that much deeper and better.

To answer your question I go back to the OP and this next post which pretty much sums it up for me.

Originally Posted by El Gordo

Buford career .744 OPS, 115 OPS +, 5 seasons of 120 OPS+ or better. Bourn career .704 OPS, 90 OPS+, 2 seasons over 100 OPS+. Meh.

Meh, he's no Don Buford.

Pass.

**MikeyIce** · 01-27-2013 03:33 AM

Originally Posted by waroriole

If he's not playing CF, then McLouth/Reimold will be more valuable.

How? Bourn is a GREAT CF'er. Move him to left where he has to cover less ground and I think that makes him even better. Not to mention more versatile. So next year he could either sign as a CF or LF. He has experience at all the positions. AJ is our CF'er and will be for at least 6 more years.

Getting Bourn allows us to move Reimold to DH where he belongs. Tell him to just hit. Worry about hitting. He is so fragile anyway, I'd rather him DH, not to mention he isn't good with the glove.

McLouth is an average starter, so put him in a back up role (4th OF'er) and he is then an "above average" 4th OF'er. Every team's goal going into the season is to have serviceable back up's in case a starter gets hurt. McLouth can play any OF position. So if Jones gets hurt, Bourn goes to CF, Nick gets hurt McLouth goes to RF, etc. And if two OF'ers go down we have Avery, Hoes, and Reimold even.

Bottom line, I think adding Bourn is more valuable than McLouth and Reimold even at LF.

He is a dynamic leadoff hitter, he is fast, an aggressive player. How nice would it be to have a guy that can steal 40 bases a year? IMO, really nice for our offense that struggles with OBP. If you have a guy that a single is an automatic double because of his base stealing ability, it takes a lot of pressure off the offense.

Imagine this senario. No outs. Bourn up. Single up the middle. Two pitches later he steals 2nd. Man on 2nd zero outs. Markakis grounds to the 2nd baseman, Bourn to 3rd. Next batter Jones, hits a ground ball or a sac fly and gets Bourn in.

Now if we had Markakis batting leadoff who doesn't steal often, that next batter who grounds to the 2nd baseman its a double play.

Bourn adds an extra dimension. We sort of saw it with the base stealing of Avery last year. It's exciting, and can be catalyst for an offense.

**MikeyIce** · 01-27-2013 03:35 AM

Originally Posted by socalbirdfan

To answer your question I go back to the OP and this next post which pretty much sums it up for me.

Meh, he's no Don Buford.

Pass.

Who is our leadoff hitter? Can anyone be a catalyst like Bourn coul dbe with his base stealing ability? I don't believe we have a player like that. Think of how much better the Nats offense will be this year with Span leading off. Or the Phillies with Revere.

**MikeyIce** · 01-27-2013 03:37 AM

Originally Posted by socalbirdfan

To answer your question I go back to the OP and this next post which pretty much sums it up for me.

Meh, he's no Don Buford.

Pass.

To be honest you can probably get him cheaper than 12M on a one year deal. He only made 6.8 last year, and tailed off int he second half. Buck brings out the best in people, and we may just be the best fit for Bourn if he is willing to play LF.

Who else needs a CF'er? TEX, maybe AZ?

**MikeyIce** · 01-27-2013 03:41 AM

If the Mets sign Bourn, it's like putting earrings on a pig. It just doesn't make sense. Let the young kids play.

For us it does make sense when you think about it. We need a leadoff hitter. We don't have a stolen base threat (McLouth maybe) Casillia definitely is. Avery is.

One year 10M, he would compliment our team nicely, IMO. If he is willing to play LF.

In 219 innings in his MLB career he has a 1.000% fielding percentage in LF. He also was worth 6 WAR last year.