Rosenthal: Guerrero and Orioles.

[Crazysilver03]

I'm wondering the same thing...We gave Atkins $4.5 Million knowing full well that we might be throwing it away (which we did when we cut him mid-season). What a joke. Typical AM low-balling him because he feels we are the only one in contention.

So we are using one big mistake of a contract as example of how we can make another mistake, makes sense.

Lets outbid ourselves because we are the only one really in on Vlad, makes sense.

[Crazysilver03]

I wonder if you would say that if you knew Hardy's and Roberts' health would force Izturis to be in the lineup for 60-100 games.

Because of course you know.

[JTrea81]

What does that have to do with Vlad?

Offensive depth.

If Izzy has to play for Roberts and Hardy you lose offensive production, and then the rest of the lineup has to pick that up sans a bat like Vlad.

If we have Vlad, that's one more bat that can make up for that loss.

[JTrea81]

Because of course you know.

How well did it work for us with Lugo at 2B last year?

Injuries are a part of the game. To not have depth to try to lessen their impact especially when half of your lineup is injury prone is just not very smart.

I think Frobby mentioned how many games we lost due to injuries last year.

And our depth just isn't there to make up for key players if they were to miss any significant amount of time.

Vlad helps in that regard with the production he can provide.

[Crazysilver03]

Offensive depth.

If Izzy has to play for Roberts and Hardy you lose offensive production, and then the rest of the lineup has to pick that up sans a bat like Vlad.

If we have Vlad, that's one more bat that can make up for that loss.

If we lose Roberts or Hardy, we probably don't make it to .500 even with Vlad.

[Crazysilver03]

How well did it work for us with Lugo at 2B last year?

Injuries are a part of the game. To not have depth to try to lessen their impact especially when half of your lineup is injury prone is just not very smart.

Vlad helps in that regard with the production he can provide.

Assuming that Vlad isn't injured himself.

[JTrea81]

Assuming that Vlad isn't injured himself.

It's a risk, but you are already gambling on Lee, Hardy and Roberts to stay healthy.

And Vlad made it through the season last year with a solid performance despite a poor July.

[DrungoHazewood]

I wonder if you would say that if you knew Hardy's and Roberts' health would force Izturis to be in the lineup for 60-100 games.

Yes, absolutely. Vlad is likely a win or two better than the current combination of Scott/Pie/Reimold, and that's completely independent of who's playing 2nd and short.

[DrungoHazewood]

How well did it work for us with Lugo at 2B last year?

I suppose you had a crystal ball, and knew ahead of time that Lugo would have by far the worst season of his entire major league career? Over the prior two years he'd posted a .350+ OBP. He was a perfectly reasonable backup, just as is Izturis.

[Oriolidae85]

Its an indicator of what they can spend for the 2011 season.

People who were expecting much more than this were being nothing but unrealistic.

Well in that case, $3-$6M more must be significant...they are already exceeding their budget.

[Sports Guy]

Well in that case, $3-$6M more must be significant...they are already exceeding their budget.

I am pretty sure you and Jtrea are brothers. Only you 2 can read something and then make as big a reach as you do...has to be a relation thing.

Just because the Orioles have spent what I feel and have felt is where their payroll should be doesn't mean I think it is a significant increase in payroll..and it doesn't mean that it is a significant increase. It just means they spent what should be expected of them.

I really hope you understand the difference.

[El Gordo]

I am pretty sure you and Jtrea are brothers. Only you 2 can read something and then make as big a reach as you do...has to be a relation thing.

Just because the Orioles have spent what I feel and have felt is where their payroll should be doesn't mean I think it is a significant increase in payroll..and it doesn't mean that it is a significant increase. It just means they spent what should be expected of them.

I really hope you understand the difference.

What do you think would be a "significant" increase?

[Sports Guy]

What do you think would be a "significant" increase?

10ish million or more.

As I said, if they sign Vlad and add another pitcher(which I don't think they need to do although I would like to sign Duscherer), then that would end up being a significant increase.

But its not now, which is what AM said.

[El Gordo]

10ish million or more.

As I said, if they sign Vlad and add another pitcher(which I don't think they need to do although I would like to sign Duscherer), then that would end up being a significant increase.

But its not now, which is what AM said.

How do you figure what they've spent so far?

[Sports Guy]

How do you figure what they've spent so far?

Umm, by knowing what the players are making. How else would I figure it?