Orioles sign Vlad

[SrMeowMeow]

I think it's a poor/borderline very poor "baseball move", and I think Neyer nails it with his quick take:

http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2011/2/4/1975809/vladimir-guerrero-orioles-sign-contract-neyer

But, I also concede I doubt BAL had better plans for this money anyway, so the net effect is minimal. Wish we saw this money being pumped into more useful avenues, though. Another 2011 move with little to no thought of the future...

Didn't we talk about this (concept, not Vlad) awhile ago, and you took the opposite position?

[waroriole]

I think it will look good on opening day, for sure. I think it will be a VERY solid line-up, if healthy, throughout the year. But I think part of what makes it look outstanding to Orioles fans is that it has been so long since the team had a legit ML lineup to trot out there.

Yeah, I agree with everything you're saying and in the post above. However, for now, I prefer to be ecstatic about having a legit (though long) shot at making the playoffs this year.

[Peace21]

<a href="http://senorgif.memebase.com/2011/02/04/funny-gifs-how-to-party/'>http://senorgif.memebase.com/2011/02/04/funny-gifs-how-to-party/"><img class='event-item-lol-image' src='http://chzgifs.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/979d5c35-95d6-4e04-8a76-28e6d95aa752.gif' title="Andrew WK Demonstrating How To Party Gif - Andrew WK Demonstrating How To Party" alt="Andrew WK Demonstrating How To Party Gif - Andrew WK Demonstrating How To Party" height="220px" width="275px" /></a><br />see more <a href="http://senorgif.memebase.com">Gifs</a>

[JDubs]

I love that the most spurned team in the AL East this offseason is the Yankees. Not matter what you think of Vlad, you have to be happy that the O's are hitting their targets.

[murph]

Seconded. Pointless expenditure. Now...I will say that I don't think the Yankees or Jays will be nearly as strong as many people seem to think, but relying on this team, even with Vlad, for anything better than third place goes beyond wishful thinking, IMO. Many better ways for that cash to have been spent.

Absolutely, this money could have been spent better. Almost no doubt, Vlad himself will not significantly increase ticket sales and very little chance of us making the WS, probably not even much more of a chance of a wild card run.

But....there has been plenty of money which went unspent in the previous years that did not get us any closer to producing a winner or more fans and at least we now have Vlad to watch and enjoy his raking pitches a very long distance that no one else could even reach if they tried!

[HbgOsFan]

Too much.

[LookinUp]

I think it's a poor/borderline very poor "baseball move", and I think Neyer nails it with his quick take:

http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2011/2/4/1975809/vladimir-guerrero-orioles-sign-contract-neyer

But, I also concede I doubt BAL had better plans for this money anyway, so the net effect is minimal. Wish we saw this money being pumped into more useful avenues, though. Another 2011 move with little to no thought of the future...

I disagree. Neither Reimold nor Pie are can't miss guys. They'll each have a chance to impress in spring training and or AAA. If they're good enough, they'll get playing time somewhere.

This is what teams that win more games do. They worry about their ML lineup and let their young/unproven players force their way into playing time.

I understand the problem with money, though they appear to have deferred some of that money. All I can say there is I really hope this doesn't prevent them from doing what they need to do internationally, but my real feeling is that our priorities aren't there whether we signed Vlad or not.

[aggie]

Yea..i find it hard to believe they are giving him 8 million guaranteed.

not my money but I also hope this is not all guaranteed. Glad this is over and hope he has a year that he earns every penny

[Hank Scorpio]

I don't mind the move, and I like the lineup... but I agree with RZ. This wreaks of PGA.

[Chrisparadis]

I am curious on the incentive package that is laid out ... I hope its 4.5 million with the possibility of getting 8 if he produces, with the Winn signing i see Pie gone via trade for a prospect. But all in all I am glad the move was done finally and now can wait to see this powerhouse lineup, this should be plenty of run support for our SP ... Maybe get a 20 game winner out of one of them....

[murph]

I disagree. Neither Reimold nor Pie are can't miss guys. They'll each have a chance to impress in spring training and or AAA. If they're good enough, they'll get playing time somewhere.

This is what teams that win more games do. They worry about their ML lineup and let their young/unproven players force their way into playing time.

I understand the problem with money, though they appear to have deferred some of that money. All I can say there is I really hope this doesn't prevent them from doing what they need to do internationally, but my real feeling is that our priorities aren't there whether we signed Vlad or not.

Exactly. And if that is wrong, if they would have earmarked that money for international signings and other development opportunities, hopefully the organization will be smart enough to increase their budget to still do so...

[crissfan172]

Finally my Harrisburg Senators Vladimir Guerrero bobblehead won't seem so out of place.

[Nick The Stick]

Ken_Rosenthal Ken Rosenthal

Source: A significant portion of Guerrero's $8M salary with #Orioles is deferred. #MLB

[Stotle]

Didn't we talk about this (concept, not Vlad) awhile ago, and you took the opposite position?

You'll have to be more specific. I'm not sure I follow.

[jtschrei]

I think it's a poor/borderline very poor "baseball move", and I think Neyer nails it with his quick take:

http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2011/2/4/1975809/vladimir-guerrero-orioles-sign-contract-neyer

But, I also concede I doubt BAL had better plans for this money anyway, so the net effect is minimal. Wish we saw this money being pumped into more useful avenues, though. Another 2011 move with little to no thought of the future...

Here's the problem with your thinking and Neyer's: will there be any fans left by the time the Orioles ever build a winner? The O's have been losing fans hands over fist and it is only the utter incompetence of the Nats that has kept this area from more closely following them. Furthermore, there is no actual evidence that the Orioles will ever be able to build the way you and Neyer seem to think they should... i.e., foreign investment, better scouting, more overslotting, etc. The Orioles haven't successfully done it and it doesn't look like they will... it's not like our farm system is on the verge of producing any great players. Most "experts" have our system ranked in the 20s.

Should the Orioles spend more money on drafting and teenage intnl. players and player development? OF COURSE. Would we all love to see that 8mill spent on finding the next Albert Pujols? DEFINITELY. We all want that... however, there simply is no evidence the Orioles will be able to build a winner anytime soon pursuing your course of action. As a fan, I can't keep harping on this notion that we need better player acquisition and development. It's gets old. I'm tired of writing that on message boards and reading it.

For the first time in a decade, I am legitimately, LEGITIMATELY! excited for the season. Don't take that excitement away by tell me we're going to suck in 2013, even if you were a fortune teller and it were true... just let me have this excitement for this year. Go O's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!