Would someone please defend Andy MacPhail

[JERSEYORIOLE]

Well said. And just for a running tally, that is $27m per year for those guys, which could have been a HECK of a contract for a big name FA, with money left over for something else. I mean, maybe it's just me, but going say $22m per year for Tex and $5m each year for international signings doesn't seem like such a bad idea when you look at what they actually spent that money on. Would be pretty nice to have Tex at first, and Sano and A. Chapman in the system.

Some of us that have had or do have wives can relate to this. What is worse, going to Target and spending $20.00 a pop on stuff you dont really need 100 times, that will be worthless in a year or going to Tiffany and buying one nice Diamond that you will have forever and will always look nice. I just think AM is a Target shopper.

[mweb]

Well said. And just for a running tally, that is $27m per year for those guys, which could have been a HECK of a contract for a big name FA, with money left over for something else. I mean, maybe it's just me, but going say $22m per year for Tex and $5m each year for international signings doesn't seem like such a bad idea when you look at what they actually spent that money on. Would be pretty nice to have Tex at first, and Sano and A. Chapman in the system.

I agree about the international part. With Tex, it'd be more like $25m a year and he'd be in the 3rd year of a 8 year deal where he hasn't played quite up to expectations in the first 2 years (1st was quite good, last year not so much) and the O's wouldn't have sniffed the playoffs either year. They'd basically have a few more wins and worse draft picks to show for their investment so far.

[mark_beckens]

Problem is, he is overpaying for below average FA talent. I am primarily speaking of the BP.

You're right, we should have signed Soriano.

[SrMeowMeow]

Re: a couple earlier posts, bullpens blowing losses is incredibly frustrating, but it is the absolute least important part of the major league team. I never want to see us trade prospects for relievers, sign relievers, etc., until we're sure that there's no other part of the team to upgrade first. Correctly valuing (i.e. not overvaluing) relievers is a serious market inefficiency right now.

Something I could see...keep signing relievers to these (honestly, relatively modest) two year deals. Once they perform well the first season, flip them that following offseason for a prospect. I don't think MacPhail's that creative, though.

[BaltimoreTerp]

Some of us that have had or do have wives can relate to this. What is worse, going to Target and spending $20.00 a pop on stuff you dont really need 100 times, that will be worthless in a year or going to Tiffany and buying one nice Diamond that you will have forever and will always look nice. I just think AM is a Target shopper.

Well, he did start in Minnesota...

I think the better analogy is this: You can go to Target and buy an appliance or article of clothing or something else that you could also get at a much higher cost at a specialty store. The appliance at Target might not have as many bells and whistles or the clothes might not fit quite as well, sure. And something at the more expensive store is probably going to be better quality and more durable.

However, if those items need replacing, which are you more likely to be able to replace? Particularly when you aren't as wealthy as the Yankees or some other teams.

Timing is definitely important, though. If you are starting out at an office job and need a suit, you can get by with a cheaper one, whereas when you are promoted you probably would want to get something better. But if you go with expensive right away and something happens, or your promotions don't work out soon enough, you have just wasted an awful lot of money for no reason.