Guess what, it doesn't matter.

[SilentJames]

Rasmus, trades, Darvish. It doesn't matter.

Unless Matusz, Tillman, Britton and Arrieta become the pitchers we all think they are supposed to be, it won't matter one bit.

The Red Sox have been playing .674 ball since they started 2-11 (the lowest point of their season) That is a 109 win pace over the course of a season.

Sure the Yankees are getting older but they will just reload in the offseason no matter what.

Law said it best, you need to build a 90+ win team to even think about competing. Does anyone here legitimately think the Jays have a 90+ team next year? Or the Rays? Maybe they do, but it all comes down to a TON of ifs.

If the Orioles aren't over .500 by the all star break next year you have to blow it up.

Everyone; Jones, Markakis, Wieters, Reimold, Reynolds, Hardy. Everyone. Start over with Schoop, Machado and whoever you get back.

Because right now - it doesn't matter.

[Steve I]

well, we are well equipped for a top pick in the rule 4 draft. Of course, that does not seem to be a assurance of much. Sure does enunciate how much we lack in international scouting and development.

[Miller192]

I'm confused.

You need to build a 90 win team but things like acquiring Rasmus, making trades and signing highly rated international prospects doesn't matter?

[jabba72]

The rotation has all taken a step backwards. Thats pretty much why were in the situation were in. As far as complaining you need a 90+ team to compete with, well whats so terrible about that? If the Orioles were actually half decent, they would cut into the Yankees and Sox win totals. Instead of collapsing like a house of cards against them year after year. Not to mention some bad records vs Toronto and Tampa more years than not.

[BaltimoreTerp]

I'm confused.

You need to build a 90 win team but things like acquiring Rasmus, making trades and signing highly rated international prospects doesn't matter?

You know full well what he's saying.

[Miller192]

You know full well what he's saying.

Maybe. Building a 90 win team is going to take more than the development of Arrietta, Matusz and Britton. A good organization can build a good team while baking their talent.

[Dipper9]

Wieters is becoming painful to watch at the plate. His swings are weak and he is giving away at bats. I can't believe this is the same player we thought was our savior!!!!

[Gurgi]

Boston and NY can both add one-two All-star caliber players EVERY offseason. The Orioles cannot compete.

[MrOrange82]

Maybe. Building a 90 win team is going to take more than the development of Arrietta, Matusz and Britton. A good organization can build a good team while baking their talent.

Baby steps, boss.

Let Andy master walking/gum without getting Big League Chew all over his sweater vest before asking him to do multiple, business-y things at once.

All the eggs, they're in the basket.

[jabba72]

Boston and NY can both add one-two All-star caliber players EVERY offseason. The Orioles cannot compete.

There are plenty of FA's the Yankees and Red Sox dont sign. No one ever wants to talk about that, and bemoan the Free Agents those teams do get.

[MrOrange82]

There are plenty of FA's the Yankees and Red Sox dont sign. No one ever wants to talk about that, and bemoan the Free Agents those teams do get.

(that's because they get most of the FA's worth getting)

(HTH)

[Moose Milligan]

Wow, the head of the Good Ship is cracking.

SJ, you ok dude?

[SilentJames]

Wow, the head of the Good Ship is cracking.

SJ, you ok dude?

Dude seriously f-off with that crap. If you dared to take the time to read anything I have actually written in my blog over the last six years of my writing you would know that I am not the blithering idiot that some make me out to be.

I have said this before. Rasmus doesn't gain us much of anything because it all comes down to the arms. The Orioles right now, actually have a league average offense. Seriously they do. Right around league average (some stats above, some below) THe only offensive categories where they are WOEFULLY short are walks, and doubles. But even with those deficiencies their team OBP is league average and their team OPS is sixth in the AL.

But the pitching staff is at the bottom or near the bottom of nearly every statistical category - and it isn't particularly close.

Our entire future rests on the shoulders of those players. We will live and die by them. If they die, burn it all; salt the Earth and move on.

[SilentJames]

Wieters is becoming painful to watch at the plate. His swings are weak and he is giving away at bats. I can't believe this is the same player we thought was our savior!!!!

Wieters is in a slump, but he is still one of the best catchers in the AL right now both offensively and certainly defensively. What is he at right now, 2.6 WAR? Isn't that like second in the AL?

[nadecir]

The Orioles finished last season at 66-96 good for a .407 winning percentage. In 2011, we are now 41-60, which is a .406 winning percentage. We are now behind the pace of last year's team in the win-loss column.

The Orioles are the only team in the AL East below .500 this season. Our major league team is 3-8 against the Red Sox this year and 0-6 against the Yankees, so we are 3-14 against the top two teams in the division. We are almost 250 runs behind in run differential compared to the top two teams in the AL East over the first 100 or so games. The Rays and Jays farm system and young talent is light years ahead of the Orioles' farm systems and young talent. We have the worst team ERA in the majors by a pretty wide margin.

It doesn't get much worse than this folks. The gap between the Orioles and the rest of the division is huge, and it is not shrinking. Not only would it take a miracle for the Orioles to be above .500 next season, it would take a miracle for the Orioles to not finish in last place in the AL East next year. We don't have to wait to blow up this team until next year. The Orioles front office would be crazy not to be planning at least three years out right now.