More putting the eggs into one basket?

[Sports Guy]

For years, the Orioles have basically put the fate of the ML team on the shoulders of 3-4 arms.

Yes, guys like Nick and Adam have been crucial as well but let's face it, without the pitching, it matters very little what those guys are doing(see Nick in 2008, Jonesy this year).

But yet, what do we hear from fans? We should just wait it out until the Bundy years.

Well, here we go again....Putting the fate of the organization on a few arms again...well a few arms and Machado.

I really hope at some point the Orioles realize that they have got to have a lot of depth so that if one or 2 of your guys don't make it, you have players coming up right behind them, ready to step in.

Right now, the lack of depth is very concerning.

[MrOrange82]

In a word: yep.

[waroriole]

When you only have one egg, and the hen (PA) refuses to lay more eggs, what can you do.

[SteveA]

For years, the Orioles have basically put the fate of the ML team on the shoulders of 3-4 arms.

Yes, guys like Nick and Adam have been crucial as well but let's face it, without the pitching, it matters very little what those guys are doing(see Nick in 2008, Jonesy this year).

But yet, what do we hear from fans? We should just wait it out until the Bundy years.

Well, here we go again....Putting the fate of the organization on a few arms again...well a few arms and Machado.

I really hope at some point the Orioles realize that they have got to have a lot of depth so that if one or 2 of your guys don't make it, you have players coming up right behind them, ready to step in.

Right now, the lack of depth is very concerning.

Obviously no one can argue this.

The question is HOW do you acquire such depth?

-- Is it internatinoal scouting?

-- More overslot signings?

-- Trading veterans for minor leaguers and giving up on the next few years?

-- "Better" development of our minor league talent (however that might be accomplished)?

-- More good bargain basement pickups like Guthrie, Simon, Rodrigo, Jason Johnson?

-- Additional American scouts at the HS & college level?

-- Improved use of "modern" [sabr]metrics in evaluating talent to draft?

-- Better "gaming" of the free agent system to gain premium draft picks?

-- Different strategy in terms of what type of player we draft?

-- All of the above?

-- Some of the above [if so which ones]?

You have correctly diagnosed that the patient has a disease. The question is how do you go about curing it or treating the patient? Which symptoms do you concentrate on treating? Do you attack the underlying cause with chemo? Or radiation? Changes in diet? Homeopathic remedies? Experimental drugs? All at once?

Or do you just try to make the patient comfortable so his last few days on earth do not have too mcuh suffering?

[Sports Guy]

Obviously no one can argue this.

The question is HOW do you acquire such depth?

-- Is it internatinoal scouting?

-- More overslot signings?

-- Trading veterans for minor leaguers and giving up on the next few years?

-- "Better" development of our minor league talent (however that might be accomplished)?

-- More good bargain basement pickups like Guthrie, Simon, Rodrigo, Jason Johnson?

-- Additional American scouts at the HS & college level?

-- Improved use of "modern" [sabr]metrics in evaluating talent to draft?

-- Better "gaming" of the free agent system to gain premium draft picks?

-- Different strategy in terms of what type of player we draft?

-- All of the above?

-- Some of the above [if so which ones]?

You have correctly diagnosed that the patient has a disease. The question is how do you go about curing it or treating the patient? Which symptoms do you concentrate on treating? Do you attack the underlying cause with chemo? Or radiation? Changes in diet? Homeopathic remedies? Experimental drugs? All at once?

Or do you just try to make the patient comfortable so his last few days on earth do not have too mcuh suffering?

First of all, International signings need to be totally ramped up.

Secondly, more overslots need to happen.

Also, play the compensation game more..obtain those extra picks.

But they also need to recognize, as they did with Bedard, that one player does not a team make and when you have a few guys that are likely either not going to be around when you are a contender or are too expensive to extend, you need to move on.

Look at Houston. They recognized this and moved 2 of their best young veteran players in Pence and Bourne.

Could you imagine the Orioles doing that?

We have talked about trading Jones and I do think its possible if he doesn't want to extend or wants way too much money to extend but come on, none of us actually believe the Orioles would make that move.

[SteveA]

Before we go overboard in giving the Astros all this credit (and yes, I agree they did make smart moves in trading Pence and Bourne) -- let's not forget that just about 10 months ago they gave Wandy Rodriguez a ridiculously huge 5 or 6 year contract.

It ook a season of having the absolute worst record in baseball (a level the Orioles haven't even fallen to since 1988) to slap them in the face and make them make those "radical" moves.

Maybe they've seen the error of their ways and now are rnning the things the way we would like to see the Orioles do things.

Or MAYBE they are just being reactionary -- last year they thought the smart thing to do was to lock up Rodriguez to a contract that would make it hard to ever trade him to younger contract; now they have the worst record in baseball so they react by dumping talent.

[Sports Guy]

Before we go overboard in giving the Astros all this credit (and yes, I agree they did make smart moves in trading Pence and Bourne) -- let's not forget that just about 10 months ago they gave Wandy Rodriguez a ridiculously huge 5 or 6 year contract.

It ook a season of having the absolute worst record in baseball (a level the Orioles haven't even fallen to since 1988) to slap them in the face and make them make those "radical" moves.

Maybe they've seen the error of their ways and now are rnning the things the way we would like to see the Orioles do things.

Or MAYBE they are just being reactionary -- last year they thought the smart thing to do was to lock up Rodriguez to a contract that would make it hard to ever trade him to younger contract; now they have the worst record in baseball so they react by dumping talent.

Wandy Rodriguez got a 3 year deal for 34M.

He signed the deal after 3 straight years of a sub 3.6 ERA and 2009 and 2010, he was right around 200IP.

He had high K numbers, very good BB rates and solid HR rates, especially considering his park.

On top of that, he has a 3.43 ERA this year as well.

Not the best example of showing the Stros don't know what they are doing.

[BaltimoreTerp]

Wandy Rodriguez got a 3 year deal for 34M.

He signed the deal after 3 straight years of a sub 3.6 ERA and 2009 and 2010, he was right around 200IP.

He had high K numbers, very good BB rates and solid HR rates, especially considering his park.

On top of that, he has a 3.43 ERA this year as well.

Not the best example of showing the Stros don't know what they are doing.

Except now they want to trade him and no one will take him with the money he's due to make.

A similar thing would be us giving Guthrie (who is actually three months younger) an extension, than trying to trade him next summer. I know that you would think such a deal is insane, and wouldn't see that outcome as a good move.

[SteveA]

Wandy Rodriguez got a 3 year deal for 34M.

He signed the deal after 3 straight years of a sub 3.6 ERA and 2009 and 2010, he was right around 200IP.

He had high K numbers, very good BB rates and solid HR rates, especially considering his park.

On top of that, he has a 3.43 ERA this year as well.

Not the best example of showing the Stros don't know what they are doing.

OK, obviously I didn't have all my facts straight. I stand corrected there. Although I still say they signed him to a deal that made him pretty much untradeable to a contender at the trading deadline, when he otherwise could have brought a lot of pieces that could help them contend in the future.

PERHAPS in the NLC they can somehow be a contender again by 2013 if Lyles and others reach their potential, and at that point Wandy would be a great guy to have on their staff. If that's the case, then my post was 100% out of line in addition to having facts wrong, and I will apologize if that's the case.

[Sports Guy]

Except now they want to trade him and no one will take him with the money he's due to make.A similar thing would be us giving Guthrie (who is actually three months younger) an extension, than trying to trade him next summer. I know that you would think such a deal is insane, and wouldn't see that outcome as a good move.

You do know the Rockies claimed him, right?

Wandy is a better pitcher than Guthrie.

[Sports Guy]

OK, obviously I didn't have all my facts straight. I stand corrected there. Although I still say they signed him to a deal that made him pretty much untradeable to a contender at the trading deadline, when he otherwise could have brought a lot of pieces that could help them contend in the future.

PERHAPS in the NLC they can somehow be a contender again by 2013 if Lyles and others reach their potential, and at that point Wandy would be a great guy to have on their staff. If that's the case, then my post was 100% out of line in addition to having facts wrong, and I will apologize if that's the case.

Either way, even if it was a horrible contract it doesn't change anything about what I said.

Teams can make smart moves and stupid moves at the same time.

[BaltimoreTerp]

You do know the Rockies claimed him, right?

Wandy is a better pitcher than Guthrie.

What did they offer in trade?

Just because someone with a big contract is claimed, it doesn't mean a team simply wants to get that player at that price. You know that. Especially when they know Houston wants to get players in return.

EDIT: As for the better part, it isn't by much. And as you are so fond of saying, it doesn't change the point.

[Sports Guy]

What did they offer in trade?

Just because someone with a big contract is claimed, it doesn't mean a team simply wants to get that player at that price. You know that. Especially when they know Houston wants to get players in return.

EDIT: As for the better part, it isn't by much. And as you are so fond of saying, it doesn't change the point.

You said no one would take him with the money he is due.

You were wrong. A team claimed him meaning they were willing to take on his entire contract if Houston decided to just let him go.

And that was just one team...others may have as well.

So, if you are trying to make a point, try again because your first one was poor.

[BaltimoreTerp]

You said no one would take him with the money he is due.

You were wrong. A team claimed him meaning they were willing to take on his entire contract if Houston decided to just let him go.

And that was just one team...others may have as well.

So, if you are trying to make a point, try again because your first one was poor.

My apologies for not realizing you wouldn't understand that I was talking about trades. I'll keep that in mind in the future.

[Jimbo81]

I find your lack of depth disturbing.