Duquette: "We want to be 500 or better this year"

[Sports Guy]

http://www.masnsports.com/school_of_roch/2011/12/duquette-we-want-to-be-500-or-better-this-year.html

This just annoys the hell out of me.

You want to win more games? Great. We all want to win more. We all want to root for a team that wins more games.

But, how in the hell are you going to pull that off by basically putting the same team on the field next year that you had last year, adding in a different 4th OFer, a different back up C and perhaps 1 or 2 different starters, starters who are not true TOR guys.

I know he also said he wants to build...and he is going to do that organizationally by improving scouting, development and our international presence. That is all exciting. That is all great and that is all needed.

But while you wait for that, you need to bring in talent. Right now, the Orioles don't want to trade anyone. They either view them as core players or guys that are "very valuable" to them, such as Johnson and Andino. You say you want to imrpve the talent...you want to improve the depth. Buck said we don't have enough talent in the minors...Yet, you don't want to trade anyone to acquire it? How is that supposed to work? Just keep waiting for good drafts and International signings to happen? At least if you make trades, most of the players could be here in 2 years or less and you could build something very quickly.

They also don't want to up the payroll in any significant way. That means no Fielder, no Pujols, no Wilson, no Buehrle, etc....

So, that leaves the team, yet again, as a fence rider. A team that is playing for the short term while putting a poor short term product on the field.

And yes, this is DD's comment but I don't blame him. I blame Buck. I blame PA. This is the same mantra we have heard, year in and year out.

Its just very frustrating because while it is great that DD is improving so many areas that need improvement, I don't believe that he can do the same with the ML team and we have 2 people, Buck and PA, who just aren't good enough to make those decisions and are not thinking long term enough.

But the confusing and frustrating part is if you aren't looking long term, why not go out and get talent via free agency? Just go spend some money.

[waroriole]

That's a lot of reading between the lines. This seems based on rumors (some of which have been contradicted) and a lack of action so far.

[TiredofLosing20]

Nice Rant. But what do you expect him to say. We are shooting for 68 wins.

[TonySoprano]

In short, we're not going to contend next year, no matter what we do. This fact isn't lost on nearly this entire board.

[Roll Tide]

I mentioned this in the other thread ...Add Fielder & Jackson .... Add another starter in a trade using Guthrie & Andino ...or extend Guthrie for 2-3 years. Maybe sign Bedard to a 1 year with a vesting option.

If we arent going to do the above then DD needs to sell PA on a total rebuild.

[Fan4Life]

http://www.masnsports.com/school_of_roch/2011/12/duquette-we-want-to-be-500-or-better-this-year.html

This just annoys the hell out of me.

You want to win more games? Great. We all want to win more. We all want to root for a team that wins more games.

But, how in the hell are you going to pull that off by basically putting the same team on the field next year that you had last year, adding in a different 4th OFer, a different back up C and perhaps 1 or 2 different starters, starters who are not true TOR guys.

I know he also said he wants to build...and he is going to do that organizationally by improving scouting, development and our international presence. That is all exciting. That is all great and that is all needed.

But while you wait for that, you need to bring in talent. Right now, the Orioles don't want to trade anyone. They either view them as core players or guys that are "very valuable" to them, such as Johnson and Andino. You say you want to imrpve the talent...you want to improve the depth. Buck said we don't have enough talent in the minors...Yet, you don't want to trade anyone to acquire it? How is that supposed to work? Just keep waiting for good drafts and International signings to happen? At least if you make trades, most of the players could be here in 2 years or less and you could build something very quickly.

They also don't want to up the payroll in any significant way. That means no Fielder, no Pujols, no Wilson, no Buehrle, etc....

So, that leaves the team, yet again, as a fence rider. A team that is playing for the short term while putting a poor short term product on the field.

And yes, this is DD's comment but I don't blame him. I blame Buck. I blame PA. This is the same mantra we have heard, year in and year out.

Its just very frustrating because while it is great that DD is improving so many areas that need improvement, I don't believe that he can do the same with the ML team and we have 2 people, Buck and PA, who just aren't good enough to make those decisions and are not thinking long term enough.

But the confusing and frustrating part is if you aren't looking long term, why not go out and get talent via free agency? Just go spend some money.

You seem to pull the over-react trigger way before it's time. How you can judge what he will or will not do based on a comment in early December is rather amazing. I understand that you are STILL waiting to see evidence that this new FO isn't as anal retentive as the last many. But you should at least wait until the end of January to start forming your opinion.

[clapdiddy]

I would normally agree with this rant, but I think DD is just saying some things to keep the generic fan base interested.

I honestly could care less if we were .500 this season. I would like to see it happen the right way...with smart trades and acquisitions that put a young, hungry team on the field.

[Sports Guy]

Nice Rant. But what do you expect him to say. We are shooting for 68 wins.

Its not just this one quote. Its the combination of this quote and everything else being said and what is being done right now.

[Sports Guy]

I mentioned this in the other thread ...Add Fielder & Jackson .... Add another starter in a trade using Guthrie & Andino ...or extend Guthrie for 2-3 years. Maybe sign Bedard to a 1 year with a vesting option.

If we arent going to do the above then DD needs to sell PA on a total rebuild.

Jackson isn't all that good. He isn't the right pitcher to go after.

[Rene88]

Good post. I hear ya man. There is no clear direction and that is frustrating as heck. Tear the crap down or spend some money. DO SOMETHING! Stop waiting for the market for Pete's sake (no pun intended).

Think on the bright side though: Petey is making more money than ever!

[Lucky Jim]

Classic. Archetypal. Predictable. SG.

[Sports Guy]

I would normally agree with this rant, but I think DD is just saying some things to keep the generic fan base interested.

I honestly could care less if we were .500 this season. I would like to see it happen the right way...with smart trades and acquisitions that put a young, hungry team on the field.

The problem is, we hear this same stuff every year.

A lot of this stuff, Duq has been saying since he got here.

I don't think this is bs. I don't think this is fan appeasing stuff. This is what they think and what they believe...and by they, I mean PA and Buck.

[Sports Guy]

Classic. Archetypal. Predictable. SG.

And every year, I am right.

[Roll Tide]

Jackson isn't all that good. He isn't the right pitcher to go after.

Ok ...But there are other free agent pitchers...Pick one & get it done.

[Sports Guy]

You seem to pull the over-react trigger way before it's time. How you can judge what he will or will not do based on a comment in early December is rather amazing. I understand that you are STILL waiting to see evidence that this new FO isn't as anal retentive as the last many. But you should at least wait until the end of January to start forming your opinion.

Ok, you answer me something.

How do you acquire talent if you are not willing to....:

1) Trade your valuable pieces

2) Spend money

Just let me know how you make up 15 wins by not doing those 2 things?

Are we, yet again, just going to put the fate of the ML team on the shoulders of 3 young pitchers? Are we going to, yet again, put our eggs in one basket?