Sometimes Your Best Moves are the Ones You Don't Make

[Moose Milligan]

I was annoyed that we didn't trade Matusz and Tillman for Headley.

But it's become clear that Machado was the plan all along and it's been great watching him play. He's been awesome.

[ShaneDawg85]

Obviously the team has continued on a great path despite not making any major moves. However, and in no way is this to take away from what guys like Gonzalez and Tillman have done, but wouldn't you have felt/feel more confident in our rotation with someone like Garza or even Dempster in it by comparison? Wouldn't having a guy like Headley whose put up really good numbers this year make you feel more confident with RISP, with the lineup as a whole, and not having to watch Wilson Betemit over there? I know I would. Sure, Headley would have blocked Machado, but if Machado was ready, which in the eyes of the club he was, then he would have been up here even if Brooks Robinson in his prime were playing over there.

[24fps]

1. Hiring Bobby Valentine.

2. Hiring Jerry DiPoto.

3. Hiring Tony LaCava.

Best post of the thread so far.

[callahan09]

Yesh. .831 ()PS

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/headlch01.shtml

Manny Machado: .947 OPS

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/machama01.shtml

[Babypowder]

No doubt Headley is better than Machado right now. But, if we assume based on what we have seen so far, Machado is a respectable major leaguer, and we had gotten Headley, when does Machado join the O's and play? Machado will have growing pains. He will have to make adjustments. But, if we waited two years to play him, that would have happened two years from now anyway. I would argue that we are better off with Machado, Jake, Matusz and Hoes or whoever the Padres would have asked for than we would be with Headley and Machado wasting away in the minors.

I was under the impression San Diego wanted Arrieta and Matusz for Headley, and that's all. I still think we should have done that. Machado could just as easily be playing 2B if they really wanted him up. I hope no one would be losing sleep over Omar "I'm 30 years old and have a career OPS of .591" Quintanilla losing his starting spot.

[SrMeowMeow]

Once you've branched off into an alternate universe you can't assume everything else stays constant. In the reality with Headley traded to Baltimore he could have turned his ankle on the jetway arriving at BWI and missed six weeks.

Sure, but the gist of this thread so far is "look how these players we passed on are struggling, good call O's!" Headley is a wrench in those works. And his elite production since the deadline just reinforces the idea that he was a good bet to provide impact production down the stretch.

[Dipper9]

I was under the impression San Diego wanted Arrieta and Matusz for Headley, and that's all. I still think we should have done that. Machado could just as easily be playing 2B if they really wanted him up. I hope no one would be losing sleep over Omar "I'm 30 years old and have a career OPS of .591" Quintanilla losing his starting spot.

The Orioles are playing great ball as a TEAM. So I wouldn't crap on Q as you seem to be here. I'd take the team we have over what we would have lost to attain Headley.

[Babypowder]

The Orioles are playing great ball as a TEAM. So I wouldn't crap on Q as you seem to be here. I'd take the team we have over what we would have lost to attain Headley.

Since you seem to be focused on right now: We would have lost two guys that aren't on the team for the upgrade of Headley over Quintanilla. You're right, we wouldn't be better.

[SrMeowMeow]

The Orioles are playing great ball as a TEAM. So I wouldn't crap on Q as you seem to be here. I'd take the team we have over what we would have lost to attain Headley.

Nobody's hating on anything. But the idea that Headley's bat isn't a huge upgrade over Quintanilla's is not really supportable. Hopefully Q keeps it up for the rest of this season but he's already started to crash back to earth.

[Barnaby Graves]

Since you seem to be focused on right now: We would have lost two guys that aren't on the team for the upgrade of Headley over Quintanilla. You're right, we wouldn't be better.

Quintinilla has had some really awesome and clutch performances so far for us but yeah Reynolds/Machado/Hardy/Headley is what I'd really want.

[RenegadeOsFan]

I believe if the Orioles were not in playoff contention that we would have made the trade for Headley giving up Arrieta and Matusz.

With the Orioles being where they are now and September being so important, I think we could not have afforded to trade away two starting pitchers for a 3rd baseman due to potential injuries, dead arms, etc., that may occur.

The Orioles seem to value depth at a premium right now.

[Dipper9]

Since you seem to be focused on right now: We would have lost two guys that aren't on the team for the upgrade of Headley over Quintanilla. You're right, we wouldn't be better.

Do you REALLY think they would have brought up Machado to play second? They said they brought him up for defense because of how bad third base has been, and any offense is a plus. Hell, that's the same reason we got Q. So its not Headley vs Q...its Headley vs Manny, PLUS the guys we would have had to trade that would effect our future. So yeah, I stand by my statement, Headley was not worth the guys we would have lost.

Hell, answer me this...Tillman has won us 6 games in the past month....who would be pitching if he was in San Diego?

[SrMeowMeow]

Do you REALLY think they would have brought up Machado to play second? They said they brought him up for defense because of how bad third base has been, and any offense is a plus. Hell, that's the same reason we got Q. So its not Headley vs Q...its Headley vs Manny, PLUS the guys we would have had to trade that would effect our future. So yeah, I stand by my statement, Headley was not worth the guys we would have lost.

Hell, answer me this...Tillman has won us 6 games in the past month....who would be pitching if he was in San Diego?

The rumored package (and the one being used hypothetically here) did not include Tillman. It was Arrieta and Matusz.

I mean this in a sincere way...why are you so pissed off? Nobody's trying to defame anybody or troll or anything, not that I've seen. There's nothing wrong with considering roads not taken. And there's nothing wrong with thinking an opportunity or two was missed.

[sfosfan]

Who would you rather have down the stretch, Oswalt, Greinke, Garza, Dempster, assorted others or Tilman? Now that Machado has shown signs of being a solid major leaguer, was Headly really worth Jake, Matusz and a top position prospect? The fact that we are competing without giving away any top prospects bodes well for the future. Maybe DD is lucky, maybe he's a mad genius, whatever. I like where we are right now and I like the direction DD is taking this franchise.

Let's not forget Blanton. Glad we passed on that one!

sfosfan

[Three Run Homer]

I was under the impression San Diego wanted Arrieta and Matusz for Headley, and that's all. I still think we should have done that. Machado could just as easily be playing 2B if they really wanted him up. I hope no one would be losing sleep over Omar "I'm 30 years old and have a career OPS of .591" Quintanilla losing his starting spot.

It's much easier for a SS to slide over to 3B than to 2B. The pivot at 2B is tricky, and inexperienced players who try to learn 2B on the fly are likely to have a learning curve. Moreover, 2B is one of the most dangerous positions to play in terms of injury potential. No way do I want Machado playing second base, this year or ever.