Olney thinks Jonny Gomes and the O's could be a fit.

[CA-ORIOLE]

I The O's need contact/OBP type guys to complement the power that we already have. Gomes doesn't come close to filling that need. My opinion, he is a horrible fit for the current O's lineup.

Well, he had a .377 OBP last year and played half his games in a pitchers park. Lots of issues with his platooning/defense etc., but I don't see much to your specific argument.

[Frobby]

I think it should be changed to Olney thinks that Gomes would "fit in" with all the other Orioles. Why do we need another "crush it or miss it" type. This guy strikes out once every 3 ABs. Some of those type of guys are good in a lineup, but not up and down the lineup like the current O's lineup. The O's need contact/OBP type guys to complement the power that we already have. Gomes doesn't come close to filling that need. My opinion, he is a horrible fit for the current O's lineup.

Well, he had a .377 OBP last year and played half his games in a pitchers park. Lots of issues with his platooning/defense etc., but I don't see much to your specific argument.

It is false to equate "contact" with OBP, yet we read this all the time around here. There are plenty of high contact guys who have a terrible OBP (like Cesar Izturis) and plenty of low contact guys with a high OBP (Adam Dunn). If a guy has a good OBP, the strikeouts are of minimal importance.

[CA-ORIOLE]

It is false to equate "contact" with OBP, yet we read this all the time around here. There are plenty of high contact guys who have a terrible OBP (like Cesar Izturis) and plenty of low contact guys with a high OBP (Adam Dunn). If a guy has a good OBP, the strikeouts are of minimal importance.

Yep. Many people tend to believe what they want to believe I guess. The protection nonsense is another one you still see spouted fairly often.

Back to Gomes, I like platooning, but it has drawbacks. The A's platooned him pretty strictly last year yet he still had 115 AB's verus RHP and 164 against LHP. He also played 281 innings in the OF and he's pretty bad out there. Injuries and other issues tend to force your hand. I suppose if DH (and maybe 2b) are the only platoon situations we have next year, it won't be so bad. Also a 2 year deal for Gomes sounds kinda crazy. Makes you wonder what kind of money he's looking for.

[Orioles0615]

However given what this team likes to do, it is no surprise.

[sangar]

I can't see this guy as a realistic possibility for the O's. Just more space filler for a bored writer.

[Art Wing]

If Davis is our full-time DH next year when if ever would Betemit get any plate appearances? Guy is a lame duck. Would be nice if we could trade Betemit then sign Gomes to take over his spot so we would be less vulnerable to left handed pitching in 2013.

McClouth/Gomes (LF) + Davis/Gomes (DH)

You really don't want Gomes to ever put on a glove. He has lead feet and the reaction time of a punch drunk boxer fresh of his fifth comeback at age 40.

[Roll Tide]

Scenario One: Betemit would be the DH. Gomes would be pinch-hitting for him at DH. No fielding involved.

Scenario Two: McLouth would be the LF. Gomes would be pinch-hitting for him at LF. Whomever the bench OF is, would come in and play defense. If not Reimold, then maybe Hoes, Avery, Ford, Davis, whomever else DD scrounges up over the course of the year. Is one inning of mediocre LF defense a big concern for this team?

Over a 162 game scenario these guys will have to play the field. You know that and a fairy tale set of scenarios where they dont is just silly. You can have 1 guy like that ...But 2 would really be a bad idea.

[bpilktree]

Gomes would be a nice piece imo. Yes the defense would be a problem but last year we had to deal with Ford vs tough lefties. Gomes has killed lefties the last 4 years and would be a great platoon guy. We can't have a team of all all stars. Here is Gomes numbers the last three years vs lefties.

2012

164 ab 11Hr .299 ave .413 obp .561 slg .974 ops

2011

90 ab 3Hr .311 ave .407 obp .456 slg .863 ops

2010

165 ab 6hr .285 ave .378 obp .479 slg .857 ops

2009

101 ab 5 hr .307 ave .369 obp .545 slg .914 ops

[Greg]

Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal

Source: #Orioles indeed interested in Jonny Gomes, as reported earlier by @Buster_ESPN. Gomes .904 OPS vs. LHPs last three years.

[harp6]

It is false to equate "contact" with OBP, yet we read this all the time around here. There are plenty of high contact guys who have a terrible OBP (like Cesar Izturis) and plenty of low contact guys with a high OBP (Adam Dunn). If a guy has a good OBP, the strikeouts are of minimal importance.

Did I say that??? Did I say that all contact hitters have good OBP, because I don't see one place that I said that. You tell me one place where I said that contact = OBP. No. I am referring to a person that has BOTH qualities. That is why I put both qualities together. That type of player does exist and that is what the Orioles need. The O's lineup showed holes during the regular season and in the post season because it lacks good OBP guys that also put the ball in play. The O's lineup depends to much on homeruns to score runs. Players like Reynolds are OBP guys, but are lacking in moving the runners, etc. The Orioles had the fewest ABs with runners in scoring position in the majors this year. WHY? Strikeouts do happen and are a part of the game, but when the lineup is loaded with those type of hitters, it tends to not move runners and it tends to kill rallies. The O's need to restore a little balance in the lineup and Gomes does not do that.

[CA-ORIOLE]

The O's lineup showed holes during the regular season and in the post season because it lacks good OBP guys that also put the ball in play.

They only need OBP guys.

The Orioles had the fewest ABs with runners in scoring position in the majors this year. WHY?.

Because they need more OBP guys.

http://www.tangotiger.net/strikeout.html

[harp6]

Well, he had a .377 OBP last year and played half his games in a pitchers park. Lots of issues with his platooning/defense etc., but I don't see much to your specific argument.

What about the 6 years before that where he was usually around league average for OBP with a high strike out rate and. I always look at the whole picture, not one year with 279 ABs. Sometimes, it pays off for a team to pick up a player coming off a great year, but often it doesn't work out well. Will we get the 2009 or 2012 edition of Gomes or do we get the 2008 or 2011 edition. If we get the 2011 edition, by mid-season people will be screaming for a trade or release. He can't field, so he would become a one-dimensional flop.

[CA-ORIOLE]

What about the 6 years before that where he was usually around league average for OBP with a high strike out rate and. I always look at the whole picture, not one year with 279 ABs. Sometimes, it pays off for a team to pick up a player coming off a great year, but often it doesn't work out well. Will we get the 2009 or 2012 edition of Gomes or do we get the 2008 or 2011 edition. If we get the 2011 edition, by mid-season people will be screaming for a trade or release. He can't field, so he would become a one-dimensional flop.

I simply responded to your intial input concerning K's and production. If your question is about Gomes overall career production, I have no issue with that. His record against LHP is fairly well documented, and that is what we're talking about with Gomes. That and his defense are separate issues fron those you initially brought up.

[harp6]

I brought up the defense because if he has a year like 2011, he becomes a pinch-hit specialist and that is it. Something that is not quite as important in the AL and something that Buck does not do often. I did not like having Chavez on the team this year, but he could at least play the field when he was on the active roster. Of course, I do not want Chavez on the team this year. I would much rather have the O's pick up a solid everyday left fielder with McLouth as the 4th outfielder.

[CA-ORIOLE]

I brought up the defense because if he has a year like 2011, he becomes a pinch-hit specialist and that is it. Something that is not quite as important in the AL and something that Buck does not do often. I did not like having Chavez on the team this year, but he could at least play the field when he was on the active roster. Of course, I do not want Chavez on the team this year. I would much rather have the O's pick up a solid everyday left fielder with McLouth as the 4th outfielder.

I have no problems with that other than a platoon/DH against LHP is a little more than a "PH specialist". It's also possible Reimold and Gomes could both be on the team.

I mainly had issues with your statment below:

Why do we need another "crush it or miss it" type. This guy strikes out once every 3 ABs. Some of those type of guys are good in a lineup, but not up and down the lineup like the current O's lineup. The O's need contact/OBP type guys to complement the power that we already have.