Jump to content

HHP: Reporting from Fanfest

Frobby

By Frobby
in Orioles Talk

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 187
  • Created
  • Last Reply
joeyc Major Leaguer Cup of Coffee

joeyc

Posted
Posted
Manny always wore no. 3 growing up, but Flaherty had that number so he took 13 instead.

I hope he doesn't ever go to#3, because I just bought a #13 Machado orange jersey.

I would feel pretty bad if he changed his number now.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
bobmc Hangout Grand Counsel

bobmc

Posted
Posted
I am not an autograph person so I usually spend all of my time at the forums at these things and yesterday was no different. A few things that stuck out for me:

That's how I heard it too. Duquette first responded by saying "What do you think?" rhetorically and then moving onto his recent talking point about how the best players are going to come up through the system. Basically saying that payroll level is not the thing to focus on, but rather the organization's ability to have star players come up through the organization is the most important element of longterm success. He didn't indicate one way or another whether the payroll level would be over $100 m.

- Buck said something along the lines of (paraphrased) 'our lineup is much better off if Chris Davis can play first base.' That was surrounded by discussion of having flexibility at DH and how Buck thinks the days of the fulltime DH are going by the wayside. I think you can see how that played into the organization's decision to move on from Reynolds. With Reynolds at 1B, Davis would basically be a full time DH and limits the ability to move guys in and out of the DH spot which is Buck's preference. The idea seems to be that if Davis can handle DH, Betemit/Reimold/Valencia can DH on any given day and you can also give guys like Jones & Markakis the occasional rest from playing defense without losing any importnat bat from the lineup.

- The 2012 DVD panel was a really cool idea and way different from panels they've had at previous fanfests. Joe Angel should moderate every forum as he was really funny and really good at asking questions in this one. In general, I thought they did a much better job in freshening up the forums this year with groups that went beyond grouping guys just by their positions.

- Danny Valencia was very amusing with his frankness about his time with the Red Sox last season. He definitely endeared himself to the crowd with those comments but they seemed genuine and not just an excuse to get a positive reaction from Orioles fans. At the same time, he acknowledged his struggles last season and seemed focus on rebounding in 2013. His ability to backup at 3B does make him an attractive option if he can show his pre-2012 ability to hit LHP while not looking completely lost against RHP.

- On the topic of speaking your mind, Nick seemed a lot more open than he usually is, specifically with his comments about the Yankees. Markakis - and most of the players for that matter - seemed to be a lot more relaxed and honest than in past years which I think is probably a side effect of the increased confidence that came from how the team performed last season.

- Reimold and Roberts both indicated they were fully healthy. You wouldn't expect them to say anything differently but I certainly believe them. Reimold has been given the full go ahead from his doctors and is going to ST early to get some hitting work in. Roberts says he plans on being more active on the base paths this season and basically acknowledged he was tentative last year in his return. It remains to be seen how good his running game will be now that he is a few years older and had so much time off, but that quote at least gave me the impression that he in a much better physical/mental state than he was when he return last season.

- I loved Pedro's "You don't buy the house, you build it" quote in reference to building a team from the ground up. O'Day and the other guys in the bullpen forum harped on that idea a lot. O'Day said last year was his favorite professional season because of the feeling that the players themselves built the team and made it a winner. They all felt like they played a big role in the team's success, which was a feeling O'Day said he didn't necessarily get in Texas despite being part of two World Series teams while there. There is a definite attitude amongst the players of wanting to take the next step in 2013 and really do something special.

All in all, it was a really fun day. I always go to the forums, but this years were the best I can remember largely because the players and coaches had a lot more interesting things to discuss compared to prior years. I can't wait for the Spring now.

Great stuff stomper!

Looking at Valencia's bio - from the U, born in Miami and backing up Manny - could be a nice pairing. Was a great rookie with some pop - hope he recovers his stud status.

On Nick - to continue - Buck has given him so much press and confidence - he knows he is one of the leaders, albeit a quiet one - a nice complement to AJ.

Love the comments from Pedro and O'Day - what chemistry they have brewing. You can feel it from Bundy to Gausman to Britton and on and on....

Thanks for posting this!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
El Gordo Hangout Grand Counsel

El Gordo

Posted
Posted
Here's a video of a Q & A with Buck and Dan I took. They are talking about Morse and lack of activity.

[video=youtube;jDV59n8JTl0]

Thanks for this, it make clear why we haven't traded for a bat, and exactly what Buck meant by ""90 feet". That's a very clear expression of how he looks at the game apart from the usual stats.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Frobby Hangout Grand Counsel

Frobby

Posted
  • Author
Posted

OK, these are the last dregs I will report.

Nick and Nolan both said what they liked about batting leadoff is that you know what the first pitch of the game is going to be. Nolan said he also liked getting an extra at bat at the end of the game.

Nick was asked which team was toughest to face, and he said "Tampa is a thorn in the butt." He cited the fact that they always have great young pitchers.

O'Day is clearly a leader of the bullpen. They had a bullpen panel of him, Strop, Patton and Matusz. Jim Johnson had been on an earlier panel of the the Orioles who were on the all-star team. When the bullpen panel came on, the first thing O'Day said was "I guess Jim Johnson is too busy for the rest of the bullpen!" He did a lot of joking around with Strop, who seems like a really easygoing guy.

Some kid asked Strop how he felt when he allowed 5 runs to the Yankees in the Cal Ripken game. Strop paused, rolled his eyes and said, "no bueno!"

The last panel I saw had Kevin Gausman, Mike Wright, Zach Clark and Mike Belfiore. Gausman looks every inch the no. 1 pick, but Wright is just as tall and athletic looking. Clark, on the other hand, looks about as average as a person can look. You'd never guess he was a baseball player. Clark was asked about moving around among all the different levels. He said Aberdeen was the nicest place to play. He said no matter what level you are at, there are some players who just stand out as "having a different clock," and he cited Machado and Schoop as examples.

Overall, I'd say my biggest takeaways from the day were:

1. Confidence. I've been to Fanfest many times, and the mood is always optimistic and hopeful. But this was more than that. Management, coaches and players all have a lot of pride in what they accomplished last year and believe they are on the right track.

2. Culture. You can see what Buck has built here. Players take responsibility for themselves, and they support and communicate with each other. It's also a team that is going to provide opportunities to compete.

3. Consistency. Buck's got his message percolating all the way through the system, and Dan and Buck seem 100% on the same page.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
justD Hangout Grand Counsel

justD

Posted
Posted
Teagarden is kind of a weird dude, thought he wasn't happy to be there as several people on the floor were saying, but it's just the way he is....totally got him.

See, my experience was different. I was in that same line (Teagarden, Johnson, Tillman ~~ thank you weams for getting me the voucher), and upon offering one of the T-shirts to be signed, I said thanks to him for all he did for us last year, for being willing to just come in whenever and do whatever we needed from him.

His reply? "Thank YOU all for coming out!"

I don't know, that didn't seem to me like he didn't want to be there.

Btw, he also looked pretty fine in his dress-up duds. :002_scool:

Link to comment
Share on other sites
weams Hangout Grand Counsel

weams

Posted
Posted
I was there!!! A BIG THANK YOU to the ANGELS who took me!!!!

I got to talk to MY PERFECT ONE.......!!!!

It was a wonderful time!!!

MY Os WILL win the 2013 WS!!!!!!!

2012 "Closest to the pin" has made her 2013 prediction. Book it. Take it to Vegas.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
DoubleDown11 Rookie

DoubleDown11

Posted
Posted

Haven't posted on here in quite some time...just thought I'd add my .02.

Arrived around 2 or so...crowds were insane. Huge difference from the last time I was there (2011). Freebie line was never ending;

You'd think they were giving away a car.

Photo op with Britton (very personable) as well as Jim Johnson and Taylor Teagarden. Told Johnson he was the biggest reason I won my fantasy league. He told me about a fan from Canada who actually sent him a bill because he missed a week towards the end of the season. Johnson then said he was entitled to 10% of my winnings. Good stuff. Teagarden was very cordial, but he definitely came off as aloof and bored to tears as he was helping call a bingo game with Matusz.

Auto session with Wieters, McFarland, Presley (who inexplicably left half way through) was uneventful while the session with Arrieta,

Reimold, and Bundy featured very chatty and appreciative Jake and Nolan while Bundy definitely came off as a bit of a *****. No eye

contact, mumbled a hello and you're welcome and seemed ready to get the hell out.

I found the escort system quite interesting, as some players wandered incognito through the convention center while AJ had a police

escort.

All in all a great day and good energy.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...