Did Dan have a plan all along?

[33rdst]

At various times during the "long march" called the Orioles off season there has been heated discussion as to whether DD had a plan for improving the club. Many insisted that because of the lack of action the O's had no plan for winning and we fans were doomed to a season of mediocrity as our rivals in the east passed us by.

Well as the off season concludes and the O's begin in earnest in their preparations for the season, It has become obvious that there was a plan all along and DD brilliantly pulled it off.

The O's goal coming into November was to "improve the core of this club to insure they would contend for a championship".

Duquette was never ambiguous about the teams intention in that regard. He would achieve his goal by 1) acquiring a TOR starting pitcher. 2.) improving left field production. 3) strengthening the bullpen and 4.) improving production from the DH position. These objectives were never a secret. Duquette repeated them at almost every opportunity. Yet his critics belittled him and refused to believe that he would achieve what he set out to do.

Every good plan has clear and specific goals and objectives and DD's fit the bill. The question, as always, was how how would he pull it off? What strategies and tactics would he use to make his plan work. Here in lies the genius of Duquette. As we know, unlike many of his eastern division counterparts, it wasn't sufficient for DD to identify the needs and write the checks. He was operating under some very specific financial constraints that would require him to find creative ways to achieve his goals.

First and foremost DD had to solidify his core. So he made quick work of settling his arbitration cases. No fuss no muss, no controversy. Of course there was the matter of trading Johnson but that, as it turned out, was necessary, to insure he had the financial flexibility to respond to future opportunities.

Next Duquette trumped the league by very quickly signing one of the best bull pen arms on the market. Check off one major objective.

Things got more difficult here but this is where Duquette is at his best. As he laid the ground work for future moves, ie. His conversations with Jimenez's agent. Duquette went about the process of implementing his strategies. While the Balfour debacle was certainly a huge distraction, I think it was a testimony to Duquette's ability to react and respond to the ever changing dynamics of the market or ownerships meddling. Remember Duquette actually got Balfour. He got his man. It was the dysfunctional process that ruined the effort.

Despite the huge set back DD took it in stride. He then moved to address his other objectives, acquiring a left field solution by bringing Lough into the fold. Next DH. Young comes on board. Not sexy but sound. He'll work if nothing else comes along. The market for TOR guys has gone into hibernation. Tanaka is holding everything up. That doesn't stop DD's critics. Now he's not only incompetent but he's a liar.

What I've learned about great GM's like Duquette is that they have a gift for anticipating the change in the dynamics of the market. Like great chess masters the are three, four five moves ahead of the rest of us.

It was clear to Duquette all along that he was going to get his starter, which one who knew but he had laid the ground work and he was ready to move when the opportunity presented itself. He waited. In the meantime, Duquette continued to add pieces more bullpen depth and a potential closer Aceves.

As we now know Duquette's extraordinary patience paid off. However, it required one last bold move. Convince the owner he had to suspend the four year rule. It apparently was easier then most of us thought. TOR starter in the fold. You can argue if he's a true TOR but he's filled that role before. Duquette got his man.

People were now wondering if the O's had gone from worst to first in the off season competition. To remove all doubt DD signs Cruz. Game, set, match.

Did the plan exist? Obviously. The genius was in pulling it off in the face of all of the adversity. Dan did it.

[Redskins Rick]

Good plan on paper and nice write-up.

The key to this plan, how does it actually succeed on the playing diamond.

If it succeeds, then I will be the first to crown him a genius. Right now, I applaud the guy for trying his hardest.

[jabba72]

Teams weren't spending crazy money this off-season. That certainly helped. The market percolated like in 2004 when the O's got a great deal on Tejada.

[Redskins Rick]

]Teams weren't spending crazy money this off-season. [/b]That certainly helped. The market percolated like in 2004 when the O's got a great deal on Tejada.

Some teams are spending crazy, look at some of the salaries handed out and whom.

[MurphDogg]

Teams weren't spending crazy money this off-season. That certainly helped. The market percolated like in 2004 when the O's got a great deal on Tejada.

The Orioles signed Tejada on December 14, 2003 at the Winter Meetings. The market had not percolated.

[Redskins Rick]

Here's what I like about DD's moves this offseason... he managed to get all of these guys below market value and without trading anyone from the farm system.

He's traded one guy: Valencia, who he got from the Red Sox for straight up cash money, and turned that into a guy who is potentially your starting LFer. So he boosted team defense and then replaced Valencia's bat easily with guys like Young, and then eventually with Cruz.

I dont want to be critical of Duke, when he has done so much for the team.

I don't have a ton of heartburn over giving up the 2nd pick for Cruz.

But, what I have trouble understanding, you give up a pick for a one year rental?

That kinda of bugs me a bit.

[weams]

I dont want to be critical of Duke, when he has done so much for the team.

I don't have a ton of heartburn over giving up the 2nd pick for Cruz.

But, what I have trouble understanding, you give up a pick for a one year rental?

That kinda of bugs me a bit.

There is a good chance of getting a better pick back.

[oriole]

I dont want to be critical of Duke, when he has done so much for the team.

I don't have a ton of heartburn over giving up the 2nd pick for Cruz.

But, what I have trouble understanding, you give up a pick for a one year rental?

That kinda of bugs me a bit.

It was a 2nd round pick for a position of need for very little guarantee. 1/8 would have had people laughing at you if it was suggested in November.

[Aristotelian]

I sure would be curious to see what was going in in DD's mind through this process. My big question is whether he had an idea that the market on Nelson Cruz would plummet or if he got lucky. Cruz turned down a qualifying offer for $14 million, so I figured it would take at least that much to sign him. The other question was if Balfour had signed, would we have had no marbles left for Cruz and or Jimenez, even at $8 million. In retrospect it is possible that the Balfour deal blowing up could have been a blessing in disguise.

To split some hairs, I would say DD has not significantly improved our overall OBP or 2B position, which are also things that have been talked about. Maybe Cruz will help our OBP, but Danny V was mashing lefties last year. Also, I think Lough is about a wash with McLouth, although way cheaper. I am also not convinced we have improved our bullpen. DD certainly tried to improve the BP, but the bottom line is we lost JJ and do not have an experienced closer going into the season.

That said, I understand you can't do everything with finite resources. Under the circumstances, DD has done most of what he set out to do and certainly made the most of the situation.

[oriole]

Teams weren't spending crazy money this off-season. That certainly helped. The market percolated like in 2004 when the O's got a great deal on Tejada.

Contracts like Tanaka, Cano, and to a lesser degree Nolasco and Feldman...all of these players benefited from over anxious teams with deep pockets.

[josh35b]

I feel like this is the Orioles plan every year, wait until the market comes down to us. This is the first year where they finally came down to us before someone else signed all the available free agents.

[LookinUp]

There is a fair chance of getting a better pick back.

Slight edit...

[spiritof66]

I agree with the OP. I have no idea how much the off-season moves were pre-planned and how much was adapted as the market changed. And I'm not sure it matters since DD deserves a lot of credit in any case.

I would add one observation. In carrying out a plan that unfolds slowly like this one did, it's important to keep your cards close to the vest (if not under your vest) as far as the public and the media are concerned. Duquette faced a lot of pressure this winter to explain and justify what the Orioles were and weren't doing, and I'm guessing it wasn't easy to get beaten up by everyone from national writers to OH posters. But he managed to say very little, outwardly ignore the brickbats, and dance around the questions, bringing him even more criticism and derision.

We should try to remember that when he (or future GMs) frustrate us in the future by not moving as quickly as we'd like and not telling anyone what they're up to.

[OFFNY]

At various times during the "long march" called the Orioles off season there has been heated discussion as to whether DD had a plan for improving the club. Many insisted that because of the lack of action the O's had no plan for winning and we fans were doomed to a season of mediocrity as our rivals in the east passed us by.

Well as the off season concludes and the O's begin in earnest in their preparations for the season, It has become obvious that there was a plan all along and DD brilliantly pulled it off.

The O's goal coming into November was to "improve the core of this club to insure they would contend for a championship".

Duquette was never ambiguous about the teams intention in that regard. He would achieve his goal by 1) acquiring a TOR starting pitcher. 2.) improving left field production. 3) strengthening the bullpen and 4.) improving production from the DH position. These objectives were never a secret. Duquette repeated them at almost every opportunity. Yet his critics belittled him and refused to believe that he would achieve what he set out to do.

Every good plan has clear and specific goals and objectives and DD's fit the bill. The question, as always, was how how would he pull it off? What strategies and tactics would he use to make his plan work. Here in lies the genius of Duquette. As we know, unlike many of his eastern division counterparts, it wasn't sufficient for DD to identify the needs and write the checks. He was operating under some very specific financial constraints that would require him to find creative ways to achieve his goals.

First and foremost DD had to solidify his core. So he made quick work of settling his arbitration cases. No fuss no muss, no controversy. Of course there was the matter of trading Johnson but that, as it turned out, was necessary, to insure he had the financial flexibility to respond to future opportunities.

Next Duquette trumped the league by very quickly signing one of the best bull pen arms on the market. Check off one major objective.

Things got more difficult here but this is where Duquette is at his best. As he laid the ground work for future moves, ie. His conversations with Jimenez's agent. Duquette went about the process of implementing his strategies. While the Balfour debacle was certainly a huge distraction, I think it was a testimony to Duquette's ability to react and respond to the ever changing dynamics of the market or ownerships meddling. Remember Duquette actually got Balfour. He got his man. It was the dysfunctional process that ruined the effort.

Despite the huge set back DD took it in stride. He then moved to address his other objectives, acquiring a left field solution by bringing Lough into the fold. Next DH. Young comes on board. Not sexy but sound. He'll work if nothing else comes along. The market for TOR guys has gone into hibernation. Tanaka is holding everything up. That doesn't stop DD's critics. Now he's not only incompetent but he's a liar.

What I've learned about great GM's like Duquette is that they have a gift for anticipating the change in the dynamics of the market. Like great chess masters the are three, four five moves ahead of the rest of us.

It was clear to Duquette all along that he was going to get his starter, which one who knew but he had laid the ground work and he was ready to move when the opportunity presented itself. He waited. In the meantime, Duquette continued to add pieces more bullpen depth and a potential closer Aceves.

As we now know Duquette's extraordinary patience paid off. However, it required one last bold move. Convince the owner he had to suspend the four year rule. It apparently was easier then most of us thought. TOR starter in the fold. You can argue if he's a true TOR but he's filled that role before. Duquette got his man.

People were now wondering if the O's had gone from worst to first in the off season competition. To remove all doubt DD signs Cruz. Game, set, match.

Did the plan exist? Obviously. The genius was in pulling it off in the face of all of the adversity. Dan did it.

I believe that Duquette had a plan all along.

I think that a lot of Oriole fans were impatient and presumptuous (especially in regard to, and after the Balfour situation), and didn't let the entire off-season play out before judging it.

[CA-ORIOLE]

He has had a plan/strategy and it has been a pretty consistent plan imo. The plan is flexible and he adapts as needed.