Payton to get majority of starts in LF

[Leitch]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-osnotes0313,0,2511146.story?coll=bal-sports-baseball

A day after acknowledging Jay Gibbons will not be playing first base any time soon, Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo took his strongest stance yet on the left-field situation, saying Jay Payton will get the majority of starts there.

"We got Jay Payton to play left field most of the time, I would think, or at least a good portion of the time," Perlozzo said. "I think that is a normal assumption. We didn't go out and get him to sit the bench."

It was originally thought Aubrey Huff, another free-agent signing, could get a lot of starts in left, but it appears he'll play mostly first base. That leaves Gibbons and Kevin Millar battling for at-bats at designated hitter.

Okay, so there goes the theory that Payton is the short half of a platoon or will be spending much time on the bench. Huff is pretty much the first baseman. Looks like Gibbons and Millar will form some sort of twisted DH platoon.

Thoughts? I know mine are not appropriate for this forum

[Sports Guy]

Perlozzo is going to cost this team a chance to contend...I really believe that.

[Leitch]

Perlozzo is going to cost this team a chance to contend...I really believe that.

Well, you know LF is a premium defensive position, and it's not like we project to have a high-strikeout staff or anything.

And there will always be Paul Bako or Freddy Bynum to pinch hit.

[Pedro Cerrano]

Markakis, Patterson and Gibbons should be our regular OF -- subject to change when a lefty is going...GOD IS THIS SO HARD TO COMPREHEND!!!!!

[Sports Guy]

Well, you know LF is a premium defensive position, and it's not like we project to have a high-strikeout staff or anything.

And there will always be Paul Bako or Freddy Bynum to pinch hit.

No mention of Huff playing third once a week or so.

Perlozzo has alot of versatility right there for him and they don't seem to talk about it.

He acts as if his players can play one position and one position only.

And then, he just basically throws away any idea that we struggle versus lefties.

[Sports Guy]

So Sammy, what is better?

A no hit, average fielding, speedy UTI guy or a guy who can be average defensively and hit lefties to a 850+ OPS?

Does he actually think that a guy like Bynum is more valuable than Knott?

Oh wait, are we misreading the tea leaves again?

[Moose Milligan]

Does he actually think that a guy like Bynum is more valuable than Knott?

Looks that way.

[Leitch]

The Orioles would like to have another right-handed bat on the bench, but, at this point, flexibility is probably the most important thing.

"It doesn't do you any good if you are a right-handed bat and you can't do anything but hit," Perlozzo said. "We're looking for someone who has to have some flexibility to do something else for us. That's the mix that we are kind of looking at. Do we want some speed? Do we want some defense? Do we want the bat? Does the right-handed bat not mean as much to us as defense and speed? As we get closer, we'll see if we can't come up with that answer."

Dubois had several chances at first, but allowed Eric Reed's double to get under his glove in the second and he also couldn't field Mike Jacobs' bouncer in the fifth. Meanwhile, Bynum, who Perlozzo also said could be given a look at first base, handled all his chances at shortstop flawlessly.

I think we just lost our shot at a winning record, unless the pitching does a really good impression of the '65 Dodgers rotation.

[Pedro Cerrano]

Somewhat related but here are my two lineups versus lefties and righties

Vs. righties

Roberts, 2b

Markakis, LF

Tejada, SS

Huff, 1B

Gibbons, RF

Mora, 3B

Hernandez, C

Millar, DH

Patterson, CF

Versus lefties

Roberts, 2b

Markakis, CF

Tejada, SS

Huff, RF

Mora, 3B

Hernandez, C

Payton, LF

Millar, 1B

DH whoever is hot at the moment, Knott all things being equal but who even knows if he is going to make the team at this point.

[Leitch]

Knott[...]but who even knows if he is going to make the team at this point.

If they're giving Bynum a look at first base , or even entertaining that notion, you can pretty much write off Knott/Dubois/House being anything but the heart of the Norfolk lineup.

[Pedro Cerrano]

Just wait, they will bring Bynum to Baltimore, someone will get hurt, and we will have ourselves a regular who will give us a .750 OPS. YES!!!

Oh wait, but he plays wicked defense......

[Moose Milligan]

If they're giving Bynum a look at first base , or even entertaining that notion, you can pretty much write off Knott/Dubois/House being anything but the heart of the Norfolk lineup.

<img src = "http://www.prosoundweb.com/fun/Photofun/76-head_up_ass.jpg">

That whole "picture is worth a thousand words" saying never has rang so true.

Just when you think the organization gets it, just when you think they're done with dumb moves that don't make sense, talking about bringing in old fartknockers and questionable roster selections they just get right back in there and prove you wrong.

[Pedro Cerrano]

Payton is the odd man out. Only starts in CF vs. LHP. Millar starts everday. Lucky guy. Gibbons & Knott platoon in LF.

If you want to go defensive. Gibbons DH's vs. RHP with Payton in LF. Against LHP, Payton in CF, Knott in LF, Millar at DH.

Sounds good except make LF Kakes' full time position and let those guys platoon in RF. I'm also not a fan of Millar playing every day. I think, on some occasions, I'd rather have Payton in the OF with Knott or Gibby DHing.

[Leitch]

Just wait, they will bring Bynum to Baltimore, someone will get hurt, and we will have ourselves a regular who will give us a .750 OPS. YES!!!

Oh wait, but he plays wicked defense......

The worst thing that could happen is somebody going down and Bynum parlaying a hot streak or a clutch homer off a really good pitcher, into 300-400 plate appearances a la Brandon Fahey, David Newhan, etc.

[Mackus]

Its a shame that when we fire Perlozzo, Mazzone will probably leave too.