Dan Duquette's Series of Unfortunate Events

[CanadianOriole]

On July 24th, 2014 Dan acquired Jimmy Paredes - what now seems like another great DD move. Sometime between July 24 and July 31 - Dan was obviously cursed. There is no other rational explanation for what has happened to every major transaction he's made since. Don't believe in curses? I defy you to use rational thought to explain this crazy run of results the significant DD decisions have yielded since July 31.

1) Trades Ed Rod for Andrew Miller. EdRod has a 4.79 in AA at the time. Immediately goes crazy - 0.96 ERA the rest of the year. Cruises through AAA, dominates in MLB debut.

2) Makes the somewhat unusual move of announcing a player extension during the playoffs the day before the ALCS. Hardy posts .517 OPS in the series and the team gets swept. This season Hardy down to .508 OPS and having back problems.

3) Elects not to aggressively attempt to resign Andrew Miller. Miller signs with our most hated division rival, posts 0.84 ERA, is definitely in the conversation for best reliver in all of baseball.

4) Elects not to aggressively attempt to resign Nelson Cruz. Cruz leads majors in HR, 1.070 OPS, best hitter in the AL so far.

5) Elects not to aggressively attempt to resign lead off hitter and Gold Glove RF Nick Markakis. Markakis posts .397 OBP - almost 60 points higher than last year - Orioles have some defensive issues in RF.

6) Signs Delmon Young. Young career low .658 OPS. Due to his veteranosity frequently clogs up our clean up spot.

7) Trades for Travis Snider. Snider's OPS drops almost 60 points from last year down to .719. The traded - Brault 3-0 3.59, Tarpley 1-0 1.80 in the minors.

8) Signs Wesley Wright. Wight 5.40 ERA in 1.2 IP, out with shoulder injury.

9) Signs Everth Cabrera. Cabrera career low .476 OPS.

10) Tenders Alejandro De Aza a contract. OPS drops 65 points from last year down to .636. O's have to DFA him.

11) Trades Ryan Webb. Webb ultimately surfaces in Cleveland - career low 1.29 ERA.

This is a really unbelievable run of results. Just sustained spectacular bad luck. Obviously the sample on all these is very low - they could all turn around - but forget sample sizes and math - we're clearly dealing with a curse here. Supernatural forces are at play. Get your De Aza for MVP futures bets in now because wherever he lands he's clearly going to go bananas.

[Redskins Rick]

Sorry but many of your points, are just twisted bits skewed to your opinion.

It's clear you don't like DD.

[mdbdotcom]

You must have been sitting on the toilet a long time to come up with all of that. Don't forget to flush.

[Frobby]

I'm not judging these moves after 46 games. Also, the Miller trade wasn't unlucky -- he did everything we could have hoped for in his time here. EdRod is performing near the high ceiling we always knew he had, as did Miller. It's just that Miller was a short term play.

[El Gordo]

Too bad we didn't let TOR have Dan. He's such a screw up.

[CanadianOriole]

Ok, it seems the tongue in cheek nature of the post didn't translate. I don't really believe in curses. And I like DD just fine. I was more musing on the fact that DD somehow has had every significant decision he's made for ten months turn out shockingly bad so far. Literally every player he elected to give up has performed somewhere betweeen really, really good and Hall of Fame level - and every player he elected to keep or acquire has performed somewhere between disappointing and putrid. The decision themselves in a vacuum were all reasonable - yet somehow each one has been disastrous so far. Of course they could all turn around - a bunch of them almost certainly will. It's just kind of amazing to note the short term run of bad luck he's had.

[mdbdotcom]

Ok, it seems the tongue in cheek nature of the post didn't translate. I don't really believe in curses. And I like DD just fine. I was more musing on the fact that DD somehow has had every significant decision he's made for ten months turn out shockingly bad so far. Literally every player he elected to give up has performed somewhere betweeen really, really good and Hall of Fame level - and every player he elected to keep or acquire has performed somewhere between disappointing and putrid. The decision themselves in a vacuum were all reasonable - yet somehow each one has been disastrous so far. Of course they could all turn around - a bunch of them almost certainly will. It's just kind of amazing to note the short term run of bad luck he's had.

Curses.

[Russsnyder]

You must have been sitting on the toilet a long time to come up with all of that. Don't forget to flush.

Moderators, you threaten to ban posters for using the word "apologists" and you let disparaging remarks like this to continue?

[Redskins Rick]

Moderators, you threaten to ban posters for using the word "apologists" and you let disparaging remarks like this to continue?

I believe it's when the word apologist and PAG is used in the same sentence.

Of course, I am not a Mod, nor do I play one on TV or in OH.

[El Gordo]

Moderators, you threaten to ban posters for using the word "apologists" and you let disparaging remarks like this to continue?

If you have issues with the moderators you need to PM them.

[weams]

Moderators, you threaten to ban posters for using the word "apologists" and you let disparaging remarks like this to continue?

PM all complaints about moderation.

[wildcard]

I guess it's all a matter of perspective.

Dan was hired to be the O's VP of Baseball Operations and he turned the O's around after 14 losing seasons.

1) 2012 - The season after his hiring the O's went to the playoffs for the first time since 1997.

2) 2013 - The O's had their second consecutive winning season.

3) 2014 - The O's won the AL East and beat Detroit in the playoffs.

4) During his first three years with the O's they won more games than any other team in the AL other than Oakland.

5) The O's are currently 2 games back in the AL East and probably have the best pitching depth of any team in their division. Pitching normally wins. The O's are positioned well for another playoff run.

All this has happen because Dan has built a positive relationship with Buck and Peter, a fine front office staff, good drafting, scouting and player development organizations.

Too focus on certain moves that might not have worked out is really to miss the whole point of what Dan has done. The has built a winning organization from one that was a big loser of years. The O's and O's fans are lucky to have him. Most O's fans understand this very well.

[Redskins Rick]

I guess it's all a matter of perspective.

Dan was hired to be the O's VP of Baseball Operations and he turned the O's around after 14 loses seasons.

1) 2012 - The season after his hiring the O's went to the playoffs for the first time since 1997.

2) 2013 - The O's had their second consecutive winning season.

3) 2014 - The O's won the AL East and beat Detroit in the playoffs.

4) During his first three years with the O's they won more games than any other team in the AL other than Oakland.

5) The O's are currently 2 games back in the AL East and probably have the best pitching depth of any team in their division. Pitching normally wins. The O's are position well for another playoff run.

All this has happen because Dan has built a positive relationship with Buck, a fine front office staff, good drafting, scouting and player development organizations.

Too focus on certain moves that might not have worked out is really to miss the whole point of what Dan has done. The has built a winning organization from one that what a big loser of years. The O's and O's fans are lucky to have him. Most O's fans understand this very well.

Very Nice Post!

:thumbsup1:

[tntoriole]

I guess it's all a matter of perspective.

Dan was hired to be the O's VP of Baseball Operations and he turned the O's around after 14 loses seasons.

1) 2012 - The season after his hiring the O's went to the playoffs for the first time since 1997.

2) 2013 - The O's had their second consecutive winning season.

3) 2014 - The O's won the AL East and beat Detroit in the playoffs.

4) During his first three years with the O's they won more games than any other team in the AL other than Oakland.

5) The O's are currently 2 games back in the AL East and probably have the best pitching depth of any team in their division. Pitching normally wins. The O's are positioned well for another playoff run.

All this has happen because Dan has built a positive relationship with Buck and Peter, a fine front office staff, good drafting, scouting and player development organizations.

Too focus on certain moves that might not have worked out is really to miss the whole point of what Dan has done. The has built a winning organization from one that was a big loser of years. The O's and O's fans are lucky to have him. Most O's fans understand this very well.

Exactly. Amen! For those of us who have suffered through the wilderness, the depth of this achievement cannot ever be over appreciated. No matter what DD does or doesn't do from here out, he has my undying gratitude for the success that I have been able to share with my friends and loved ones. And most of the points have been made at length in other threads...good to talk about, but nothing really to see here.

[Rene88]

I guess it's all a matter of perspective.

Dan was hired to be the O's VP of Baseball Operations and he turned the O's around after 14 loses seasons.

1) 2012 - The season after his hiring the O's went to the playoffs for the first time since 1997.

2) 2013 - The O's had their second consecutive winning season.

3) 2014 - The O's won the AL East and beat Detroit in the playoffs.

4) During his first three years with the O's they won more games than any other team in the AL other than Oakland.

5) The O's are currently 2 games back in the AL East and probably have the best pitching depth of any team in their division. Pitching normally wins. The O's are position well for another playoff run.

All this has happen because Dan has built a positive relationship with Buck and Peter, a fine front office staff, good drafting, scouting and player development organizations.

Too focus on certain moves that might not have worked out is really to miss the whole point of what Dan has done. The has built a winning organization from one that was a big loser of years. The O's and O's fans are lucky to have him. Most O's fans understand this very well.

Man, I need a cigarette after reading all this back and fourth on here. I always appreciate your posts and input. You are one of the best on here. I sincerely mean that.

I am not sure the OP is meaning that DD isn't to thank. I am sure he does understand that he helped turn around the culture of losing. So did Buck though and I am convinced he had a lot more to do with turning things around than DD. DD is a good GM for acquiring depth. AM was so awful in that respect it offset all his value with his amazing trading abilities.

I don't think the original topic should be dismissed as a discussion point. There were some bad decisions made this offseason and not making moves is also a bad decision.

1. Matusz option should not have been picked up.

2. De Aza should not have been picked up

3. Cruz resigned IMO

4. Snider trade not necessary

5. Young probably not resigned

6. Norris traded (hard to evaluate this however)

I do like the Cabrera move regardless if it works out or not. Same point with Snider-we didn't give up a lot so if you want to get Snider for depth, 4th OFer, I am okay with it but just didn't feel it would have been necessary with Cruz signing.

None of these moves are terrible but deserve criticism, or at the very least discussion without the OP being attacked or called a DD hater or saying he is a screw up. That seems a bit over the top in my opinion.