Why we may be undervaluing Dan Duquettes long term strategy

[DrungoHazewood]

Of course, the early 80s recession had nothing to do with people in the seats?

No. The attendance tracked the Orioles' decline in wins very, very well.

[LookitsPuck]

You can't undervalue something that doesn't exist. Duquette doesn't have a long term strategy. Or at least one we haven't been able to see if 4+ years.

[OFFNY]

It is a exaggeration? You still see people wearing Ripken shirts at the Stadium. Just the rumor of him working for the Nats, put the fandome into an up roar.

Whose shirt do you see now at the Stadium, besides Ripken, Jr.'s? Manny is probably the most seen of the active players still on the team.

If Bedard would have stayed the Ace, he was, when he was traded, it would not have been a big haul for the Orioles.

Even if Glenn Davis had been a good trade, losing 3 quality players for one, doesn't always work.

o

<a href="" title="DSC04839 by canal138, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8116/8646776236_8c147dfaf1.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC04839"></a>

oo

[Reboulet'sStache]

You can't undervalue something that doesn't exist. Duquette doesn't have a long term strategy. Or at least one we haven't been able to see if 4+ years.

Yep. If he has one, he's a master at hiding it. It seems more like they stumbled upon winning when they didn't expect it yet (2012), and have just tried to keep that going as long as possible. And everything else has been to supplement that. Which you can argue is fine, but it's certainly not a "long term" strategy.

[WEAVERMAN]

The burning long term question of the Orioles future revolves around Manny Machado. He is the one asset we have that we absolutely have to either retain or maximize his value if we are going to not be able to retain him. I think DD has positioned himself nicely in the long term to deal with this issue and here is why.

I imagine that Manny and AJ view this signing very positively. Certainly had they signed say Upton or Cespedes, those guys would have been viewed far more favorably than Snider replacing Nick Markakis. Personally I think the end game here is to provide Manny with some sense that this organization is willing to spend resources to win if he remains here. He will not simply be the face of franchise that is floundering but rather the driving force of a competitive team. That I imagine is important to Manny. I am not naive, I know money rules the day but if I am Manny, I would be willing after last year to gamble a little on myself if I were not feeling to sure about the direction of the franchise.

Lets say though Manny wont sign, he is intent on hitting the market and becoming uber uber rich. With CD on board, the potential exists that if you get the right prospects back, bring in a guy or two, your team can still have some relevance while the guys we draft this year work their way up the minors.

What I like about the long term approach is that we seem to be putting in place a lot of reasons for Manny to really think hard about staying. CD, AJ, Schoop, a bevy of draft picks and if we get perhaps Harvey or Bundy can show they are getting back on track that might help also. KG blowing up also would help. Point is that DD is doing this right from a long term perspective in my opinion. Manny is not staying in Baltimore hoping that a bevy of picks develop, add those picks in additon to an already competitive team and a lineup that provides him opportunities to produce big, it becomes a more attractive proposition.

The picture to me is becoming a little clearer as to what the goal is and I am impressed. I freely admit I could be wrong, I am sure a lot of poster will tear me apart here but I have to believe there is a long term strategy, Buck and DD are little to smart not to have one. This is just my take on it. Feel free to object.

Manny's extension should be assigned to PGA, not Duquette. PGA is only one with enough authority to finalize it.

[hoosiers]

You can't undervalue something that doesn't exist. Duquette doesn't have a long term strategy. Or at least one we haven't been able to see if 4+ years.

No kidding. Long term strategies involve attempts at long term competitiveness. Long term competitiveness is driven by a strong farm system. Strong farm systems are developed with quality drafting and strong player development (which I believe DD may have put in place) which go hand in hand with also keeping and/or acquiring US draft picks, investment in international talent and trading veterans for prospects. DD's moves since his arrival have cost the team four high picks, we have under-invested internationally relative to the rest of the league and we've not dealt veteran MLBers for any real prospect of note.

DD's management of the team the past few years has weakened the franchise's long term outlook. The team is currently lined up to add more talent in this year's draft than most teams and there is a great international opportunity available if DD can take advantage. Further, if out of the race this year, we may have some veterans who could yield a quality return in guys like Matt Wieter - so there is some hope.

[Frobby]

Further, if out of the race this year, we may have some veterans who could yield a quality return in guys like Matt Wieter - so there is some hope.

You seem to have the purpose of rooting for a baseball team backwards here -- do you "hope" to be out of the race this year? I could see preferring to be far enough out of it to make some trades over having a .500ish season where you are not quite in it but don't want to admit it, but even that is debatable. In any event, my hope is for the Orioles to go to the playoffs.

[hoosiers]

You seem to have the purpose of rooting for a baseball team backwards here -- do you "hope" to be out of the race this year? I could see preferring to be far enough out of it to make some trades over having a .500ish season where you are not quite in it but don't want to admit it, but even that is debatable. In any event, my hope is for the Orioles to go to the playoffs.

I always want the Orioles to win -- at all levels of the franchise.

(However, I will add that my interest and excitement for the future of the Os has been dimmed by having DD in charge of the franchise. I was concerned but hopeful when he was hired, extremely impressed by his moves during the 2012 season, but really at odds with many moves since then. DD has traded/wasted an incredible amount of talent since the end of the 2012 season with very little to show in return.)

I am just pointing out that if the major league team were to find itself out of the playoff picture before the trade deadline, we have guys like Wieters to trade. When I write "like Wieters", I mean someone of talent who has a contract status that makes him very tradeable.

[Frobby]

I always want the Orioles to win -- at all levels of the franchise.

(However, I will add that my interest and excitement for the future of the Os has been dimmed by having DD in charge of the franchise. I was concerned but hopeful when he was hired, extremely impressed by his moves during the 2012 season, but really at odds with many moves since then. DD has traded/wasted an incredible amount of talent since the end of the 2012 season with very little to show in return.)

I am just pointing out that if the major league team were to find itself out of the playoff picture before the trade deadline, we have guys like Wieters to trade. When I write "like Wieters", I mean someone of talent who has a contract status that makes him very tradeable.

As I just posted elsewhere, I see Wieters, Tillman, Jimenez and Gonzalez as possible trade bait if we find ourselves out of contention. Also Trumbo if he's having a good season and possibly some of our relief corps. There should be plenty of options if the team is out of contention.

[weams]

You seem to have the purpose of rooting for a baseball team backwards here -- do you "hope" to be out of the race this year? I could see preferring to be far enough out of it to make some trades over having a .500ish season where you are not quite in it but don't want to admit it, but even that is debatable. In any event, my hope is for the Orioles to go to the playoffs.

I love watching competitive, MLB, baseball late in the season each year. This is the way I want an organization run.

[weams]

I always want the Orioles to win -- at all levels of the franchise.

I am not sure that winning in the minors is ever really any concern. Those are just feeder teams for the product.

[Frobby]

I am not sure that winning in the minors is ever really any concern. Those are just feeder teams for the product.

I like having our players growing up in a winning environment. The fact that Norfolk and Bowie both made the playoffs last year (with Bowie winning the EL championship) speaks well of our organization. I'm glad for Walker, Mancini et al. to have that experience.

[Can_of_corn]

I am not sure that winning in the minors is ever really any concern. Those are just feeder teams for the product.

Astros care.