Montanez not playing is a joke

[Mark Carver]

He should have at least replaced Scott by about the seventh inning.

I don't think the front office would offer arbitration to Payton under any circumstance, and they might with Millar if we don't get Tex, but I'm not sure at what date they would have to make this decision. I could see both accepting arbitration if it were offered because neither one is going to get a multi-year deal from anyone else.

He did replace Scott in the Top of the 7th. Play by play from ESPN for the Top of the 7th-

Jeremy Guthrie pitching for Baltimore

L Montanez in left field.

B Boggs walked.

G Laird bunt grounded out to pitcher, B Boggs to second.

C Davis flied out to left.

T Metcalf grounded out to second.

[LookitsPuck]

Give Montanez a shot at playing CF for at least a game or two. See how he does. If he doesn't suffice, no problem. If he doesn't completely butcher it, sit Payton and use him as a pinch hitting alternative and/or a defensive replacement.

When Mora is getting rest (which should be once or twice a week since he plays better when he's rested), shift Huff to 3B. DH Scott. Play Montanez in LF. Play Millar at 1B.

When Mora is playing 3B, shift Huff to 1B. DH Scott. Play Montanez in LF. Bench Millar.

You can also try other scenarios by putting Montanez at DH and giving Scott some time off, Millar some time off, etc.

The important thing is to give Montanez at bats to see what he can do up here. Chances are he could be a flash in the pan and at most a 4th outfielder, but he's a better option than Payton, that's for sure. It wouldn't hurt me one bit to not see Millar, Payton, Mora swing a bat the rest of the season if it meant that Montanez could get the AB's.

[hoosiers]

There is not a chance in hell that Millar is a Type A free agent.

There is less than a chance in hell that Payton is a Type B free agent.

We would not want Millar to be a Type A anyhow, but he appears to be a solid finish away from Type B status.

[Anonymous]

I'm as passionate as anyone here in my desire to see Montanez get as much playing time as possible down the stretch, both in LF and in CF. But please, can't we give it a few days before we conclude so definitively that this won't be the case???

[wildcard]

There is nothing remotely accurate about that quote.

At the 7/31 deadline, Ramon had a 734 OPS… now it is 722… he had no value at the deadline, with the O’s offering to pay large amounts of his contract…

He is owed $8M in 2009, with a $1M buyout in 2010… if someone takes on that contract, you are not getting a prospect of value back… but that would be fine, just to rid yourself of the contract…. I don’t see that happening though… I see the O’s eating 75% of the contract, and getting a Rocky Cherry in return.

Scott has a heal problem, him DHing the rest of the season can only help keep him in the lineup. In 2009, him and Reimold can share LF and DH.

Payton is not Andruw Jones in his prime, and Montanez is not G. Berroa.

If Montanez can not play CF some, he has limited value to the O’s… Markakis plays everyday in RF… Scott and Reimold can share LF… and obviously Jones will play everyday in CF… for Montanez to have value as a 4th OF for the O’s… he is going to have to be capable of playing CF and LF in reserve.

Castro has no business on this team period… how hard could it possibly be for MacPhail to find a no-hit, all-field UTI SS that is in his 20s?

Until that player is obtained, Cintron should start.

3 man bench has limited their flexibility in numerous games, and everyday hurts them more as their older players continue to play more and more games late into summer… has also hurt them on Sunday’s when Trembley has played his B lineup, and had limited options available.

The only reason the O’s are going with a 3 man bench, is because they are apparently not smart enough to craft a 12 man staff, with the long-men capable of helping the starters that do not provide the necessary innings.

Waters had 1 fluke start… and he might have another…. But there is nothing about his resume that says he should be here in front of Liz.

Take a look at Liz’s 2007 AA, and 2008 AAA numbers vs Waters’ 2007 AA, and 2008 AA/AAA numbers, and tell me how you arise at the conclusion that Waters deserves innings in front of Liz.

If you come to that conclusion, shame on you.

You are so far off base there is not way to have a logical discussion with you IMO. I am not going to waste my time trying because it is evident that you will not consider anything other then what you currently think. I think you are dead wrong. However you are entitled to your opinion.

[UpstateNYfan]

The whining here is incredible....all year the name Montanez has rarely appeared. Its been Reimold, Reimold, Reimold......now it's complaining about not playing Montanez, who was referred to by people as old and a AAA flop I think playing Payton is fine...he has been hustling, made some great defensive plays and perhaps we can dump him before the end of the month. Also, Scott seems to be on one of his streaks. Montanez will get his chance soon...patience is a virtue.

[PoorMike]

The whining here is incredible....all year the name Montanez has rarely appeared. Its been Reimold, Reimold, Reimold......now it's complaining about not playing Montanez, who was referred to by people as old and a AAA flop I think playing Payton is fine...he has been hustling, made some great defensive plays and perhaps we can dump him before the end of the month. Also, Scott seems to be on one of his streaks. Montanez will get his chance soon...patience is a virtue.

I just think the whining is a little premature.

Luis or Nolan should play wherever they are, but I can see Payton getting more reps if they think there's a decent trade market for him out there. Otherwise, the same reasons for letting Bradford go ("we have other bullpen arms that need a shot") should apply to the OF too (even if Payton isn't actually gone from the roster).

...and I'm sure some people still would rather have NR up; but if LM is they one they actually grabbed, he's the one we have to talk about.

[Flosman]

I just hope Mike declares he is not going to any of the remaining gamesthis year. Seriously this team has been enjoyable to watch and unlike most on here I actually see real progress throughout the system.

[ScottieBaseball]

It's really easy to forget sometimes that these guys are friends, that these people care about this sort of thing. But they do. And I'm betting it's going to rub a lot of people the wrong way if you start benching vets.

There's a big difference between playing armchair manager and managing personalities.

Ding ding ding! The chemistry in that clubhouse right now is ridiculously good. Night and day compared to last year. Two guys I spoke with two Sundays ago marveled at it, going as far as to announce, "This (clubhouse) is great! I'm glad I'm not in (MLB city) any more. Man...that place was miserable."

There's a fine line between catering to the veterans to the point where it's a detriment to the team and maintaining the status quo (that includes keeping vets in the lineup) in order to give the team the best chance at winning every night THIS season, thus keeping the clubhouse positive.

[PlumOriole]

Payton was a problem last season, but I think the negativity towards him this season is unwarranted, IMO. His performance hasn't been great, but he's done well at the thing he does well, hitting lefties (.919 OPS) and his attitude has been fine this year. He's even spoken about how he understands the direction of the team and how him getting a lot of playing time isn't a major part of that.

He's overpaid for sure, and he seemed like a jerk last year, but I don't think he deserves that much wrath for the way he's played this year. He's done pretty much everything we could've expected out of him without being any sort of problem in the clubhouse.

I'm late to this thread but I could'nt have said it better. I'm not the president of the Jay Payto fan club but this guy has not been a cancer and has done what I think most of us would have expected from him.

[Mark Carver]

I just hope Mike declares he is not going to any of the remaining gamesthis year. Seriously this team has been enjoyable to watch and unlike most on here I actually see real progress throughout the system.

It would be particular useful if he declares he's not going this coming Sunday. Because of the team's penchant for not winning on Sunday and Waters is starting.

[mikezpen]

I don't see where getting someone like Montanez in the lineup is going to destroy the clubhouse chemistry.If that chemistry is so great because the veterans are starting every day, then forget the chemistry.

[Mike B]

Maybe if Montanez was a bigger jerk than Payton in the clubhouse he'd get some more playing time. Trembley needs to put earplugs in and just bench Payton vs. RHPs. They basically took the Eastern League TC away from Montanez, so he'd better not just be rotting on the bench.

Montanez has been a career minor leaguer at this point. He has had an awesome year in AA at 26 years old. I would bet that if you asked him would you rather stay at AA and pursue a triple crown or go to the majors finally after 8 years he would laugh and pack his bags as quickly as he could. A AA TC is irrelevant when you can be in the majors. DT does not hate rookies. If Montanez was a CF he would play CF. If Montanez was a highly touted CF prospect he would play CF. It is obvious the scouts have told him he is not an everyday CFer. They will give him some days in CF, and LF by moving Millar, Scott, Payton and Mora in an out but they must question his defense.

[Lucky Jim]

This thread got ugly. My.

[Sports Guy]

My thoughts.....

1) The average fan is more like Cindy than many of us on here...Nothing wrong with that but none of us on here think Cindy is some knowledgable fan. Cindy is just a very good fan of the team and that is good...But when you get into the analytical part, stats and things like that, most fans don't have that background...Listen to sports talk radio just to give yourself that idea.

The average fan touts things like batting average, wins, ERA, etc....they think those are the important things and why? Because that is what is being spoon fed to them on a daily basis by the media.

2) It simply amazes me that year after year we have the same arguments every year....and every year people are happy with the over the hill vets who have no future on our team playing while younger, more talented players watch their oppurtunity go by.

Simple question:

Why do you want to continue to see older players, in the last 2 months of another sub 500 season, with no future here over younger guys who could have a future here?