Tex or AJ

[Sports Guy]

I wish I knew half as much as what you think you know. I would be a genius instead of an almost genius around here as my reputation states. Anyway, if you are so doggone smart think of a way to get the Orioles some pitching help immediately that is do-able and propose it on a thread like I did. And don't come up with the wait for prospects because so far that is a bigger gamble than betting on the stock market.

I already have...I laid out a plan to get Andy Sonnanstine and James McDonald.

[Old#5fan]

The question isn't, do we invest in Tex or pitching?

The question is, Tex or Burnett.

So yes, you are saying that.

No, what I am saying is the need for pitching is greatest so you spend the money there first. It is not a difficult concept to grasp. In no way am I saying adding just Burnett alone does much of anything. Even adding Burnett and Tex does next to nothing as far as making the team a contender. They need to start with Burnett and then keep going and going, and going to get pitching somehow.

[Sports Guy]

No, what I am saying is the need for pitching is greatest so you spend the money there first. It is not a difficult concept to grasp. In no way am I saying adding just Burnett alone does much of anything. Even adding Burnett and Tex does next to nothing as far as making the team a contender. They need to start with Burnett and then keep going and going, and going to get pitching somehow.

The Orioles aren't(and rightfully so), going to pour a lot of money into FA starters.

Its just not a smart thing to do.

[Old#5fan]

The Orioles aren't(and rightfully so), pour a lot of money into FA starters.

Its just not a smart thing to do.

I agree, but it would be equally stupid to spend huge break the bank type of money on Texeira when the starting pitching is beyond bad. They could have the Yankees lineup and still be 18 games behind the Rays next year, the pitching is that sorry, especially the so-called starting staff.

[Sports Guy]

I agree, but it would be equally stupid to spend huge break the bank type of money on Texeira when the starting pitching is beyond bad. They could have the Yankees lineup and still be 18 games behind the Rays next year, the pitching is that sorry, especially the so-called starting staff.

Its not an either/or thing.

The Orioles can and should sign Tex(depending on the deal)...Signing Tex doesn't mean you stop developing pitching, trading for it, etc...

The question is between AJ and Tex...What is better for us...Tex is clearly better than Burnett...Tex clearly means more wins for us and Tex is clearly the more durable player...he is also clearly the guy that represents a greater long term need based on what we have in the minors...ie we have no first base prospects and very little in the way of power but we do have a lot of pitching.

You are acting as if we sign Tex, that means the pitching continues to suck and that is a poor assumption.

[bird watcher]

If AJ gets the 5/80 deal he is hoping for, that is plenty of justification not to sign him.

Then you will never advocate signing a good FA pitcher and I will disagree with you. If it takes 5/80 then that is what it costs to do business. I refuse to fall prey to the idea that we will fill our entire rotation from with in. If that happens great then trade Burnett later for some prospects.

EDIT: I see you want to get pitchers through trades. I can't comment on that because I don't know if those good pitchers are actually available. Sure if you can get someone comparable to Burnett via trade then fine but I will believe that when I see it too.

[Old#5fan]

Its not an either/or thing.

The Orioles can and should sign Tex(depending on the deal)...Signing Tex doesn't mean you stop developing pitching, trading for it, etc...

The question is between AJ and Tex...What is better for us...Tex is clearly better than Burnett...Tex clearly means more wins for us and Tex is clearly the more durable player...he is also clearly the guy that represents a greater long term need based on what we have in the minors...ie we have no first base prospects and very little in the way of power but we do have a lot of pitching.

You are acting as if we sign Tex, that means the pitching continues to suck and that is a poor assumption.

How so, if by signing Tex they cannot afford Burnett? You act like signing Tex will help the pitching. Last time I checked he plays first base, he's not a pitcher!

[Sports Guy]

Then you will never advocate signing a good FA pitcher and I will disagree with you. If it takes 5/80 then that is what it costs to do business. I refuse to fall prey to the idea that we will fill our entire rotation from with in. If that happens great then trade Burnett later for some prospects.

EDIT: I see you want to get pitchers through trades. I can't comment on that because I don't know if those good pitchers are actually available. Sure if you can get someone comparable to Burnett via trade then fine but I will believe that when I see it too.

You are right...Every once in a while, I am ok with it and I would have been ok with a 4 year deal for up to 60 million for AJ but anything beyond that is a bad contract.

Overall, spending on FA pitching for anything more than a 3 year deal is usually a bad move.

Developing and trading for pitching is the better way to do it.

[Sports Guy]

How so, if by signing Tex they cannot afford Burnett? You act like signing Tex will help the pitching. Last time I checked he plays first base, he's not a pitcher!

Actually, his GG defense will help the pitching.(at first, he will help the entire IF defense)

The Orioles aren;t going to sign AJ...They aren't putting a 5/80 type deal on the table for a pitcher...AM is a against...PA is against it and they are both 100% right.

And again, if you only sign one, you sign the guy who is better, more durable and represents the larger long term need in regards to what you have.

If we had drafted Justin Smoak and had another very good first base prospect, I could see your thinking more.

But they have traded for and invested heavily on pitching since AM got here.

He is trying to build the pitching the proper way..through trades and the draft...He needs to continue that and spend on what we don't have...power/positional talent.

[Bobby Young RW]

If we could only sign one of these guys, which one would you want??

A-Rod .......... he can still play SS.

[mweb]

I already have...I laid out a plan to get Andy Sonnanstine and James McDonald.

The Dodgers apparently refused to include McDonald in a deal for Sabathia, so it's probably quite difficult to get him.