Here's what MacPhail can do...

[JTrea81]

No, he couldn't. They're not in the same class. Or even close.

Guthrie is more Blanton than Beckett. He's a bit better. But...

And look what the return was on Blanton...

There's one starting IF postion. Roberts is another and Scott could be another.

[Lucky Jim]

Guthrie, Roberts, Huff, Scott, Sherrill and Ray are all trading chips that we can deal.

We shouldn't have any problem turning them into a starting IF for 2010...

There are problems, as I explained here:

http://forum.orioleshangout.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1588511&postcount=81

Your list is right. Your expectations are way too high

[Lucky Jim]

And look what the return was on Blanton...

The return on Blanton was not Beckett-like.

[Camden_yardbird]

So if I read the first post right, you want a long term option at every position possible. That seems to me to be asking for what no team in baseball has. What is "long term"? A solid above average major leaguer for the next 6-8 years? So, If you have "long term" options for every position in the field what you are saying is you have a team that can compete for the playoffs for the next 6-8 years, and you want AM to do this in 1 and a half years. Frankly there are 8 positions on the field minus the pitcher and if you look at most championship caliber teams they have superstars at two of those positions, 2-3 positions that are taken by, beyond prime players, first year players or questionably average players, and 3 solid above average major leaguers. No team has a panacea at every position, and that seems to be what you are demanding. Long term solutions for the orioles need to come predominitely through the draft, and that is going to take some time. The Orioles don't have a Josh Beckett to go out and get elite young talent. I agree they need to move at a quicker pace to acquire and develop talent or they will risk the window closing on some of the talent they already have, but there is only so much that can be done at one time.

The Orioles can undo all the progess they have made a lot faster than they will be able to get back to respectability and that is just something we have to deal with.

[JTrea81]

There are problems, as I explained here:

http://forum.orioleshangout.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1588511&postcount=81

Your list is right. Your expectations are way too high

Your point about Guthrie doesn't make sense when you've got ML ready pitching ready to replace him. This team is going to stink in 2009 regardless whether Guthrie is pitching or not. He won't save us from 5th place so there's no need to keep him. Matusz, Tillman and Arrieta should all be in the rotation for Opening Day 2010.

However we can't say the same for anybody in the organization except for Wieters for the starting IF.

[JTrea81]

The return on Blanton was not Beckett-like.

It brought back a top 2B prospect and Guthrie is better than Blanton.

[Lucky Jim]

So if I read the first post right, you want a long term option at every position possible. That seems to me to be asking for what no team in baseball has. What is "long term"? A solid above average major leaguer for the next 6-8 years? So, If you have "long term" options for every position in the field what you are saying is you have a team that can compete for the playoffs for the next 6-8 years, and you want AM to do this in 1 and a half years. Frankly there are 8 positions on the field minus the pitcher and if you look at most championship caliber teams they have superstars at two of those positions, 2-3 positions that are taken by, beyond prime players, first year players or questionably average players, and 3 solid above average major leaguers. No team has a panacea at every position, and that seems to be what you are demanding. Long term solutions for the orioles need to come predominitely through the draft, and that is going to take some time. The Orioles don't have a Josh Beckett to go out and get elite young talent. I agree they need to move at a quicker pace to acquire and develop talent or they will risk the window closing on some of the talent they already have, but there is only so much that can be done at one time.

The Orioles can undo all the progess they have made a lot faster than they will be able to get back to respectability and that is just something we have to deal with.

Good post. The link I provided above is my take on what you're saying: look for a couple high-end prospects, but mostly find ML-regulars. Not long-term. Just ML-value. Low-risk to medium-risk.

[RShack]

Not necessarily. We are just going to have to pay top dollar and out-bid everyone else to retain him.

AFAIK, there is zero reason to believe that all Boras clients value money and nothing else.

The Boras-image evidently has many people convinced that each and every Boras client does not care where he plays, and that top-dollar is the only single thing that matters.

IMO, this is a goofy idea. There is zero reason to believe this. Some guys will go for top dollar, but other guys will factor in other considerations together with the money. To think otherwise is not realistic.

As for what happens with Wieters in 6 years time, nobody has a clue. Nobody.

[Mike B]

I just like the idea that he HAS to do all of these things to earn back JTrea's trust. Somewhere MacPhail is sitting quietly in a dark room saying "how can I earn back JTrea's trust?"

Andy is distraught. He tore down the Christmas Tree. The defeatist attitude over Markakis is about a year and a half premature. The Orioles will eventually offer somewhere around 6/66 and if he is as smart as I think he is he will sign. The reigning AL MVP signed for a whole lot less.

As for Wieters can we please let him get an at bat before we call him a possible HOFer. If I am not mistaken his agent is the ever popular Mr. Scott Boras. His cardinal rule is to never extend followed closely by always opt out. I would suggest that we have 6 or more likely 7 years to worry about that so maybe we should concentrate on more pressing needs.

[Lucky Jim]

Your point about Guthrie doesn't make sense when you've got ML ready pitching ready to replace him. This team is going to stink in 2009 regardless whether Guthrie is pitching or not. He won't save us from 5th place so there's no need to keep him. Matusz, Tillman and Arrieta should all be in the rotation for Opening Day 2010.

However we can't say the same for anybody in the organization except for Wieters for the starting IF.

Honestly, JT, I'm going to go with my instincts on "making sense" over your criticisms. It's clear that a consideration in trading Guthrie is that he's the only ML-level starting pitcher on our team.

It's a consideration that makes it unlikely we trade him unless we have someone to take over his spot - if not match his numbers.

[MemphisOsFan]

So if I read the first post right, you want a long term option at every position possible. That seems to me to be asking for what no team in baseball has. What is "long term"? A solid above average major leaguer for the next 6-8 years? So, If you have "long term" options for every position in the field what you are saying is you have a team that can compete for the playoffs for the next 6-8 years, and you want AM to do this in 1 and a half years. Frankly there are 8 positions on the field minus the pitcher and if you look at most championship caliber teams they have superstars at two of those positions, 2-3 positions that are taken by, beyond prime players, first year players or questionably average players, and 3 solid above average major leaguers. No team has a panacea at every position, and that seems to be what you are demanding. Long term solutions for the orioles need to come predominitely through the draft, and that is going to take some time. The Orioles don't have a Josh Beckett to go out and get elite young talent. I agree they need to move at a quicker pace to acquire and develop talent or they will risk the window closing on some of the talent they already have, but there is only so much that can be done at one time.

The Orioles can undo all the progess they have made a lot faster than they will be able to get back to respectability and that is just something we have to deal with.

Good points made. Good post!

[The Wedge]

Ladies and gentlemen, this is what happens when you put all you eggs in one basket. When the basket is dropped, you get scrambled.

[Mike B]

Ladies and gentlemen, this is what happens when you put all you eggs in one basket. When the basket is dropped, you get scrambled.

Time will tell whether the team made the same mistake. I am tired of talking about the Yankee first baseman. It is time to get over it and let AM follow his plan. We can look back in 2 to 3 years to see if it was the right path.

[PaulBako]

It brought back a top 2B prospect and Guthrie is better than Blanton.

Like Adrian Cardenas?

[Mike B]

How do you come to this conclusion?

The farther away that Wieters is from FA, the more apt he is to sign an extension.... ie, the harder it is to turn down guranteed long-term money..

Not when his agent is Scott Boras.