Schmuck Chimes in on O's Offseason

[DrungoHazewood]

Well I guess I need to add if the core lineup stays the same, and we don't upgrade anywhere else around the diamond, which is likely considering just about every other position is locked in minus SS, then Snyder and Bell's contributions become vital to this team competing IMO.

Why is anything locked in? There are a million possibilities.

[DrungoHazewood]

They are areas that are glaring weaknesses on the ballclub. Our OPS at both positions was ranked 12th in the league.

PSN	AL	BAL	RK1B	0.830	0.729	12C	0.721	0.750	52B	0.760	0.817	43B	0.760	0.691	12SS	0.714	0.613	12LF	0.779	0.779	7CF	0.732	0.775	4RF	0.803	0.797	8DH	0.779	0.777	7

There's a difference between identifying a weakness, which we can all agree is there, and incessantly screaming that you have to have an established, premier player at both of those positions or there's no way to ever compete.

[TonySoprano]

There's a difference between identifying a weakness, which we can all agree is there, and incessantly screaming that you have to have an established, premier player at both of those positions or there's no way to ever compete.

True. That doesn't take away from the numbers though; his Teixeira man-crush aside.

[mweb]

True. That doesn't take away from the numbers though; his Teixeira man-crush aside.

I don't see how last years numbers at those positions are relevant going forward.

[Lucky Jim]

I don't see how last years numbers at those positions are relevant going forward.

I know. If anything, they tell us that even league average numbers from 1B and 3B will produce big gains in WAR.

[RShack]

I don't see how last years numbers at those positions are relevant going forward.

Well, it shows the significance of Snyder and Bell, and the importance of them each turning out to be somebody.

If it looks like they will, then fine. If it looks like they won't, then that tells AM what he needs to focus on.

[mweb]

Well, it shows the significance of Snyder and Bell, and the importance of them each turning out to be somebody.

If it looks like they will, then fine. If it looks like they won't, then that tells AM what he needs to focus on.

Obviously. But last years primary players at those positions won't be back, so we know there's holes regardless of last years numbers.

[TonySoprano]

I don't see how last years numbers at those positions are relevant going forward.

How then would you decide what changes should be made for 2010? You wouldn't look at the most recent numbers?

[mweb]

How then would you decide what changes should be made for 2010? You wouldn't look at the most recent numbers?

The primary players at those positions aren't returning. If they were deciding whether or not to keep Huff and Mora, yeah, of course it would matter.

But since their not(at least I assume with Mora), it's just two holes in the lineup, with two prospets at each position not far off, and Scott and Wigginton being two guys who can play there. So you fill those holes in the way which makes sense. That decision has nothing to do with how Mora and Huff played last year.

[RShack]

The primary players at those positions aren't returning. If they were deciding whether or not to keep Huff and Mora, yeah, of course it would matter.

But since their not(at least I assume with Mora), it's just two holes in the lineup, with two prospets at each position not far off, and Scott and Wigginton being two guys who can play there. So you fill those holes in the way which makes sense. That decision has nothing to do with how Mora and Huff played last year.

But it boils down to the same thing. If Huff and Mora delivered decently, then we'd probably have them back (even if folks here hate the idea). The fact that they performed like they did caused both things: the #12 ranking and the fact that somebody else will be at 1st and 3rd. So, it seems like different ways of saying the same thing.

[mweb]

But it boils down to the same thing. If Huff and Mora delivered decently, then we'd probably have them back (even if folks here hate the idea). The fact that they performed like they did caused both things: the #12 ranking and the fact that somebody else will be at 1st and 3rd. So, it seems like different ways of saying the same thing.

That's fine, but we're beyond that point, so in terms of the decisions ahead, Huff and Mora's production doesn't matter since their presumably not considered options.

[JTrea81]

And here's the Orioles compared to the AL East superpowers

Baltimore

Split            BA  OBP  SLG  OPSas C           .270 .343 .406 .750as 1B          .262 .318 .411 .729as 2B          .287 .364 .454 .817as 3B          .262 .318 .373 .691as SS          .249 .290 .323 .613as LF          .261 .344 .436 .779as CF          .275 .331 .444 .775as RF          .292 .347 .448 .795as DH          .260 .334 .443 .777as P           .150 .190 .150 .340as PH          .225 .278 .348 .627as PH for DH   .000 .167 .000 .167as Infield     .266 .328 .395 .723as Outfield    .276 .341 .443 .784at Def. Pos.   .271 .334 .410 .744at Off. Pos.   .270 .332 .417 .749

Boston:

Split            BA  OBP  SLG  OPSas C           .239 .333 .417 .750as 1B          .293 .386 .482 .868as 2B          .294 .370 .449 .819as 3B          .287 .347 .496 .843as SS          .234 .297 .358 .655as LF          .267 .378 .535 .913as CF          .295 .347 .405 .752as RF          .282 .378 .524 .903as DH          .236 .333 .444 .777as P           .095 .095 .238 .333as PH          .205 .301 .274 .575as PH for DH   .000 .000 .000 .000Other          .000 .000 .000 .000as Infield     .271 .348 .443 .791as Outfield    .282 .367 .484 .851at Def. Pos.   .268 .339 .409 .748at Off. Pos.   .282 .372 .509 .881

New York:

Split             BA   OBP   SLG   OPSas C            .269  .330  .438  .767as 1B           .292  .386  .566  .953as 2B           .317  .348  .512  .860as 3B           .271  .374  .461  .834as SS           .332  .401  .467  .868as LF           .276  .353  .486  .839as CF           .273  .338  .400  .739as RF           .250  .359  .480  .839as DH           .271  .363  .495  .858as P            .125  .160  .167  .327as PH           .237  .361  .408  .769as PH for DH    .286  .286  .429  .714Other          1.000 1.000 1.500 2.500as Infield      .297  .369  .490  .859as Outfield     .266  .351  .457  .807at Def. Pos.    .299  .356  .456  .812at Off. Pos.    .273  .368  .499  .868

This is what we are up against folks...

[TonySoprano]

That's fine, but we're beyond that point, so in terms of the decisions ahead, Huff and Mora's production doesn't matter since their presumably not considered options.

It does matter because you want to do better at those positions, don't you?

[mweb]

It does matter because you want to do better at those positions, don't you?

I want to make the moves that make the most sense, and of course that should lead to doing better than last year, since that's not hard. It simply has no bearing on the decision at hand.

If Huff had an .850 OPS last year and was traded, we wouldn't be looking for any different production out of the position going forward.

[TonySoprano]

I want to make the moves that make the most sense, and of course that should lead to doing better than last year, since that's not hard. It simply has no bearing on the decision at hand.

On what basis do you decide what makes the most sense? Any numbers involved?