MacPhail:"this week we would put the finishing touches on" the roster."

[Tony-OH]

So, we put Pie on the bench so we can watch Crede and Atkins? LOL...Just when you think this organization is turning the corner in terms of decision making, they go and do things like this.

At least the stupidity is consistent, I will give them that.

Let's wait until this happens before we start pulling the stupidity card. I don't want anything to do with Crede either, trust me. But if the O's go into 2010 with Crede/Atkins at 3B/1B I'll be scratching me head hard.

[Hank Scorpio]

Let's not miss the bowl while urinating, here.

It's not like Atkins is 38 years old and has never been productive. They've obviously identified something in him that they like and feel he could be productive. Plus, they prefer him at 1st base, which is good b/c we don't have to worry as much about Blalock. And it's a one year deal with a team option, so if he is productive you can hang onto him for another year.

I'm not crazy about Crede, but Tejada's never played third base... so that's a bit of a conundrum to me. You get additional roster flexibility with Tejada b/c you can use him as your backup SS, making Andino redundant. That's a plus. I would think they'd take Crede in a heartbeat if he was a reasonably good bet to stay healthy, but he's not.

[stomperspc]

I do agree it really stinks if that is the way the guy feels about the Orioles though:(

I'm not claiming to know what Sheets (or any free agent who doesn't want to sign with the Orioles) is thinking, but it isn't always a case of not wanting to play for the Orioles because they aren't good. At this point it clearly looks like Sheets isn't going to get the money he initially wanted. 2010 is going to be about establishing himself again so he can get the payday he wants in 2011. The AL East is about the worst place to do that (pitch for a year in order to get a big payday the next off season) and on top of that, there is even less incentives to try and do that while playing for a team near the bottom of the division.

[TyCobb]

Let's wait until this happens before we start pulling the stupidity card. I don't want anything to do with Crede either, trust me. But if the O's go into 2010 with Crede/Atkins at 3B/1B I'll be scratching me head hard.

Why is that?

Bell and Synder aren't going to be on the opening day roster. Both Crede/Atkins contracts will be easy to trade/dump when Bell and Synder become ready.

I actually like these moves because there was nobody in the FA market that would fit into the long-term plans (3+ years) for O's.

Plus with our young pitching....soon FA players would want to come to Baltimore.

[Frobby]

Let's not miss the bowl while urinating, here.

It's not like Atkins is 38 years old and has never been productive. They've obviously identified something in him that they like and feel he could be productive.

Lots of guys "could be" productive. I don't like Atkins' odds at all. We should have gotten someone this winter who was highly likely to be productive. We haven't, at either corner spot. That's poor.

[Diehard_O's_Fan]

As much as you guys have been complaining about Atkins, I predict the guy is going to have a monster year for the Orioles. It cracks me up how you guys think you are smarter than AM. The Atkins signing is over and done with so please stop complaining about it. You guys talk all the time about how you want to see the Orioles sign some low risk/high reward type players. Well, the Orioles did that and AM should be commended for it. You will be singing AM's praises by the end of the season. Just wait and see.

Andrew,

[JTrea81]

As much as you guys have been complaining about Atkins' date=' I predict the guy is going to have a monster year for the Orioles. It cracks me up how you guys think you are smarter than AM. The Atkins signing is over and done with so please stop complaining about it. You guys talk all the time about how you want to see the Orioles sign some low risk/high reward type players. Well, the Orioles did that and AM should be commended for it. You will be singing AM's praises by the end of the season. Just wait and see.

Andrew,[/quote']

As in Andrew MacPhail?

Atkins is a huge question mark, and it really makes one wonder why they wanted him so badly for 1B considering they could have had Adam LaRoche who would have been a better contributor at 1B for only a few million more.

Crede or Tejada and Atkins at the corners is not giving Trembley the pieces he needs to win. MacPhail seems to be sacrificing production at the corners, and thus winning less games, just so that the path is clear for Snyder and Bell, if they make it to the majors this year.

That's not what MacPhail said this season was about. It was supposed to be about evaluating the team on wins and losses, and given what he hasn't done this offseason, Trembley's a cooked goose by the AS break unless there is some major overacheiving going on.

[Arthur_Bryant]

Adjust Atkins' numbers to remove the Coors effect and it would look even worse.

I'm glad that Jon Heyman thinks that Atkins has to get better.

Miggy's non-home numbers in two seasons with Houston are not a huge improvement.

667 PA 9 HR .705

This has the potential for a debacle. If the corner infielders drag this team to a 72-win season, AM is going to look really bad.

[Frobby]

As much as you guys have been complaining about Atkins' date=' I predict the guy is going to have a monster year for the Orioles. It cracks me up how you guys think you are smarter than AM. The Atkins signing is over and done with so please stop complaining about it. You guys talk all the time about how you want to see the Orioles sign some low risk/high reward type players. Well, the Orioles did that and AM should be commended for it. You will be singing AM's praises by the end of the season. Just wait and see.

Andrew,[/quote']

I hope you are right. The Atkins signing, coupled with a more reliable bat, would have been fine with me. I just don't like the combination of Atkins with another player who is not likely to bring much offense.

[wildcard]

The choice between Crede and Miggy has to be money driven. Crede is probably around $2M. Miggy is coming up from something like $13M last year. He has to accept something like $5M to be considered by MacPhail. Others have been forced to do it like Vlad and Abreu. I wonder if Miggy can bring himself to sign for a much lower salary. I know he probably doesn't have alot of choices but he is a proud guy. It's interesting.

[Sports Guy]

What does this have to do with Pie? Very little, IMO. It is far more likely to cost Wigginton and Scott AB than it is to affect Pie.

Really?

Tell me Frobby, what is going to happen if Crede is signed?

Do you really think Scott will be on the bench 3-4 games a week?

Do you think they are going to sit Reimold a lot?

[Sports Guy]

Let's wait until this happens before we start pulling the stupidity card. I don't want anything to do with Crede either, trust me. But if the O's go into 2010 with Crede/Atkins at 3B/1B I'll be scratching me head hard.

The fact that they are even considering it is enough for me Tony.

That means they have sat down, had meetings, etc....and the conclusion is this is what is best for the team.

How on earth could they have even come up with that idea?

[Diehard_O's_Fan]

As in Andrew MacPhail?

Atkins is a huge question mark, and it really makes one wonder why they wanted him so badly for 1B considering they could have had Adam LaRoche who would have been a better contributor at 1B for only a few million more.

Adam LaRoche did not seem interested in coming to Baltimore because his stats would not have been as good playing in the AL East. The guy also does not seem to be too bright. He turned down like 17 million dollars. You don't turn down that kind of money especially in this economy. I would much rather have Atkins at first. The guy wants to be in Baltimore and is determined to put last year behind him. Garret Atkins has break out year written all over him in my opinion. I will be very surprised if he has another bad year like last year.

Andrew,

[Kevin Lomax]

and the conclusion is this is what is best for the team.

Did they sign Crede already and I missed it?

Man I hate passing out on my keyboardddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddfhk

[Terpdawg32]

I thought the plan all along was that Bell was coming up sometime this season...at least potentially? If that's the case, then would we want Tejada coming in to take 3B? I can't imagine Tejada being cool with losing any playing time or moving somewhat to DH.

Am I off on the Bell timeline?