MacPhail: "We've taken a giant step backwards."

[JTrea81]

Thought this NY Times article was interesting, and it's not really good news as MacPhail seems to be spouting the same refrain:

“They gave us a great road map to how you compete here,” he said of the Rays. “In my view, that’s the only path open to us. We’re not going to be able to outspend Boston and New York.”

We may not be able to outspend Boston and New York, but we can certainly spend more than the cash strapped Rays.

“This was a year that we thought we needed to make a move in terms of wins and losses,” MacPhail said. “It’s important to show some teamwide progress, and to this point we’ve taken a giant step backwards.”

At least he admits this season has been a failure.

“We just have to focus on making our team, better,” he said. “That’s all we should be focusing on. Make the Orioles better. There’s certainly room for that.”

So do it, now...

[Miller192]

We just need Eddie Murray to walk around the dugout once in a while.

[Pedro Cerrano]

I'm already extremely apathetic. I feel now like I normally feel in late august.

And it sucks.

[adamwolff11]

I don't understand what Andy can do now though.

Say what you will about missed off season opportunities, but this is where we are now.

I don't see what a GM of a team like this can do, within reason, to make us that much better right now.

[brianod]

I don't understand what Andy can do now though.

Say what you will about missed off season opportunities, but this is where we are now.

I don't see what a GM of a team like this can do, within reason, to make us that much better right now.

Nothing now. At the deadline, trade Miggy, Scott, Adkins, Millwood, Wigginton and Guthrie. Then in the off season, over pay for two studs and fire the entire coaching staff

[PitchingWins]

I don't understand what Andy can do now though.

Say what you will about missed off season opportunities, but this is where we are now.

I don't see what a GM of a team like this can do, within reason, to make us that much better right now.

Right now, I agree with you. Come June, I think we should bring everyone up. Yes I mean everyone. Unload the vets, and lets see what the new Baltimore Orioles can do. What do we have to lose? Aren't they supposed to be our future? They can play in games, that kinda - sorta mean something. I think we fire Trembley, bring in our new guy, give him the blueprint, and say, lets see what you can do...

[JTrea81]

Nothing now. At the deadline, trade Miggy, Scott, Adkins, Millwood, Wigginton and Guthrie. Then in the off season, over pay for two studs and fire the entire coaching staff

I think just the opposite. I'd like to see the Orioles make a statement and be buyers at the deadline to give the team a boost in the second half.

Fire the staff now, put Valentine in place or whoever and tell the team that hiring Trembley back was a mistake and despite their record they are now at 0-0 and tomorrow is Opening Day and to go treat the season just like that.

Now is not the time to blow this thing up again. You risk completely crushing the young players' spirits and drive.

[brianod]

Genius at work:)

[24fps]

Interesting article. Now we'll see whether this is the beginning of a renewed effort to improve the team, or the beginning of this year's campaign to reduce expectations.

[Dannyboy]

Thought this NY Times article was interesting, and it's not really good news as MacPhail seems to be spouting the same refrain:

We may not be able to outspend Boston and New York, but we can certainly spend more than the cash strapped Rays.

At least he admits this season has been a failure.

So do it, now...

Where in the article does he admit the season has been a failure? The first 22 games maybe, but the season? Nah.

[Say O!]

Where in the article does he admit the season has been a failure? The first 22 games maybe, but the season? Nah.

It's just Trea hyperbole there that won't rest until we trade our best 5 prospects for AGon, win a few more games this season, but ruin any chance of sustained competitiveness for the next 5 years.

[byrdz]

I'm already extremely apathetic. I feel now like I normally feel in late august.

And it sucks.

Right there with you. I've only been checking box scores.

[El Gordo]

Trembley said it best last fall at the end of the season, when asked what the team needed to be competitive. He said 2 big bats, guys that could hit 30 HR or more each. Well, we don't have them, and unless you are insane, they weren't available last winter. My hope was at least one of those bats would emerge from our core, but I don't see that happening. I think we have a nice cast of supporting players but no stars among our position players. Maybe a couple among our young pitchers, but no true big bats.

[BrunoCherrytown]

Great another can't spend like Boston quote. Keep driving that misconception home O's FO.

Obviously we can't spend like the Twins either. That small market team is finding a way to drum up a $100 million payroll. They must have an enormous RSN to grab money from.

It just strikes me as odd that this logic has only happened over the last few years. What year did the Rev Share checks start getting handed out?

It's weird that Boston spent real money and became a good team...and are sustaining that without going bankrupt because their fans support their effort to put a good product on the field.

Whereas we keep not spending money...staying a bad team...and have no fans. Crazy how that works.

And the RAYS MODEL?

That means we have to suck like another 6 years. Because we can't really count the beginning of our descent since we drafted poorly. They drafted well almost every year. And that and a couple of trades is all they had.

The Nats are following that model closer. I mean they sucked the perfect 2 years to be the worst team draft-wise.

And when Carl Crawford and or Carlos Pena leave after this year are we to think that we'll see that with Wieters and Matusz too? I mean that's the Ray's model afterall. And as MacPhail said that's our only path to success.

Sure they extended Longoria but that was like 8 minutes into his pro career. We didn't do that with Wieters or Matusz.

But wait...we'll be different then i'm sure. We'll open up the vault to keep our own players then. But if we keep sucking I'm sure Boras will want to keep Wieters in Baltimore. That's good for endorsements.

[Moose Milligan]

If I could tell Andy MacPhail one thing it'd be to stop giving El Trea quotables to continue his mantras.