Jen Royle gets it

[scOtt]

There's a reason I quoted that certain part of the article. I agree she's off base with other things.

But the fact is this team's recruiting is quite abysmal under Andy MacPhail. They never have pulled out all the stops to get a player - be it with their offer or the effort they make with their sales pitch.

For a team that's performed as poorly as the Orioles, "wining and dining" is very important and the Orioles' GM is among the worst of not the worst at doing so in MLB and it sets the Orioles back from the start.

NO IT'S NOT! Money talks. You know what walks.

[Kevin Lomax]

For a team that's performed as poorly as the Orioles, "wining and dining" is very important and the Orioles' GM is among the worst of not the worst at doing so in MLB and it sets the Orioles back from the start.

Please show me any evidence that "wining and dining" is important or that AM is the worst at it.

And I'll go on the record as saying, we don't need a team leader. We have one. Buck Showalter. Buck sets the tone. I think Kakes is the player that's the leader. He demonstrated this with setting up meetings with PA and AM last season. He also demonstrated this by taking responsibility for what he considers a down year on his part.

I'll also say that I don't believe AM has really had a strong desire to land a "big name" free agent up to this point. It goes against his plan. I think he makes offers to appease the segment of fans that really want to make a "splash". I think the time hasn't been right before but I think you are going to see a change this year in this teams talent and who is brought in.

[JTrea81]

NO IT'S NOT! Money talks. You know what walks.

Money is part of that. You've got to pick up the whole check, not just part of it...

Wining and dining is the whole thing - the recruitment, sales pitch and offer. And MacPhail has been abysmal at it because he hasn't landed anybody of significance.

[Dipper9]

The fact remains is that you have no clue what the Orioles do for their "sales pitch".

I'd love to be corrected, though. Please give some details about how the Orioles "wine and dine" their potential signings and how they could improve.

I'm not one to defend Trea, especially against my pal Moose, but the details or evidence that they do not do a good job is the fact that we ALWAYS end up losing out on the top guys we are pursuing. Its one thing to see Cliff Lee sign a quadrillion dollar deal with the Yanks and say we never had a chance. But its something completely different when the GM says we are targeting player A, player B, etc, and yet is unable to seal the deal with said players. You would think if we target a specific player, then we should be able to get that player. The fact that we NEVER do is all the evidence I need to say that MacPhail sucks at recruiting players to Baltimore.

[JohnD]

The Orioles absolutely need to find a third baseman, and I'm not at all convinced Beltre isn't the kind of player who only puts up good numbers when he's in a walk year. I'm a little surprised there hasn't been a lot more worry about this.

The Orioles also should definitely sign Dunn. He's a monster hitter who you put in the cleanup spot and watch him aim for the warehouse. This team hasn't had that kind of transformative, 40-HR type hitter, in a long time. The fact they're completely disinterested in him is baffling to me. But hell, they've only been losers every year since I graduated high school, what do I know?

[Hank Scorpio]

If you're going to overpay, it should never be with players.

[Kevin Lomax]

AM said they were not given an opportunity to raise their offer for him after their initial 48mil. I think it's clear that Vmart wanted to catch and wanted to play with some of his countrymen.

[Hank Scorpio]

Also, Victor Martinez is absolutely not the guy you want to overpay for.

[JohnD]

Also, Victor Martinez is absolutely not the guy you want to overpay for.

True dat.

[DrungoHazewood]

The Orioles absolutely need to find a third baseman, and I'm not at all convinced Beltre isn't the kind of player who only puts up good numbers when he's in a walk year. I'm a little surprised there hasn't been a lot more worry about this.

If that was the case, why did he have his worst full year in the majors in his walk year in Seattle? If he hadn't completely stunk up 2009 he'd already be in the middle of a 5/70 kind of deal.

The Orioles also should definitely sign Dunn. He's a monster hitter who you put in the cleanup spot and watch him aim for the warehouse. This team hasn't had that kind of transformative, 40-HR type hitter, in a long time. The fact they're completely disinterested in him is baffling to me. But hell, they've only been losers every year since I graduated high school, what do I know?

While Dunn carries some significant risk, especially with his demands to play the field and his history of being sub-rec softball level with the glove, I'd rather overpay for him than Victor Martinez. At least Dunn has a pretty good chance of being a productive DH at 35 or 36.

[scOtt]

The Orioles absolutely need to find a third baseman, and I'm not at all convinced Beltre isn't the kind of player who only puts up good numbers when he's in a walk year. I'm a little surprised there hasn't been a lot more worry about this.

The Orioles also should definitely sign Dunn. He's a monster hitter who you put in the cleanup spot and watch him aim for the warehouse. This team hasn't had that kind of transformative, 40-HR type hitter, in a long time. The fact they're completely disinterested in him is baffling to me. But hell, they've only been losers every year since I graduated high school, what do I know?

I don't buy the "contract year" numbers thing... but Beltre is plenty solid enough on offense. And he'll get a big boost here in Balmer vs. what he showed in LA and Safeco.

Nobody doubts his D, which is the straw that makes me go all-in for him.

I'm with you on Dunn. I know it's SSS, but he played 1st exclusively this past year, and his numbers spiked very nicely. I suspect he could be at least... "not hurt you" range. And nobody doubts his offense or durability.

46 40 40 40 40 38 38

[Moose Milligan]

I see the result. That's my evidence.

MacPhail has never landed a premium FA, ever. Every pursuit of premium free agent targets the Orioles may have had have all failed during his tenure.

Every single one.

That's not really answering my question, but thanks for playing.

[scOtt]

Also, Victor Martinez is absolutely not the guy you want to overpay for.

Me either. 4/48 is just to the point of fingernails on a chalkboard to me. Very damn glad AM offered it, glad it didn't work out.

[TonySoprano]

That's not really answering my question, but thanks for playing.

While he relies way too much on hyperbole ("wining and dining" is very important and the Orioles' GM is among the worst of not the worst), his point on results is valid, unless you can give an example to the contrary.

[Moose Milligan]

While he relies way too much on hyperbole ("wining and dining" is very important and the Orioles' GM is among the worst of not the worst), his point on results is valid, unless you can give an example to the contrary.

His point on results is just him ducking and dodging and getting away from the fact that he really has no idea what "wining and dining" and "recruiting" and "sales pitches" are being made. He talks like he knows everything, so I just want specific examples. Did they take Teixeira to McDonald's instead of Ruth's Chris?