Baltimore Orioles Thread: Orioles Magic

[Matt]

I don't trust Balfour just yet.

He was pitching in a field bigger than the state of Maryland.

[Guest]

I don't trust Balfour just yet.

He was pitching in a field bigger than the state of Maryland.

At the same time, he has lots of experience pitching at Camden and he's spent a few years in this division. He knows what it's like. I started to really not trust Johnson at all last year, so I figure there isn't any way Balfour can be worse.

[Guest]

The Royals have traded outfielder David Lough to the Orioles in exchange for third baseman Danny Valencia. The Orioles announced the deal on Wednesday.

The left-handed-hitting Lough, 27, has a batting line of .278/.308/.396 (91 OPS+) in 400 plate appearances spread across parts of two major-league seasons. He's capable of manning all three outfield positions.

As for Valencia, the 29-year-old has a career line of .263/.302/.412 across parts of four major-league seasons. In 2013, he batted a robust .304/.335/.553 for the Orioles, albeit in a sample of just 170 plate appearances. The right-handed-hitting Valencia is likely to see some platoon time with Mike Moustakas at third base this season.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-...danny-valencia

Valencia mashed left-handed pitching. Disappointed to see him go. Don't know much about Lough, but the Orioles like to carry five outfielders so he could be the fifth guy.

[SuperKevin]

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/12/19/orioles-sign-xavier-paul/

Orioles signed OF Xavier Paul to a minor league deal. Orioles apparently plan on winning the AL East by hoarding backup outfielders

[Guest]

I wonder if that's going to preclude them from pursuing Cruz or another OF via trade or FA.

I know this approach worked two years ago to get us Gonzalez, Chen, McLouth, etc but that was equal parts good scouting and luck.

I would be much more confident if we used some funds that Angelos is hoarding to bring in a difference maker, and then continue to sign these low risk guys.

[Guest]

Also the deal with Balfour may not happen now, as there are concerns with Balfour's right shoulder. Knowing how cautious Angelos is after the Albert Belle deal, I could definitely see this not happening, or a one year deal being agreed upon.

[MVPete]

[Guest]

Given Angelos' history with Albert Belle, this does not surprise me and is the only thing I will not criticize him on.

[MVPete]

Given Angelos' history with Albert Belle, this does not surprise me and is the only thing I will not criticize him on.

I don't give a shit about any of that, I just think the O's owe it to their fans to bring in somebody somewhat exciting after doing jack shit last year in the offseason. They overachieved in 2012, made the playoffs, and are sticking with the status quo.

[Guest]

I don't give a shit about any of that, I just think the O's owe it to their fans to bring in somebody somewhat exciting after doing jack shit last year in the offseason. They overachieved in 2012, made the playoffs, and are sticking with the status quo.

You won't find me disagreeing. It seems that they're giving up on Cruz or anyone of note. They also won't trade Gausman or Bundy, so that eliminates the trade route. Seems like we are in for the status quo.

[Leftwich]

I don't give a shit about any of that, I just think the O's owe it to their fans to bring in somebody somewhat exciting after doing jack shit last year in the offseason. They overachieved in 2012, made the playoffs, and are sticking with the status quo.

He doesn't owe us anything. He knows we have dedicated fans that will show up even if he trotted a team full of fifth graders out there. It's the sad truth and even after he dies his sons will take the team and we will be miserable until we all die and baseball morphs into robots throwing flaming balls out of their assholes.

[Guest]

He doesn't owe us anything. He knows we have dedicated fans that will show up even if he trotted a team full of fifth graders out there. It's the sad truth and even after he dies his sons will take the team and we will be miserable until we all die and baseball morphs into robots throwing flaming balls out of their assholes.

I disagree, but had a post written up but now I trashed it because I realized it was wrong. The fan base will eventually get tired of this again, and we will go back to 2006-2011 levels of support at the stadium. Which means sparse crowds at all games, even the weekends, except for Opening Day and any Red Sox and Yankees games.

Angelos has the money to spend to make this team a contender between all the cases his law firm has done over the years (including the tobacco case for farmers) and the MASN profits. Owners who have networks like MASN are using those profits to put back into the team, but not Angelos. With that money coming in for not just the Orioles, but Nationals as well, all he has to do is worry about whether or not the Nationals are competing and being watched.

It's a frustrating situation because we all love the Orioles, but it won't change until people completely divest their interest in the team, including attending games, merchandise sales and even watching on TV. I have season tickets this year, but if we don't continue our trend of winning, I may not be back for 2015.

[Leftwich]

I disagree, but had a post written up but now I trashed it because I realized it was wrong. The fan base will eventually get tired of this again, and we will go back to 2006-2011 levels of support at the stadium. Which means sparse crowds at all games, even the weekends, except for Opening Day and any Red Sox and Yankees games.

Angelos has the money to spend to make this team a contender between all the cases his law firm has done over the years (including the tobacco case for farmers) and the MASN profits. Owners who have networks like MASN are using those profits to put back into the team, but not Angelos. With that money coming in for not just the Orioles, but Nationals as well, all he has to do is worry about whether or not the Nationals are competing and being watched.

It's a frustrating situation because we all love the Orioles, but it won't change until people completely divest their interest in the team, including attending games, merchandise sales and even watching on TV. I have season tickets this year, but if we don't continue our trend of winning, I may not be back for 2015.

I can't bring myself to do that. I'll never leave this team, some of my best memories were at Memorial Stadium then Camden Yards. It's hard a hell to be an Orioles fan but there's always that part of me that keeps hoping something will change. Hell it would be easy to be a Nats fan because their administration gives a shit but as long as the Orioles are in Baltimore i'll always follow regardless of who we trot out there.

[Guest]

I can't bring myself to do that. I'll never leave this team, some of my best memories were at Memorial Stadium then Camden Yards. It's hard a hell to be an Orioles fan but there's always that part of me that keeps hoping something will change. Hell it would be easy to be a Nats fan because their administration gives a shit but as long as the Orioles are in Baltimore i'll always follow regardless of who we trot out there.

I was talking season tickets, it would take another decade like 2000 to convince me to stop following all together.

[SuperKevin]

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/12/20/orioles-pitcher-troy-patton-suspended-for-amphetamine-use/

Orioles reliever Troy Patton suspended for 25 games for amphetamine use.