Baltimore Orioles Thread: Orioles Magic

[ThomasTomasz]

He's asian so its gonna take teams 30 games to figure him out. Fuck em.

I'm not doubting it- its a move that is pretty much par for the course. Only good thing about it is that the Orioles are expanding their scouting area and international presence.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

Matt Klentak has left the Orioles to take an assistant general manager position with the Los Angeles Angels.

Klentak, 31, had been the club’s director of baseball operations since March 2008, handling contractual situations, rules and arbitration cases.

He has been hired by new Angels’ GM Jerry Dipoto, who interviewed for the Orioles’ top spot in October – a position that eventually went to Dan Duquette.

An Angels' news release said Klentak agreed to a "multi-year deal" and will focus on "all aspects of baseball operations" along with Dipoto and new assistant GM Scott Servais.

Klentak accompanied Duquette to baseball’s general manager meetings last week.

It’s unclear whether Duquette will fill the position with a rules/contract specialist or whether he’ll use the spot in a different manner.

Klentak seemingly was being groomed as a GM by former club president Andy MacPhail, who hired Klentak from the commissioner’s office.

Keith Law of ESPN first reported Klentak was likely heading to the Angels.

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/

One of the few executives the Orioles should have kept around. I don't see Duquette getting rid of the Stockstills- they are the ones who have to go.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

Interesting that Lee Thomas wasn't given anything more than that. Maybe he just wants to be involved in the winter meetings, but it is weird that a special assistant would be in attendance at the meetings. Also, Ferreira is a great signing for this team to expand scouting outside of the states, and his track record speaks for itself.

Still not a fan of Stockstill still having a job. Duquette won't say otherwise, but I bet Angelos is making him keep Stockstill. He should be out of a job at this point, as we have had very good drafts but have not developed those players very well.

Dan Duquette is continuing to staff his front office with veteran baseball men that he worked with years ago.

In an attempt to revamp the organization’s infrastructure, Duquette, the Orioles’ new executive vice president for baseball operations, has hired former Philadelphia Phillies general manager Lee Thomas as a special assistant and longtime international scouting guru Fred Ferreira as the club’s new international scouting director.

Last week he announced the hiring of new amateur scouting director Gary Rajsich, who worked with Duquette for years with the Boston Red Sox.

Ferreira has held a similar international scouting director position with the New York Yankees, Florida Marlins and the Montreal Expos -- one of Duquette’s former teams. He is credited with signing a host of international players including the Dominican Republic’s Vladimir Guerrero (for the Expos) and Puerto Rico’s Bernie Williams (for the Yankees).

Ferreira also is credited with signing current Orioles’ right hander Rick VandenHurk for the Marlins.

The Orioles have had little to no success in the international market for years. Their most successful signed and developed Dominican players of the past two decades are pitchers Armando Benitez and Daniel Cabrera.

The organization has never signed and developed its own Venezuelan major leaguer. This year, more than 60 Venezuelans were on Major League Baseball’s Opening Day rosters (including infielder Cesar Izturis).

In the 75-year-old Thomas, Duquette is rekindling a relationship he had during the last half of his tenure as the Boston Red Sox’s GM. Thomas served as Duquette’s special assistant there after a long career as a scout and administrator.

Thomas was the GM of the Phillies from 1988 to 1997, and won the Sporting News’ Executive of the Year Award in 1993 when his club made it to the World Series. Duquette hired Thomas to be a special assistant in 1998 and he stayed with the club until 2003 – a year after Duquette was fired by the Red Sox.

Thomas is the first special assistant added by Duquette; former Orioles president Andy MacPhail did not have any special assistants in 2011.

David Stockstill, who has been the organization’s international scouting director since switching job titles with his brother, John, in 2010, will maintain his position and job title. It's unclear how much a role he will have or specifically what it will be, but Duquette said Stockstill and Ferreira will both report directly to him.


John Stockstill will continue as the club’s player development director for the third consecutive season.

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/

 

[ThomasTomasz]

The Orioles have agreed to terms with Japanese lefty starter Tsuyoshi Wada, which re-opens their pipeline to Japan, according to an industry source.

He will sign a two-year, $8.15 million deal with a 2014 option worth $5 million, the source said.

It is the Orioles’ first foray into the Japanese market since signing Koji Uehara before the 2009 season.

Wada may not end up as the only pitcher from Japan’s Nippon Baseball League on the roster. The club is also seriously interested in Taiwanese lefty Chen Wei-Yin, who pitched for the Chunichi Dragons.

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It would be unprecedented if the Orioles could land both – and perhaps a bit of a longshot considering multiple Major League teams have inquired about each pitcher.

The push into the Asian market comes on the heels of news out of Korea that South Korean submariner Chong Tae-Hyon will not be joining the Orioles and instead has signed a four-year, $3.1 million deal to stay in the Korean Baseball Organization. The Orioles had offered a two-year, $3.1 million deal and had Chong in for a physical.

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette never confirmed that Chong passed his physical, saying only that the veteran right-hander was weighing another option in Korea.

The club’s attention, however, has turned to Japan and specifically Wada, who according to several sites will turn 31 in February.

A soft-tossing strike thrower often compared to former Oriole Jamie Moyer, Wada pitched for Japan in the 2004 and 2008 Olympics and the country’s World Baseball Classic team in 2006 that won the inaugural title.

Listed at 5 feet 10, 170 pounds, Wada consistently throws his fastball in the mid-to-high 80s but he survives on a deceptive, three-quarters delivery and the ability to throw several pitches for strikes. He also misses bats, earning him the nickname “Dr. K of Tokyo” while in college. Throughout his career he has maintained a 3-to-1 strikeout rate or better.

Last year he was 16-5 with a 1.53 ERA in 184 2/3 innings with the Hawks. He struck out 168 batters and walked 40. He became a free agent in November and did not need to be posted.

Chen, 26, also did not need to be posted because, as a Taiwan native, his length of contract in the NPB was negotiated when he signed. His fastball reaches in the low-to-mid 90s. He was 8-10 with a 2.68 ERA in 24 starts with the Chunichi Dragons while battling injuries.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/...uyoshi-wada-20111213,0,946116.story?track=rss

On one level, I love the fact that the Orioles have jumped into the international market. You never know what you are going to get, but you need to have a presence for anyone to consider you.

On the other hand, if Wada and the Dana Eveland trade are all we do to help the rotation, I am going to be disappointed. The Orioles lack a true ace, and at the very least should overpay Roy Oswalt to get one, and that would free up Guthrie for a trade for another piece. I'm getting so frustrated with these moves that seem like we are looking for the next Guthrie. This team has to do something.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

With news that the Texas Rangers won the posting rights to Japanese right-hander Yu Darvish, speculation has arisen that the Rangers may not be able to afford free-agent first baseman Prince Fielder.

If that’s true, then the market for the last remaining free agent stud has shrunk -- and perhaps cracked open for a fringe suitor such as the Orioles. And at least one national writer has speculated that the Orioles are still in on the Fielder sweepstakes.

My take: Nope, not yet. Probably not ever. Sure, the Orioles would love to have more power in their lineup, Fielder’s only 27 and the big man’s left-handed stroke is tailor-made for Camden Yards. Plus, the club is thin -- pardon the pun -- on star power. So it looks like a fit from afar.

But close up, not so much. The Orioles aren’t going to give eight or more years or $18 or more million per year to a Fielder. Just isn’t going to happen. Now, if Fielder’s suitors dry up and his demands come down dramatically -- which I really doubt will occur -- the Orioles’ antennae will go up. But they're not up now, at last not according to the people I talk to. If they are going to spend for what’s left on the market, it will be for pitching. And that’s far from a certainty.

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That said, I think if the Orioles are going to be stealth on a Boras client, it will be right-hander Edwin Jackson. He’s 28, has bounced around to six teams and surely would like some stability. He’s considered an underachiever with immense talent, and the hope in Jackson’s camp is that his performance down the stretch with the St. Louis Cardinals (5-2, 3.58 ERA in 13 games) is a sign of things to come.

Dan Duquette said he’s comfortable with the Orioles’ unwritten rule of no contracts beyond three years to free-agent pitchers. But there’s also the sentiment within the organization that four years to Jackson isn’t as much of a risk due to his age -- since most pitchers don’t hit free agency until their 30s.

Jackson is the best starting pitcher left on the market, and plenty of teams need starters, so my guess is the Orioles won’t be the last club standing. But I think, at this point, Jackson would be more of a target than Fielder.

Another free-agent starting pitcher who has been considered is Roy Oswalt. The Orioles have loved him for years and thought they had a deal for him (for Miguel Tejada) when he was in Houston. Oswalt is 34 and made just 23 starts in 2011 for the Philadelphia Phillies because of a balky back (but was still 9-10 with a 3.63 ERA).

The good news is that Oswalt apparently isn’t seeking a three-year deal anymore, according to ESPN.com. The bad news is if he wants a one-year, make-good deal to show he is healthy, Baltimore is probably the worst place for that. It’s the wrong division and the wrong ballpark for a pitcher wanting to post great numbers. So you can scratch him off your list, too, if he is seeking a one-year contract.

Another guy not to scratch off your list is Taiwanese lefty Chen Wei-yen. We asked Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette last week about Chen, and Duquette said he didn’t know much about him. Duquette was being coy and/or evasive. But don’t believe for a minute that Duquette drew a blank at Chen’s name.

One thing I have learned about Duquette so far is that he is exceptionally well-versed in international players. Plus, the Orioles scouted Chen last September, so the organization has reports on him. Plenty of teams are interested in the 26-year-old who pitches in Japan, so I am not saying he is a slam-dunk to come to Baltimore. But the Orioles continue to have dialogue about Chen internally and externally.
If the Orioles make a move of significance in the near future, I still believe it will come via trade. And I still believe Jeremy Guthrie and Mark Reynolds are the club’s best trade chips.

Well, Adam Jones is the team’s best trade chip. But unless the Orioles get a front-line pitcher in return, I don’t see them dealing Jones. The Atlanta Braves made a run this month, offering second baseman-outfielder Martin Prado, starter Jair Jurrjens and, eventually, a pitching prospect, and the Orioles didn’t bite. So that tells you just how much they value their center fielder. (Jurrjens looked like a front-line starter in the first half of 2011, but there have been some durability concerns surrounding the 25-year-old righty since his 215-inning season in 2009.)

One last thing: I am going to be spending the next couple days preparing for Christmas (have bought just one gift so far) and not ignoring my kids. So the beat will be in the good hands of columnist Peter Schmuck. I expect to blog a Prediction Friday, but otherwise I’ll be a full-time dad until after Christmas.

Enjoy the holidays and be safe.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/...t-and-more-20111220,0,5404920.story?track=rss

So I guess that everyone wants the fans to be happy with a new general manager, Endy Chavez, Dana Eveland and the import Wada?

Those guys, just by themselves and for a contending ball club, are all good signings. The Orioles though, need to be making some bold moves. I'm sick of playing it safe- that is what has gotten us into this losing streak. Pat Gillick took risks and they worked out and he made a winning ballclub. Dan Duquette took risks in the past, so lets give him free reign to do it now.

 

[Leftwich]

So I guess that everyone wants the fans to be happy with a new general manager, Endy Chavez, Dana Eveland and the import Wada?

Those guys, just by themselves and for a contending ball club, are all good signings. The Orioles though, need to be making some bold moves. I'm sick of playing it safe- that is what has gotten us into this losing streak. Pat Gillick took risks and they worked out and he made a winning ballclub. Dan Duquette took risks in the past, so lets give him free reign to do it now.

I wouldn't call it a losing streak. I call it Angelos forcing a team to go out there year in and year out with the league minimum talent.

Laziness.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette has been focused on pitching since he took over the club in November, and he’s also been doing things slightly differently than in the past.

Looks like both trends are continuing.

This week, Duquette is expected to finalize two interesting hires – Rick Peterson and Chris Correnti, men Duquette has worked with in the past who have been lauded for their use of pitching biomechanics. Neither hire is official, and therefore has not been announced by the club.

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Peterson, 57, is a renowned former big league pitching coach (Oakland A’s, New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers) who has been nicknamed “The Professor” for his merging of psychological philosophies with biomechanical research and findings.

He has interviewed twice with the Orioles this offseason, including meeting once with manager Buck Showalter and pitching coach Rick Adair. Peterson would technically fill the Orioles’ vacant minor league pitching coordinator position, though it likely will be re-titled and include additional responsibilities.

Specifics of the job are still being worked out. But Peterson, who was fired by the Brewers last offseason when there was a managerial change, is expected to agree to a deal within the next few days with the Orioles, the team that drafted him out of a Pennsylvania high school in the early 1970s (he did not sign, and eventually pitched in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ organization).

Also expected to agree to a yet-to-be-named position is Correnti, who spent more than a decade with the Boston Red Sox – much of it under Duquette – as an assistant athletic trainer and rehabilitation coordinator.

Correnti, 45, likely will assume similar responsibilities with the Orioles, working primarily with pitchers and their mechanics in an attempt to maintain health and build strength. Specifics of Correnti’s role have not been finalized but it is expected he will work in concert with the club’s current athletic trainers, Richie Bancells and Brian Ebel, and strength and conditioning coach Joe Hogarty.

Correnti joined the Boston Red Sox organization in 1994 and worked with them through 2005, receiving credit for implementing a workout program that was praised by pitchers such as Pedro Martinez and Curt Schilling.

A certified athletic trainer and strength coach, Correnti worked specifically as Martinez’s personal trainer in 2006 and then joined the Mets, at Martinez’s urging, in 2007. He was let go after the 2010 season by the Mets as part of their financial downsizing. Last year he assisted several big league pitchers but was not associated with a team.

Correnti and Peterson worked together with the Mets. They also both were with the Red Sox organization in 1995 when Duquette was general manager. MASNsports.com first reported that Peterson interviewed with the Orioles.

On the field, the Orioles have made an overhaul of their pitching staff a priority. They continue to have interest in several free-agent pitchers, including Taiwanese lefty Chen Wei-yin. On Monday, mlbtraderumors.com reported that the Orioles are one of three teams interested in 30-year-old Japanese right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma, who was 6-7 with a 2.42 ERA in 17 starts for the Rakuten Golden Eagles in an injury-shortened 2011 season.

An industry source confirmed that the Orioles have looked into Iwakuma, and have vetted his viability as a major league pitcher. Given his short season in 2011 – he threw just 119 innings – and durability issues that have faced previous Japanese pitchers making the jump to Major League Baseball’s five-day starting cycle, Iwakuma may be viewed more as a big league reliever. He also may be limited to a one-year deal until he proves his shoulder can handle the rigors of an MLB season.

Iwakuma is an unrestricted free agent after not being able to reach an agreement with the Oakland A’s after they won a $19.1 million posting bid for him last offseason. The Orioles appeared to have only mild interest in Iwakuma heading into this offseason, according to several club officials, but that was before Duquette was hired.

Duquette is motivated to make an imprint in the international market, including the Far East. He nearly signed South Korean reliever Tae Hyon-Chong before the deal fell through and he inked Japanese lefty Tsuyoshi Wada to a two-year deal in December as well as having continuing conversations with Chen.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/...s-correnti-20120102,0,7464272.story?track=rss

Well, it isn't signing Prince Fielder or trading for a starting pitcher, but adding both coaches are a great move from a player-development perspective. We'll see how responsibilities shake out and what they actually do to help improve the younger arms. Still not enough to get me excited for now, or even something to get us to .500 this coming season.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Orioles are no longer interested in free agent slugger Manny Ramirez.

Dan Duquette, the Orioles vice president of baseball operations, told The Associated Press on Tuesday, "I don't know that Manny Ramirez is a fit for our club right now."


Ramirez
The 39-year-old Ramirez retired last season rather than serve a suspension for violating Major League Baseball's drug policy. He was suspended for 100 games, but the ban was trimmed to 50 games because he sat out nearly all of the 2011 season. The suspension would start with the first game he is eligible to play after signing with a club.

A week ago, Duquette said he had conducted exploratory talks with Ramirez's agent. But Duquette also acknowledged that signing Ramirez would not come without risk.

"We're still considering the composition of this club and some of the challenges of integrating a player like Manny into our ball club and market," Duquette said at the time.

On Tuesday, it was evident that Duquette didn't want Manny being Manny in Baltimore.

"It just doesn't look like it's a fit right now," he said.

Ramirez has 555 career home runs, 1,831 RBIs and a .312 lifetime average. He's also a 12-time All-Star.

But he comes with baggage. Ramirez was suspended for 50 games in 2009 for violating the league's drug policy before being cited again last April during his first season with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Duquette believes the Orioles have enough power in the lineup without Ramirez, who wouldn't be eligible to play until sometime in May.

"Offensively, we have four hitters in our lineup who hit 20 home runs last year," Duquette said, referring to Mark Reynolds (37 homers), J.J. Hardy (30), Adam Jones (25) and Matt Wieters (22). "Not many clubs have that."

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7...er-interested-manny-ramirez-dan-duquette-says

Thank God.........don't have to deal with the circus, though that might be more interesting than what will happen this season.

 

[Goober]

Jim Duquette @Jim_Duquette

Hearing some bad news with #Orioles Britton and his shoulder. Injury from last year is still lingering. Workload will be limited in ST.

lul

 

[Chrispy]

Not sure if this deserves its own thread

Sources: MLB will void Seong-Min Kim's contract

The Korean Baseball Organization's protest over the Orioles' signing of Seong-Min Kim will lead to Major League Baseball voiding the contract of the 17-year-old Korean pitcher, according to industry sources.

I'm still trying to receive confirmation from the Orioles.

I'm told that the Orioles could be facing some sort of punishment, and they will have to restart the negotiating process at a later date if they still want to bring Kim into the organization.

The Orioles signed Kim to a minor league contract on Jan. 30 that reportedly included a $550,000 bonus. The KBO protested the lack of protocol, saying the Orioles failed to first contact MLB, which was then to contact the KBO commissioner to get clearance for negotiations to begin.

More fallout came when Orioles scouts were banned from the country by the Korean Baseball Association.

Last week, executive vice president Dan Duquette issued the following statement regarding the controversy:

"On behalf of the Orioles organization, I offer a sincere apology to the Korea Baseball Organization and the Korea Baseball Association for the club's unintentional breach of protocol in failing to tender a status check in the process of signing Seong-Min Kim. The Orioles respect Major League Baseball's recruiting policies and the governing bodies and people that contribute to the growth of baseball around the world."

http://www.masnsports.com/school_of...tml?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

[Leftwich]

Oh like this fucking matters. Orioles are gonna finish dead last with this chink in the farm system or not.

 

[killgod]

At least we know we're always going to be better than someone!

:joeybats:












:alone:

 

[ThomasTomasz]

The Britton news hurts. The Orioles have some depth to their starters, but they were hoping Britton, along with Arrieta and Matusz, stepped it up this season. Not being healthy obviously doesn't help him with that.

Also, I am surprised that MLB is going to void the contract for the Korean player. I figured that there would have been some sort of punishment, but not to the point of canceling it. Oh well, as Lefty said, we will suck anyway.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

Bump for Oriole Magic. Have to say I am impressed, though I am cautiously optimistic on any sustained success. Still, it seems like the .500 record that Duquette said was his goal for this season isn't far out of grasp.

And thankfully, the Orioles did not trade :bazookajones: for Jurrjens this off-season.

 

[BazookaJoe5]

They have been good early in years past. We'll see where they are in July. I think there is a greater likelihood of them staying competitive this year, though. Arrieta, Hammels, and Chen seem to be pretty decent. Not sure about Hunter, he seems to be lucky so far more than good, and Matusz is still up and down, but with three solid starters, that's more than they could say in years past. The lineup is producing as well.

I am glad to see Reimold doing well. How many years of his career did they waste with that f'ing joke Felix Pie and one dimensional Luke Scott getting time ahead of him?

 

[ThomasTomasz]

Lost the pitchers duel yesterday, but Hammel still looking good. Today, Matusz was solid, and Day and Ayala continue to come on and pitch solid in relief. Chris Davis continuing to get his :troll: on, glad to see that he is doing well so far.

BazookaJoe, I am with you 100%. It is difficult not to ride this out, because we've been a laughing stock for so long. Regardless, I am enjoying it, and at the very least, I've talked myself into believing that Duquette's prediction of .500 isn't far-fetched, especially with the bullpen working out very well right now.

 

[Leftwich]

This has been a fun month so far. Arrieta looked great last night, was hoping Bucky would let him go the distance but i can't complain with 8 innings and no runs or walks.

Nice to take a series from the Yanks.

 

[Villain]

Jarrett Martin is currently leading the Midwest League in strikeouts... How's Dana Eveland doing?

 

[Leftwich]

Jarrett Martin is currently leading the Midwest League in strikeouts... How's Dana Eveland doing?

Fuck off.

 

[BazookaJoe5]

I can see .500 if the rotation continues as it has so far. That is the key. The relievers minus Gregg are quality and should continue to be quality, as long as they are not overworked. As I said before, I'm not sold on Hunter or Matusz and I just don't know if Arrieta and Hammels can keep up how they are currently pitching. Britton getting back will give some flexibility down the road in case one of them struggles. I am admittedly NOT Mr. Optimistic when it comes to the O's, but after the past decade, how could I be.