<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>BALTIMORE (AP) -- Sam Perlozzo was fired as manager of the Orioles on Monday, the result of his inability to bring last-place Baltimore out of a lengthy funk culminated by an eight-game losing streak.Bullpen coach Dave Trembley will be the interim manager when the Orioles begin a six-game trip in San Diego on Tuesday. One of the leading candidates to fill the position on a full-time basis is Joe Girardi, voted NL manager of the year in 2006 before being fired after a dispute with ownership.On another front, the Orioles are negotiating with former Chicago Cubs president Andy MacPhail about becoming chief operating officer, a job left vacant since Joe Foss resigned earlier this year.Perlozzo was victimized by an underachieving bullpen and an unproductive offense that ranks last in the AL in home runs. Baltimore was 27-27 and second in the AL East on May 31 before losing 13 of 15 in June, including the last eight games of a 1-8 homestand that ended Sunday."We felt Sam was prepared, we felt the club was prepared to do battle every night," executive vice president Mike Flanagan said in a news conference. "For whatever reason, it just wasn't working." Baltimore's 29-40 record is the fifth-worst in the major leagues. The Orioles started the day trailing first-place Boston by 15 1/2 games in the AL East.Perlozzo joined Ray Miller, Mike Hargrove and Lee Mazzilli as Baltimore managers since Davey Johnson in 1997 who have failed to have a winning season."It's always based on results," Flanagan said. "It really gets down to wins and losses and expectations, and believing that this club is better than it looked."Perlozzo became the first major league manager to be fired this year.The 56-year-old Perlozzo was told of the decision during a 20-minute discussion Monday with Flanagan and vice president Jim Duquette. Perlozzo did not return several phone calls in the wake of the dismissal.Trembley, 55, spent the last four of his 20 years as minor league manager in the Baltimore organization. He served as bench coach on occasion this season while Tom Trebelhorn returned to Arizona to tend to his ailing wife."We think Dave deserves a chance," Flanagan said.The coaching staff will remain intact. Pitching coach Leo Mazzone, who joined the Orioles last year because of his tight friendship with Perlozzo, will continue his effort to right a with a 4.27 ERA and a league-leading 276 walks."Leo expressed disappointment, but at the same time believes in this pitching staff and is excited to see it go forward," Flanagan said. "He feels like we can turn this around." After Sunday's 6-4 loss to Arizona on Sunday, there was talk in the clubhouse of Perlozzo's imminent dismissal. Several players publicly defended him, including Kevin Millar, who called for a players-only meeting in San Diego on Tuesday."Sam Perlozzo doesn't throw the ball and doesn't catch the ball. We know that for sure, right? He doesn't hit the ball," Millar said. "He doesn't play. We play. And we've got to find a way to play better."Flanagan inferred that Millar's call for a team meeting was a factor in the team's decision to fire Perlozzo."Those are the sort of things that indicate that things aren't going well with the ballclub," Flanagan said.Perlozzo is the second straight Baltimore manager to be fired in midseason. He took over on an interim basis after the Orioles dismissed Mazzilli on Aug. 4, 2005. After guiding Baltimore to a 23-32 record that season, Perlozzo signed a three-year contract in October 2005.He finished 122-164, including 70-92 last season.Perlozzo grew up in Cumberland, Md. and rooted for the Orioles during his childhood. Before being hired as manager, he spent 10 years on the team's coaching staff. He still has 1 1/2 years left on his contract, and was invited to stay with the organization in a different capacity.Flanagan said Perlozzo wanted some time to consider the offer.Perlozzo began the season hopeful of ending a franchise-record run of nine straight losing seasons. The team spent $42 million to overhaul the bullpen, signed free agent hitters Aubrey Huff and Jay Payton, and added Jaret Wright and Steve Trachsel to the rotation.The additions did not provide the desired results.Danys Baez, who signed a $19 million, three-year contract, lost his job as setup man and was 0-4 with a 6.52 ERA before going on the 15-day disabled list Saturday. In all, Orioles relievers were 0-5 with a 6.00 ERA during the homestand.Huff and Payton have been adequate, but the offense is batting .260 with a mere 50 homers in 69 games.Wright was removed from the rotation in April with shoulder stiffness and could be lost for the year, and Adam Loewen underwent season-ending elbow surgery last week."We do feel like we have a very good team, we do feel like we have a very good organization," Flanagan insisted. "We've changed a lot of things in the last three or four years to head in the right direction. And we still feel that way about the organization in spite of what happened today. We believe that everything else in place is working well."</div>Someone had to be the scapegoat. Honestly, I think it should have been Flanagan and Duquette that should have been fired for wasting all that money on the bullpen that lost 5-6 of those 8 games and at least 15 games this season. Plus for trading for 2 starting pitchers on the DL, Benson and Wright.I feel bad for Perlozzo but would love to see Girardi as manager.
Well, from here, basically the season is lost. Even if Girardi comes in, I bet we're going to trade Miguel for a bunch of prospects. We might swing some of those prospects with Huff for Teixeira though.Our pitching staff will be fine. Our starting pitching is 3rd best in the league in ERA but our bullpen is close to dead last if not dead last. Bedard, Loewen, Cabrera, Penn, Olson/Liz/Erbe/Beato is a nice rotation for the future if the last 4 progress as expected. Cabrera has improved a lot this season and with more of Mazzone's magic will be a very good pitcher. Bedard is a staff ace. Loewen could be the ace as well if the recovery goes well.As for our batting, Markakis is a future superstar. There's no doubting that. He leads the O's in a lot of offensive categories, a spot Miguel used to hold. Plus his defense is good and he has a cannon for an arm. Beyond that... Mora will retire soon but we have Rowell coming up in 2-3 years? Wieters will be our future catcher when Ramon leaves. Brandon Snyder could be our starting 1B but rumors are he's a piece in the Teixeira trade. At SS, maybe we can get Brandon Wood out of the Tejada deal. Tejada for Wood and one prospect would be even. Wood and Rowell both can play SS and 3B so that side would be secure. At 2B, we can still keep Brian Roberts. He's a fan favorite and a good leadoff man. In the OF, Markakis obviously gets RF. In CF, Patterson would cover it for now, but I think Nolan Reimold will be ready in 2-3 years as well. He's got great power. At LF, I think we should trade some of our prospects to get someone like Carl Crawford (he's supposedly available for a nice package of prospects). I think we could swing some of our pitching prospects and Fiorentino/Majewski/Pope along with someone like Gibbons, Payton.Our future is bright but our fans are simply tired of losing. I really hope we don't finance our future to get to .500 just for Girardi cause if we just wait a bit, we'll have a nice, young team if the progression goes well.
I think the Orioles will have one of the best if not the best starters in the future. Like you said, the bullpen is absolutely horrible and they have lost every game possible. I feel really bad for Perlozzo too, because even Kevin Millar said he should stay and he can't control what happens on the field. But I don't know what's wrong with the bats... This Orioles team is supposed to have one of the best lineups in the AL. I know Huff always struggles at the beginning of the year, but what's going on with the rest of the guys? They always used to be awesome in spring and then later fade away. I don't know if you heard this or not, but the O's might do a trade with the Twins involving Tejada and Santana. I hope then, the O's will move one of their starters to the bullpen, and next year when Wright and Benson return as starters, keep moving starters to the bullpen.
If I ran the Orioles, I would have fired Duquette simply for the reason that he isn't a very good GM. Then again, I'll never forgive him for the Zambrano for Kazmir swap he did with the Mets. But his poor track record (Like giving up John Maine back to the Mets, and settleing for second rate Free Agents each of the past few years) speaks for itself. I'd then go all out in an effort to get Joe Girardi and a Real GM. Girardi is in the position where he can hand-pick his next job so it'll probably take him alot to come out of his break, but promise to spend the money it'll take to turn the Orioles into a contender, or something. I wouldn't trade Tejada. Mainly because with the price of Free Agents nowadays, teams are less and less likely to give up big prospects and you'd probably only be getting 75 cents on the Dollar to get rid of him. Even with his recent power outage, he's better then 75% of the Shortstops in the League. I wouldn't make any big moves until after this season. But try and pawn off some overpriced pieces like Jay Gibbons, Aubrey Huff, Jay Payton, Danys Baez, Corey Patterson. Those 4-5 million a piece type pieces can be replaced by league minimum options who will give you roughly the same non-production, but at a Fraction of the Cost. I'd also ship off Steve Trachsel, who although he is producing, is 36 years old and will probably come back to earth soon anyways, so sell high. Hopefully picking up a bunch of B and C level prospects in the process. You play your cards right there and you can save a whole lot of money. You might have to eat some money in the process to unload some of them, but as long as it's not more then 50% of their total deal remaining, it's worth it.Depending on the Health Report, if Kris Benson should be ready to go for the beginning of the 2008 Season, I'd pick up his option. Why? Because in a market where Gil Meche is worth 55 million over 5 years, Kris Benson for only 7.5 million for one year is a bargain as it's similar production for 2/3 of the cost. You'd be paying more to replace him with a Mark Buehrle, Jason Jennings type. Otherwise, the rest of the Orioles Free Agents can screw themselves. (You heard me Jaret Wright and Corey Patterson (If not traded)). Invest big with the money you've saved. Pay the big bucks for Mark Teixeira in the open market, giving him the 'Come Home to Balitmore' card, Get Another Outfielder who will actually produce above replacement player level (Torii Hunter?). Then we're looking at a team of C - Hernandez1B - Teixeria2B - RobertsSS - Tejada3B - MoraOF - MarkakisOF - HunterOF - Hopefully a prospect acquired from one of your many salary dumps, otherwise a cheap Free Agent just to fill out the roster. DH - Millar (?)SP - BedardSP - BensonSP - LoewenSP - GuthrieSP - CabreraCL - RayRP - WalkerRP - BradfordThe rest, Idk, You guys gotta have some decent prospects who can fill out the Pen, either from home, or the salary dumps, right? Then begins the process of completely rebuilding the Farm System. Spend the money to lock up the draft picks, then become a player in the overseas markets. A team thats spending close to 90 million this year should be able to do that. Whatever, thats just my thoughts.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Punisher @ Jun 18 2007, 02:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I don't know if you heard this or not, but the O's might do a trade with the Twins involving Tejada and Santana. I hope then, the O's will move one of their starters to the bullpen, and next year when Wright and Benson return as starters, keep moving starters to the bullpen.</div>Twins would only be trading Santana if they can't afford to resign him....and if they can't afford to re-sign him, then theres no chance that they're taking on a 13 mil/year player like Miguel Tejada is.
I think Benson is done. Tommy John surgery and torn rotator cuff? If he can pitch better than any of the prospects in AAA/AA we have, I'd be really shocked.Also, a few weeks back in the paper, Wright might call it a career if his rehab goes poorly.
Last year the O's nixed a trade for Johan's brother and one of the Angel's top set-up man for Tejada. What idiots.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Punisher @ Jun 18 2007, 02:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I don't know if you heard this or not, but the O's might do a trade with the Twins involving Tejada and Santana. I hope then, the O's will move one of their starters to the bullpen, and next year when Wright and Benson return as starters, keep moving starters to the bullpen.</div>You're not very smart. That wouldn't help the Twins out at all.I didn't want to read all of these huge posts, but you talked about trading for Teixeira. I don't think they'd do that. He's a FA at the end of the year and has already said he wants to sign with the O's.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DevinHester23 @ Jun 18 2007, 09:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Last year the O's nixed a trade for Johan's brother and one of the Angel's top set-up man for Tejada. What idiots.</div>Ervin Santana isn't related to Johan in any way shape or form.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brooksie5 @ Jun 18 2007, 09:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DevinHester23 @ Jun 18 2007, 09:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Last year the O's nixed a trade for Johan's brother and one of the Angel's top set-up man for Tejada. What idiots.</div>Ervin Santana isn't related to Johan in any way shape or form.</div>No shit, sherlock. It's a joke b/c they are both dominant pitchers.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brooksie5 @ Jun 18 2007, 10:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Punisher @ Jun 18 2007, 02:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I don't know if you heard this or not, but the O's might do a trade with the Twins involving Tejada and Santana. I hope then, the O's will move one of their starters to the bullpen, and next year when Wright and Benson return as starters, keep moving starters to the bullpen.</div>You're not very smart. That wouldn't help the Twins out at all.I didn't want to read all of these huge posts, but you talked about trading for Teixeira. I don't think they'd do that. He's a FA at the end of the year and has already said he wants to sign with the O's.</div>How am I not very smart? That's what I heard.... lol
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DevinHester23 @ Jun 18 2007, 06:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Last year the O's nixed a trade for Johan's brother and one of the Angel's top set-up man for Tejada. What idiots.</div>Well that's what happens when Peter Angelos runs the team... :ranting:Btw, per Sports Illustrated<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Their pitching depth is so good that they might even again consider offering Ervin Santana, as they did last year along with Aybar for Miguel Tejada before Orioles owner Peter Angelos nixed the deal.</div>TAKE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TAKE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TAKE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (if it's offered) I would do that in a heartbeat.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DevinHester23 @ Jun 18 2007, 09:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brooksie5 @ Jun 18 2007, 09:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DevinHester23 @ Jun 18 2007, 09:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Last year the O's nixed a trade for Johan's brother and one of the Angel's top set-up man for Tejada. What idiots.</div>Ervin Santana isn't related to Johan in any way shape or form.</div>No shit, sherlock. It's a joke b/c they are both dominant pitchers.</div>Yes shit, sherlock. Ervin Santana is far from dominant.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (chang @ Jun 18 2007, 10:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DevinHester23 @ Jun 18 2007, 06:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Last year the O's nixed a trade for Johan's brother and one of the Angel's top set-up man for Tejada. What idiots.</div>Well that's what happens when Peter Angelos runs the team... :ranting:Btw, per Sports Illustrated<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Their pitching depth is so good that they might even again consider offering Ervin Santana, as they did last year along with Aybar for Miguel Tejada before Orioles owner Peter Angelos nixed the deal.</div>TAKE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TAKE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TAKE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (if it's offered) I would do that in a heartbeat.</div>When the O's nixed it last year, on BBTN, Steve Phillips said he would do the trade in a heartbeat if it was just Santana for Tejada, and he said he spoke to a few other GM's who said the same thing.
[quote name='Brooksie5' post='94499' date='Jun 18 2007, 11:53 PM'][quote name='DevinHester23' post='94494' date='Jun 18 2007, 09:34 PM'][quote name='Brooksie5' post='94493' date='Jun 18 2007, 09:27 PM'][quote name='DevinHester23' post='94491' date='Jun 18 2007, 09:25 PM']Last year the O's nixed a trade for Johan's brother and one of the Angel's top set-up man for Tejada. What idiots.[/quote]Ervin Santana isn't related to Johan in any way shape or form.[/quote]No shit, sherlock. It's a joke b/c they are both dominant pitchers.[/quote]Yes shit, sherlock. Ervin Santana is far from dominant.[/quote]Phffffffffft. He isn't dominant like King Johan, but he's still good. BTW - I think Johan is god.
Ok, first off, Perlozzo shouldn't have been fired. He's not that bad. It's not his fault the whole bullpen sucks and blows every single game for the Orioles.Next, you guys just have to wait. You aren't going to be able to unload your big contracts, so, you either have to waive and release the players and just pay part of the rest of their contracts, or wait until they expire. Mark Teixeira, why would he ever come to the Orioles? I mean, sure, maybe he has said it, but, in the end, it will be who offers the most money, and that will not be the Orioles. Torii Hunter is either going to stay a Twin are become a Giant. He is going to be our most sought after free agent next year. We are going to overpay for him, and he is going to suck on offense for us. Hooray?The Orioles in the Giants are even more similar. They both have great, up-and-coming starting pitching, both being the strong points on the team. The Giants' offense is a little worse then the O's, and the O's' bullpen is a little worse then the Giants'. Anyway, just thought I'd make that connection. The Orioles cannot trade Tejada. Period. If you do, no free agent will come to Baltimore, even if Teixeira does love it...You guys are going to suck for another couple of years, it's just the way it's going to work. And until you get that crappy GM out of there, who knows, you may suck for many years. Joe Girardi could help, but with the Marlins, he actually had some talented young guys to motivate and work with on the MLB team. With the Orioles, he wouldn't really have any I guess except for Markakis and Loewen, if he were to sign now.It will take a lot to get Girardi out of his break. I'm sure he is having a marvelous time, relaxing, not under any stress, and if he were to sign with the Orioles, they would have to make promises they couldn't and wouldn't keep, and he'd be under stress all the time. Good luck.
Torii Hunter will be a Ranger next year. Mark my words on it. Though I'd rather him be a Twin, he'll be a Ranger. He lives in Dallas, along with the rest of his family. All on the same block even! He's very very good friends with Ron Washington. Texas needs a CFer (though Lofton has been pretty good this year, they'd obviously take Hunter over him). Texas has money. It all works out perfectly. He'll be wearing the blue next year.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DevinHester23 @ Jun 19 2007, 06:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>When the O's nixed it last year, on BBTN, Steve Phillips said he would do the trade in a heartbeat if it was just Santana for Tejada, and he said he spoke to a few other GM's who said the same thing.</div>Says the same person who traded for Mo Vaughn, Roberto Alomar......almost traded David Wright and Jose Reyes as well, need I go on?He's pretty much the last person you'd want to take any trade advice from.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Next, you guys just have to wait. You aren't going to be able to unload your big contracts, so, you either have to waive and release the players and just pay part of the rest of their contracts, or wait until they expire.</div>Probably won't be able to, but they should try to. Every year a team unloads a rediculously bad contract at the trading deadline in exchange for taking only 50 cents on the Dollar in terms of Prospects. See the Bobby Abreu trade last year for example.If they could get someone to see potential in Danys Baez for example and get themselves out of that contract, it's for the best. And I wouldn't put it past a team desperate for a set-up man (Phillies?)<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Mark Teixeira, why would he ever come to the Orioles? I mean, sure, maybe he has said it, but, in the end, it will be who offers the most money, and that will not be the Orioles. Torii Hunter is either going to stay a Twin are become a Giant. He is going to be our most sought after free agent next year. We are going to overpay for him, and he is going to suck on offense for us. Hooray?</div>Maryland Native, Baltimore has a huge need at First Base and enough money coming off the books that they can spend it on him. Plus Peter Angelos reportably loves him. Yeah, he's a Boras Client and will probably go for the money, but I wouldn't put it past Balitmore to break the bank on this one. As for Torii Hunter. The Twins aren't going to re-sign him. They're too much of a small market team to invest the kind of money it is going to take to resign their 5th best player (Mauer, Morneau, Santana, Nathan). The Giants could look at Hunter, but they also locked up Randy Winn for way too much money just last year. I see them more looking to spend their money on somebody who could play one of the Corner Outfield Positions. For some reason I could see them going after Adam Dunn.
I dont see the Giants going after done because I think once we finish 60-102 this year, management will realize we have to rebuild a little bit, and I'm sure our outfield next year will look something like:Fred Lewis/Dan Ortmeier, Torii Hunter, Nate SchierholtzBrooksie, I can deff see Hunter to the Rangers too. But, I still think he'll end up a Twin or Giant. He is a home-town favorite is he not in Minnesota?And, at least I would, love to see him in a Giants uni next year, and so do a lot of other people around here, and so does management.
