We'll just cover transactions since the last regular season game and accept the organization's 64-98 record as a meager excuse for a "season." Their twelfth losing season in a row was marked with the usual post-all-star break slide and kids from AA Bowie getting their cup of coffee.
The MLB Off-season is always the most exciting time of year for Baltimore baseball fans because we can spin any transaction without seeing the direct, or failing, results play out on the diamond. Undoubtedly people will call in to sports talk-shows clamoring that the Birds will win 95 games and finish second in the division.
I'm not going to pretend that I myself am not a member of this misled and always disappointed group so let's see which moves will take the hometown team to their first playoff berth in over a decade.
Kevin Millwood was acquired through trade for Chris Ray and LHP Ben Snyder, small potatoes for someone who is sure to be a two or three starter in our rotation. He nearly pitched 200 innings and the 3.67 ERA Millwood posted in the Bandbox in Arlington is surely promising. If he can keep that up, Millwood is bound to net us 14-16 wins and Charm City would crown him the next Cy Young after Jeremy Guthrie led the O's with an eye-popping 10 wins.
Garrett Atkins looks like he could take over at third for Melvin Mora which he better because if I have to see Frat Boy Wiggins at third for 120 games my TV will have an early demise. Assuming he wins the starting job, Atkins' stats have all dropped significantly since 2006 when he managed to garner some MVP votes and was touted as the next Mike Schmidt. He's leaving hitter friendly Coors and the NL, also known as quadruple-A to face two of the best pitching staffs in the league 18 or 19 times each. I still think this is a good move by McPhail, it's only for one year and sadly he's at the top of the free agent crop when it comes to third basemen.
Mike Gonzalez had a great year in Atlanta and threw twenty more innings than any year previously in his career. The only qualm I have with this move is I hope it doesn't go down like the Danys Baez contract a few years back. Well at least the front office is getting away from signing old relief pitchers to multimillion dollar...what? We're paying him $12 million over two years?!? Invite all of Frederick up for Spring Training and have an open tryout, it's not like a middle reliever is worth $6 million a year for a team like us where Brian Roberts is tipping the books at $8 million. The only way this can be worth such a lucrative contract is if Trembley plugs Gonzalez in to close and he's relatively successful in the role.
What I wish we would have done, but this is probably why I'm not the GM:
- Throw millions around like it was Monopoly money to John Lackey, what better pitcher would a team let go? He's instantly our #1
- I was going to say offer the most money to Chone "The Chode" Figgins but he's almost 32, although it would be cool to see him and Roberts at the top of the order for a year or two
- As much as it hurts to say, look into dealing Roberts. We probably aren't going to win in the time he has left here and let's get something while his value is still high and who wouldn't like to see B-Rob get into the post-season?
2010 Hopes: Get out of the cellar into 4th place...baby steps Baltimore, baby steps
