My dream job has always been to be a general manager for a baseball
team.  I even went so far while attending the O’s FanFest in 1998
to ask how to get my foot in the door during the front-office
forum.  Now, in order for this great season the O’s are having to
continue, here is what I think they can do to make the
postseason. 

Pitching
Anyone who has watched the Orioles this season knows that pitching has
been suspect.  Admittedly, the first two months of the season it
performed well-beyond expectations.  The injury to Eric Bedard hit
them hard, and there is no guarantee he will perform at the level he
was pitching at prior to his knee injury.  Additionally, Bruce
Chen and Sir Fatty McFatFat are not what I would deem as starters I
trust to win every fifth day.  Thus, the need for the O’s to
acquire a decent starting pitcher is key. 

The recent rumor revolved around the Marlin’s A.J. Burnett. 
I think the asking price is much too high, though–giving up Hayden
Penn or Daniel Cabrera and Larry Bigbie.  I do not like parting
with either pitcher this early in their careers.  Bigbie, on the
other hand, has started producing since his return from the DL.  I
have no problem throwing Jorge Julio in the mix, though.  As long
as he gets replaced with another acquisition.  As for the Marlins
throwing Juan Encarnacion to the Birds, I have no interest in an
outfielder who merely hits for power but can never stay with a team for
a while. 

Personally, I like the prospect of acquiring Jason Schmidt
better.  The Giants are out of the race in the NL West, and
Schmidt is a proven starter with a club option for next season. 
Thus, there is no need to sign him to an extension as they want to do
with Burnett. 

I also think the reliever corps could use an additional arm. 
Steve Reed has been terrible, for lack of a better term.  There
are a number of potential relievers available who have solid arms who
could replace Julio–Armando Benitez, Jr. as I like to call him. 
The closer for the Rockies–Brian Fuentes–would be a capable setup man in front of B.J Ryan.  Presuming he comes off the DL in short order. 

Hitting
For the most part, I am not terribly worried about this team’s
offensive production.  It has slowed down of late, but I do not
think it warrants the addition of a Mike Sweeney.  If the price is right for Sweeney, you could have a decent heir to Palmeiro at 1st base. 

One important player to get back is Javy Lopez.  The lineup has
suffered tremendously without his bat in the middle of the lineup,
offering protection to my least-favorite O’s right-fielder.  Also,
without him, you are forced to platoon two catchers whose offensive
numbers do not match his.  I like Sal Fasano as the backup, as he
is a slightly better hitter and would appear to handle the staff
better. 

Finally, the alarming fall from grace that has become Sammy Sosa is
scary.  I must admit that even though I had forecast it, I still
did not think it would be this bad.  Seeing him swinging at high
fastballs is truly embarrassing, especially given that pitchers have
started to “work up the ladder” against Sosa.  He also has a
tendency to swing at bad pitches off the plate.  He has already
dropped in the lineup, but maybe a day or two off might help him get it
together. 

So, if I were the O’s GM and the Swarthy Greek Owner gave me free
reign, I would be chasing after a starter and a setup man.  I
might be willing to part with Hayden Penn, but not Cabrera. 
Finally, Bigbie goes only if the compensation is equivalent.  I do
not want an Encarnacion in exchange. 

…to you.  As one of the
first local blogs, I read, I will surely miss it for the witty and
occasionallly controversial posts.  Of course, I am leaving out
the contingent of comment “groupies” it had; they will sorely be
missed.

Until we meet again in the blogosphere, but make sure your minions over at Blogtimore, Hon continue to run a tight ship! 

The losing streak has ended!  At the bottom of the 10th inning, the best second baseman in the American League smoked a first pitch from the Yankees’ Mike Stanton deep into the left-field seats.  The Orioles beat the Yankees 5-4! 

I would have liked to see the Yucking Fankees get smoked, but I will
certainly take the extra inning game for extra effect.  Even
better with Cal Ripken Jr. watching in the stands.  The tide has
hopefully turned. 

Oh, and by the way, go vote for your favorite All-Stars.  Make sure that Tino Martinez does not make the All-Star Game as the American League’s starting First Baseman. 

So, last night the Orioles went down to their sixth loss in a row. 
Last night also exposed something that has been troubling me about this
team.  The largest problem, in my humble opinion, is
fundamentals. 

For one, the Orioles have been called for eight (8) balks
thus far this season, leading the major leagues in that infamous
statistic.  I can see one or two balks being called early in the
season, but it is now practically July.  There is absolutely no
excuse for pitchers to be called for a balk this late in the
season. 

I will admit that there does appear to be an effort to call the balk
more this season–last week in Toronto the Orioles were called for two
balks.  Also, the tendency to call balks on certain pitchers is
certainly something opposing managers will exploit.  Last night, Steve Kline
had his third balk called against him this season, and the most he has
had since the first one he had in his rookie season of 1997.  Two
of these balks obviously have cost the O’s a game–last night’s and a
game against the Kansas City Royals in May.  The balk is
admittedly a judgement call on the part of the umpire, and I am not too
happy that Jason “Juice” Giambi was also protesting the balk. 
Clearly, some instruction was had at the hand of Joe Torre and his
minions. 

My point with the balk is that at this point in the season, all of the
starting pitchers and relievers should know what constitutes a
balk.  There is no excuse to still have the call made against you
this late in the season.  Maybe Ray Miller needs to have an extra
session with his entire staff to train them on what is and is not a
balk.  At this point, it cannot hurt to make sure the Orioles
staff knows a balk. 

The other fundamental that cost the Orioles the game was the inability for Jorge Julio
to cover first base on a double-play.  It is the top of the 8th
inning, and the Yankees have runners on first and second with no outs
and Ruben Sierra at the plate.  Sierra hits a ground ball to Rafael Palmeiro
who begins the relay for the double play–the play would have been
scored 6-3-1.  Julio, however, was late to cover first base, and
Sierra was safe.  Everyone knows in baseball that you never give
the opposing teams an extra out, and that is exactly what he did by not
covering the bag.  If he makes that play, Bernie Williams is the last out of the inning and Jorge Posada never scores.  The O’s come to bat with the score tied in the bottom of the inning. 

Fundamentals are the difference in winning ball games.  When you
are on a losing streak like this, fundamentals play a big role in
extending or ending the streak.  With all the good that has
happened thus far this year, why does it seem like the O’s are suddenly
looking like their recent past? 

I have not given up on the Orioles just yet.  There are some
things that need to be done on the pitching and hitting front.  In
a post later today, I will talk about what I think the Orioles need to
do to get back to their winning ways.