Hello Ballers,
…..O.K. fans there was another HUGE (yeah right!) trade today as the Baltimore wOe-rioles acquired pitchers Jason Hammel and Matt Lindstrom from the Colorado Rockies for their top of the rotation man Jeremy Guthrie. Guthrie led the majors with 17 losses last year. That doesn’t mean he didn’t pitch well though. He went up against the aces every time out in the rugged A.L. East and grabbed 9 wins while posting a respectable 4.33 ERA. Congrats to Guthrie who doesn’t have to face the brutal lineups of the RedSox and Yanks while heading to the no DH (yet) N.L. Hammel went 7-13 with a 4.76 ERA as mostly a starter. Lindstrom was 2-2 with an even 3.00 ERA in 63 games in a back-of-the-bullpen setup role. So, I guess the O’s got a similar player to replace Guthrie in Hammel (they’re both rightys) while adding a bullpen guy too. That’s a small gain I guess. However, those kinds of moves are for the serious contenders who are just tweaking the right combination of players. The O’s need to find a way to keep a guy like Guthrie while adding TWO more of him. This trade is all politics and low budget stuff, which is really annoying as a fan. Come on Peter Angelos, you spent money like a drunken sailor in the 90s on the problem guys (see Albert Belle) and now you don’t spend the little money you do throw out there very well either. You have talent up the gut with Matt Wieters, Adam Jones, and a healthy Brian Roberts and the all around gamer Nick Markakis in right. Grab some arms and get it together already.
The BoSox are in for a battle with David Ortiz’ salary arbitration hearing set to start soon despite the player expressing his hope of avoiding the judge format. The club and player agents are $4 MILLION apart at 12 and 16. That’s quite a ways fans. Ortiz did produce last year hitting at a .309 clip with 29 dingers and 96 RBI. Boston has made quite a few moves this off-season while trying to remain under the $178 million payroll luxury tax. Baltimore’s poorly spent paltry $85 million in 2011 pales in comparison, and nevermind the Yanks’ $196M (which isn’t wisely spent either just for the record). Hopefully for Boston, things will work out with Big Papi to help keep the clubhouse free of controversy and hard feelings. Either way, he won’t go hungry though. Their clubhouse gained a great addition in Cody Ross last week. You probably remember him from the ’10 Champion Giants. He plays with all his heart and can really help restore the team concept with Oritz, Dustin Pedroia, Adrain Gonzalez, and Kevin Youkilis, etc. Ross is a solid player who does everything good. Maybe they can give him Number 7 as he starts in Right for the departed #7 rightfielder, J.D. Drew, who took #7 from the previous rightfielder and ’04 Series Champ, Trot Nixon.
Oh boy, I just heard the O’s are interested in Manny Ramirez. Give me a break, you’re twelve years too late. He may get booed louder in Baltimore than in Boston when all those Sawx fans come down I-95 and fill up the empty seats to watch Boston for half the price compared to back home. Let’s see, he can’t play the field and can’t play at all until the end of May due to his suspension! I’m positive he would be taking the spot of someone 10+ years younger, cheaper, and most importantly, BETTER!
The Rangers and pitching-rich Cardinals are battling over the rights to Roy Oswalt. Meanwhile, the BoSox have offers to both Oswalt and Edwin Jackson so they are sure to land one of the two righty starters. Oswalt could provide a lot of help toward making Texas’ attempt of three straight Series appearances a reality. Third time’s a charm for a Series victory? We shall see…..Pitchers and Catchers start up next week and in addition to Oswalt you still have the likes of Johnny Damon (why don’t the O’s go after this ex-Sox instead?), DH Vlady Guerrero (why didn’t the O’s just keep him?), SP Rich Harden, 1B Derek Lee, SP David Aardsma, RF Magglio Ordonez, SP/RP Tim Wakefield, and SS Edgar Renteria among others still looking for clubs.
Later Fans.