Greetings again, Birdland. I know it’s been a while since we’ve spoken here. I finally got over that crushing loss to the Blue Jays in the Wild Card game though, and I’m ready to talk some Orioles again. Of course, it helped that the Cleveland Indians saved us all the indignity of watching those Jays in the World Series (after they saved us having to watch the Red Sox in even the ALCS a round earlier), and for that, we all need to thank them.
I’ve been having a blast watching my first stress-free World Series since 2012’s Tigers-Giants tilt. Every fall classic since has featured someone to hate (Sox, Royals, Royals) which really put a damper on my level of interest. I know many of you prefer to have someone to root against, but I don’t subscribe to that theory.
Game 7 tonight – Cubs @ Indians. Should be a blast. Hopefully we’ll get a competitive game. Either way, the 2016 season will be over by tomorrow, so let’s get into some O’s links that look both backwards and forwards.
Blueprint for the 2017 Orioles – Option 1
Camden Depot has been running their annual Blueprints series, where their writers all submit plans to construct the following season’s Orioles team. This one is from Matt Kremnitzer, and includes Hyun Soo Kim as the everyday left fielder, and has the team trying to find a platoon option to go with Joey Rickard in right. You should click over and read all of the Blueprints and see which one you like best. Of course, some combination of them is what we’re most likely to get.
The Orioles Still Haven’t Decided About Matt Wieters
The Blueprints mentioned above all have as a hinging point whether or not the O’s decide to extend the Qualifying Offer to Matt Wieters and/or Mark Trumbo. Jon Heyman says that the Birds still have no idea if they’ll offer it to Wieters or not. With the season ending tonight, they have until November 7 to figure it out.
How Many of the 2016 Orioles were “Homegrown?”
Baltimore Baseball’s Dan Connolly breaks down the entire 2016 Orioles roster (which included 47 players) to see which guys were drafted/signed by the Birds originally. Dan guesses that the O’s are in the middle of the pack in MLB in this regard, though he offers nothing to back it up.
Zach Britton, Kenley Jansen Earn Top Reliever Awards
Great Britton gets some hardware.
The Long and Short of a Position Change for Machado
Get it? Long and…short? As in, shortstop? Oh Roch, you card. Anywho, this is gonna keep coming up. I really don’t know where I stand on it, as I can understand the arguments both for and against shifting Manny over to short. According to Roch, folks in the O’s organization can’t really make up their minds either, at least not unanimously.
Enjoy Game 7, everyone!
0 Responses
This off season, I think the Orioles should:
1) Attempt to sign three members of their core players to contract extensions. This includes such players as Manny Machado, Jonathan Schoop, Adam Jones and Mark Trumbo among others.
2) Attempt to sign a quality out fielder
3) Attempt to sign or trade for a quality starting pitcher.
4) Trade Zach Britton for young talent from a big spending club
5) Sign the best pitching coaching staff available
6) Change the policy and resign coaches before the contract ends, to avoid losing more quality coaching staff like we just lost.