SB Nation User Blog: Oriole

Orioles agree to trade Sherrill to Dodgers for 3B Josh Bell and RHP Steve Johnson

Oriole — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 19:23:21 -0000

AOL's Fanhouse's Ed Price is reporting that Orioles closer George Sherrill is heading to the Los Angeles Dodgers. No other details are out (as in who the Orioles are getting back), as it still hasn't been officially confirmed.

Adios Sherrill. I'm miss your flat brim and your (at times) nerve wracking saves.

I'll be in Atlanta Saturday to see the Dodgers and the Braves, so I'm crossing my fingers that I can see a Sherrill save.

UPDATE (3:40, zk): Gordon Edes (Yahoo.com) reports the return in the deal is Scott Elbert and Josh Bell.

UPDATE (3:54, zk): Ken Gurnick of mlblogs reports it's Josh Bell and Steve Johnson

UPDATE (4:02, zk): It's Johnson. Price just updated his story.

UPDATE (4:15, zk): Roch thought this deal was unlikely, but now he backs it:

Update: Bell and Johnson have been told not to dress for tonight's game. That makes you think they're heading to a new organization.

Last UPDATE (4:24, zk): The Sun reports the Orioles have agreed to the trade, but no announcement before medical clearance, etc....

The Orioles have agreed to a deal in principle to send closer George Sherrill to the Los Angeles Dodgers this afternoon, but an announcement won't be made until all the parties involved are notified and medical records are cleared, according to several sources.

Just one more (4:28, Stacey): Awwwww

This is an emotional day for our friend Dave Johnson, who found out moments ago on the Orioles radio postgame show that his son might be joining this organization. Host Tom Davis broke the news to Dave and it was an emotional time for a proud father. Dave was at the game on Monday looking on as Steve pitched six shutout innings. - MASN

OK, NOW Just One More (7:27, duck): The Sun caught up with Sherrill for his take:

"It's done now. I'm not staying here," said Sherrill, who did not pitch in Thursday's 7-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals. "I am excited about going. It gives me a shot to be in the playoffs.

"They have a big lead, I mean, we have a big lead, and it'd be nice to have a shot at the playoffs. If all things go as according to plan, it will be nice being in the big league playoffs for the first time."

In his two seasons with the Orioles, Sherrill saved 51 games, made one All-Star team and became a fan favorite with his flat-brimmed cap and dramatic ninth-inning flourishes.

He was 20-for-23 in save opportunities this season, with a 2.40 ERA in 42 games.

***

Stats for Josh Bell and Steve Johnson (Baseball Reference).

2009 Stats for both guys, from Baseball America (easier formatting to paste here):

Johnson

Club (League)	Class	W	L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	BB/9	SO/9	WHIP	STK%	G/F
Inland Empire (CAL)	HiA	8	4	3.82	18	16	0	1	96.2	94	50	41	14	42	102	3.91	9.50	1.41	—	0.62
Chattanooga (SL)	AA	1	1	1.69	2	2	0	0	10.2	8	5	2	1	3	15	2.53	12.66	1.03	59%	0.55
Minor League Totals		9	5	3.61	20	18	0	1	107.1	102	55	43	15	45	117	3.77	9.81	1.37	59%	0.61

Bell

2009 Batting Statistics
Club (League)	Class	AVG	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	SH	SF	GIDP	OBP	SLG	OPS
Chattanooga (SL)	AA	.296	94	334	47	99	30	2	11	52	50	70	3	5	0	5	7	.386	.497	.883
Minor League Totals		.296	94	334	47	99	30	2	11	52	50	70	3	5	0	5	7	.386	.497	.883

The 1999 Draft kind of stunk

Oriole — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 19:03:32 -0000

Not trying to toot my own horn or anything, but I was intending to do a post on my blog today about the O's draft picks of the last decade. Once I got to the carnage that was the O's 1999 Draft, that changed. I did a pretty detailed look at the 4...yes, that's correct FOUR....first round draft picks that the Baltimore selected in the 1999 Draft.

Thought it might be worthy of a share

Here's the link

Wieters Debuts Friday!?!!?

Oriole — Wed, 27 May 2009 03:12:46 -0000

THE WAIT IS OVER!!!!

Matt Wieters is getting called up.

Matt Wieters will make his first start with the Orioles on Friday against the Detroit Tigers and Dontrelle Wills (and thus his long quest to break every single record in MLB's record books). It will also go down in the record books that Matt Wieters hit his first homer off Dontrelle Willis.

So long Chad Moeller, the Chosen One is here.

Dang, I'm excited.

Matt Wieters...Friday...Major League Debut

Sun: O's in "lead" for Rich Hill

Oriole — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 03:33:08 -0000

Hey, looks like another trade with the Cubs, kids.

This time the Orioles are "in the lead" for Cubs disgraced lefty Rich Hill. The price is low a PTBNL and the quality of which depends on Hill's success in Baltimore. I think its a nice gamble, but I'm not holding my breath. Hill had a swell 2007 by going 11-8 with a 3.92 but last season he turned into a poor man's Daniel Cabrera and walked any batter in a 10 mile radius. Maybe he can rebound...maybe he won't.

I'm fine with the gamble, the O's need to do some low risk gambles. But I hope this is the last trade with the Cubs for awhile.

My Interview with Brian Roberts

Oriole — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:29:09 -0000

Brian Roberts Interview

I just put up an interview with Brian Roberts over my blog. Check it out if you're interested. It's on behalf of his new charitable cause, Brian's Bracelet... the link for that and a picture of it is in the interview.

Sorry, I didn't ask him any trade questions, but I figured he's heard enough of those questions already so I stuck with some softball questions.

I typed this to get 75 words.