SB Nation User Blog: therobotian

Some of this stuff is amazing... and depressing

therobotian — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 03:00:16 -0000

A couple of interesting tidbits from the Elias Sports Bureau...

David Ortiz hit his 40th home run of the season on Sunday and increased his RBI total to 109. The Red Sox have played 110 games in 2006, and it's the first time in 45 years that an American League player has reached 40 home runs and 100 RBI within his team's first 110 games of the season. In 1961, both Roger Maris (in the Yankees' 106th game) and Mickey Mantle (109th game) did that.

As I said, amazing.

John Maine pitched six shutout innings in the Mets' 8-1 win against the Phillies. Maine has not allowed a run in each of his last three starts. He's the first rookie pitcher to do that -- while throwing at least six innings in each outing -- since the Brewers' Cal Eldred in August 1992. The last National League rookie with three straight scoreless starts of at least six innings was Orel Hershiser, who threw three straight complete-game shutouts for the Dodgers in July 1984. (Hershiser had one relief appearance -- on the Sunday before the All-Star break -- during that streak.)

And depressing.

Oh, and just for kicks...

Derek Jeter entered Sunday's game with a .467 career batting average against Rodrigo Lopez, which was his second-highest average against any pitcher off whom he had at least 25 at-bats (he's 14-for-28, .500 vs. Eric Milton), and true to form Jeter smacked a home run off Lopez in the first inning, igniting the Yankees to a 6-1 win.

There will be no Tejada Trade

therobotian — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 04:15:05 -0000

Link: Ken Rosenthal

"It's over," an Astros official told FOXSports.com Sunday night. "We told them we're not dealing with them anymore."

...

The Astros, according to a major-league official with knowledge of the discussions, feared that the Orioles would flip their most prized acquisition for Tejada -- Astros right-hander Roy Oswalt Â-- to Houston's cross-state rival, the Texas Rangers.

The Orioles, according to the official, intended to trade Oswalt to the Rangers for a package of three players -- third baseman Hank Blalock, Triple-A shortstop Joaquin Arias and one of the Rangers' top pitching prospects.

They also would have ended up with two other players from the Astros -- third baseman Morgan Ensberg and shortstop Adam Everett -- effectively making the deal a 5-for-1 for Tejada.

Presumably, the Orioles then would have spun one of the third basemen, Blalock or Ensberg, or shifted one of them to first, while moving their current third baseman, Melvin Mora, to the outfield.

...

The Angels, who offered the Orioles a package of right-hander Ervin Santana and Triple-A shortstop Erick Aybar for Tejada, also have pulled out of the Tejada discussions, the official says.

The Dodgers are not actively pursuing Tejada, other sources say.

Sounds over. But man, what a story that would have made.

Logjam in RF

therobotian — Sun, 02 Jul 2006 03:06:50 -0000

The question that I would be mulling over right now if I were Perlozzo is this...

What do I do about this impending logjam in RF?

When Gibbons comes back someone will have to move... either Jay or Nick. The question is who?

It's clear that Markakis is far more comfortable in RF than in LF, both in the field and at the plate. In 50 games in RF Markakis has a 1.000 FPCT, compared to a .984 FPCT in LF over 26 games. At the plate Nick bats .337 AVG | .385 OBP | .486 SLG in 101 ABs while playing in RF, compared to a mere .182 AVG | .315 OBP | .247 SLG in 77 ABs while playing as a Left Fielder. The difference is as clear as black & white: Nick Markakis is a better player in RF.

Now what about Gibbons? With Jay, unlike Nick, we have just a tad bit more data to base or analysis on. In the field, Jay comes in as a better defensive First Baseman (.994 FPCT over 86 games) than Right Fielder (.986 FPCT over 416 games). At 1B he has made 4 career errors in 86 games, in RF 12 in 416. At the plate, though, it's a whole different story; From 2003-2005 Jay batted .214 AVG | .260 OBP | .314 SLG at 1B, and .290 AVG | .340 OBP | .495 SLG as a RF. That is a rather stark contrast.

I think that it is important to note, however, that he has had 1065 ABs as a RF compared to only 159 at 1B, so the comparison may not be entirely fair. With Markakis, on the other hand, the AB totals are within approx. 30 of each other, making them far more comparable.

So what would you do, if you were Perlozzo? Move Nick? Or move Gibbons?

(Note: There is the third option of DHing Gibbons, but I did not include this because, trade withstanding, Javy is entrenched at DH with nowhere to go.)

Poll

What would you do?

Move Nick back to LF

3 votes

Move Jay to 1B

15 votes

18 votes | Poll has closed

Markakis Seems Set to Play LF

therobotian — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 08:16:44 -0000

The team hasn't released anything yet, but I've been really watching this develop and my gut instinct is he'll be playing LF on Opening Day. Why do I think so? The team and most sports-writers (on Orioles.com and in the Baltimore Sun) keep suggesting he will, and also suggesting that the team will only carry two catchers; Gil got placed on waivers; The Depth Chart got reorganized yesterday, removing Kevin Millar from LF and making him our F/T DH.

With Millar no longer listed at LF, the Depth Chart shows Conine as the starter... I have trouble believing that for two reasons: (1) Markakis has outplayed Conine in Spring Training, and (2) If Conine gets too many at-bats the team has to keep him next year and find something to do with him. By next year Conine will make a better coach than player, and the FO knows it. He won't be the everyday starter.

So, again, I think Markakis is a lock to make the Opening Day roster and that the FO is just holding out for a big announcement later this week.

Thoughts?

Poll

WILL Markakis be the Orioles everday Left Fielder?

Yes

17 votes

No

9 votes

26 votes | Poll has closed

O's May Get Cubs Patterson

therobotian — Fri, 06 Jan 2006 14:45:53 -0000

Source: Baltimore Sun & ChicagoSports.com & Chicago Tribune

From The Sun

According to one industry source, the Orioles are "closing in" on a deal that would send a minor leaguer to the Chicago Cubs for center fielder Corey Patterson.

Club officials would not confirm specifics of the proposed trade, but one source suggested the minor leaguer would not be one of the team's "top five or so prospects."

...

If acquired, Patterson likely would compete with incumbent Luis Matos and prized prospect Nick Markakis for the Orioles' starting center-field job.

Patterson previously had been mentioned as a potential component in any Cubs deal involving Tejada. The Cubs, among others, remain interested in the Orioles' star shortstop, but nothing is imminent, team vice president Jim Duquette reiterated.

Jeff Conine

therobotian — Wed, 04 Jan 2006 04:24:23 -0000

In light of this recent development regarding Jeromy Burnitz, it is starting to make me a bit uncomfortable that the Jeff Conine signing has not been officially announced. I had read that his physical was being delayed by Christmas, but that was more than a week ago. I would like to know why he isn't in an Orioles jersey yet...

Glaus WANTED to play in Baltimore

therobotian — Sun, 01 Jan 2006 23:40:31 -0000

Source: Boston.com

One high-ranking major league executive who monitored Arizona's unloading of Troy Glaus to Toronto said, ''He really wanted to go to Boston. The two places he wanted to go to were Boston and Baltimore." Arizona general manager Josh Byrnes was formerly the Sox' assistant GM, and that relationship, plus the Sox' long-running admiration for Glaus's skill set, led to discussions between the clubs.

If that's true, it's a damned shame. He actually wanted to play here, and we still didn't pull the trigger. When the FO doesn't trade for a player, in his 20s, who hits nearly 40 HR a year that WANTS to come to Baltimore... that's when it starts to become too much to take.

Bedard for Glaus

therobotian — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 22:59:53 -0000

Source: FoxSports.com

The Diamondbacks, moving aggressively to trade third baseman Troy Glaus, are in serious discussions with the Red Sox, Blue Jays, Orioles and an unidentified National League club, FOXSports.com has learned.

The Red Sox and Blue Jays are the front-runners for Glaus, according to an official from one of the interested clubs. The Sox, Jays and Orioles likely would move Glaus to first base, a position he has not played in his eight-year major-league career.

...

The Diamondbacks, trying to add pitching, believe they can unload Glaus without paying any of the $32.75 million that he is owed in the final three years of his contract, sources say.

The Jays offered second baseman Orlando Hudson for Glaus, and probably would be willing to part with right-hander Miguel Batista as well if they obtained another player in the deal.

The Diamondbacks have discussed left-hander Erik Bedard from the Orioles and a number of other options. It is not known which Red Sox players the D-Backs are targeting, but Arizona's new general manager, Josh Byrnes, previously was the Red Sox's assistant G.M. The Sox have been protective of their young pitching in trade discussions.

...

Glaus batted .258 with 37 homers and 97 RBIs in his first season with the Diamondbacks, appearing in 149 games. Friends of his believe that he might be even more productive in '06. Glaus was unable to work on his upper body last off-season while recovering from shoulder surgery.

If we get this, Tejada won't be going anywhere.

Choi Re-Ups with LA

therobotian — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 22:53:45 -0000

Source: ESPN

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Los Angeles Dodgers re-signed first baseman Hee Seop Choi, avoiding arbitration.

The Dodgers and Choi agreed to a one-year deal for $725,000.

Choi came to the Dodgers from Florida in a July 2004 trade. He hit .253 last season and set career highs in games played (133), hits (81) and RBI (42) and matched his career best with 15 homers. In 363 games spanning five major league seasons, Choi has a .240 batting average and has hit 40 homers and driven in 120 runs.

This, of course, doesn't mean that he isn't still trade bait. I'm honestly not sure I want him, though; I really believe that Young is going to turn into a nice 1B/DH, and having two young lefties as First isn't going to do us any good... or is it?

Would the Dodgers want Javy? And what else would they send, because Choi certainly isn't enough.

O's, Conine Come to Terms

therobotian — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 07:12:03 -0000

Source: The Baltimore Sun

The Orioles reached a tentative agreement Tuesday night on a one-year contract with free agent Jeff Conine, returning the veteran to the city where he had played for five seasons.

The deal, which will likely be announced Wednesday, is worth approximately $1.75 million with incentives that could push the former Florida Marlin's contract to $2 million for the 2006 season.

"[Conine] is a guy we targeted all along," said Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo. "When we talked about the chemistry of the ball club, we wanted him to be back. It looks like he's going to be in a lot bigger role, and we are comfortable with that. Right now, I see him playing some first base and left field, but he's also going to DH."

Though Conine's role will largely depend on what other moves the Orioles make this offseason, the 39-year-old gives Perlozzo some flexibility. The Orioles currently don't know who is going to be their Opening Day first baseman, left fielder or designated hitter, and Conine has occupied all those roles at some point during his major league career.

Conine, who played with the Orioles from 1999-2003, hit .304 last year with three home runs and 33 RBIs in 335 at-bats for the Marlins. Eager to add his bat into the lineup, the Orioles also wanted to inject his presence into the clubhouse.

They also discuss Javy's potential opening day situation:

Disappointed that he was displaced from the every-day catcher role after the Orioles signed Ramon Hernandez, Javy Lopez has his sights on either a trade or signing a contract extension with the club.

...

If he is not traded, Lopez will likely be used at first base, designated hitter and back-up catcher this season. Berry said that Lopez is apprehensive to play a different position in his contract year.