Cooking on a Hot Stove

Major League Baseball's free agent signing period has officially begun, and according to Baltimore Orioles general manager Andy MacPhail, the Birds have "payroll flexibility" and are willing to throw major money at a few major free agents this off season. The problem is, however, there aren't really any major free agents to throw money at this year. There's Jason Bay and Matt Holliday, but the O's don't need any outfielders. I think they like where they are with Nolan Reimold, Adam Jones, and Nick Markakis.

While Baltimore needs a veteran starting pitcher, the market's biggest name, John Lackey will be grossly overpaid this year, and I don't think that the O's can win a bidding war with the Yankees. So, remove Lackey from the wish list. That leaves guys like Rich Harden, Ben Sheets, Randy Wolf, and former Orioles ace, Erik Bedard. I would take any one of these guys.

Also on the Orioles Christmas wish list are a third and first baseman. They have options in Michael Aubrey, Luke Scott, and Ty Wigginton, but I would like to see them go after a guy like Adrian Beltre or Chone Figgans for third, and maybe Hank Blaylock, Russell Branyan, or Carlos Delgado at first. The Orioles have prospects for these positions making their way through the minors in Josh Bell and Brandon Snyder, but neither are expected to be ready this season. Trading for a guy like Miguel Cabrera or Adrian Gonzales would cost major prospects, but I think either would be worth it. "You gotta spend money to make money."

That leaves the bull pen. The Orioles traded closer George Sherrill to the Dodgers for the aforementioned Bell, enabling Jim Johnson to take the closer role, a role where he did anything but pitch well. Then again, Sherrill has to be the only pitcher in history to amass thirty saves in a season while loading the bases in each of those saves. Johnson is lights out as a set up guy and I would like to see him return to that role. Koji Uehara will return from injury next season and is expected to pitch from the pen,(he excelled as a closer in Japan) but I still think that the O's should go after a flame thrower like Fernando Rodney. Names like Billy Wagner, Mike Gonzales, and Raphael Soriano have been tossed around a bit, but Rodney reminds me of Lee Smith. I love having that dominant guy coming out of the pen to close out a game. It gets the fans energized and strikes a little fear in the opposing team's heart.

I'm an Orioles fan and I want to compete now. I think that with the right moves, break out seasons from guys like Weiters, Reimold, Matusz, and Tillman, a solid bounce-back season from Jeremy Guthrie, and the continued emergence of Brad Bergesen, the O's could make some serious noise next year.

I know these are a lot of "ifs", but I've always viewed the world through orange tinted glasses anyway! My name is Chris, and I am a Kool-Aidaholic.

Here is my opening day 2010 Baltimore Orioles roster.

1. 2B Brian Roberts

2. CF Adam Jones

3. RF. Nick Markakis

4. 1B. Carlos Delgado

5. 3B. Adrian Beltre

6. C. Matt Weiters

7. LF. Nolan Reimold

8. DH. Luke Scott

9. SS. Cesar Izturis

Bench: IF Ty Wigginton, IF Robert Andino, OF Felix Pie, C ?? I'd like to see Moeller come back.

SP. Ben Sheets, Jeremy Guthrie, Brian Matusz, Brad Bergesen, Chris Tillman

RP. David Hernandez, Jason Berken, Mark Hendrickson, Kam Mickilio, Koji Uehara, Jim Johnson, Fernando Rodney. (might need another lefty in there)

Ain't Nothin' wrong with that!

P.S.

I am getting married on September 25th. What an even more perfect day it would be if I could be with all of the people I love, crowded around a T.V. cheering the O's on in a game against the Yankees or Red Sox that actually means something!! (after the wedding of course, and don't judge me, the bride will be cheering just as loud as everyone else!) A few of you guys who will read this will be there and absolutely know what I am talking about. Could this be the next version of the "Why Not" O's?

Something Magic Happens.....

Exposed?

After starting the season on a six game winning streak, and being the surprise of the year in the NFL, the Denver Broncos have lost two consecutive games. Word on the street is that the Broncos have been exposed for being a one dimensional football team. I couldn't agree more. Defensively, the Broncos are extremely strong, playing incredible football for the majority of the first half of the season. Under Mike Nolan's 3-4 defensive scheme, the Broncos defense, which features 8 new starters has been left out to dry in the second half against two solid offensive clubs in the Ravens and the Steelers. Brian Dawkins, Champ Bailey and company have held the Ravens and The Steelers to 6 and zero points respectively during the first half of the last two games. The problem isn't that the defense has been figured out during the second half of the past two games, rather that the offense has performed so completely miserably that the defense simply wore down due to being on the field for what has seemed like the entire second half in both games. Against the Steelers, the Broncos offense, which should have been called "the eleven guys who were on the field when the Defense wasn't", played for 8 minutes in the second half. Even Anita Marks and the Miami Fury of the women's barnstorming football league could put up points against a good defense, especially given 75% of the half in which to play offense.

It looks like the recipe for shutting down the Broncos offense, which is full of Pro-Bowl caliber players, is to crowd the box to shut down the intermediate passing game. Consequently, by putting eight men in the box to stop the short pass, the Broncos running game has been rendered a non factor. Correll Buckhalter and Knowshon (I promise to fumble at least once a game) Moreno have been worthless. Granted, in playing the Ravens and Steelers, the Broncos faced two of the better defenses in football, but that is still no excuse for the way that the offense has performed of late. One offensive touchdown in two games is pitiful. I don't care if you are playing the '85 Bears, the '00 Ravens, the Steel Curtain, or the Purple People Eaters, an offense has to at least put up a fight. The last two weeks have looked like Miley Cyrus stepping into the ring with Mike Tyson...embarrassing.

So, I implore Josh McDaniels and Kyle Orton (believe me, they read this blog every day) to at least try and open up the passing game. This will stretch the field, (if successful) giving the Broncos running backs at least a shot to gain some ground and maybe control the clock. Brandon Marshall, who in my opinion is the #2 wide out in football behind Houston's Andre Johnson, has the ability to beat any corner in the league. He is 6'5", has great hands as well as an uncanny ability to run after the catch. Tony Scheffler, Eddie Royal, and Brandon Stokely aren't necessarily scrubs by any stretch of the imagination either. With all of this offensive firepower, why not try and chuck the ball a bit? If it comes down to the fact that Kyle Orton simply cannot make those throws, then maybe coach McDaniels should consider a different quarterback. Don't get me wrong, I love old neck-beard, but just being serviceable and efficient isn't going to get it done in this league. Don't bring up Trent Dilfer either, because I really don't think that this Bronco defense measures up to the Ravens defense that, along with Matt Stover, won a super Bowl 9 years ago. From the looks of that defense, I swear that they were the only defense in history that was allowed to field 14 players. Not a piece of green was uncovered. Okay, enough praise for the defense that featured the worlds second most famous, accused, then acquitted, murdering linebacker.

This Sunday, it's the lowly Redskins. Not to be overlooked, even though they do have a cardboard cut-out wearing a headset for a head coach. The Skins have a very solid defense themselves, but like the Broncos, are offensively anemic. The fact that they are without Clinton Portis and Chris Cooley certainly doesn't help. So what to do in this game? First, blitz Jason Campbell all day long. The Skins O-line is suffering badly. Newly acquired Levi Jones will be starting at left tackle.(Elvis Dumerville should be licking his chops) Cambpell wont be able to complete any passes from his hind-parts. Second, at least try and stretch the field a bit. The Redskins strength is pass defense, but I like Denver's chances. Their O-line should be able to contain Albert(so what if I only play six games a season, I make 100 million dollars) Haynesworth, as well as Brian Orakpo, and the rest of the Skins pass rush.

I'm not one for predictions, but I think that the Broncos win this one in a barn burner. Broncos 10, Redskins 7. Both touchdowns very well could be defensive scores, but I figure the Broncos offense can at least muster one field goal. They will be in position for two, but Matt Prater, true to form, misses a 35 yarder.

THROW THE BALL DOWN THE FIELD KYLE!!!!

P.S.

If anyone is going to the game, look for the guy in the alternate orange Brandon Marshall jersey singing "Rocky Mountain Way" in the parking lot. Go Broncos!

Must Be Nice

It's about time! The New York Yankees have finally won another World Series. All of you poor Yankees fans who have stuck by your beloved Yankees throughout this decade-long period of Gotham City mediocrity, finally have your championship. It must be really difficult to be a Yankees fan though. I mean they have only won 27 World Championships, and it seems every season that they don't win the Series they are at least in the playoffs. Oops, sorry, they didn't make it last year. Pain, suffering...

It is a sad day in Baseball my friends. When I was growing up, I remember watching baseball, and loving it for it's purity, for it's excitement, for the hope that no matter what, any team has a shot. Now, things are quite different. It doesn't matter who has the best farm system, or who is better coached or managed. All that matters is who has the fattest wallet. The New York Yankees payroll this season was a ridiculous 208 million dollars. That number is 63 million dollars higher than the next highest team's payroll, which happens to be the other New York team...what are they called again? Oh, yeah, The Mets. Isn't is weird that you never meet any Mets fans, but the world is polluted with Yankees fans? Even the people I meet that are actually from the Tri-State area always love the Yankess...hey, fugettaboutit! And go ahead tell me that there is competitive balance, and that "hey, look at the Rays..." Blah, Blah, Blah. There is always a possibility of a fluke, but nine times out of ten, it's the same eight teams in the playoffs, and honestly, I'm getting tired of it.

.

The Pittsburgh Pirates, a once proud and competitive franchise started this season with a payroll of nearly 49 million dollars, placing them third lowest in the league, just in front of Florida and San Diego. If you break that number down on a per season basis, Alex Rodriguez "earns" 8 million dollars more per season than the entire Pirates ball club...hey, fugettaboutit!! Big Markets earn more money, enabling them to spend more money. Small markets make far less money, allowing them to spend NO money. If you think that there is a competitive balance, call me when Pittsburgh and Kansas City meet in the World Series after a tough playoff run that didn't include them pulling off gigantic upsets over the likes of the Yankees, Red Sox, Angels, Dodgers, Mets, or Phillies.

I may sound like a bitter fan, and as a proud Baltimore Orioles fan, I might be. But first, and foremost I am a baseball fan. The game that I grew up loving is slowly dying, losing fans by the second. The only way to fix this is to install some sort of ceiling on every teams spending ability. This will create an environment in which ANY team truly has a shot. We will see fans return to their seats, more revenue for the game as a whole, and this once great game return to its rightful place as our national pastime. But until that happens....HEEYYY, FUGGETTABOUTIT!!!!