alright, whO's hair is in the drain?

Wayward O thinks somebody better go out and get a shitload of DranO!


Image via MASN

Tee hee hee ... either somebody pulled practical joke for ages or there's too many sunflower seeds in drain!

jOhn lackey wants cash! Team has cash!!

John Lackey is not what El Oriole de Wayward would call one of MLB's super-elites. But he is good. He is steady. And he has shown flashes of brilliance for Angels in post-season play.

And now, if fans want to accept conventional wisdom, Angels' acquisition of Scott Kazmir means Lackey is gone.

What did Angels give up, exactly? Alex Torres, a 22-year-old left hander with a 10-3 and a sub-3 ERA in A-ball (who is listed at a Lincecum-like 160 pounds...) and Matt Sweeney, a 21-year-old teammate of Torres' at Rancho Cucamonga who appears to be a potential hitter.

On Blogo-tubes, hip folks already are saying things like "Matt Sweeney is real gem of trade" but who knows with guys so young? They clearly both are talents however. And there is a player to be named, as well.

In any event, if you are fan of Team, you have to ask yourself ... when is Team going to get into mix and start trying to win? And you have to ask yourself ... isn't it odd how Scott Kazmir cleared waiver wire so easily? He does have a 5-plus ERA this year but nevertheless.

Conspiracy theories aside, let's let Los Angeles Times' fine writer, Bill Shaikin, further explain what Kazmir trade means for Lackey:

The Angels all but bid farewell to John Lackey on Friday.

Thanks, Bill. Oh, say, Bill ... why wouldn't the Angels make a play for Lackey anyway?

Because for money Lackey wants, Angels can re-up with Chone Figgins and Bob Abreu.

For his part, Lackey has not been coy. He told Bill:

"There's plenty of money here, if they want to spend it."

Well there is plenty of money in Baltimore too. Lackey is 99-70 for career, has consistently pitched a ton of innings and won Game 7 for the Angels in 2002 when they were Champs.

He is guy Team should target immediately if not sooner for addition to Team!!

Conclusion: In weak Free-Agent year, Adrian Gonzalez, Brandon Webb and Lackey should be off-season targets for Team.


And just so readers don't think Wayward O is turning into serious (read: boring) blog, here is picture of Robert Andino either counting outs or rocking out in CENTER FIELD last night during Team's rollicking romp over Dimwitted Indians:


Image via MASN
Incidentally, had Kam Mickolio given up 10-spot in the ninth (stranger things have certainly happened) he could have batted leadoff, as Team lost DH when Brian Roberts came out of game. You could look it up...

the brandOn file

So, yeah, Adrian Gonzalez. (See below) And who else? What starters should Team target in free agent or soon-to-be free agent market?

Brandon Webb and his 3.27 lifetime ERA? Webb underwent season-ending surgery earlier this month. Doc who did operation predicted full recovery and surgery was described by Diamondbacks as "cleanup" as opposed to "repair" or "reconstruction."

Arizona can bring back Webb for $8.5 million or let him go for $2 million and let him test free agency.

If Webb comes back strong and puts up numbers in 2010 in Arizona -- number that indicate full recovery -- it's likely Team won't be able to win inevitable bidding war that will break out for his services in 2011.

Conversely, if Diamondbacks DON'T extend him, as one astute commenter pointed out on Camden Chat last night, it could amount to scare for rest of MLB.

Therefore, if Team wants to "gamble" on Webb, Wayward O thinks Team must act during this offseason, assuming 'Zona picks up extension, and try to trade for him while stock is low.

Even if 'Zona dumps him, Window of Opportunity for Team is THIS WINTER.

In fact if Zona lets him go it's almost more enticing as only thing Team would have to lose is money, which Team has LOTS OF, as opposed to prospects in trade.

Upside would be off-price acquisition of healthy anchor for Team's young, promising Rote. Worst-case would be another injured, ineffective veteran hurler and (potential) loss of prospect(s).

It all amounts to semi high-stakes poker and doesn't really seem like Agent Andy's style ... but, as they say in Vegas, you gotta play to win.

Wayward O is on fence on this one. It really would depend on whether 'Zona would consider some kind of trade and who they might be eyeing in return.

That'll do for now ... but Wayward O isn't done scouring wires to see who else is out there to help Young Nucleus become Competitive.

Because losing gets boring after ten years or so.

sO ... which guys?

OK so Wayward O has calmed down a little bit after Aubrey Huff trade (still doesn't like it) and sees how many folks in diaspOra are talking about who Team might try to bring on in off-season to get better.

There are, of course, lists of free agents, soon-to-be free agents and arbitration-eligible players all over the Internet. And when ones looks over what is out there, one does realize that the 2010 Free Agent Class isn't the strongest in history...

And, perhaps ironically given last post, Wayward O has largely agreed with every significant strategic move Team has made* since Andy MacPhail era began, and didn't even fault Team for failing to outbid Traveling All-Stars for Mark Teixeira (although it should be clear to any watcher that Tex has sparked Pinstripes this year, driving them toward current position atop baseball's standings.)

And, yes, Team is still on Young Side and our young guys will keep getting better.

That notwithstanding ... who could we bring in to spark competitive fire? In previous post Wayward O called for Team to sign a 1B, a starting pitcher and a closer. As for possible closers, market really is so weak that it may make sense for Team to find one internally among stable of live arms. But, with respect to 1B (or corner outfielder infielder ** if you will), if Team doesn't bring back Huff, Wayward O's eye keeps stopping at ....

Adrian Gonzalez
Who is set to earn $4.75 mil in 2010 and $5+ million in 2011 and hits home runs by the dozen in what's known as a pitcher-friendly ballpark in San Diego.

Double those dollars and you are in right range. Whatever, Team certainly has plenty of loot lying around.

Team could pull off a "trade, sign and extend" type deal for Adrian and lock him up. He would be a primo power threat in middle of lineup. Adrian also plays good D, winning a Gold Glove in 2008 with six errors in 1,442 chances.

So Wayward O is officially on board for Adrian sweepstakes! It's hard to know what exactly to give up but because Adrian's batting average has proved to be a bit mediocre -- in other words he's a pure power guy -- maybe either one high-level prospect or a package of Major League ready guys ... say Guthrie, Scott and Ray.

Those three guys really are just a thought. Just enough talent and enough experience and perhaps Team could sell Guts and Ray as guys who could use a change of scene after some ups and downs and Scott as a serviceable replacement for Adrian.

Probably Padres would hold out for a real top-level prospect like a Jake Arrieta or an Arrieta / Brandon Snyder package. But hype is hype and numbers are numbers. And Adrian is putting up NUMBERS.

Next post Wayward O will settle on a pitcher that Team should target.

* with possible exception of certain signings of guys like Adam Eaton who were supposed to eat innings, but who cares really? That's marginal stuff...

** TYPOS!!!

there is nO respite

Wayward O was reading Dempsey's Army and other blogz a couple days ago to catch up on Team news after relaxing vacation and he was struck by this thoughtful post in which Heath writes:

[I]f you are writing a blog strictly about the Baltimore Orioles, there is no respite. You suck it up, keep writing about the losing or fade away.

So very true. This is a losing organization and yesterday Team -- again -- dumped last real shred of proven, non-organizational agent talent by trading the very productive, often inspiring and always entertaining Aubrey Huff to Detroit for some guy Wayward O guarantees you no Oriole fan ever heard of.

Reading the defenses of this ill-conceived trade made Wayward O wonder whether, perhaps, certain fans simply don't know the difference between a re-build and an endless churn.

So here's what Wayward O has to say about MacPhail and the rest of the people who own and run this Team, which apparently can't get enough of losing: Your home-grown talent, so much hyped over last two or three years, is, at this point, LARGELY ON FIELD.

And BOY DO THEY NEED REINFORCEMENTS.

What's missing? FREE AGENTS. QUALITY, EXPENSIVE STAR PLAYERS. So get out there and sign some. Sign a top-flight pitcher, re-sign Aubrey -- or a comparable talent -- and sign a closer. Give Nick Markakis, Adam Jones, Brian Roberts and the rest a chance to win.

Otherwise this high tide of losing, which has lasted twelve years, will just get worse and more boring, and we'll see more bloggers turning out lights and, if you can imagine it, more empty seats.

Wayward O doesn't want to hear anymore DITHERING about THREE YEAR PLANS or ORGANIZATIONAL PHILOSOPHY or whatever tripe front office has cooked up.

It's time to field a winner or get out and let somebody else do the job.

To sum up my feelings (in capital letters):

SIGN SOME GUYS WHO CAN PLAY WIN SOME BALLGAMES
STOP GIVING UP EVERY AUGUST
OR GTFONO MORE EXCUSES
The home grown talent is here. Where are the guys who can put us over the top?

adieu, manhOrse

so long, aub.


you will be missed.

sOrry we pwned u guys

Last night ruled! Blog will blog about that in second but first Wayward O is proud to say that he has a very fancy sponsor for next few weeks or so and everyone should visit MASN's excellent Web Page where, among other thing, Roch Kubatko and Amber Theopolis ply their trade with informative reports and insighful comments!

And where fancy Hollywood Catcher Richard Q. Dempsey says Team is on right track!

But, back to last night .... see? Give Felix Pie room and he can fly around bases. Pie joins Mr. Aubrey Huff in recent hit-for-cycle in semi-meaningless game against Los Angeles Greater Area Angels of Topanga Dept.

Back in June blog chided wild young cheetah for performing six-clap maneuvre in close play at third. It was, as noted, a MAXIMUM two-clap situation. Probably one clap.

But Felix does not read blog!!! Just like Gary and Buck!!! So he got (maybe a tiny little bit) too excited last night and drew ire of Tubby McFirecracker aka Angels' manager. By the way, it was smart of Angels Manager to leave Weaver out there into mid-game despite giving up 6-spot in first. It's a long road trip. Might as well let him eat some of game.

Team's pitchers tend to get pulled once they give up six ... but of course they are mostly young guys.

So anyway Pie was very gracious to say he was sorry, saying:

I showed too much emotion on the field. I apologize to Mike Scioscia and the players on the other team. It's part of the game, emotion, but I showed too much.

Especially since, really, display at third was hardly over top. In doing so Pie may have helped Team avoid brawl with Angels tonite. Very nice Win for Mr. Chris Tillman too. And Pie and Weet both made nifty defense plays too ... Weet threw out Fancy Chone Figgins in first and Pie made nice diving catch in third.

1 dOwn, 9 left

Team's 10-game winning streak began last night with VERITABLE TYPHOON OF MELMOSITY.


Don't try this at home
Good thing REIMOLD was GOOD LOOKING OUT and run home while Melv. was backpedaling toward visitors' dugout after

SUPERPALOOKA BATNUB RBI
For stat freaks in bloggussfer Memlo is LEAGUE LEADER in SuBaNuRBs!!

If what we hear is true then, fans it is incumbent upon you enjoy LATTER DAYS of Mora and Huffy-bear.

Also thank you David Hernandez for pitching baseball nicely!!

the new wOrld

Wayward O came home to U.S. American homeland, last evening, narrowly dodging midair crash. Two weeks in fjords and Sweden and Amsterdam is more than enough to get nice and relaxed. But many Eurokidz in Holland sport the Yankee hats and that was sort of annoying. But not really. After all they think it means "New York" when everybody else knows it means, "Big-Butted, Overpaid, Traveling All-Stars."

Also did you know Eric the Red had trouble with hitting change-up? That's why his son went to New World and Eric stayed in Greenland where it's all about fastball. Wayward O learned that at the Nutisk Hustomskische Flamskmuseum in Uppsala where also some guy named Linnaeus was first man to rub pine tar on boat oars.

Also did you know that cows in Sweden live in forest? That is no lie. Ask anybody. That's why Swedes eat mostly fish. Did you ever try to find a cow hiding in stand of 500-year-old oaks guarded by trolls? That's. What. Wayward O. Thought.

Apparently there was some baseball news over last two weeks, some involving other teams and some involving Team. Here is what Wayward O has managed to cobble together based on what little he has heard:

• David Ortiz is cheater and Red Sox have joined Chemical Bankees in tainted champ dept.
• His "Brady" year behind him, Josh Hamilton is reverting to form, sadly
• The Mets and Royals have collapsed and the Brewers aren't far behind
• Erik Bedard hurt himself or something and can't pitch
• If the Giants sneak in, watch out!
• There are now two guys in MLB named Jhonny
• The Nats are good or something
• Memlo had a Memlostic Meltdown
• FlatBrim got traded to Dodgers for some guys who can play
• Team has kids pitching and many fans are complaining about manager

Guess that's about it. Looking forward to watching Mastusz today! Oh and not too late to submit pithy caption entry (see below...)