wayward gets Off the fence ... again

Wayward O is backing manager.

This losing streak collapse is because Baltimore is not real Baseball Team capable of playing full season.

It is not because Mr. Dave Trembley is bad manager.

Give Trembley a right-handed power bat*, bring back Aubrey Huff to hit in the six-hole (and spell Little Aubrey) and bring in a starter to complement Jeremy Guthrie and young kids and Team will be OK.

Want to get rid of some people? Get rid of Luke Scott and Melvin Mora (maybe) and ship Jeff Fiorentino to Alaska Winter League.

That is all.

* Wayward O does not know who this would be

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!!!