Author Archives: Domenic Vadala

Welcome to Birdland Crush! Yes folks, for the record it's a spin off of the popular summer beverage native to the Mid-Atlantic Region - "orange crush." Nevertheless, I've been covering Orioles' baseball since 2009 in some capacity, and it's basically the greatest gig of all time so far as I'm concerned! But for those who aren't familiar with my work or bio, I'm familiar with pretty much every sport out there. But baseball is king - we all know that. So my hope is that you come back and check in after every Orioles' game, and throughout the off-season. I'm always on duty!

Baltimore Orioles: No news is good news

No news can sometimes be good news if you’re the Baltimore Orioles. And let me preface this by saying that you should take that comment literally. I mean…there really is no news about the Orioles right now. Makes my job a lot tougher!

Many fans are still trying to wrap their heads around the Mark Trumbo sweepstakes, and the fact is that he’s still out there on the open market. However that’s part of my point in saying the no news bit – nobody else is doing anything either.

Fans complain that the team isn’t doing anything, and that’s something that I do understand. However right now teams are just trying to jockey their offers and so forth. Would it really pay for the Orioles to make a big splash right now when everyone else is just intent on cruising into the holiday season?

Yes, you might argue that with nobody else doing anything they could go under the radar – for Trumbo or anyone else. However if they wait until after the first of the year, I suspect the price might go down. That’s a strategic mark post of the off season. So if anything making a move now would cost them.

So yes, no news is good news for the Orioles. With regard to other teams signing people, that is. Everyone else seems okay with heading into the holidays and standing pat. The Orioles should as well.

Baltimore Orioles: Are more risks necessary to be taken?

The Baltimore Orioles don’t take risks when it coes to player personnel for the most part. And heres the thing; I respect that about them. These days it seems that playing it safe just for the sake of playing it safe is considered to be bad. People seem to want you to be out there taking risks and putting it all on the line.

And that’s all fine and dandy – so long as it works out. If it doesn’t work out, you’re really up a creek without a paddle. And in case you haven’t noticed, the general public isn’t exactly the most forgiving type when it comes to things that don’t work out.

Basically fans are clammoring for the Orioles to take a risk such as getting a top-of-the-line starter for big money. And in theory that sounds great; why wouldn’t they want to do that? Well, because it’s a risk.

When you look at the likes of Jimenez and Gallardo, those two signings didn’t exactly work out how the Orioles wanted them to. Now they’d be the first to tell you that they’re a far cry from the likes of a top line starter, however you get the point. When you commit that kind of money to a guy and it doesn’t work out, you tend to not want to go down that road again.

Again, I agree with this to an extent. It’s very easy to say this when it’s not your money and you aren’t the one putting your neck out on the line. And it’s not just signing players in and of itself; the Orioles don’t take risks on injuries among other things. Their critiques of physicals is well-known. However they’ve also tended to be right.

But by not taking risks, are the Orioles in a sense running a huge risk? There is such a concept as playing not to lose. In this case, they’re playing not to lose with regard to the off season and with money. They don’t want a player to turn into dead money if he doesn’t work out. But in spending on role players and watching superstars go elsewhere, are the O’s actually running a higher risk?

That might be a bit overly harsh, because the O’s have their share of superstars. But they’re unwilling to committ big money long-term to get a top line pitcher. But does that leave them at a disadvantage? While they’re winning financially, does that lack of willingness to take a risk hurt them on the field?

Tough to say. Again, you only get praised for taking a risk if it works out in your favor. Otherwise it’s a stupid move. Look at Gallardo and Jimenez; those signings were widely praised by writers like me across the local and national media. Howeve suddenly because the players struggled they don’t look so great. Nevermind the fact that they didn’t cost the Orioles too much, but fans are angry that those players are on the roster.

Heck, there are people out there who say that re-signing Davis was a bad move at this point. Mainly because he strikes out so much, however we all know what happens when he gets in contact with a ball. At the end of the day, it’s a catch-22 either way. Which is why the Orioles are probably smart just protecting what they’ve got for the time being.

Baltimore Orioles pull Mark Trumbo offeer off the table

According to multiple sources, the Baltimore Orioles have pulled their now former offer to free agent slugger Mark Trumbo off the table. So officially, the Birds are now out of the Trumbo sweepstakes. However this doesn’t mean that the negotiating is over; often this type of move is simply a negotiating tactic. At least that’s how it was with Chris Davis last year.

Right around this time in fact, the Birds pulled their offer to Davis. He ended up signing anywys, in February. Colorado appears to be another team that has heavy interest in Trumbo, although it’s believed that the O’s had the best offer on the table.

I’ll be honest, I’m a bit surprised that Trumbo’s still out there. I would have thought for sure that some team would have already snatched him up. Towards the end of the regular season I thought it was going to be Boston. With Ortiz retiring I figured they were going to need a DH – and Trumbo would have slid into their lineup almost perfectly.

But if Boston’s kicked the tires on Trumbo at all, it’s been kept under wraps. However I just figured that someone would have snatched him up by now. At what point does the price start to go down a bit?

Again, it’s believed that the Orioles’ offer was the best one on the table up to that point. Obviously Trumbo and his agent feel that if they wait long enough someone (possibly the Orioles) will give them a better offer. It’s almost like a game of chicken in a way.

The Orioles were always going to make an offer on Trumbo, but with him still on the market they started to believe they could get him. So naturally they don’t want to wake up one morning and find out that he signed elsewhere. But obviously a lot of other teams are wary of his age and the potential for reduced production as well. Tie will tell.

I’ll be surprised if Trumbo has to wait until February to find a team like Davis did. I’m still shocked that Davis had to wait that long. But then again, I also thought Trumbo would have signed somewhere by this point. So you never know. Will the Orioles make a new offer at some point? I suspect they will. Does that mean Trumbo will return to Baltimore? That’s still very much up in the air.

Baltimore Orioles: The march to spring training

Let’s keep this short today. The Baltimore Orioles may already be planning for spring training. It’s coming, folks – deal with it!

The Orioles will report to Sarasota approximately two weeks after the Super Bowl. Grapefruit League play will begin approximately two weeks after that. As I said, it’s coming, and the clock is ticking. Have a nice day, folks – big games in the NFL today!

Baltimore Orioles: Are fans themselves unreasonable about Jose Bautista?

A lot has been made about the fact that Jose Bautista is a free agent, and the Baltimore Orioles are looking for an OF/DH. In that sense he would be a perfect fit. However as we know, Dan Duquette allegedly told Bautista’s agent that “Orioles fans don’t like him.”

I still say that while that’s certainly the truth, it’s more code for he’s unpopular in our clubhouse and wouldn’t be well-received than anything else. And that I think that does make a difference. Bautista has antagonized the Orioles for years, and the fact is that you don’t want to pour gasoline on something that’s already simmering.

But while I don’t buy the fact that the fans were the overall reason, the fact is that Duquette was right. In fact, I think that it would be a tougher sell to the fans than it would the players. While he’s seen as a villain in the Orioles’ clubhouse, players also understand that in today’s game guys change teams. The guy you were fighting last year might be your teammate this year. And the fact is that friend or foe, players are a fraternity – no matter how you spin it.

However here’s a question; are fans not potentially doing a disservice in some aspect by “hating” players – even opposing players? Again, guys change teams all the time. It’s part of the game, and part of the contemporary business of sports. But with that narrative out there, might guys think twice about signing with the Orioles in some manner?

It’s entirely possible that free agent players might think twice about signing with the Orioles in the sense that their fans must be tough on them. Now anyone who’s ever played here knows that not to be true – Orioles fans have a reputation for being very passionate but also very respectful. Which is why a guy like Bautista finds it so easy to draw their ire – he himself shows very little respect.

But we’re talking about outsiders in a sense; people (players) who aren’t familiar with the team. It’s an interesting point. In this particular case, I’m not sure if that would be such an issue. Bautista’s reputation as a trouble-maker is well known across the league. So many folks probably know the fans here don’t like him, and with good reason at that. But it’s something to consider moving foward, as free agency gives guys a chance to look at every aspect of the organization – including how he’ll be received by fans.

Baltimore Orioles: Who’s next in the dugout?

Buck Showalter‘s contract with the Baltimore Orioles expires after the 2018 season. So if you’re not a Showalter fan, sorry but you’re stuck with him for the next few seasons. However I suspect that those who fall into that category are few and far between.

It’s unclear right now whether or not Showalter intends to stay for the duration of his contract. Nobody would really blame a guy in his sixties for retiring at his leisure. My Dad’s a few years older than Buck, and I know that topic is starting to cross his mind. However the point is that the Orioles probably want to consider a short list of names to replace him – at some point.

Showalter’s only been in Baltimore since August of 2010, however he’s almost a legacy manager at this point. The organization hasn’t seen this much winning since the heyday of the Earl of Baltimore. When the time comes, he’ll be fondly remembered for sure.

So who would potentially be on that short list? If nothing else, it’s an interesting conversation piece. Here’s one piece of advice I’ll give to the Birds: stay away from promoting an assistant. I’ve seen it happen too many times where a coach leaves and his loyal lieutenant gets the job – only to have little to no success. Mike Davis was Bobby Knight’s assistant coach at Indiana, and he got the top job when the General was fired. While he went to the Final Four, they didn’t have much success after that.

When a coach of Showalter’s capacity leaves, perhaps there is a movement for continuity in a sense. However what you really need is someone of equal strength, or who could be of equal strength. So…does that mean going after a guy who’s managed before?

Preferably, but not necessarily. Ideally you want a coach to stay for some time and thus have a lot of success. So maybe it’s better to find the next up and coming guy who’s hungry as opposed to a recycled manager that’s looking for a job. Maybe, as I said.

For all we know, Showalter might be amenable to an extension after 2018. However as I said, it’s something that the organization has to consider. Because that time will be here before we know it. Incidentally, Dan Duquette’s contract is up at the same time as Showalter’s. So post-2018, we could be looking at wholesale changes in Baltimore.

Baltimore Orioles sign free agent catcher Wellington Castillo

If you had the Baltimore Orioles signing free agent catcher Wellington Castillo, you won! The O’s have unofficially signed Castillo to a one-year deal worth $6 million for 2017. It includes a $7 million player option for 2018 if Castillo decides to stick around. So all-in-all, the contract is worth $13 million (if he chooses to play for the Orioles for two seasons).

This all but gaurantees that Matt Wieters will not be back. Did Wieters and his agent over-estimate his worth? Tough to say. But all we know is that Castillo is coming to town.

Castillo hit .264 last year with Arizona with 14 home runs. He also got on base at a .322 clip. His fielding percentage behind the plate was also .992, which was a slight touch higher than that of Wieters.

Castillo is only 29 years old, so he has experience and is younger than Matt Wieters. Still however, it’s going to be strange for Orioles fans seeing someone else behind the plate not wearing number 32. Well, for all we know Castillo will be issued that number – but work with me, folks!

It’ll be interesting to see if he’s the true starting catcher, and/or how much play time Caleb Joseph sees. I personally still think that Joseph should be the starter given his time in the organization and what he means to the club. However you don’t sign Castillo to be a backup. He’ll almost surely start come Opening Day. Oh and incidentally, the deal of course is pending a physical. (Had to throw that in!)

Baltimore Orioles: Should Zach Britton be on the trading block?

Since the beginning of the winter meetings last week, many Baltimore Orioles fans have been talking about the possibility of the team trading closer Zach Britton. Unequicovally, I think that would be a mistake on several fronts. But that’s just my view.

The idea of course is that the Orioles won’t be able to re-sign Britton when his contract is up in 2019. So if they traded him now, they’d get a king’s ransom in return since his value is higher than it ever would be. And there’s no arguing that, because the guy’s coming of of a year when he saved 47 straight games.

However the Orioles are often told that they over-value their players. I actually think it’s the opposite, and other teams are under-valuing the Orioles’ players. Or pretending to at least in hopes of getting them cheap. However the thing with Britton is that as gifted as a closer as he is, he only pitches one inning a game. So what exactly could the Orioles hope to get in return?

Aside from what they could get, I still think it would be a mistake. And in fact, it doesn’t appear that Britton is for sale. When you have a closer of his caliber, you don’t trade him. There’s no question that he won’t come cheap in 2019 – that goes without saying. However you’re all but admitting defeat before you even get started if you do that.

Furthermore, the Orioles hoped for years and years that they could “be good.” Now they’re good, and fans seem to want them to trade their pieces away. Again, I understand the sentiment, and I recognize that those who feel this way think that the Orioles would be improving for the future if they did it. That goes without saying, and yes you perpetually need to ensure the security of your future in this business.

However at some point you also have to realize when you “are good.” That’s where the Orioles are right now. If you start trading pieces looking towards the future, one of two things will happen. Either those prospects won’t pan out, or they will. And if they do, in five or six years you might find yourself back in this spot. So…in essence you simply defered your shot at a World Series.

What the O’s need to do is go for it now – while Britton and company are still under contract. Let’s go back to the idea of getting prospects in return; what if they don’t pan out? That’s the risk in all trades – and if that happens, well…you’re up a creek without a paddle.

Baltimore Orioles: Go after Edwin Encarnacion?

Edwin Encarnacion ended the Baltimore Orioles’ season in 2016. His walk off home run in the 1th inning of the AL Wild Card game won it for Toronto, bouncing the Birds unceremoniously from the playoffs. But how would Orioles fans feel about Encarnacion possibly doing that for their team?

Encarnacion is a free agent, and the Orioles appear to have some muted interest. Since 2012 his home run totals have been in the mid-30’s to low-40’s, and last year he had an OBP of .357. Yes, however he’s been considered a villain for the past few years with Toronto.

First off, do the Orioles pay a little too much attention to that type of thing? I mean, if a player is the right fit, should it really matter that he’s been playing for a team who’s fought with the Orioles tooth and nail (sometimes literally) over the years? In a cae like Bautista I think that does make a difference. Bautista’s gone out of his way to antagonize the BIrds. Encarnacion in my view has not. On that front I think they could make it work.

There are two things that might hold the Orioles back in this case. First off, he’ll be 34 years old when next season begins. So for starters he would probably need to take a shorter contract if he comes here. However he’s also a corner infielder by trade. He would be the Orioles’ primary DH if he signed, however I suspect they’d prefer someone who also had the ability to play the outfield.

Notice I said above that the Orioles had muted interest. My prediction is that he doesn’t come to Baltimore. I think the Orioles would be better off sticking with Trumbo as opposed to going outside the organization and getting someone else. Mind you, that’s not a sure thing either, however you know much more what you are getting.

Baltimore Orioles: Too much undue pressure on Dan Duquette?

Late last week Baltimore Orioles’ Executuve Vice-President of Baseball Operations Dan Duquette said that he’s tired of being picked in last place each year. Now on one hand, some people would say that in order for that to cease he needs to find a way to make a bigger splash to improve the team. But there are two sides to every story. On the other hand…

…the Orioles have won more games in the regular season since and including 2012 than any other franchise. One way or the other, they’ve found a way to get things done. People might also point out that they haven’t won a title in that span, which is true. But even in the two years they missed the post-season, they were competitive. The O’s haven’t had a losing record since 2011.

Ironically, the national media seemingly has a love affair with one of the Orioles’ division rivals: the Tampa Rays. Admittedly, they’ve also just found a way to get things done – for the most part, that is. However seemingly no matter how many players they lost or how many injuries they had, people would pick them to be in the mix. Just this past season, they were a popular pick to win the AL East. And as we know, they weren’t even close.

I suppose what Duquette’s saying is that this franchise never seems to get the benefit of the doubt. Other teams seemingly do, for whatever reason. While we know this isn’t going to happen, if the 2017 Orioles to a man were exactly the same as the 2016 bunch, would they be horrible? Probably not – odds are they’d be competitive, just as they were last season.

The knock on the O’s is that they don’t have the horses in pitching, which is a glaring weakness. Many people also point to their strikeout totals. However any power-slugging club is going to have strings where they strike out a lot. That’s just part of the deal.

Incidentally, the way you win games in the AL East is by clobbering your opponent. While I also do believe in having guys who simply get on base here and there, AL East games traditionally are 10-7 affairs. So that’s how the Orioles need to build their team, because before anything else they need to focus on the division. If they can adcance past that point, they can start worrying about how to beat teams who focus more on OBP.