Baltimore Orioles: What if things go south?

I suppose that due to the Thanksgiving holiday this past week the Baltimore Orioles’ hiring of Mike Elias feels like it was ages ago. We should keep in mind that Elias was only formally introduced one week ago tomorrow! One week should have been enough time to hire a new manager and get the roster square (even with a holiday), right?!

Here’s s sobering question, however. What if the effort goes south? First off, that’s a bit of a misleading question. Because things will go south – for a period. I’m on record as stating that I believe that the Orioles will improve on their tally of 46 wins from 2018. (For reasons I’ll continue to discuss as time goes on.) However what if…they don’t stop “going south?”

The basic question is what if the rebuild fails? Some folks will argue that it failed after the great Oriole teams of the late 1990’s. However ask yourselves; did the roster really turn over. New players came and went, so by definition I suppose you could say it did. However the O’s never truly committed themselves to a full rebuild.

At that time, they tried to warm the roster over in a sense. And that was an effort that was ongoing until 2007 or so, when Andy MacPhail came to town and in essence committed to a smaller-scale rebuild. However they still in name never announced that they were rebuilding – until now.

The difference between what happened in 2007 and at the end of the 1990’s was that the “slight rebuild” actually worked. The results certainly weren’t immediate, however from 2012-2016 the O’s were one of the most dominant forces in the game. That was due to Andy MacPhail.

But what if what the organization is attempting now flat out doesn’t work? By that, I mean what happens if the team in essence fails to launch? Or…is that even possible?

Of course it’s possible. But that question also illustrates why it’s so important to have a good scouting department, strong minor league system, and a good plan for drafting players. (The Orioles will have the top pick in next June’s draft.) And if you take into account the organization from which Elias is coming, there’s nothing that would indicate that they won’t have a keen eye on those departments.

But again, what if despite the best efforts of the powers-that-be, somehow in five years this is still an organization flailing in the wind? Then where do the Angelos’ turn? For now at least, it beats the heck out of me.

Baltimore Orioles: Patience is a virtue

Baltimore Orioles fans appear to understand that a rebuild is a process. And no necessarily a short one at that. New General Manager Mike Elias is the man taxed with overseeing that process. This much we know.

Patience isn’t my strong point. I admit that, and quite frankly I see that as a good thing. In my view it means that I know what I want and I’m not willing to wait for it. But what I’m selling to Orioles fans is to do as I say, not as I do.

Most people understand that a rebuild is a processes. Furthermore the majority of folks understand that the O’s are in the very beginning of that process. However are people truly prepared for the truth of that reality?

From 2012 until 2016 the Oriole were one of the winningest franchises in baseball. Granted the end of 2017 and all of 2018 ended that, it’s a tough thing for fans to accept to go from that to basically being told that they’re going to be rooting for the worst team in the sport.

Again, folks say they understand that. However are they really prepared for how bad the team is going to be next year and in the immediate interim? One has to hope so.

I say this because we live in such a fast-paced world. If you aren’t winning, you’re nothing. Teams such as Boston and New York are going to be winning while the new-look Orioles are flailing in the wind. And once the next generation of stars becomes apparent, are people going to accept being told that the future is bright while division foes get fat off of the O’s?

My hope is that folks do in fact understand and accept that the franchise is going to struggle for awhile. My hope is that the fans continue to turn out to Camden Yards, because that sends a message to the young players that this is a place that they’re going to want to play. Because otherwise…it’ll be a long, cold winter.

Baltimore Orioles: Manny Machado is hurting his case

Former Baltimore Orioles’ third baseman/shortstop Manny Machado has decided to clarify some of the comments he made last month during the MLB playoffs (all quotes courtesy of ESPN):

When I was asked that question, I was definitely on the defensive, and I was wrong to answer it the way that I did, because looking back, it doesn’t come across how I meant it,” Machado told MLB.com, which published the interview Wednesday. “For me, I was trying to talk about how I’m not the guy who is eye wash. There’s a difference between fake hustle for show and being someone who tries hard to win. I’ve always been the guy who does whatever he can to win for his team.

Machado went on and furthered his commentary:

But I know how I said it and how that came across, and it’s something I take responsibility for. I look forward to talking with each GM and owner that we meet with about that, or any other questions they have.

These quotes of course refer to Machado admitting that he’s “not Johnny Hustle” during the playoffs last month. That was something that came up from time to time when he was with the Orioles. However it’s a topic that Machado himself brought up last month. And he’s now personally re-opened the discussion.

Here’s one thing that people across the board (Manny Machado or otherwise) don’t get; we have a 24-hour news cycle now. We look at that perhaps not necessarily as a bad thing, but certainly as a factor that’s usually negative. But people such as Manny Machado need to use it to their advantage.

He said something that was fairly stupid last month. But the fact is that regardless of how stupid of an act you commit or comment you make, just wait it out and someone else will screw up worse and suddenly they’re the topic at hand. In general I feel that it’s really a shame that we live in a society where people are literally held accountable for every gaffe or slip-up they make. I know I’ve had moments where I’ve felt bitter about having my feet held to the coals because of something I’ve said or written that felt minor but which blew up.

That’s unfortunately the society in which we live now. Again, I feel it’s unfortunate; and I say that because human beings are flawed. We make mistakes by nature. Sure if there’s a largesse pattern of verbal abuse or mishaps perhaps someone should think twice about what they’re doing. But people are going to make mistakes; society shouldn’t be waiting in the wings at all times to “hold them accountable.”

But again, Machado and others need to use that to their advantage. He didn’t make a mistake that offended a group or a person. He made a mistake which could cost him money – and certainly reputation. But by bringing it up again, he’s re-opening the wound. And again, we live in a society that’s waiting to pounce on people. The story of him admitting he didn’t hustle was old news. It was over and done.

Instead, now people are talkin about it again. And just in time for the winter meetings at that. When you say or do something that starts to snowball as such, ride it out – seriously. There’s no need to further clarify or to try to explain your point. Just ride it out, because at some point in the near future someone else will screw up worse. And then they’ll be in the spotlight.

Manny Machado potentially cost himself money by making that comment to begin with. But by re-opening the wound, he may have done so again. And as I said, the winter meetings aren’t far off.

Baltimore Orioles hire Sid Mejdal as Asst. General Manager

Mike Elias has made his first hire with the Baltimore Orioles. Yesterday he announced that he was bringing Sid Mejdal aboard as his Asst. General Manager. It’s a move that had been anticipated since news leaked of Elias’ hiring.

Mejdal will oversee all analytics efforts, and assist Elias in all baseball operations decisions. Like Elias, he comes to the Orioles from the Houston Astros’ organization, where he was the special assistant to the GM. He also worked for NASS for a period. A unique set of skills for sure.

That said, a very Happy Thanksgiving goes out to all Orioles fans across the country today. Enjoy your family, friends, foods, and all of the football games today!

Baltimore Orioles: What to do about Chris Davis?

Chris Davis (along with Mark Trumbo) finds himself in the strange position of being a holdover from the Baltimore Orioles’ former administration. This in the new era of Mike Elias. Davis, like him or hate him, will be one of the lone familiar faces to fans on the roster.

In his introductory remarks on Monday, GM Mike Elias said that he felt the Orioles would be best served by having a resurgent Chris Davis in the middle of the lineup. Most fans, along with myself, couldn’t agree more. However 2018 wouldn’t have been the disaster that it was had the Birds gotten that. Does Elias believe it’s possible for Davis to have a bounceback year?

Without going into detail we’ve already been over, Chris Davis had a historically bad season in 2018. So by the definition of the term, he should have a bounceback year next season. It would be hard to replicate or outdo the poor performance of 2018. However what would it take for that to happen?

The answer for now is that I really don’t know. Elias said that he wanted to be involved in Davis’ off season regiment of workouts which he’ll indubitably be doing as time goes on, but in reality the best Davis can do is to simply try to get better. That means seeing the ball better more than anything else. And that’s just something at which one has to consistently work.

With the rebuild the Orioles are attempting however, a powerful Davis will go along way. If he’s hitting under the Mendoza Line and constantly being scrutinized in the media, younger players might stay away from him. However if he’s pulling his weight at the plate, they will look to him, and see him a the leader that we all know he can be.

Point being, it’s not just production on the field. Davis (and Trumbo) are going to be called upon to show young players what it means to be an Oriole, and a major league player. Their performances on the field will go a long way towards easing that process.

Baltimore Orioles: Mike Elias introduced to local media

The Baltimore Orioles introduced Mike Elias as their new General Manager yesterday. As has been stated, Elias comes to Baltimore from the Houston Astros’ organization, where he was the Asst. General Manager. Elias will lay out the future course of the team as we move forward.

And as I said yesterday, it starts now. Elias’ first task will be to find a new manager for the Orioles, which one has to hope will happen soon. Elias told the media yesterday that John and Louis Angelos have given him full autonomy to make whatever decisions are necessary for the organization to build a winner (quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports):

We had a lot of very extensive conversations throughout this process and we sat down and we talked a ton of baseball and we all came into those conversations with very specific plans and ideas and visions in mind for what this should look like, how we should go about these things. And we were on exactly the same page with what the approach should be. For me, that is something that is necessary for them to want to hire me for this position, but also for me to want to jump on board.

Presumably, that includes the decision of who manages the club moving forward, However it should be reassuring to Orioles fans to hear that the owners are on the same page as the man they’re tasking with doing the job. As I said yesterday, this is a moment that will be remembered by fans in the future – whe the O’s are either sinking or swimming. And again, it starts…now.

Baltimore Orioles: It starts today

Mike Elias’ tenure as the Baltimore Orioles’ General Manager begins in earnest today. He’ll be introduced to the media and fans at a press conference at 11 AM today at Camden Yards. And that’s today’s news!

Whatever happens in the next five or so years will tie back to today. Sink or swim. This is a new beginning for this franchise, which is building from the ground up. So remember this moment. The future starts now.

Baltimore Orioles will have a rate equilibrium moving forward

Moving into 2019 the Baltimore Orioles are going to have a rare moment of balance in a sense between the field and the front office. Mike Elias as we know is the new GM. And assuming that the Angelos brothers are to be believed (and there’s no reason to think they shouldn’t be at this point), he’s going to have full autonomy in hiring a manager.

And that’s how franchises should work. The owner hires the manager, who in turn hires the coach/manager. But last time around that isn’t really how it worked. Andy MacPhail did hire Buck Showalter, who Dan Duquette then inherited. And going backwards from there, MacPhail inherited his manager, and so forth going back.

That isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Obviously Showalter had enough clout with ownership and his name spoke enough for itself to where Duquette had to know that Buck’s job was secure regardless of what he (Duquette) thought about him. But while there are situations where a new GM has inherited a manager and it’s worked out well, ideally a new GM is going to want his own guy running the team.

For the most part, that’s usually how it works. With a few exceptions most new coaches inherit bad teams. So lots of times the GM and head manager/coach in fact are coming in at the same time. That’s certainly the case with the Orioles. Whether or not things work out in the end is up to both parties, and of course the players.

Baltimore Orioles hire Mike Elias as their new GM

Not that it’s been any big mystery, but the Baltimore Orioles have formally hired Mike Elias as their new General Manager. Again, I’m not saying anything that hasn’t been out in the media for the better part of the second half of the week. Just covering my bases as a writer!

Elias of course comes to the Orioles from the Houston Astros’ organization, where he served as the Asst. General Manager. He’s 35 years old, and is a native of the region being from Northern Virginia. He’s been seen as an up-and-comer in the industry for some time. So now’s obviously his chance. He’s going to be the Orioles’ top guy.

The Orioles announced that Elias will have full autonomy to do what he needs to do in order to build a winner. The Orioles also said that he’ll be able to do what he needs to do to make the franchise relevant in the community. And I feel that’s a huge deal. The Orioles have long been imbedded in the Baltimore community and amongst their fans. It appears that isn’t going to change.

A press conference will be held to formally introduce Elias as the new General Manager on Monday at Camden Yards, at 11 AM EST.

Baltimore Orioles: Commissioner Rob Manfred extended

Baltimore Orioles’ ownership representatives John and Lou Angelos spent the week at the owners’ meetings. Obviously the big story is that they appear to have hired a new GM in Mike Elias. However the owners also voted to extend commissioner Rob Manfred for an additional five years in his current role.

This is noteworthy for the future of the game. And it’s something to which Orioles fans should pay attention perhaps more so than Elias’ hire. I can’t tell you that I’m against everything for which commissioner Manfred stands, because that’s inaccurate. But I do have serious questions regarding the direction of the game.

Preliminary indications seem to be that Manfred isn’t against radicle change in baseball. And there are a lot of radicle ideas out there, such as seven inning games, and starting extra innings with a runner in scoring position. The idea of ties has also been floated.

People seem to be very caught up in the pace-of-play, and Commissioner Manfred seems to get that. Speaking for myself, I might not be against implementing a pitch clock. At least more so than I would be seven inning games.

I suppose my point is that baseball is timeless. Sure it changes here and there – there are rule changes every year in every sport. But that doesn’t mean that changing part of the fabric of the game (such as nine innings) would be acceptable.

None of this is to say that any of that will happen. It’s just chatter. However it’ll be interesting to see what if anything Manfred decides to do with his newfound tenure.