Orioles: MacPhail Will Get it Right
January 17th, 2008
Andy MacPhail is more than just a smart baseball man. A former President/CEO of the Chicago Cubs and the architect of two World Series winning teams in Minnesota (1987, 1991), MacPhail is the embodiment of who you would want running your baseball team.
The son of a former President of the American League, the 54-year-old is currently embarking on his most challenging task yet. MacPhail, hired last June as the new Chief Operating Officer of the Baltimore Orioles, is responsible for turning around an Oriole-franchise that has been driven into the ground over the past several seasons. 
A formerly proud organization once considered the prototype of how sports franchises should operate; baseball in Baltimore has fallen on hard times. With 2007 marking Baltimore’s tenth consecutive losing season, it’s safe to say that the Birds don’t know much about B.B. King and Bobby Bland, as it’s been a while since the team has “Let the Good Times Roll.”
There just hasn’t been much for Orioles fans to cheer about in the last decade. Since the team was eliminated from the 1997 playoffs during the American League Championship Series, the Birds are a dismal 723-896.
The few times worth celebrating about in Charm City have long gone. It’s been twelve years since Cal Ripken Jr. broke Lou Gherig’s 56-year-old consecutive games played streak. Ripken, the most celebrated Oriole in history, retired five years ago.
Rafael Palmeiro, another of the most recognizable Birds in the last twenty-years, gave Baltimore its most plausible reason for excitement since Ripken’s retirement back in the summer of 2005, when he smacked his 3,000th hit to the outfield wall in Seattle. A month later he tested positive for steroids. He was released at season’s end, and he hasn’t played a game since.
In the last couple of months alone, two of the team’s current players have admitted to using banned substances. Outfielder Jay Gibbons will serve a 15-game suspension at the start of the 2008 campaign, and second-baseman Brian Roberts publicly confessed to using HGH back in 2003, before the substance was against Major League Baseball’s drug policy.
Midway through last month, the biggest name on Baltimore’s roster - former American League MVP Miguel Tejada - was traded to the Houston Astros. The deal was made just days before Tejada’s name appeared prominently in a report written by Senator Mitchell, documenting the rampant use of steroids in baseball.
The FBI is currently investigating Tejada, who they believe may have lied during steroid-based questioning back in the summer of 2005. But the four-time all-star is no longer Baltimore’s problem, as MacPhail was able to move him to the National League last month.
The trade returned five players to the Orioles, three prospects who have yet to play in the major leagues, and a major league starting-pitcher and outfielder, both of whom put up commendable numbers in Houston last season.
Tejada was the closest thing to a super-star the Orioles had, and while his name is currently at the center of the game’s biggest controversy, his presence in the middle of Baltimore’s lineup will he missed.
Tejada’s being dealt was largely considered to be the beginning of a MacPhail-mandated and orchestrated rebuilding process in Baltimore. Today, with pitchers and catchers scheduled to report to spring training in just 24 days, MacPhail is involved in ongoing trade discussions regarding both of the two all-star caliber players Baltimore still possesses.
Roberts, a 30-year-old second-baseman who tied for the American League in stolen bases last season, is drawing major interest from the Chicago Cubs. The Seattle Mariners would desperately like to add the services of Erik Bedard, a 28-year-old, left-hander and the ace of the O’s staff.
Both players are under contract with the Orioles for at least the next two seasons, but if I’m MacPhail, I trade them both. I think each is a great talent, and I don’t doubt for a second that they will both appear in all-star games in the next year or two, but Baltimore isn’t going to be a winning team for another two or three season at the earliest.
MacPhail knows that by sending the team’s top two veterans elsewhere, he can net a plethora of top-prospects, just like he did by shipping Tejada out last month. He’s too smart not to do the same thing with both Roberts and Bedard.
It goes without saying that the Orioles aren’t going to be any better off this coming season for having moved their best three players. But this isn’t about 2008. The Orioles need to rebuild, starting from the bottom, because that’s the only way to erase what has been a tumultuous decade.
Trading Roberts and Bedard would be a mammoth step in the right direction, and with MacPhail being way too smart not to know that, expect to see both moved in the coming couple of weeks.
July 25th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
levitra pill splitter
July 25th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
[url=http://news.insurancemax.de/wp-content/data/forum_38/topic_125_topamax_migraine_prophylaxis.html]cvs pharmacy in houston[/url]
December 12th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Unadulterated words, some truthful words dude. Thanx for makin my day.
February 2nd, 2010 at 1:39 pm
NZBsRus.com
Forget Sluggish Downloads With NZB Downloads You Can Easily Find Movies, PC Games, MP3 Singles, Software & Download Them @ Maxed Out Rates
Usenet Search
February 18th, 2010 at 4:37 am
Hola,
No estб seguro de que esto es verdad:), pero gracias a un cargo.
Garretot
March 6th, 2010 at 12:41 am
You could easily be making money online in the hush-hush world of blackhat seo forums, You are far from alone if you have no clue about blackhat marketing. Blackhat marketing uses little-known or not-so-known avenues to produce an income online.
March 14th, 2010 at 3:33 am
It isn’t hard at all to start making money online in the hush-hush world of blackhat seo forum, You are far from alone if you have no clue about blackhat marketing. Blackhat marketing uses not-so-popular or little-understood ways to generate an income online.
March 19th, 2010 at 1:45 am
http://www.betextremesoft.com
April 1st, 2010 at 11:57 pm
NZBsRus.com
Forget Slow Torrents Use NZB Downloads You Can Rapidly Find Movies, Games, MP3s, Software & Download Them at Maxed Out Rates
Usenet Newsgroup
April 3rd, 2010 at 7:36 pm
Hello All I am New, I have been browsing around this forum for about a few days as a guest. I found it useful and it has helped me allot. I hope to stay around for a while and give something back.
Thanks Allot.
April 4th, 2010 at 6:46 pm
I have received a small number of visitors on my site especially from the sites where I commented their blogs.
April 4th, 2010 at 7:19 pm
Sup im new on this board i hope i can help out & give something back here because i have learned allot myself.
Thanks
web design essex
April 13th, 2010 at 3:59 am
NZBsRus.com
Escape Crawling Downloads With NZB Files You Can Hastily Search High Quality Movies, Games, Music, Software and Download Them @ Dashing Speeds
Newsgroup
April 16th, 2010 at 3:00 pm
Hi im new to this board, I have been looking around for a while as a guest & thought i would pop in and introduce myself.
play watch episodes of family guy quick
April 23rd, 2010 at 9:47 pm
Hello
thanks for this tips viagra
June 16th, 2010 at 8:56 pm
money http://www.333eur.com/
July 12th, 2010 at 8:02 pm
Hi all
Another newbie here. I’ve joined on the recommendation of a friend on here. Looks like there are lots of interesting threads.
I love gardening and messing about with the camera so you should see me joining in with those for starters.
big respect , John from Personal Loans !
July 20th, 2010 at 3:49 pm
Sup everyone, snazzy site I have found It exceedingly accommodating & it has helped me so much
I hope to be able to contribute and support other people like this board has helped me
_________________
pwnage unlock
July 23rd, 2010 at 10:12 am
What’s Happening i am fresh here, I stumbled upon this message board I have found It exceedingly helpful & it has helped me loads. I hope to contribute & aid others like it has helped me.
Thanks, Catch You Around
July 25th, 2010 at 9:16 am
nhsdgfkjghjdgbfhjg, watch true blood online free, sdghsdk.
July 27th, 2010 at 11:14 pm
I have searched all over google for info on this topic, I finally found a good post, looking forward to coming back!
July 28th, 2010 at 12:40 pm
What’s Up every one, fab website I find It positively accommodating & it’s helped me so much
I hope to be able to give something back and assist other people like this chat board has helped me
_________________
buy dreambox 800
July 29th, 2010 at 5:08 pm
What’s Happening all, nifty chat board I have found It absolutely helpful and its helped me out loads
I hope to contribute and guide other people like this board has helped me
_________________
atlanta homes
July 29th, 2010 at 6:07 pm
Hi-ya everyone, fine chat board I find It incredibly useful and it’s helped me so much
I hope to give something back and assist others like this site has helped me
_________________
electronic cigarette review
July 29th, 2010 at 6:28 pm
Las Vegas Only 100% Free Bachelor Party VIP Service.Includes Free Limo,No Cover Charges And A Free Round Of Drinks To The Hottest Nightclubs And Stripclubs In Las Vegas!Call 702-351-8197 Or Go To www.freevegasbachelorparty.com
_________________
freevegasbachelorparty.com
July 30th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
Hi everyone, awsome site I find It amply useful and its helped me so much
I hope to be able to contribute and guide others like this website has helped me
_________________
photos
July 30th, 2010 at 5:29 pm
Here’s some great tips on this over at steffanhaeberle.com’s website. Look it over and notify me if you have any questions. Great thread.
_________________
las vegas search engine optimization
August 2nd, 2010 at 4:54 pm
hi,do you konw where can get discount abercrombie and fitch outlet are from here,abercrombie clothing are low price.
abercrombie clothing
August 2nd, 2010 at 4:55 pm
Aloha every one, helpful message board I have found It exceedingly helpful & its helped me alot
I hope to contribute and aid others like this website has helped me
organic acai
August 2nd, 2010 at 8:09 pm
With Luxury Bath Systems we can remodel your bathroom tub,walls & faucet in just 1 day,showers in 2 days. It’s so easy, just add water
tiles
August 4th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
Hello people, prime chat board I have found It absolutely accessible & its helped me loads
I hope to be able to give something back and aid other users like this site has helped me
_________________
marital affair
August 8th, 2010 at 4:38 pm
Howdy every one, good message board I have found It positively useful & it’s helped me out alot
I hope to be able to give something back & assist others like this site has helped me
_________________
poker bonus
August 8th, 2010 at 6:08 pm
Hi, How are you?
I stumbled this site www.asclepios.com.br and it has a lot of interesting content.
piada medico
August 18th, 2010 at 6:05 am
Hello, How are you? I’m Fine
villas in marbella
August 19th, 2010 at 3:43 pm
My name is Erika from Los Angeles,CA and I really enjoy visiting this community. There are a lot of great members here that have great and informative information about their life. I’m a new member but plan on providing my insight as well. Howdy everyone!
_________________
Debt Advice
August 24th, 2010 at 4:36 pm
Learn the honest truth behind Acai Optimum!
acai optimum
August 24th, 2010 at 7:43 pm
Hello, How are you? I’m Good Thanks for post. It’s really informative stuff.
I really like to read.Hope to learn a lot and have a nice experience here! my best regards guys!
Set Goals
August 31st, 2010 at 10:49 am
The 2011 Scottish Parliament vote will be held on Thursday 5 May 2011 to elect members to the Scottish Parliament. It will be the fourth general election.
Scottish election
September 6th, 2010 at 2:59 pm
Thank you so much for posting this great content! Looking forward to checking out more posts.
September 6th, 2010 at 4:30 pm
Thank you very much for posting a lot of this excellent information! Looking forward to seeintg more.
September 6th, 2010 at 4:58 pm
Thank you so much for sharing this great content! Looking forward to checking out more blogs.
September 6th, 2010 at 5:46 pm
Very educating summary, saved the site in hopes to see more!
September 7th, 2010 at 6:38 pm
Thanks very much for sharing this good info! I am looking forward to reading more.