Trade Deadline: Four Hours Remain

It’s just about noon here in Washington, D.C., and I am simply overcome with anxiety, what with the trade deadline fast approaching. Guys like Sean Casey (traded to the Tigers), Wilson Betemit (traded to the Dodgers for Danys Baez), Ronnie Belliard (traded to the Cardinals), and, of course, Bobby Abreu (traded to you-know-who), have all been dealt and will play with their new teams today/tonight.

And, as most of you surely know already, Miguel Tejada is one of the biggest names on the market and is speculated to go, if he’s traded, to either the Angels or the Astros. I think he’ll still be here after 4:00 passes, but you never know….

Other O’s who’ve been mentioned in trade talks are Rodrigo Lopez, LaTroy Hawkins, Javy Lopez, Jeff Conine, and Kevin Millar. I wouldn’t mind seeing Todd Williams and/or Russ Ortiz get dealt, too….but the chances of those jokers going anywhere other than the free agent pool are slim.

At any rate, I’m at work now (not working) and will naturally be checking the wire for breaking trade news. If anything big happens, you will surely find it added to this very post. Let’s cross our collective fingers and hope something good happens!

And Now — Your 2007 Baltimore Orioles!

The Orioles will play their 101st game of the 2006 season today, leaving only 61 to go. And since I’m bored and the trade deadline is looming, I figured it would be fun to predict what our 25 man roster will look like come Opening Day 2007. And just for the sake of not arbitrarily throwing out names, I’ll add a bit of analysis/explanation as to why I believe a specific player will be where he is. Alright, let’s get this thing going….

First Base – What a way to start this off! The “black hole” of the O’s defensive alignment, first base is our biggest need other than starting pitching. Before the start of 2006, fans were generally pretty comfortable with Kevin Millar and Jeff Conine platooning after the “Javy Lopez 1B Experiment” failed to come to fruition. Both Millar and Conine are proven Major Leaguers who have a lot of experience on winning teams and are solid hitters and fielders. However, from Opening Day all the way up through May and in to June, neither Millar nor Niner was producing at a rate that meant anything to the success of the team. So to get to what I think we’ve got in store for next year….I think Conine will be gone before the July 31 deadline and we’ll keep Millar for next year. However, the O’s starting first baseman will be soon-to-be Free Agent Craig Wilson. Wilson is on the trade block up in Pittsburgh and will probably be dealt to a team currently in the playoff hunt. But there’s a possibility he won’t get re-signed and the O’s can scoop up his 25-30 homers and 80-100 RBIs in the off-season. And if Jay Gibbons gets around to playing first, which I think he will, we’d have quite a DH/1B tandem in Gibbons and Wilson….oh, the possibilities!

Second Base – This position is filled and will be for the next several years. Brian Roberts is not only one of the best middle-infielders in the game, but he’s home-grown and has been in the Orioles’ system for the better part of the past decade. His contract is up after this year, but I think the 28-year-old will re-sign and will bat at the top of the O’s order for the next three or four years. Put it this way — if your team makes bobble-heads for you, you know you’ve found your home.

Third Base – After signing a three year extension with a no-trade clause this season, Melvin Mora sealed his stay in Baltimore, likely for the remainder of his career. The 34-year-old is still producing like he’sfour or five years younger, but many forget that he got a late start on his baseball career (he was a pro soccer player in his home country of Venezuela). Melvin’s got several good years left in him and will contribute, on top of his solid hitting, great defense at the hot-corner and a wonderful team-oriented, loyal attitude to the soon-to-be very young Orioles team.

Shortstop – This is where things get a bit iffy. Miguel Tejada, although I’ve said we should trade him, is a great player — scratch that….a fantastic player — who, honestly, is a bargain at $12 million per year due to his power, ability to hit for average, and fielding. He is rumored to be the focus of trade talks with Houston but O’s owner Peter Angelos has gone on record saying the organization has no interest in dealing Miggi….unless, of course, they’re blown away (see: Adam Everett and Roy Oswalt for Tejada). Nonetheless, I’ve changed my mind over the past couple weeks and think it’d be a good idea to keep Tejada. Doing so would show the team and the fans that when we sign big-name guys like Miggi, we intend to keep them around. I think he’ll be playing for us in 2007 and will have another monster year in which the 30-year-old will be more productive since he’s been banged up a bit this year, leading to a bit of a drop-off in the field and at the plate. Still, he’s one of the best and will be for a few more years.

Left Field – Just like first base, left is another question mark. At the start of the year, this position was supposed to be a platoon between David Newhan and Nick Markakis., with Jeff Conine making occasional starts there, too. That plan, of course, went to hell as Newhan broke his leg and Markakis moved to right after Jay Gibbons went on an extended DL vacation. Brandon Fahey has stepped in as a solid option in left and Conine has played on par with what was generally expected of him out there. But, as far as the future is concerned, I think someone new out there is of the utmost importance. Carlos Lee will be a free agent in 2007, but he’ll probably be traded before the deadline and whoever gets him would be extremely stupid to not work out an extension to keep him around. Regardless, he’d be my number one choice as the guy to fill that spot. Also, Bobby Abreu would be a great fit there as the O’s have expressed interest in acquiring him in a trade with the Phillies. This is really up in the air still and, for all we know, no one will be signed and Newhan will be our starter there next season. I’m going to bank of Lee, however, and stay optimistic.

Center Field – It’s funny that at the beginning of 2006, we weren’t sure who’d be our center fielder — Corey Patterson or Luis Matos. Well, that question is clearly answered now as Matos was designated for assignment and is now a National and Patterson has solidified himself as the O’s permanent center fielder. C.P. is only 26 and has the talent to be one of the better outfielders in the game. He’s got power, speed, and defensive skill and the only think keeping him from being the O’s guy next year is us re-signing him. I think this will happen since we gave him a chance to prove himself after essentially being ousted from Chicago last year. Let’s hope Corey Patterson is an Oriole for many years to come.

Right Field – After Gibbons went on an extended DL stint, Nick Markakis was able to move to his natural position in right field. And since then, he’s basically won the job there and, as an added gift, raised his average about 50 points. Kakes is a great outfielder, but seems to completely be in his element in right. It would be completely stupid to put Gibbons back out there since Kakes in better in every facet of fielding. Plus, keeping Gibbons out of the outfield will be better for his hitting — which is why we’ve got him in the first place — since he’d be less physically strained because he’d avoid strenuous outfield activity. This is one position the O’s have locked up for the next decade and, to be quite frank, I’m really damn excited!

Catcher – In what seems to be the Orioles best off-season acquisition, Ramon Hernandez showed O’s fans that he’s one of the best catchers in the entire league. His ability to produce offensively and defensively is uncommon among catchers and we’re lucky to have a guy like him who can do just that. The 30-year-old will most likely do even better next year since he’d have a full season under his belt of working with Orioles pitchers and coaches. Hernandez should be here for at least three or four more years pending his production, which surely will continue at a 15-20 HR/70-90 RBI/.260-.280 AVG rate. Folks, we’re really lucky to have this guy!

Designated Hitter – This has got to be, without a question, Jay Gibbons. According to O’s beat writer, Spencer Fordin, Jay will not be playing any outfield for the remainder of the year and will soon give first base a try once again. Jay is too valuable a bat to risk getting injured again and keeping him at DH or 1B will not only be better for his knees, but it will be good for the longevity of his career. At age 29, Gibbons is still young. But for a guy with a bad knee, things only get worse as the years pass and the stress from running in the outfield takes its toll on his precious ligaments. I think if Jay fully dedicates his spring training to hitting and getting comfortable at first, he’ll be more productive and will stay healthy the whole year through.

Bench – Brandon Fahey has solidified himself as the O’s utility man. Former O’s catcher Sal Fasano was just released by the Phil’s, so he could be a nice backup catcher. Luis Terrero, when given enough ABs, could be a solid backup outfielder and hitter. Chris Gomez, although most-likely pushed to the back-burner by Fahey, is a dependable backup. David Newhan is a guaranteed member of this 25-man roster. Jeff Fiorentino and Val Majewski are possible backup options, too. In the spirit of keeping this one short, those are likely faces you’d be seeing on the bench in April ’07.

Starting Pitching – Without a doubt, Erik Bedard will be the ace of this staff in 2007. That’s a given. The rest of the rotation is questionable. Adam Loewen, due to the stipulations of his contract, will be in the rotation next year. Daniel Cabrera should be a much more productive pitcher next year; it’s unlikely he’ll suffer from similar control problems next season like he did this year. Hayden Penn is ML-ready at age 21 and will be set to take the 4th or 5th spot in the rotation in 2007. The only true question mark is who will be the fifth man? James Johnson and Garret Olson are close to being ready; they’ll most likely be the “Loewen and Penn” of 2007 and won’t be viable options as starters come April ’07, but later in the season, they could (will) get call-ups. The O’s have several more pitching prospects, but none are close to being ready yet. What about Kris Benson? It’s likely the team hangs on to him, but his $8.7 million salary is a bit unsettling considering his average performance this season. I think it’s a 75% chance we keep Benson (Bedard-Benson-Cabrerea-Loewen-Penn) and a 25% chance we sign someone like Tony Armas, Jr., Jason Marquis, Vicente Padilla, or — wouldn’t this be nice — Mike Mussina. Either way, we’ll definitely be a much better staff come ’07 than we are this season.

Bullpen – If there’s one guarantee, it’s that Chris Ray will be our closer for the next four or five years. He’s sickeningly good. As far as the rest of the pen goes, we need to do some major house cleaning if we want a solid pen. Chris Britton is a keeper; he could possibly be our set-up man, but I’d be more comfortable with him as a middle reliever. Kurt Birkins and Sendy Rleal should have good seasons next year and will be valuable middle relievers and even long relievers. I’d like to see us hang on to Bruce Chen and give him one more go-around, only this time, start him off in the bullpen and see how that goes. But LaTroy Hawkins and Todd Williams need to go. Hawkins will probably be traded within the next couple days and Williams, I think, has worn out his welcome here in Baltimore. If we could sign one or two guys, such as Dennys Reyes, Aaron Fultz, Chad Bradford, Brian Meadows, or Justin Speier, we’d be much more solid in the bullpen and wouldn’t lose leads late in the game as often as we seem to be doing this year.

And now, just to go out on a limb and play a little guessing-game, here’s what I think the 25 man roster will be come Opening Day 2007:

Lineup:

1. Brian Roberts 2B

2. Melvin Mora 3B

3. Miguel Tejada SS

4. Carlos Lee LF

5. Jay Gibbons DH/1B

6. Craig Wilson 1B/DH

7. Ramon Hernandez C

8. Corey Patterson CF

9. Nick Markakis RF

Bench: David Newhan, Brandon Fahey, Chris Gomez, Luis Terrero, Sal Fasano

Rotation: Erik Bedard-Kris Benson-Daniel Cabrera-Adam Loewen-Hayden Penn

Bullpen: Chris Ray (CL), Brian Meadows (SU), Chris Britton, Kurt Birkins, Sendy Rleal, Bruce Chen

I know, some of this looks very unlikely, but who cares? Besides, this is my blog so I do what I want! At any rate, I just hope that we sign guys similar to the new names you see on my hypothetical roster. We need a legit power threat like Lee and we need solidarity in the bullpen and off the bench.

Let’s just hope Angelos and Co. realize they can put out a magnificent team next year if they dedicate a few more million dollars to salaries. And let’s hope ‘Year 10′ of our losing ways is the final year in a decade of suffering and futility.

In the mean time, let’s beat the crap out of the Royals tonight!

Down On The Farm

The Orioles have one of the better farm systems in the entire realm of Major League Baseball. There’s a Baseball America article somewhere in the depths of the Internet that discusses and ranks each organization’s farm system — of course, I can’t find it. So you’re just going to have to trust me here, folks.

At any rate, I’ve read some good discussion by O’s fans and checked a bunch of stats and have compiled my thoughts, opinions, and observations in to a single analysis of the current state of the Orioles minor league system. I’m going to tell you who to look out for over the next couple years, who’s surprised management and fans, and who you can expect to be wearing an Orioles jersey come 2007, maybe even in late-2006!

And we’re off!

The Cream of the Crop

Daniel Cabrera – D.C. is still a prospect. He’s only 25, which by my calculations makes him the same age as Brandon Fahey and a year older than Chris Ray, but he’s been in the Bigs for two-and-a-half seasons. Even though he’s got 71 career starts under his belt, as well as 321 Ks in 389.1 IP, Cabrera is still, like I said, a prospect. Like many high-end prospects who’ve been with the major league team of their organization, Daniel’s had instances of brilliance. Similar to the recent game in which Phillies’ prospect Ryan Madson was only one out away from pitching a complete game, seven strikeout shutout against the O’s before manager Charlie Manuel took him out, D.C. has had previous appearances in which he was simply dominating the opposition. However, as we all know, Cabrera still has a long way to go before he’s considered an effective and above-average major league starting pitcher. His approach to the game and his command both must improve drastically before he ‘graduates’ from prospect status. That is, of course, if he ever does improve (which he will).

Chris Ray – He’s 24 and, in 2006, has blown only one save in 23 chances. He’s got elite season stats – 33 strikeouts in 36.2 IP, 1.12 WHIP, .208 BAA, and a 3.19 ERA (which is much higher than it would be if you excluded his appearances in non-save opportunities, instances in which, oddly enough, Ray has struggled in). He’s legit and will be the Orioles’ closer for a long, long time. ‘Nuff said.

Nick Markakis – Kakes is doing everything we thought he would: Hit with consistency (it took him a couple months but he’s obviously got it now), show great plate discipline, play well in the outfield, not hit for power (some of my baseball-buddies thought he’d hit 15 homers this year; he’s got two right now and I’m not surprised — he’s only 22 and most players his age don’t have their power stroke yet. It will come. I promise), and prove to be a dependable all-around player. In short, he’s a rookie who is playing like he’s been here for two or three years. Like I said, his power will develop soon but for now, enjoy his durability (has played in 76 of Baltimore’s 90 games) and talent. It’s only going to get better.

Other Notables – Erik Bedard (becoming one of the best lefty starters in MLB), Corey Patterson (seems to finally be coming in to his own after several rough years — but he’s only 26!), and Sendy Rleal.

The Up-and-Comers

Hayden Penn – I think Penn is ready to join the Orioles right now. Well, as soon as his recent appendectomy heals . . . which is apparently any day now. But back to the pitching, something that Hayden is pretty darn good at. In 30.1 IP at AAA-Ottawa (he struggled a little in 2.0 IP in a rehab start at Bowie — something expected after time on the DL), Penn has 29 SO and only 11 BB. His 1.48 ERA and 1.06 WHIP, as well as only one homer allowed all year, show he’s got great command to compliment his 95 MPH heater. The numbers tell the whole story and the story on Hayden Penn is that he is 21-years-old, has nasty stuff, and is ready to bolster the O’s bullpen and will inevitably break in to the starting rotation in the near-future.

Adam Loewen – We’ve already gotten a taste of Loewen this year when he was brought up to fill Daniel Cabrera’s spot in the rotation when D.C. went on the DL. Loewen played in seven games, but in his five starts, Adam posted a 6.67 ERA in 25.2 IP. And as each game passed, he progressively improved his control, confidence, and composure. Nevertheless, Loewen has simply dominated minor league competition. The 6’6″ Canadian has posted a 2.00 ERA in 71.0 IP in both AA and AAA. However, in the stronger AAA level, Adam has been lights-out — his 21 SO and 3 BB show he’s attacking hitters with no mercy. His 1.27 ERA in 21.1 IP is phenomenal and his 0.62 WHIP shows he’s almost untouchable. If the Orioles give the kid another month down there before bringing him back up for good, I think he’ll benefit from the extra time to fine-tune his delivery and will translate his AAA-success in to major league consistency.

Nolan Reimold – Currently the Orioles’ top outfield prospect (right behind Markakis), Nolan Reimold is quickly coming in to his own. Standing 6’4″ and weighting in at over 200 lbs., Reimold evokes thoughts of the next Jermaine Dye or Alex Rios. The MLB All-Star Futures Game-participant has posted a decent .258 batting average in 2006, but his .405 OBP (what an eye he’s got!), 10 HR, and 45 RBI in 240 AB display a lot of upside (Geez, I hate that word) for the 22-year-old slugger. I don’t think Reimold will make it up to the Big Leagues this year and, barring an injury in the outfield or a massive surge in his statistics, Reimold won’t be here in 2007 either. But in 2008, expect him to have a spot in the outfield (most likely LF) and to have an exceptional year at the dish. He’s just that good.

Brandon Erbe – This kid is going to be elite. You heard it here first . . . okay, maybe not first but I’m definitely making some early guarantees here. Erbe is only 18 and won’t turn 19 until Christmas Day . . . I guess you could say he’s a gift to this franchise! Okay, that wasn’t funny, but neither are his stats from Class A-Delmarva: 80.0 IP, 95 SO, 26 BB, 2.59 ERA, and a 1.11 WHIP. He’s 6’5″ and can throw 96 MPH . . . and he’s 18! When you look upside (I hate that word! *punch wall*) up in the dictionary, this kid’s picture appears. But all clichés aside, he’s going to tear through the farm over the next three seasons and will most likely be breaking in to the big leagues when he’s 21.

Other Notables – Eddy Rodriguez (he’s tearing up AAA with 40 SO and 10 BB in 36.2 IP), Radhammes Liz (fellow Futures Game member of Reimold; 95 SO and 44 BB in 83.0 IP, with a 2.82 ERA), Brandon Snyder (struggling a bit with hitting but is very young and still has a ways to go — they say catchers take longer to develop), and Luis Terrero (the 26-year-old is up with the O’s right now but is struggling to find playing time amid his sub-par hitting; absolutely destroyed AAA while with Ottawa — you can check the stats out for yourself but I will say this: .966 OPS.)

Pleasant Surprises/Came-out-of-nowheres

Brandon Fahey – After only 68 AB, Fahey proved he was ready to ‘graduate’ from AAA to the Big Leagues. At Ottawa, Brandon posted a solid .279 average and a gaudy .402 OBP. He’s definitely a solid batter, but his real selling-point is his versatility in the field. Since he’s been with the Orioles, Fahey has played LF and SS (both effectively), but has said he can play just about anywhere, including sitting-in as an emergency catcher. He’s currently hitting .285 with two homers and 17 RBI along with a very solid .348 OBP. This 25-year-old former-Texas Longhorn is definitely a keeper.

Chris Britton – What more could you ask for from a young relief pitcher? In 32.2 IP, Britton has maintained a team-leading 2.20 ERA and fanned 26 while walking 10. He has a WHIP just over 1.00 and has appeared in almost a third of the Orioles 90 games-played. He didn’t allow a single earned run in all of May and hasn’t yet allowed a run in July. Since June 11, he’s given up a minuscule four hits and one run in 12.2 IP. During that span, he K’d 12 and walked three while lowering his ERA by 0.95 points. In all likelihood, he’ll be here for good because his uncanny confidence on the mound is something extremely valuable in a reliever, especially one who is a 23-year-old rookie.

Other Notables – James Johnson, Garrett Olson (both of these guys are continuing to prove to be much better pitchers than originally thought . . . they could break in to the big leagues in a year or two or serve as very valuable trade bait in the future), Cory Keylor (a young and talented outfielder; has 78 hits in 75 games and has a .362 OBP), and Brian Burres (3.24 ERA with 73 Ks and 31 BB in 89 IP).

The Orioles have many more talented young players but these are the ones who look to have the best chance for success in the Big Leagues. And recently-drafted players Pedro Beato and Bill Rowell only increase the potency of the Birds’ farm system even more. We’ve got it made with the youngins, now all we need are a couple big-time free-agents (see: slugger first-baseman) and we could surprise some people!

The O’s are back in Baltimore tomorrow to take on the Rangers. Series and Game Preview will come tomorrow, maybe even tonight.

MLB Season 2006: Intermission

Nice win for the O’s yesterday as they beat the Tribe 5-4 to close out the first half of 2006. The Birds finished the first half on a nice little two-game win streak and came out of their 10 game road trip with a 4-6 record.

And that’s all I’ll say about that . . . I can’t think too well right now so no game recap. It’ll make me queasy.

That said, as I’ve sat here at work, quite hungover from drinking on Saturday and Sunday, I’ve been trying to think of something to write about that will be easy on my brain. So because it’s the all-star break, here’s a list covering the Birds’ first half studs, duds, and [insert -ud word here]:

MVP: Ramon Hernandez – Most would probably say Miguel Tejada but I’ve actually thought about this one. Ramon has been consistent all season. His hitting, catching, and attitude have never faltered and he’s been a rock in the middle of the line-up. He leads MLB with 28 runners caught stealing and throws potential base-stealers out at a solid rate of 49%. He has 61 RBI (one less than team-leader Miguel Tejada) and is on track for a line close to 28 HR/115 RBI/.275 AVG/.820 OPS, one that, along with his defensive prowess, would put him in the upper-echelon of major league catchers. To put it simply, Ramon has been a God-send to us and I am extremely pleased with him thus far.

Hitting MVP: Miguel Tejada - I really want to put someone else here because I’m quite turned-off by Miggi’s league-leading 22 GIDP. However, I can’t ignore his ability to hit for average and power, especially since he’s playing from the SS position (even if he’s been struggling there lately) and I can’t make Ramon MVP in two categories. Regardless, Tejada’s on track for another great season at the plate and is looking put up about 32 HR/130 RBI/.315 AVG/.900 OPS. He’s having issues with his patience as can be seen by his lack of walks (only 25 — most sluggers of his caliber have somewhere around 50-70 so far) and pitches-seen per AB. But he’s “our guy” and will be for as long as he’s here.

Pitching MVP: Kris Benson – If this was “Pitching MVP for the Second Quarter of the First Half”, it would be Erik Bedard, hands down. But since Opening Day, no other O’s pitcher has performed as consistently as Benson. Excluding phenom-closer Chris Ray, who has generally been a lock to finish every time he takes the mound in the 9th inning, Benson has been the only pitcher the O’s could truly count on to give them a chance to win. He hasn’t gone on any extended stretches of losses, nor has he gone on winning-tears. All Kris has done is go 9-7 with a 4.79 ERA, netting a decision in 16 of his 19 starts. He’s struggled a bit the past couple games, but I think that’s due to fatigue, something that will, in all likelihood, disappear after the all-star break. I see Kris finishing 2006 with a 17-12 record in 223.1 IP with 115 K, 75 BB, and a 4.50 ERA. However, I think when all is said and done, Bedard will be our pitching and all-around MVP after his recent emergence as the O’s indisputable ace.

Mr. Unheralded: Chris Britton – After being called-up in April from double-A Bowie, 23-year-old rookie relief pitcher Chris Britton has been phenomenal. In 32.2 IP, Britton has maintained a team-leading 2.20 ERA and fanned 26 while walking 10. He has a WHIP just over 1.00 and has appeared in almost a third of the Orioles 90 games-played. He didn’t allow a single earned run in all of May and hasn’t yet allowed a run in July. Since June 11, he’s given up a minuscule four hits and one run in 12.2 IP. During that span, he K’d 12 and walked three while lowering his ERA by 0.95 points. Hopefully, the 280 lb. youngster can continue his reliable performance in the second half and work his way in to the set-up role because he’s showing the front office and the fans that he’s the Orioles’ best reliever not named Chris Ray.

Biggest Bust (Hitter): Javy Lopez – This would be Luis Matos, but he’s been given the boot so I had to pick someone else. I have a slight inclination that I’m being a bit unfair to Javy in saying he’s the O’s most disappointing hitter in 2006 thus far, but rather, I think he’s been a bust for the Orioles since he first arrived here in 2004. After coming off a career-year in 2003 in which he hit .328 with 43 homers and 109 RBI, Javy has hit 45 homers and 153 RBI in the two-and-a-half seasons he’s been in Baltimore. He’s still hitting pretty well average-wise (.280 in 239 AB) but I can’t ignore the fact that he has not been the fearsome 4th or 5th spot home run threat we thought he’d be when we acquired him. I give him credit for staying positive after losing his job to Ramon Hernandez, but Javy is still a big part of this team and needs to perform better from the DH spot. I can see him finishing with a .270 AVG/16 HR/60 RBI/.760 OPS, a line that is, indeed, solid. But I would love to see much more from him since he’s more rested and healthy after becoming the O’s main DH. Yet, odds are he’ll be traded soon so . . .

Biggest Bust (Pitcher): Bruce Chen – Although Rodrigo Lopez is having an equally-weak year, I’m more disappointed with Chen. Bruce looked to have finally found a home in Baltimore after posting great stats in 2005. He led the O’s staff last year with a 3.83 ERA in 197.1 IP, easily his best season of his eight year professional career. But so far, Bruce hasn’t won a single game (he’s 0-6) and is sitting at a 6.78 ERA in only 66.1 IP. Bruce was demoted to the bullpen in the first week in June and, to his credit, has slightly improved after he allowed 7 ER in 17.1 IP and has struck out 14 while walking seven during that span. After allowing 17 homers in April and May, Bruce has only allowed two since June 6 and has lowered his ERA 0.78 points. Still, the fact we’re missing the solid lefty we enjoyed last year is enough to label Bruce as the biggest pitching disappointment of the first half (not to mention the zero wins he’s given us this year).

Best Rookie: Nick Markakis – Similar to fellow-rookie Chris Britton, Kakes has proven to be one of the most reliable players on Baltimore’s roster. Although he’s struggling to hit for power as shown by his two homers (one more than Brian Roberts, however), Markakis has been nothing short of phenomenal in the outfield and has become one of the Orioles’ best contact hitters. After being far too selective at the plate early in the year, Kakes has recently found his comfort zone and proceeded to hit .351 in June and July with 30 hits and eight RBI while raising his average to .268. When the final out of 2006 is recorded, I think Kakes will stand at .270 with 8 HR, 50 RBI, and a .700 OPS; next year those stats will see a big spike after the 22-year-old finds his power stroke. The kid will be a 20 HR hitter for many years to come and will surely be a big part of the Orioles franchise within the next year or two.

Best Veteran: Melvin Mora – Mora is having another solid year for the O’s as he shows he’s one of the most consistent all-around players in the league. On track to hit about .280 with 20 homers and 85 RBI, Melvin is showing his importance to the O’s offense, especially in the two-spot of the order (when rookie Brandon Fahey, who’s playing like a veteran himself, isn’t batting second). He’s playing phenomenally at third base and is showing each and every day how to be a great teammate and representative of the franchise. Commonly referred to by fans as the true “face” of the Orioles (at least to Baltimore fans as opposed to the general baseball fan who would probably say Tejada is), Melvin will surely be here for the next three or more years as he recently signed a three year extension on his contract, one that includes a no-trade clause. The fact that he’s in great shape and didn’t begin playing on a regular basis until 2001 shows that the 34-year-old still has a lot of fuel left in his tank and will be a productive member of the Orioles even in to his late 30s.

And there you have them — my studs and duds of the first half of 2006. The O’s stand at 41-49, 14 games out of first and 17 out of the wild card. The playoffs are obviously a distant possibility but this season won’t be a complete failure if the O’s can have a strong second half, one that includes some smart and beneficial trades, solid play by rookies and veterans, consistent play by our stars, and hopefully, a nice turn-around for our struggling Birds who have seen the worst that Major League Baseball can send their way. If the Orioles can reach .500 and end on a positive note that shows the rest of the league that we’ve got weapons and want to win, who’s to say we can’t be the “Detroit Tigers of 2007″? With some big bats and talented young pitchers coming up fast in the farm system, the future looks bright for the O’s.

A bit of all-star game coverage will be coming up soon. The O’s resume play on Thursday as they return to the Yard to take on the Rangers for four games and the A’s for three before heading to Tampa Bay and Kansas City for three games each. Those 13 games could potentially give the Birds the boost they need coming in to the second half. Now eight games under .500, it’s possible for Baltimore to be back up to par by August if play improves. Hopefully they can capitalize on the upcoming weak schedule . . .

Hey, At Least We Won One . . . Right?

After last night’s 11-8 loss to the White Sox, a loss which clinched the series for them, I’ve officially come to the conclusion that the Orioles’ problems revolve around seven individuals: Rodrigo Lopez, Daniel Cabrera, Russ Ortiz, Todd Williams, LaTroy Hawkins, Javy Lopez, and Sam Perlozzo. Now you might be thinking that me putting the blame on some of the previously listed players is a bit unfair; for example, Russ Ortiz has only started two games since June 11 and is still trying to regain his command. Nevertheless, he’s still detrimental to the team’s chances of winning and is not immune to criticism; after all, he took the job here. Therefore, he, along with the others, is responsible for his actions and failure to produce.

That being said, I will now provide solutions to the problems these eight individuals bring to every single game the Orioles play. Losing in the fashion we’ve been experiencing recently is getting old and tired. We’ve got too good a fan base, too good a stadium and city, and too good a tradition to have to witness this embarrassment of a team go out and give games away that, at least in my opinion, could be won. So without further ado, here is my proposition:

Drastically change their role with the team. If they don’t improve, get rid of them. Some, however, we need to get rid of now. As in today. As in this morning. As in why-is-he-still-here?

As in this is really the only solution.

These guys aren’t doing anything to help the team right now and are detrimental to our chances of winning. And yes, Luis Matos would be on there but he’s already on his way out after being DFA yesterday. Here, let me explain one by one . . .

Let me first group Rodrigo, Cabrera, and Ortiz in to one unit since they’re all starting pitchers and should all be handled somewhat similarly. All three of these players eliminate our team’s chance to win every time they take the mound. Each has had moments of semi-brilliance this year but, for the most part, it’s been anything but.

As far as Lopez goes, he needs to be traded ASAP. Moving him should be the O’s very first post-Matos transaction. Contenders such as Boston, both New Yorks, and St. Louis have apparently shown interest in him. In the spirit of expressing myself as simply as possible, we should deal him as soon as we’re proposed something even remotely lucrative. It’s time for RoLo to GoGo, folks. You know it and I know it . . . but does the F.O. want to get on the ball and do something? We’ll see . . .

Now, for Cabrera . . . if you would kindly direct yourself to this article or this article or this article, you will discover my thoughts on what we should do with the big kid. In short, send him to AAA.

And for Ortiz, I say he get’s until July 24 to get his act together. If he doesn’t, DFA him because it’s not worth keeping him around if he’s going to continue his trend of losing. Simple.

Now, on to the more interesting moves . . . Todd Williams and LaTroy Hawkins should be the rocks in our bullpen. LaTroy should be going out and throwing pitches other than fastballs nine-out-of-ten times. Todd should be attacking batters with his sinker, low and away. Both should be much more reliable than they’ve been thus far.

But they’re not.

We need to trade Hawkins by the deadline. I don’t think we need to be as hasty in dealing him as we should be in dealing RoLo, but he’s got to be traded soon. He’s got some value as a middle-relief guy, but the role we’ve got him in now, as our set-up man, is not working as well as I’d like it to be. If we can package him with RoLo or Javy, I think that would potentially command more value. Look, someone needs a LaTroy Hawkins. And it’s not us.

As far as Williams goes, I don’t think we should trade him as much as I think we should reevaluate his role with the team. He’s been very unreliable as of late and is not performing as we’d like. He’s not getting the ground-ball outs he should be and seems to be “missing something” that is rendering him ineffective. Only Sendy Rleal (a player who could use a bit more time in Ottawa, but it’s debatable . . . he leads the bullpen in innings pitched), Chris Ray, and Hawkins have pitched in more innings than Williams.

Come the All-Star break, the bullpen needs a shakeup. Chris Britton, arguably our best relief pitcher other than Ray, needs to be promoted to set-up man, Rleal needs to be moved to AAA for a bit, Bruce Chen needs to get more innings in middle-relief, and Kurt Birkins should be bumped up over Williams in the bullpen depth chart. This needs to be done because we could have a very solid bullpen . . . we just need to see some action by management.

And if you’re wondering who will replace these guys . . . we should take an old-school approach to the situation. We’ve got a lot of young arms down on the farm and bringing them up to fill the bullpen would not hurt a bit. If we don’t expect them to dominate and just allow them to test the waters, so to speak, we could possibly benefit greatly by doing so. Again, how bad could it hurt to try?

Javy needs to be traded very soon, as well. He’s on the bubble in regards to his market value. Regardless, though, he’s a valuable asset to any team in contention, especially AL teams needing a big bat/DH or clubs without solid catchers (Colorado would be nice since we could snag someone decent in the process). Also, when Gibbons and Newhan return, someone needs to go for them to be on the roster. Obviously Howie Clark and Ed Rogers are the likely candidates, but I’d rather keep Ed Rogers up for a bit longer and deal Javy for some value, not to mention freeing up the DH spot for Gibby, the spot he truly belongs in (Nick Markakis has, in my view, solidified himself in RF).

Finally, Sam Perlozzo, the manager himself, is a liability to this ball-club. He makes some questionable calls pretty much every game — he misuses his bullpen, draws up some screwy batting orders from time to time, seems to lack the fire necessary to run a fledgling ball-club, and is not honest when it comes to evaluating his team’s performance. Sam needs to change his approach to managing. When I look at him, I see a guy who truly wants to help this franchise regain its lost glory. Obviously, with Angelos in the picture, that is proving to be difficult for any manager to do — heck, it’s even harder for our GMs to do their jobs properly when they’ve got the old geezer breathing down their necks during trade negotiations and the like. I think if Sam changes his managerial philosophy over the ASB (along with the F.O. making some key moves), it’s possible he can help revitalize this club.

Okay, so now you’ve read my rant. You can see I’ve got a lot on my chest in regards to who is bringing this team down. It’s not easy to succeed in the MLB, much less in the AL East. But if our team takes a different approach to the situation, it’s possible great things can happen.

Indians series preview later.