Anyone out there believe the O's will add young talent?

I don't. I believe we'll add journeymen/platoon types this offseason.

The Brewers wouldn't relinquish Hardy or Escobar but I wouldn't give up on finding a young shortstop.

The Bosox have Oscar Tejada and Yamaico Navarro, the Rockies have Hector Gomez, the Nationals have Esmailyn Gonzalez, etc......

For outfield talent, I like Alfredo Silverio in the Dodgers organization. He's been likened to George Bell.

Guess we'll see what Andy and nephew, Lee, have in store for the organization.

We will add a shortstop, whether or not it will be youth depends on many things. The O's could go after and Orlando Cabrera or get a stop gap for the coming season.

As for pitching, we need someone who will not only eat innings but also not have an ERA over 5.00. At this point I don't really care if he's old if it's just for the short term.


Good things take time. Forget about the last 10years and think we will be great in five like you used to. I remember a post of yours declaring us the 2008 champions back in around 2005.

Keep the faith my friend. The glass is at least 1/4 full at this point. And more liquid is on it's way.

I guess the question you're asking is really "will the O's unload more of their veterans?" I hope so.

But regardless of age or experience, I think the O's will have to look outside their organization to add a shortstop and a starting pitcher who can contribute right away. It could be this winter or the next and should be dependent entirely on whether they like what's available.

I'll take Ben Zobrist or even Reid Brignac since the Rays seem happy with Bartlett.

Problem with good shortstops is that they are not that prevalent and if you want one you have to pay through the nose. Sometimes you have to settle for the mediocre ones.

And no, the Mets will not trade Wilmer Flores. Besides, when he turns twenty he'll be a third baseman, kind of like Triunfel.

Too bad he's not likened to Juan Bell. Then we'd have a shortstop on our hands!

I just hope they use Ma Bell and get something done this winter.
Don't want to hear about what we already have, or irons in the fire, or marsh mellows on sticks, or there is nothing out there, or whatever else they can say to avoid doing something.

Well, there's a town in the Dominican, San Pedro de Macoris, that's known to produce fine shortstops...

Venezuela has produced great ones over the years: Concepion, Vizquel, Ozzie Guillen, Aparicio, etc.....

If the O's spent a little cash, we might have found one to fill the void already.

:pullhairout:

Well, Milt, you can expect more indecision and hand-wringing while other teams make deals so fast it could make your head spin.

I'd try to make a blockbuster deal involving big-time names......

No one likes my idea of putting Markakis' name out there but, save for Wieters (catcher, switch-hitter), there's not a player on the team that should be precluded from being dealt.