Orioles Hot Stove Update

Three acquisitions before Christmas? Thanks Andy! Today the Orioles added Garrett Atkins, formerly of the Colorado Rockies. This comes a couple days after signing potential closer Mike Gonzalez, formerly of the Atlanta Braves, and a week after Acquiring Kevin Millwood from the Texas Rangers. With Felix Pie already in town, it seems like Andy MacPhail is trying to build a team full of bad box hits from 2007. Seems like damn near every product from 2007 has a Pie & Atkins game used or autograph in it, and they're all numbered out of 60,000.

It's nice to see the Orioles making some moves, but compared to the moves made every offseason by the Red Sox and Yankees, they always seem insignificant. Almost like mini-moves. I like the Atkins signing, and lord knows the bullpen needs some help, so Gonzalez can't hurt. I've already posted about Millwood's leadership potentially being key next season. All that's left now is getting our hands on Adrian Gonzalez, and Matt Holliday to solidify the lineup. With an offense that potent, it wouldn't matter so much that our young pitching staff is still adjusting to the big league game.

I know it's not going to happen, but humor me here. Below is a projected lineup IF the Orioles were in fact able to sign both Holliday and Gonzalez.

1. Roberts
2. Jones
3. Markakis
4. Gonzalez
5. Holliday
6. Scott/Pie
7. Wieters
8. Atkins
9. Izturis

Tell me that lineup wouldn't be able to keep up with the Yankees and Red Sox? That would be the sweetest Baltimore starting nine in decades! There are so many ways to re-arrange it as well, to ensure that someone is always going to be seeing pitches to hit, which has become a real problem for the Orioles the past few seasons.

Alas, all of this dreaming will be for naught. It would be awesome if the O's could even manage to land one of the two, which they most likely will not. But I say who cares! It's nice enough as it is to be thinking about baseball in December. When does spring training start again?

ATTN: Baltimore Media

Kevin Millwood is NOT a "top end of the rotation" starter, at least not any more. Please stop speaking of him as if he is. I'm not saying the guy is a bum, and the O's shouldn't of traded for him, but let's call a spade a spade. Kevin Millwood will provide needed veteran leadership in the clubhouse, something the Orioles need, especially with so many young guns on the pitching staff. Kevin Millwood will most likely be a solid middle of the rotation guy and has a shot to potentially be the best pitcher in Baltimore next season. Even if that should happen, it still doesn't mean he's a "top of the rotation" starter. It means that as per usual, the Orioles don't really have a true rotation, which is a HUGE reason why they've been so terrible for so long. The past 5 seasons we've only had one true #1 starter, and even he was borderline. First it was Rodrigo Lopez, followed by Bedard, the only one you could argue was a true #1, and for the past 3 seasons it's been Jeremy Guthrie, who would be no more than a #2 or #3 starter on any other team in the league except for maybe the Pirates.

Get over yourself Orioles front office. Kevin Millwood is a good signing, especially since he didn't cost anything more than a Rule 5 pick, bu he is not going to sure up the rotation.

A Few Days Late But An Opinion None The Less

So... Aubrey Huff was traded to the Tigers for a pitching prospect. The guy who once called Baltimore a horseshit town has been sent to Detroit. Coincidence? I think not. He's having an awful season and is a pretty terrible fielding first baseman. I don't know who the Orioles have in mind to fill the void, but evidently some young buc is being called up today or tomorrow, and in the meantime Luke Scott has been filling in. The way he's been hitting this season I wouldn't mind seeing him grow into the role.

Obviously, the Orioles traded one of their veteran clubhouse leaders, but Huff just wasn't getting the job done. I'd like to see them sign a veteran big-batted first baseman in the off-season because I think they need a leader, preferably one with a big mouth and energy. Someone is going to have to show all the kids how to play, and hopefully how to start winning.

I'm not sad to see Aubrey Huff go, especially since dissed my hometown. Even if he was right, it's just not a nice thing to say.