| | An "Off" Offseason Hey there BaltimOrons! Z is back my friends, and I'm sure you understand the meaning of the article I am about to write. If not, please quickly reexamine the title, smack yourself upside the head, and continue reading. Done? Good. Now, I'm sure you could go to MLB.com to find the same information on some sort of message board written by a guy named Gary who lives in Utah, who works in a pharmecy and is the worlds biggest baseball expert. Instead, you came to me. And I appreciate that. And on this site, unlike in Gary's post on the message board, I can give you the true in sight on how the region is responding to whatever boneheaded move Angelos thinks of in the offseason... (Angelos in a meeting) "What do you guys think about Ushers in rollerskates?" Ugh. Let's continue. As of this point in the offseason, there have been two major developments for the Orioles, and I wanted to write an article for each, but thier proximity didn't allow me to do so, so I simply combined my thoughts into one moderatly sized MEGA-ARTICLE. Enjoy. 15 Game Suspension, Eternal Damage. Jay Gibbons, run producing outfielder of the grand sports franchise that is the Baltimore Orioles Baseball Club, got caught doin' the juice! Damnit! Well, it was only a matter of time until the "Water Retention" excuse would no longer explain his massivly bloated body. We couldn't dupe them forever. Jay Gibbons, or as he is affectionately known around the Chesapeake Bay area, Gibbo, has been a constant (more or less) for the club that calls The Yard it's home. I am not ashamed to say that I proudly rooted for this guy as a member of this ball club, and I'm sure alot of you guys have, too. When I heard the news, I went into a state of shock, which was especially not good because I was riding my bike and listening to my transistor radio that I had strapped to my handle bars. Don't worry, just a few minor abrasions. Sure, I was suspicious that Jay had been on the roids. But then again, I'm suspicious of everybody! After what the game has come to in the last couple of years, wouldn't you be? Quite frankly, I dont see how they thought Gibbo was juiced anyway. The numbers aren't there. Over the last four seasons, Jay hit a total of 55 homers, about 19 a year. In those seasons, he also has a total 200 RBI's, 50 a season. Hardly MVP numbers. And, to tell the truth, his numbers in the last 4 years have been very similar to those of his first three, so either he has been taking the roids his whole career, or he just started them up in the offseason. Which seems more realistic? I'm not saying he is innocent, and the proof is in the urine samples. All I'm saying is he may not have cheated in the regular season. And that may make it easier to forgive him. Which I will. Eventually. 5 Astros for 1 Fallen Star Okay. I get it. this is a joke, right? Am I being Punk'd? ..... Guess Not. Truth be told, when I first heard the news of this transaction, I took my own advice from this article and smacked my palm to my head. Miggy is gone? And whats worse, to the Astros? I cannot yet determine if this trade was wise or not. I say ths because we traded Miggy for a bunch of kids. Just so I can make really show you the severity of the immediate damage, take a look at the guys we got for Miguel and their stats from 2007. Enter Troy Patton. 3 games, 12.2 INN, 0-2 record, 3.55 ERA. Say hello to Outfielder, Luke Scott. Last year, 132 games with the 'Stros, 94 hits, 64 RBI, .255 AVG, 18 HR. New Righty for the Rotation, Matt Albers. 4-11, 5.86 ERA, 110.2 INN, 71 K's, all in 31 games. A new toro for the pen, Dennis Sarfate. 15 games, 16.2 frames, 1-0, 2.7 ERA. And rounding out the pitiful group is Michael Costanzo, and untested rookie. Need I say more. Whether it is necessary that I do, here I go again. IN THE NAME OF ALL THAT IS HOLY, WHYYYYYYYYYY! Trading away Miggy may be a blessing in disguise. This Luke Scott could be the next Frank Robinson, Albers could learn a thing or two from Mazz and become a 20 game winner, and Costanzo could be rookie of the year. Some how, I doubt it. |
