Tuesday, November 16, 2004
MOST VLADIMIR PLAYER
VLAD WINS MVP!!!
Yes, it was expected and deserved, so congrats to Vlad on the honor.
***
Yesterday, I bid adieu to Ramon Ortiz. I knew he technically could come back, but doubted the Angels would pursue such action. However, Stoneman leaves the door open in today's LA Times. "Command got him into trouble," he is quoted as saying. "If he can find the command we've seen from him in the past then, shoot, he can be a starter." Well, yeah, if ...
Also from Stoneman: "Looking at his option price, we decided we would do better in arbitration. The analysis we went through suggests a much lower number than $5.5 million." I would hope so!
Even if we get him back cheap, I don't know ... as I mentioned in the comments section to yesterday's post, his inconsistency is infuriating. He's had some great moments but he'll be 32 years old next year, so there's no real reason to believe he's going to improve.
If he comes back cheap, and fills a middle relief/spot starter role, that could be okay -- he managed a 104 ERA+ last year, but almost all his success came out of the bullpen (he had a 5.47 ERA as a starter, but 2.76 in 49 relief innings last year). But would Ortiz be happy in such a role? Could we find equal or better alternatives for cheaper in the farm system or waiver wire? A lot depends on if we acquire a starter like Randy Johnson or Pedro, and how the rotation looks thereafter. I wouldn't be surprised if the decision on whether or not to offer Ortiz arbitration comes very close to the deadline.
VLAD WINS MVP!!!
Yes, it was expected and deserved, so congrats to Vlad on the honor.
***
Yesterday, I bid adieu to Ramon Ortiz. I knew he technically could come back, but doubted the Angels would pursue such action. However, Stoneman leaves the door open in today's LA Times. "Command got him into trouble," he is quoted as saying. "If he can find the command we've seen from him in the past then, shoot, he can be a starter." Well, yeah, if ...
Also from Stoneman: "Looking at his option price, we decided we would do better in arbitration. The analysis we went through suggests a much lower number than $5.5 million." I would hope so!
Even if we get him back cheap, I don't know ... as I mentioned in the comments section to yesterday's post, his inconsistency is infuriating. He's had some great moments but he'll be 32 years old next year, so there's no real reason to believe he's going to improve.
If he comes back cheap, and fills a middle relief/spot starter role, that could be okay -- he managed a 104 ERA+ last year, but almost all his success came out of the bullpen (he had a 5.47 ERA as a starter, but 2.76 in 49 relief innings last year). But would Ortiz be happy in such a role? Could we find equal or better alternatives for cheaper in the farm system or waiver wire? A lot depends on if we acquire a starter like Randy Johnson or Pedro, and how the rotation looks thereafter. I wouldn't be surprised if the decision on whether or not to offer Ortiz arbitration comes very close to the deadline.
Comments:
In an offseason where even Aaron Sele still has a shot at finding a job, somebody will pick up Ortiz. Heck, it might even be Stoneman.
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