Yesterday, I read Drew Forrester’s blog on WNST.net in which he stated that the his Orioles’ source told him that Chris Tillman will not be called up for the start.
Forrester bashed Andy MacPhail, saying that he’s not even trying to win with the team here in Baltimore and I believe that simply isn’t true.
Image Courtesy of the Baltimore Sun
Look at what MacPhail has done. He’s turned a whiny injury prone pitcher (Erik Bedard) into an All Star center fielder (Adam Jones), All Star closer (George Sherrill), and that top prospect pitcher Forrester wants to see (Chris Tillman). By the way, that deal got Seattle’s general manager, Bill Bavasi, fired.
He’s turned a steroid using shortstop who is past his prime (Miguel Tejada) into a left handed hitting machine (Luke Scott) and four arms (Troy Patton, Matt Albers, Dennis Sarfate, and Mike Costanzo).
Recently, he traded a 31 year old career minor leaguer (Oscar Salazar) into a young submarine ground ball reliever (Cla Meredith).
MacPhail also secured the Orioles’ center pieces, Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis, to long term deals, and he’s got the O’s out of their garbage spring training facility in Fort Lauderdale and into a start of the art complex in Sarasota.
I commented on Forrester’s blog and all he had to say in response was negative things about Adam Eaton, Felix Pie, Ryan Freel, and Rich Hill.
Eaton helped eat up time before the young arms got called up, Felix Pie still is a highly touted young talent that wouldn’t clear waivers, Ryan Freel was admittedly a bust, and Rich Hill is a fastball away from being a decent starter in the toughest division in baseball.
You want to complain about Andy MacPhail? Come back in a few years and tell me how bad he’s done.
Of course, Andy MacPhail isn’t going to hit the jackpot with every decision. There will be some hiccups in the process. But to insinuate that he isn’t trying to “win now” is crazy. MacPhail himself says the team is built to win next year and beyond. Sure, it would be nice to win games now, but with the plan he has in place, it’s best to take some lumps now so that the O’s can be consistent contenders down the road.
Like you say, let’s see what happens in the next few years.
Exactly. Judge MacPhail on the future, judge the previous regime on their past.