By Zach Wilt, on November 3rd, 2011  We speculated it yesterday and today a source confirmed to CBSSports.com’s Danny Knobler that Orioles owner Peter Angelos refused to offer full executive control to Tony LaCava in his interview for the Orioles general manager position.
As you’ve heard multiple times, LaCava opted to remain the assistant general manager behind Alex Anthopoulos in Toronto and the Orioles remain without a GM with free agency underway.
“LaCava wanted to clear out some long-term front-office people whose jobs have been protected by Angelos,” Knobler writes. ”Angelos refused to do that, even though he was willing to pay LaCava a competitive salary and to bring in other front-office people that LaCava wanted to hire (including Mike Berger, currently the director of pro scouting with the Diamondbacks).”
With this knowledge, no big name general manager will be willing to take on the duties in Baltimore. It makes the news of the Orioles reaching out to Andrew Friedman in Tampa Bay even more laughable.
By Zach Wilt, on November 2nd, 2011  Tony LaCava told the media all the right things when he turned down the Orioles general manager job to stay as an assistant under Alex Anthopoulos in Toronto. ”When I decided to interview, it wasn’t that I was looking to leave. But there are only 30 GM positions and I was interested in it,” LaCava said according to Aaron Gleeman of HardballTalk.com. ”When I weighed both at the end of the day, I just didn’t feel I could leave the Blue Jays. I am working in a great place, a job that I love. It’s just as simple as that.”
Unfortunately, his kind words don’t help Orioles fans as their team remains GM-less with free agency just hours away. LaCava’s decision is just the latest thing to go wrong for the Orioles. I’m not at all encouraged by this process. Despite his answers, at the end of the day he still turned down one of those thirty GM jobs to remain an assistant. What does that say about coming to work for Peter Angelos and the Orioles?
This is a team that has enough trouble landing free agents as it is, without a GM what kind of luck do you think they’re going to have?
For a few days it seemed like LaCava to Baltimore was a done deal. Gleeman reports that the Blue Jays “were already making plans for his departure.” What happened? Roch Kubatko tweeted that he heard one of the issues for LaCava was personnel moves that he wanted to make. In my opinion the general manager should have full control over the team’s operations. If that means that LaCava wanted to fire everyone beneath him and start over then so be it. That’s an extreme example, but I think in order to be success as a GM you can’t be micromanaged. Clearly he felt that he would have been.
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By Zach Wilt, on October 14th, 2011  As everyone in Baltimore knows, the Orioles finished their fourteenth straight losing season a few weeks ago and are searching for a new general manager after Andy MacPhail decided to leave at the end of his contract. Their young pitchers under performed and the O’s are in serious need of middle of the order help and a couple solid starters if they want to improve next season.
Despite all of their downfalls, the Orioles find themselves in a better position than the Boston Red Sox, who entered the 2011 season as the favorite to win the AL East and many people’s pick to win the World Series. Things in Boston spiraled out of control after the Orioles eliminated their playoff chances with a walkoff 4-3 win in game 162 in what was statistically the biggest collapse in MLB history.
Since that time the Sox decided to let their manager, Terry Francona, go after rumors circulated that he had lost control of the locker room of this $160,000,000 team. In case you need a quick recap of how bad things are in Boston, here are a few highlights.
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By Edgar Walker, on October 9th, 2011 The MLB postseason is absolutely wonderful. I don’t know what it is in particular about October, but for one month, the postseason captures everything that makes baseball such a brilliant sport. The tradition, the stadium atmosphere, the chance to make history. It’s baseball on another level; a level filled with intense focus, a burning passion to win, and unforgettable performances. After all, there is a reason that every boy or man in America dreams of playing in the World Series at some point in their life.
Every October, I get the same feelings of excitement when the playoffs roll around. I watch the games religiously, and share my feelings with almost anyone around me who has two ears and a little bit of patience. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve begun to realize that October truly represents what baseball is supposed to be like, and those fans in Philadelphia, New York, and Milwaukee, feel how baseball fans are supposed to feel. I can’t explain how badly I want playoff baseball in Baltimore, mostly because I have no idea what it would feel like to be part of something so special.
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By Zach Wilt, on October 7th, 2011  The Orioles search for a new General Manager just got a little bit easier as current skipper Buck Showalter will not take over Andy MacPhail’s duties in the front the office. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale tweeted that there is “no chance” that Showalter will make the move upstairs from the dugout. He added that Buck “loves managing, and plans to stay put.”
Whatever you think of the job Andy MacPhail has done in Baltimore (my opinion in well documented), given the choice between moving a proven manager upstairs and keeping the current GM, I say keep the GM. That’s not a slam against Showalter, but it’s my belief that consistency in the front office is important for any franchise. I also don’t want to take away one of the pieces that works in Showalter and make the risky move of putting him in an increased role.
The Orioles should be more focused on their player development in the minor leagues and international scouting than worrying about a new GM. No matter who has been at the top the Orioles farm system has underperformed for years despite the talent that has come through it. The young pitching failed this season and that all cannot be blamed on Andy MacPhail.
By Matt Sadler, on October 7th, 2011 As we await the news of the “supposed” immanent parting of ways between Andy MacPhail and the Baltimore Orioles, it’s time to start thinking ahead about who might replace him. We know that Buck might take the position, or he might just get one of his guys in there. That’s great and all, but I might be more excited if the O’s were to bring in some fresh blood. HBO’s lineup over the years has shown us some interesting characters that would might be good for front office management.
 Eddard Stark- (Game of Thrones)- Okay, maybe what the O’s need is the ability to bring honor back to the House of Angelos. Eddard (Ned) has plenty of experience in supporting a strong minded yet incapable leader. Plus, it would be way too cool to have the title as “Hand of the Owner.” In the end, the job is worse than the deepest pit in the Seven Hells, and it wouldn’t be long before he was on the chopping block (too soon?).
 Prop Joe- (The Wire) A true negotiator and a man of many talents. He could fix a clock and run an entire drug organization. A man with this many skills could be useful in what many consider an antiquated front office. Where Prop Joe would show his true worth his ability to find real trade value. Think Billy Beane with true street cred. READ MORE >>>
By Zach Wilt, on October 6th, 2011  It’s hilarious to me that a month ago Andy MacPhail’s departure from the Baltimore Orioles was a done deal. It was a sure thing that was being reported by all kinds of media around Baltimore. Today, MacPhail’s future is much more disputable and some are reporting the opposite from those August and September certainties.
MacPhail’s contract is set to expire at the end of October and initial reports linked Orioles manager Buck Showalter to be his successor. Dan Connolly of The Sun reports that MacPhail and Orioles owner Peter Angelos met last Thursday after the Orioles bumped the Boston Red Sox from the American League Wild Card. Had MacPhail decided to leave the team it likely would have been in that meeting. Roch Kubatko is MASN reports that MacPhail is “still deciding what he wants to do.”
Fourteen straight losing seasons always make fans want change, but this season I felt that MacPhail had arguably his best year with the O’s. For starters he locked up a franchise shortstop in J.J. Hardy who the team signed to an extension in the middle of the year. He also brought in the team’s only true power hitter in Mark Reynolds and dealt an older injury prone relief pitcher (Koji Uehara) for a starting pitcher (Tommy Hunter) and first/third baseman (Chris Davis).
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By Zach Wilt, on September 2nd, 2011 As the Orioles appear to be looking for a replacement for Andy MacPhail, who reportedly will not be returning to the organization next season, rumor has it that they may need a new scouting director as well.
In a live chat with readers, ESPN Insider Keith Law said that he is hearing that Orioles director of scouting Joe Jordan will also be leaving at the season’s end.
Jordan has been with the organization since 2004 and was rumored to be a potential candidate to replace MacPhail next season.
By Zach Wilt, on September 1st, 2011  Rumor has it that Orioles President of Baseball Operations Andy MacPhail will not return after his contract expires at the end of the 2011 season. Though MacPhail has never publicly let on that he will not be returning, two “high-ranking Orioles officials” told USA Today’s Bob Nightengale that MacPhail will not pursue an extension with the ball club.
One of the candidates that Baltimore fans may have expected to see was current manager Buck Showalter. Nightengale reports that Showalter will have a role in the decision, but is not interested in replacing MacPhail. ”I just hope for the best for Andy. This is not one person’s fault. You can’t be this bad, for this long, without multiple reasons.”
Jon Shepherd of Camden Depot listed five internal candidates that could replace MacPhail at the season’s end. Among them are Orioles Director of Baseball Operations Matt Klentak who at 30 years old “seems to be a favorite of Andy MacPhail and that might mean something to (Peter) Angelos.”
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By Zach Wilt, on September 1st, 2011 Talk about a change of pace. Bob Nightengale of USA Today told 105.7 The Fan’s Jen Royle that current Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman is the front-runner to become the Orioles General Manager in 2012.
Cashman’s contract is set to expire at the season’s end. He has spent the past 13 years as the Yankees GM and has been with the organization since 1986.
By Zach Wilt, on August 19th, 2011  Cubs fired Jim Hendry on Friday The biggest news in the sports world today isn’t about a brawl between Georgetown and a Chinese team or another surprising scandal involving a college football team or even Roger Goodell steering Michael Vick to the Eagles. No, the biggest story of the day is that the Chicago Cubs fired their General Manager Jim Hendry today and promoted assistant GM Randy Bush to take over the job on an interim basis.
An interesting part of Hendry’s dismissal was that back on July 22, he was told by Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts that he would not be returning as the GM. This handcuffed the Cubs at the trade deadline as Hendry felt that he should leave important player transaction decisions up to the future General Manager.
Under Hendry, the Cubs had a 98 win season, reached the NLCS in 2003 and won the NL Central in 2007 and 2008. David Schoenfield of ESPN.com’s SweetSpot writes that it was time for Hendry to go. ”In the end, Hendry followed the same path as Andy MacPhail and Ed Lynch and Jim Frey and Dallas Green and Bob Kennedy and Salty Saltwell and John Holland: He failed to get the Cubs to a World Series,” Schoenfield writes.
Current Orioles President of Baseball Operations, Andy MacPhail, resigned as Cubs President after the 2006 season. MacPhail spent 12 seasons with the Cubs and after a 96-loss season was replaced by John McDonough who stepped down in 2007, after the Cubs won the NL Central, to serve as the president of the Chicago Blackhawks. With the Cubs, MacPhail promoted Hendry as his assistant in 2002. Orioles fans are certainly familiar with MacPhail’s role in the Orioles rebuilding. MacPhail’s contract with Baltimore is set to expire at the end of the season and rumors continue to circulate as to his future with the Orioles franchise.
By Edgar Walker, on August 12th, 2011 Welcome to the second edition of the BSR Weekend Discussion. Here, we’ll pose a question, and all readers are urged to comment with their opinions. If a commenter wants to change the topic a bit to address something else pertinent, that is perfectly fine. Think of this as a free-flowing discussion/thread, and be sure to continue to check back all weekend.
This weekend’s question: Are you concerned about the Ravens’ chances in 2011 after watching their performance in Thursday night’s game against the Eagles?
Bonus Question**: Do you think Andy MacPhail deserves a new contract with the Orioles?
**Don’t feel pressured to answer one or another, just wanted to throw this one in for the O’s fans who are getting a little bit tired of all the Ravens coverage that’s been forced down their throats recently.
Revisit last weekend’s discussion: The BSR Weekend Discussion (8/6/11)
By Zach Wilt, on July 31st, 2011 After moving Koji to Texas, Andy MacPhail and the Orioles weren’t finished last night. In the late hours of Saturday, Derrek Lee was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Single-A first baseman Aaron Baker.
Lee sat out of game two of the double header in New York last night and the rumors about the deal were circulating all evening.
Baker is a 23 year old prospect who will reportedly be sent to Single-A Frederick when he arrives to the Baltimore. Here’s what Ben Nicholson Smith of MLBTradeRumors.com had to say about the O’s newest acquisition:
Baker, 23, has a .285/.353/.474 line with 15 homers in Class A Bradenton this year. The 2009 draft pick did not crack Baseball America’s preseason list of the Pirates’ top 30 prospects.
The Orioles likely would have lost Lee at the end of the season as he signed a one year contract for 2011. It’s still tough to believe that the Pirates are buyers.
By Ross Gore, on July 15th, 2011 
On the Thursday July 14th edition of ESPN’s Baseball Today, Keith Law brought up the following: Why are all the O’s pitchers losing velocity? Law’s comments exactly where: “Some this, what is going on with their pitching, might be their own fault. Matusz gets hurt, loses velocity. Tillman gets to the big leagues, loses velocity. Matt Hobgood, first round pick a couple years ago, first year in the system, he blows out his shoulder, he loses velocity. Brandon Erbe, top prospect, hurts his shoulder, he loses velocity. There is a long list of guys, pitchers, in that Orioles system who have had major arm problems, often shoulder, and have lost velocity. I don’t know what is going on and it could just be a run of really bad luck, but if you’re Andy MacPhail you have to sit down with player development, maybe independent of player development, and say ‘What the heck are we doing wrong that all of these really talented pitchers we are getting into the system are getting hurt and/or losing their fastballs.’” Law is completely right on this issue. Furthermore, he didn’t even mention former first round pick Adam Lowen who will never pitch again after a stress fracture in his elbow in 2008. I had actually noticed this issue independent of Law and noted it in the comments of Daniel Moroz’s summary of Brian Matusz’s shelling on June 30th. As of the Allstar Break the three young Orioles starters whom we have multi-year MLB data for have showcased the following velocity decreases.
Law didn’t mention Arrieta and I’d be perfectly willing to admit that his decrease in velocity is in the noise, but the other two pitchers have a better pedigree than Arrieta and seem to be losing velocity at an extremely high rate. What compounds the matters is that both Mark Connor and Rick Adair seem insistent that the O’s starters throw their fastballs more than any other staff in the majors (O’s starters have the highest fastball usage rate of 7/14). I don’t know enough about scouting or player development to determine if the injuries and decreased velocity are simply bad luck or symptoms of a systemic problem in the organization. Regardless is a very disturbing trend and one that deserves extreme attention in the future.
Podcast: Play in new window
By Zach Wilt, on June 30th, 2011 That headline is music to the ears to Orioles fans. Jeff Zrebiec of the Sun is reporting that Orioles president of baseball operations, Andy MacPhail, is in talks with J.J. Hardy’s agent to extend his current one year contract.
Ben Nicholson-Smith of MLBTradeRumors.com summed up the importance of this move best in his article posted on Wednesday evening.
With free agency a few months away, Hardy is having his best season in years. The 28-year-old has a .303/.367/.548 line with 11 homers, nine of which have come in June. Talks haven’t gotten serious between Hardy and the Orioles, but they could pick up this month.
Though top shortstop prospect Manny Machado has an .829 OPS in his first year as a professional, the 18-year-old has yet to play above Class A. The Orioles appear to want to limit an extension for Hardy to two years.
At BSR, we’re are definitely on the Hardy bandwagon. I know O’s fans would love to see the team lockup a guy that bridges the gap between now and Machado and fills in for Brian Roberts at leadoff.
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We speculated it yesterday and today a source confirmed to CBSSports.com’s Danny Knobler that Orioles owner Peter Angelos refused to offer full executive control to Tony LaCava in his interview for the Orioles general manager position.
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