Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail is on the verge of making roster changes to shake up his struggling offense, according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun. The Orioles dropped to 7-21 today, and their lineup hasn't lived up to expectations this season.
"There is going to come a time where we’re going to be obligated to keep making changes in terms of offensive personnel," MacPhail said. "I would say there isn’t a great deal of time left before they have to start doing more than what they’re doing now. I’m not staying with them forever. It’s not a suicide pact. They either have to start performing or they’ll go to [Triple-A] Norfolk."
Although MacPhail didn't single anyone out specifically, Zrebiec notes that Adam Jones, Nolan Reimold, Luke Scott, Garrett Atkins, and Julio Lugo are among the players underperforming so far.
Seattle GM Jack Zduriencik talked this week about a similar need for offensive production, but while Zduriencik's Mariners are hoping to be buyers, the Orioles, already 13 games out of first place, are more likely to be sellers. Still, MacPhail's comments suggest that if the club elects to make changes, it will probably mean players being demoted rather than traded.
They’d actually demote Jones after 30 games, even after last year? Id be shocked…
Yeah, I doubt that’s happening. He’s definitely the unlikeliest candidate for a roster move of the names Zrebiec mentions.
He’s been performing better of late actually, and his stats don’t bear it out as much, but if he reverts to swinging at low away breaking balls like he was to start the season, it’s a big problem.
Suffer, Angelos. The O’s will be free again some day, and I can resume liking them.
I think tha MacPhail should just step down for the O’s to get “better”
MacPhail stocked this team with young talent, with some veteran stopgaps. If he wasn’t around, we’d have Kevin Millar and Ryan Freel, etc. as starters
MacPhail is pretty well regarded in baseball. He built the Twins up and won a title. Then he went to Chicago and built up their farm and made them into a contender. The Os have only gotten “better” since he came onboard.
Anyone who thinks MacPhail is the problem hasn’t been paying attention.
You will not see Adam Jones in AAA. Luke Scott won’t be going down either. We need to maximize his power so we can flip him at the deadline. I could see Reimold going down for 2 weeks or so to work on a few things. I’d give Atkins and Lugo up for a pack of gum.
Atkins has played pretty well the past couple of games…
I think that you’d have to give the pack of gum plus Lugo to get the deal done and get a “thank you very much” as the only return xD
That what happens when Roberts isn’t in the line up. I’ll be shocked if the O’s continue to perform the same way once he comes back to 100%. Unappreciated is an understatement. Jones isn’t a lead off man, that isn’t going to work, ever.
Julio Lugo is underperforming? You don’t say!
I don’t think you can put any untouchables in terms of demotions if they just aren’t cutting it. It might not be a permanent demotion, only for development reasons, but this includes Adam.
We can make as many excuses as we want to explain why the offense is so horrid thus far, but it doesn’t necessarily explain the sub-par play of certain players.
Ok, these guys may not hit .300+, but we’re talking about batters not being able to do fundamental stuff like taking the walk when being pitched around, hitting the other way, moving runners, putting the ball in play, etc..I can handle players getting beat, but it’s tough to see batters throwing away so many ABs swinging at junk.
That being said, players who this doesn’t apply is Nick M, Hughes, Tejada. Itzturis is borderline.
This shouldn’t be happening. This such a great offense.
To all you people who called me an idiot for saying that Julio Lugo would be overpaid at the league minimum … Nelson Muntz would like to have a hyphenated word with you.
Adam Jones has batted .220 since may of last year. he is overhyped and needs a reality check. send him down. the problem will always be angelos. the best the o’s can ever hope for is success on the level of milwaukee. maybe they’ll luck out one year and be one and done in the playoffs but most likely they’ll be kicking around .500 for the next decade