Should anybody in the Outfield be traded?

[Ravens&SkinsSuperBowl40]

Should any of them be traded? With the second base situation, somebody on the team has to go.

[TheDoyler23]

I think they all should stay. Gibbons is still struggling since coming off the DL but he'll swing it around soon. Even if a contender wants him down the stretch as a power hitting lefty, they probably won't be offering a STARTING pitcher for him, but a prospect.

As for Bigbie and Matos...Bigbie is a former first round pick. He batted over .300 when called up last year as did matos and this season is their first full season in the pros. Last season they were getting playing time in a dismal lineup on a losing team. Pitchers weren't preparing to pitch to them and hence the success they had. From there the pitchers make an adjustment and it's up to the batter to make a further adjustment and really learn how it is to hit in the majors. Batters that don't make that adjustment become the Jeffery Hammonds, (UGH)Ryan Minors, and Gary Matthews jr's of the world and just bounce around.

With this beind said, I think both should stay. The organization has spoent the draft picks and advanced their careers to this point, why let them go eslewhere for marganial pitching talent?

They will be much more productive in the second half of the season and into the future. They're both excel in defense as well.

[Saint Joe]

Larry Bigbie, I am confident, will develop into a star before long. Bigbie has a shot at becoming a 20-steal, 20-homerun guy already this season.

If people watched the Orioles, and saw what a great center field Luis Matos plays, he would win a Gold Glove this year. Unfortunately, the player with the best batting average, and most homeruns, will win the Gold Glove, and that is not Luis Matos. Matos has great range, and argueably saves more runs than most Orioles' hitters produce at the plate. Matos is a solid center fielder, and should be the center fielder of the Orioles for many years to come.

Jay Gibbons is the best outfielder of the three at this point in his career. He has been plagued by back problems this year, but once fully healthy, which I believe he is now, will return to his old form.

There is no reason why any of these three, young, potential stars, should be traded. This question should not have even been asked.

[TheDoyler23]

Another thing about Gibbons is that in a year or two, the organization can just turn him around to first base when Raffy retires.

[Ravens&SkinsSuperBowl40]

I actually think all of them should be kept now, because the only person who I think the O's should have gone for was Beltran, who is now on Houston. I didn't realize he was traded when I made this.

[Ravens&SkinsSuperBowl40]

Originally posted by BDBuddy23
Batters that don't make that adjustment become the Jeffery Hammonds, (UGH)Ryan Minors, and Gary Matthews jr's of the world and just bounce around.

Isn't Ryan Minor trying basketball again now? Why won't the guy just give up?

[Saint Joe]

Ryan Minor was drafted 32nd overall by the 76ers in the 1996 draft.


Isn't Ryan Minor trying basketball again now? Why won't the guy just give up?

Why should anyone who has the desire and talent (which it appears he does considering he was the 32nd pick in the NBA draft, despite the possibility that he could leave basketball for baseball) give up trying to play sports professionally? It's an opportunity that few people are given, and why should he waste his talent just because his baseball career did not turn out as planned? Can you think of anything you'd rather do than get paid millions of dollars to play a game that you love?

If I were Ryan Minor, I would do everything possible to make my way into the NBA. If I were him, I would be kicking myself for the rest of my life if I did not give basketball a good shot. He gave baseball a shot, and it didn't work out, so why should he give up playing sports professionally?

[Ravens&SkinsSuperBowl40]

Originally posted by SkinsFan589
Jay Gibbons is the best outfielder of the three at this point in his career. He has been plagued by back problems this year, but once fully healthy, which I believe he is now, will return to his old form.

I agree that Gibbons will continue to be very good and have a long career, but I still think that Matos and Bigbie should be traded if the right player comes along, such as a solid offensive and defensive player who is within 2 years of 25.

[Ravens&SkinsSuperBowl40]

Originally posted by SkinsFan589
Ryan Minor was drafted 32nd overall by the 76ers in the 1996 draft.



Why should anyone who has the desire and talent (which it appears he does considering he was the 32nd pick in the NBA draft, despite the possibility that he could leave basketball for baseball) give up trying to play sports professionally? It's an opportunity that few people are given, and why should he waste his talent just because his baseball career did not turn out as planned? Can you think of anything you'd rather do than get paid millions of dollars to play a game that you love?

If I were Ryan Minor, I would do everything possible to make my way into the NBA. If I were him, I would be kicking myself for the rest of my life if I did not give basketball a good shot. He gave baseball a shot, and it didn't work out, so why should he give up playing sports professionally?

I would usually agree, but this guy has been trying in basketball for a few years, and I believe he is just wasting his life when he could try to do something else with it. Also, it is his own fault that he didn't make up his mind about what he wanted to play. Why would he try to play baseball when he made it clear that he wanted to play basketball? At least we got Jorge Julio for him from the Expos before he quit.:D

[Saint Joe]

Ravens&SkinsSuperBowl40,
Trading Larry Bigbie would be a huge mistake. He is on his way to becoming a superstar in the league, and the Orioles would be kicking themselves for years for trading Bigbie. He reminds me a lot of Shawn Green (while in Toronto), big, tall, strong, and fast.

During spring training, the Orioles were in negotiaions with the Dodgers to bring either Kaz Ishii or Odalis Perez to Baltimore. It was reported that the Dodgers were willing to trade either front-line starter for Larry Bigbie. The Orioles, however, were unwilling to give up Bigbie, which illustrates how highly the Orioles and other teams think of Larry Bigbie. The Orioles instead offered Jay Gibbons, but the Dodgers rejected the offer.

[Ravens&SkinsSuperBowl40]

First off, if it was my decision, I would have done the trade of Bigbie for Perez, and I hope the O's try to make that trade by the deadline, moving Hairston to the outfield. It would get us some good young pitching that is ready to play now instead of 3 years down the road. The only pitcher the O's have that is ready to play now is Cabrera, and possible Bedard. Second, why wouldn't the Dodgers want Gibbons? He is also young, and he is already an established power hitter.

[Saint Joe]

Like I said earlier, Hairston has said on multiple occasions that he is unwilling to change his position permanently. He has said that both he and Roberts expect to be starting second baseman. Hairston stated that he is willing to help the team in any way for the time being, but expects to be a starting second baseman somewhere in the league, whether it be Baltimore or another city. Therefore, moving Hairston or Roberts to the outfield is not an option.

[Ravens&SkinsSuperBowl40]

If Hairston won't comply, offer him a half a million dollar pay raise or something like that. Give him some incentive.

[AJWatson3]

i voted none of them, but if i had to give up one i would really be torn.

matos is the least likely to contribute behind the plate, but his defense is outstanding...
gibbons has the most power potential at bat, and could be a .280/35/120 guy IMO, and he plays pretty decent outfield when his back is healthy...
bigbie is the one i know least about. he's got the ability to hit for a high average (he can hit to all fields and has power and speed), but he has made some bonehead plays in the OF.... that's the one thing i don't like about him.

[seand89]

Why is everything centered around the second base issue? I say to ship off Hairston to a contender in need of a decent second baseman, hopefully for some pitching, and keep what could possibly be the best outfield in the majors in the future.

[Ravens&SkinsSuperBowl40]

I agree with AJWatson about how everybody plays, and how they can play, but I still think AT LEAST one of them should be traded. I know that they can be good, but that leads to too expensive saleries for an all-star offense and no pitching. That brings me to question, which is, When all the O's pitchers get good, which they hopefully will do with Miller, how will the O's afford all of them? They have so many young and talented players, but what happens when they all cost too much? Do the O's become the second Evil Empire?

[AJWatson3]

well, if it came down to trading one of them if we were to get Mags Ordonez next season, i would be all for losing Bigbie or Gibbons. that's about the only scenario. i would much rather trade hairston and get pitching before any of the OF's...

[Saint Joe]

I agree with AJWatson about how everybody plays, and how they can play, but I still think AT LEAST one of them should be traded. I know that they can be good, but that leads to too expensive saleries for an all-star offense and no pitching. That brings me to question, which is, When all the O's pitchers get good, which they hopefully will do with Miller, how will the O's afford all of them? They have so many young and talented players, but what happens when they all cost too much? Do the O's become the second Evil Empire?

Ravens&SkinsSuperbowl40,
That has to be one of the most stupid philosophies I have ever heard. Essentially what you have said, is that the Orioles should trade away young talent to prevent themselves from getting too talented? It seems to me as if you want the Orioles to trade just for the sake of trading.

First, trading away any of these outfielders, according to you, would require getting a young star in return. Doesn't that increase the payroll even further?

Second, the Orioles do not have an great abundance of young talent. Sure, they have a few players with potential, but there are many other teams in the league with more young talent.

Third, after being a fan of the Wizards and Orioles, which I believe you are, haven't you become weary of trading away young talent (Steve Finley, Curt Schilling, Pete Harnisch, Jose Mesa, and many more)?

Finally, what's wrong with being the second Evil Empire?

[seand89]

SkinsFan589,

I agree with everything that you just said except the evil empire part. I do not want the Orioles to be a hated team. It could lead to World Series victories, but that should not and will not happen.

[Saint Joe]

Seand89,
You seriously wouldn't trade in a few BOOs for a few World Series titles?

[Ravens&SkinsSuperBowl40]

I don't think that they should trade away all of their talent, but if they are going to have a high payroll, they might as well me an all-around team. By trading an outfielder for a pitcher, they could have a solid number 1 or 2 starter, such as Perez, and have Bedard and Cabrera behind whoever that is in the rotation. Once all of their young pitching (hopefully) blossoms, they will need to trade away some of their pitching unless they want to pay a luxury tax every year and be hated. Sure, being hated wouldn't be bad for an O's fan, but nobody else would like that they are doing good, even if it was against the Yankees. The team should at least trade away Ponson if he doesn't get any better once the other pitchers start doing better, because his contract is so large, and they should trade away one of their outfielders because their contracts will most likely become too large. A team doesn't have to be perfect and have great players at every position to win.

[Saint Joe]

Ravens&SkinsSuperbowl40,

First, Odalis Perez is no longer on the market.

Second, I don't think having to pay a luxury tax will cause us to be hated.

Third, we would have to pay, and beg, for another team to take Ponson off our hands.

[Ravens&SkinsSuperBowl40]

First off, the Yankees are hated for having all of the stars and paying a luxury tax, so why would that be different for the O's. Second, the Dodgers would still probably take Bigbie for Perez if they would at the beginning of the year, because there is nothing to show that he has slowed down or he will not become a star. Also, they could just call up Edwin Jackson to replace Perez. Third, I have to agree that it would be hard to get rid of Ponson, but the team could at least try once their pitchers get better. Also, by the time they do get (hopefully) good, Ponson's contract will be at least close to being over. That will make it so they won't have to trade him, even though IMO they should anyway.

[rockANDallstar]

I really dont like jay gibbons that much