O's to hold of selling veterans.....for now

Orioles magic reborn

The Orioles came from behind in all five of their victories on their 5-1 homestand against the Pirates and Astros. Even in the game they lost, they forced extra innings on a two-run, two-out homer by Brian Roberts off Pirates closer Matt Capps in the ninth inning.

"I don't think I've seen anything quite like this in my career," says Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail, who began his professional career in 1976 and has been a GM or club president since '86.

The Orioles, after trading shortstop Miguel Tejada and left-hander Erik Bedard, are a combined 9-9 against the Red Sox and Yankees. They've also developed a unique camaraderie under manager Dave Trembley, who is in his first full season.

"It's an unusual club," MacPhail says. "I've never seen anything like that T-shirt giveaway they do every Tuesday. Everyone wears everyone else's T-shirt. Guillermo Quiroz wears (Nick) Markakis', Markakis wears Adam Jones', someone else wears Jamie Walker's or Kevin Millar's. They seem to be having a good time, and why not? They've overcome everyone's expectations."

Pitching coach Rick Kranitz, the replacement for Leo Mazzone, has played a major role in helping develop Daniel Cabrera, Garrett Olson and Radhames Liz. The Orioles have more young pitching coming, including Class AA right-hander Chris Tillman, who was acquired in the Erik Bedard trade. A scout who saw Tillman recently compared him to Rick Sutcliffe.

The pitching depth could enable the Orioles to trade for young position players, but MacPhail says the best way for the team to compete against the Red Sox and Yankees is "to outpitch them." Meanwhile, a potential selloff of veterans — Roberts, Cabrera and closer George Sherrill all would be attractive — is on hold.

"That's six weeks away. That's a lifetime in baseball," MacPhail says of the deadline. "These things in baseball become self-evident. As I've said, I don't have any interest in pulling the rug out from under these guys. When things are going good, you just try to stay out of the way and let 'em play."

**Sigh of relief**

I've been rather worried about this too.  You never know how a trade is going to affect a team, with old faces disappearing from the clubhouse, new faces upsetting the chemistry that was going.  I like MacPhail's quote, you don't want to pull the rug out from under the guys.  We'll definitely be making some moves as we get closer to the trade deadline.  Like he said though, there's no rush, and six weeks is an eternity away.  We don't need to go trading away our closer and All-Star second baseman right now if we don't know how far out of the race we are.

"As I've said, I don't have any interest in pulling the rug out from under these guys. When things are going good, you just try to stay out of the way and let 'em play."

That especially is a great quote. Interesting to hear also. I think this is the first time MacPhail has gone on the record about where the rebuilding process stands after a solid first couple months.