Cintron called up from Norfolk!

Speaking of keeping Huff, I envision this partial lineup in 2011 (except Tex, that one's just wild optimism)

1.  
2. Adam Jones
3. Nick Markakis
4. Mark Teixeira
5. Matt Weiters
6. Aubrey Huff
7. Nolan Reimold

I'm not completely sold on Reimold, but he seems to be improving.  My argument for keeping Huff is mostly that even as he ages a bit he'll be a better hitter as the lineup around him gets more potency.

I am not gonna enter the debate of what constitutes a veteran or how old/young the Orioles are compared to other teams.  What is the Orioles focus this year?  For those who say that the focus is not about winning I say bulls**t.  These are professional athletes.  They want to win.  I will say that winning is not the primary focus this year.  That would be the future of this ballclub and instilling the right attitude, that of remaining competitive and focused whether the team is winning or losing.  Guys like Kevin Millar, Aubrey Huff, Ramon Hernandez, and Luke Scott understand this. 

I will agree that in order to guage the future the Orioles will need to evaluate the present.  One of those evaluations is Luis Hernandez.  In the opionion of Dave Trembley, Andy MacPhail, and the other coaches who witness his play every day, Hernandez is not ready for the major leagues.  On other threads we have debated the pros and cons of bringing players to the majors too early.  Just because Hernandez is not Matt Wieters doesn't mean we need to treat him any differently.  Although i don't believe that Hernandez will be anything more than a AAAA utility player for his career, doesn't mean the O's decision makers believe the same thing.  In their opinion Hernandez needs more time in the minors.

On to Alex Cintron.  i know some of you would see Hernandez or Freddie Bynum play SS, I like Cintron.  I have mentioned this before.  Even though he might not be part of our long-term goals, they are just that...long-term.  He is a good guy to have around, much like Kevin Millar.  He's been on winners (D-backs) with a lot of veterans to learn from (Randy Johnson, Matt Williams, Curt Schilling, Craig Counsel, etc) and he can bring that knowledge and attitude to this club.  He is also a very good competitor and is a better stop gap than Juan Uribe.  Not to mention he plays 3 IF positions and hits better than Hernandez. 

I do not think the promotion of Cintron is straying from the primary focus of the O's.  It is buying more time in order to evaluate the talent we have and to evaluate what we need to make the O's a competitor in the AL East within the next 2-3 years. 

lol jazz the only thing players can learn from matt williams is the proper technique to "juice yourself."

btw i have to disagree with you VC on this statement.

Great debate Orioles fans!! Usually at this time of the season, we have little to argue about, and a bleaker future. I'd like to set the record straight on what it is that I was trying to convey to everyone in the previous posts. The Orioles, as a professional baseball team and business entity, has an obligation to itself to make money. To do so, the business of baseball must produce a competitive team that draws fans. Consequently, fans come to Camden Yards and pay to see the team play. Winning in pro sports is everything! Without a winner, or at the very least a competitive team, the fan base loses interest. The attendance at home proves that. So, when anyone states something equivalent to what Sess posted, I know that the whole rebuilding process is totally misunderstood by many of us.

Winning is the only GOAL year after year. The O's will not have a team of all young talent all at once. It takes time for the development of players. This year it's Adam Jones and perhaps Garrett Olson, Next year we add Matt Weiters and maybe Nolan Reimold or Billy Rowell. In the interim, the goal is to WIN. You don't even know if your prospects are MLB material. How many faded out at AAA or AA.? Or became great AAAA players? You play to win now. You add pieces from free agency (when it makes sense) and from your farm system (when a player is fully developed) and can help you WIN!

So if Luis A. Hernandez is not playing well, or doesn't project long term, why not see if Alex Cintron can give us some needed power from the 9 hole? And there are other questions surrounding other players. Garrett Olson has been great so far in his few starts. How will he handle being shelled (which is an inevitable thing that happens to all pitchers)? Or Jim R. Johnson? Are they mature enough as individuals and professional enough to let it go and be ready for their next outing? Are they better than the usually reliable but less talented guys like Greg Aquino who was designated for assignment.

If you use losing this year as an excuse for being a young team, than shame on you. We have veterans in nearly every starting position. The Orioles have 3 young players on this team in Randor Bierd, Hernandez and Jones. That's the only reason why we have the 3rd youngest team. Melvin Mora, Kevin Millar, Aubrey Huff, Brian Roberts, Luke Scott, Ramon Hernandez, Chad Bradford, Jamie Walker and Steve Trachsel make up one third of the team and two thirds of our everyday line-up. We are not a young team. But we are getting younger. And, perhaps better real soon.<