Orioles reliever Jamie Walker made a unique comparison when asked how tough it will be for team president Andy MacPhail to rebuild a team that just concluded its 10th consecutive losing season with its worst record in five seasons.
“Besides George Bush, I think Andy MacPhail?s got the next hardest job in America,” Walker said. “I told him that. He knows that. He?s a smart baseball man. All my trust is going to be him and [vice presidents Mike Flanagan and Jim Duquette]. We have to re-route this ship. There?s a lot of changes that are probably going to be made.”
Flanagan and Duquette orchestrated the team?s personnel moves this past offseason, signing Walker and Chad Bradford as part of a $41 million upgrade to the bullpen. Now, it?s MacPhail?s turn.
After watching the team go 69-93 ? including 40-53 since manager Dave Trembley took over June 18 ? MacPhail believes the turnaround starts and ends at the same position: pitching.
“I think we should become the kind of organization that is focused on pitching because the kind of offenses that this division has, it really is going to require solid pitching to offset those or counteract those,” MacPhail said. “We?ve seen what happens when you?ve got injuries to your starting rotation and you?re forced to go with less experienced pitching. It?s not a pretty sight. I think that, as usual, you can expect that pitching will be something that requires a lot of our attention going forward.”
But before signing free agents, the Orioles will first determine what to do with their own players ? both those under contract and the free agents hitting the market after the World Series.
Center fielder Corey Patterson, who batted .269 with 8 home runs and 37 stolen bases, is the team?s primary free agent and has said he hopes to remain an Oriole. Backup catcher Paul Bako and starting pitcher Kris Benson, who spent the majority of the season on the 60-day disabled list, are also free agents. On Monday, theteam released Jaret Wright and Victor Zambrano.
Starting next week, MacPhail will conduct organizational meetings, with the aim of setting forth a plan to contend in a division featuring two playoff teams: the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees.
“Like he has told me, it can be overwhelming if you try to get it all done at once,” Trembley said. “I think you have to have an agenda, and start going down the agenda one at a time and prioritize what it is you want to do first.”
MacPhail acknowledges the team will consider extending the contract of ace left-hander Erik Bedard after his breakout season, but will have a difficult time adding complements in a “thin” free-agent market.
MacPhail left open the possibility the team will pursue trades.
“Teams that will look to fill needs and they see that it?s a thin free-agent market they?re going to have to look other places,” MacPhail said. “I would imagine that is going to be a primary avenue.”
