Major League Baseball

Jorge Arangure Jr.
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 16, 2006 2:00 PM

Washington Post staff writer Jorge Arangure Jr. who covers the Baltimore Orioles, was online Tuesday, May 16, at 2 p.m. ET to discuss the team and the latest major league baseball news.

The transcript follows.

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Jorge Arangure Jr.: Hey everyone. welcome to another chat. The music for today is Hope of the States. And let's celebrate that for the first time in the history of this chat there will be no questions about who the owner of the nats will be.

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San Diego, Calif.: Hi. Just a quick question.... Do you think we will see Roger Clemens on the mound this season and if so, wearing what uniform?

Jorge Arangure Jr.: Sorry i know there's lots of Orioles question, but as always, San Diego gets priority.

Most people around the game seem pretty certain that Clemens will be wearing an Astros uniform. They say the Astros have set up a perfect situation for him and the team is competing. There's no reason for him to go elsewhere.

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Rockville, Md.: When does O's spring training 2007 start? Seriously, whoever is incharge of the O's scouting department needs to be fired and ridden out of town on a rail (along with Angelos). Competitive teams, when injuires occur, replace said injured players with someone who can actually get the job done. However the O's, due to injuries, are forced to run out ther Tererro, Chavez, and all these other scrubs who shouldn't even be allowed to play in AAA. Atleast when the birds are getting pounded night in and night you can tease Roch about his blog but that even has to get old after a while.

Jorge Arangure Jr.: It never gets old to tease Roch about his blog.

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Augusta, Maine: What's up Jorge? Care to predict the O's rotation by season's end?

Jorge Arangure Jr.: Augusta I'd say the only likely addition to the staff would be Penn, who would most likely take Chen's place. Otherwise, there really aren't any other options, and Perlozzo pretty much aluded to that. And really, how many other teams in the majors could afford to replace two starters in the rotation with two quality pitchers?

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Bedard: Jorge:

When reporting on a recent bad outing by Erik Bedard, you wrote that he kept looking in the dugout, apparently hoping to come out of the game and that Perlozzo ignored him. That comes pretty close to stating he wanted to quit that day, which is a pretty tough charge. On what, other than your eyes, did you base that report? Did you catch any grief for it? And do you think Bedard is a little soft? Thanks.

Jorge Arangure Jr.: You must have read too much into the description. The fact he looked into the dugout was written to imply that Bedard had been almost waiting to be taken out because he had been pitching poorly. I know some people have tagged Bedard with the "soft" label, just as we at the Post have tagged Barry with that same description, but i think it's unfair to say Bedard is that way. Barry is totally soft.

If people are basing their "soft" tag on Bedard because he spent a lot of time rehabilitating his knee last year, well that's silly. Why should a young pitcher jeopardize his career to come back too soon?

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Baltimore, Md.: What is the status of the O's AAA club? Will they be leaving Ottawa for somewhere in Pennsylvania and if so, when will that happen? And on that note, have you spoken to any Orioles players who actually enjoy playing in Ottawa? The reports sound uniformly negative.

Jorge Arangure Jr.: The Orioles are in the last year of their contract with Ottawa, but we won't know if they will relocate until after the season when affiliations around the country open. Obviously the preferance would be to move elsewhere, as no player, executive or coach i've ever talked to has said they enjoy playing in Ottawa.

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Federal Hill, Balt., Md.: OK, the O's are pretty bad right now, but the team is making it reasonably attractive to see games. In addition to their $8 Tues. Bargain Nights and their $5 Student Nights on Friday, they now have a Senior Orioles Club in addition to their Junior Orioles Club. Seniors can see something like 5 games for $15. Sure it's more fun when they're winning, but for those of us who simply enjoy hanging out at the park, this is a pretty good deal. And No, I'm not related to Peter Angelos.

Jorge Arangure Jr.: Mr. Angelos, I'm not sure i'd pay $8 to see the Orioles get trounced by the Red Sox

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Wich O's team is the real one?: The one that, barely, sweapt the Royals or the one that got plastered by the Red Sox?

Also, how much worse are things looking with Cabrerra on the DL now?

Jorge Arangure Jr.: I'd say that both are the real O's. Just good enough to beat a really but team, but not good enough to beat good teams. There was no structural damage with Cabrera so there's no reason to think he won't be back in the rotation after his 15 days on the DL

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Silver Spring, Md.: So who do you think the owner of the Orioles is going to be?

Jorge Arangure Jr.: Very nicely done. Some of you chatters are more clever that Barry gives you credit for.

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Clemens....: What you don't see him signing with the Orioles to help stabilize their rotation?

Rats!!!! There go our chances of winning the World Series this year.

Jorge Arangure Jr.: There's no way this is a serious question. You might have just won a bet because i posted the questions. Congrats.

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Ijamsville, Md.: Hey Jorge...

Is there any hope with this series vs the Red Sox? I'm thinking tonight Chen will get his stuff together, have a great game, yet he will lose b/c the O's wont score against Schilling.

I'm looking foward to the interleague matchup this weekend vs the Nats. I cant wait to go to RFK and yell "O" during the national anthem and get all of the Nats fans all angry. Plus the O's will sweep the Nats this weekend!

GO O's!!!

Jorge Arangure Jr.: I'm not sure who will be more excited about this Nats v Os series. The fans or Boz.

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Arlington, Va.: Question:

Roberts is available in my fantasy league? Is he worth the pick up when he comes of the DL? Any word on what kind of shape he is in?

Also, if you were a fantasy owner (or a real owner for that matter) would you consider Barry (Bonds not Svrlu..whatever) in your lineup a good thing or a bad thing? I go back and forth about this a lot...

Jorge Arangure Jr.: I would certainly pick up Roberts. The guy has proven now that he can flat out hit. The fact he did so well coming back from elbow surgery is impressive. The groin injury doesn't affect him at the plate, so you don't need to worry there. But if you need steals then it could be a problem.

I'd stay away from Bonds.

The geek quotient of this chat just went up a notch.

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Odenton, Md.: Jorge-

The game on Sunday was sooo slow and boooorrrrinnnnggg. I had more fun watching the press box (which really says something about the game).

That was a nice red jacket you were wearing. If I wave next time will you wave back?

Jorge Arangure Jr.: My sister, who gave me the jacket will be happy to hear that.

Of course i'll wave. Well maybe. If the O's play another game as long as Sunday i might be sleeping.

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Washinigton, D.C.: Do any of the starting pitchers say, "I wish we had Ray Miller back?" Would they bring in Ray to work with Bruce Chen? After all, I'd rather have the Chen who worked with Miller than the one who failed with Mazzone in Atlanta and is bombing out this year.

Jorge Arangure Jr.: Haven't heard that, but i more wonder if Mazzone has said, "i wish i had smoltz, glavine and maddux" back?

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Arlington, Va.: Jorge,

Journalist's viewpoint Q. Give us lay persons some insight, if you would, into what it is like to cover a team from spring training through a very long season? That amount of critical observation and scrutiny must allow you to see things about a team that only the managers and coaches do. What's the best and worst things about the job?

Jorge Arangure Jr.: Tony Kornheiser actually made a great point to me one day when he said, "beat reporters usually write about 70 percent of what they know." that seems very accurate. because you are there so often, there are things you don't write because it's not appropriate or you'd risk alienating everyone in the clubhouse, meaning you'd get no one to talk to you anymore.

The most important thing to take out of that last graph i wrote, is that Tony K actually talked to me once.

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Washington, D.C.: Jorge as always I appreciate your time to answer our questions. Wow, an "announced" crowd of 25,000 for a Red Sox game at Camden Yards? 23,000 of whom were likely rooting for Boston? What gives? And what does Sir Peter plan to do about placating an obviously disenchanted fan base?

Jorge Arangure Jr.: Like I've always said, anything short of a winning team won't get fans back. I don't care how many promotional nights you have, the fans just want to see a good team. And that won't happen this season.

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Federal Triangle: Time to move Conine or Millar and sign Durazo? Where is the lefty bat that can take advantage of the RF porch, other than Gibbons?

While we are at it, should Javy be the one to get sent packing to a catching-desperate contender, like the Angels? Maybe if he changed his name to "Molina" . . . I'd take Kotchman and one of their extra arms in AAA.

Jorge Arangure Jr.: Here is the situation: The Orioles aren't going to get anything but a low level minor league prospect for either Lopez, Conine or Millar. The reward for moving any of them is minimal. If one of the three or all three start to crush the ball then perhaps a better market will arise. But for now it doesn't make much sense to move them if you're not going to get anything back in return.

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Silver Spring, Md.: You alluded to this in your story on last night game, but why are the crowds at Camden Yards so dead? I was there last Tuesday and it was sad. Okay, I understand small crowds, but those who did show up seemed completely disinterested in the game. They came alive a bit at the end, but it was a dreary experience. Camden Yards seemed like a joyless place. Is it always like that?

Jorge Arangure Jr.: It's always like that now. And that won't change until the Orioles put a better product on the field.

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Section 312, Row 4: Hola Jorge!

This question is not exactly in your Oriole-Wheelhouse but perhaps you know. The Nationals kept Blanco on the bench all last season because of his Rule-5 status. He was worthless then and now he is nowhere to be seen. Donde esta?

Jorge Arangure Jr.: Fair question, but i'm not exactly sure. Try looking his name up on thebaseballcube.com. It's a great site that includes minor leaguers.

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Coronado, Calif.: Are you pleased that the Padres have been the hot team in baseball recently? Where do you estimate they might finish? Ever been to McP's Pub for refreshment?

Jorge Arangure Jr.: I'm very pleased. I've had a discussion about this padres team with a friend recently. We're both hesitant to believe they're actually any good, because we look at the makeup of the team and just can't fathom they'll be consistent throughout the year. But we're stupid padres fans so we'll believe and then get upset when they don't do well later.

McP's is cool.

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Laurel, Md.: OK, so we pretty much know that Orioles will win 70-75 games and finish fourth. Some big-money signing is going to have a terrible season and be released. There will be a couple of good starters but 2-3 will just stink out and the bullpen will blow a lot of leads.

Can you tell me what to watch for this season?

Jorge Arangure Jr.: Can you tell me why i should watch? Seriously. I'm starting to wonder.

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Arizona Bay, Ariz.: Have you thought about or tried to contact any former Orioles/Warehouse employees or have them contact you to get an inside look as to how bad this entire franchise is being run? Any thought of trying to talk to other teams players, gm's, owner's and getting a feel for how they view the O's? That could make for an interesting read. Or at least more interesting than having to read about Gerinmo Gil striking out 5 times in a game or Rodrigo Lopez forgetting that opposing teams don't pitch batting practice to each other.

Jorge Arangure Jr.: I think if you look at some of the stories we've written at the Post about the team in the past few years you'll get a sense of how the franchise is run. I'll try to recap quickly: They are slow to react to the market, refuse to spend money on big free agents, had a bad minor league system for several years, over value their prospects, have too much duality in the front office and are often handcuffed by ownership.

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O's v Nats at RFK: What are the odds that Peter "The Great" Angelos shows up at RFK to catch a game between the two clubs?

Jorge Arangure Jr.: I can't imagine he'll be there. Peter doesn't seem to like the spotlight.

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Harrisburg, Pa: The Orioles AAA team will most likely move to Scranton, PA next year. The AAA Phillies franchise are leaving as quickly as the season can end, since the local county comissioners ignored the Phillies requests for upgrades to the clubhouse and stadium (which is county controlled). You'll be hearing the saem complaints from the Orioles management 10 seconds after they move in.

Jorge Arangure Jr.: An interesting scenario.

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Washington: I seem to be seeing a lot of people (perhaps media, perhaps knowledgeable people, perhaps I'm wrong) basically saying this weekends Nationals-Orioles game is a non-event. And yet every baseball fan I know in the area is planning on going and has been looking forward to it.

Seems to me, if the fans think it's a big deal then maybe it is.

Jorge Arangure Jr.: What media has said this isn't a big deal? Not us i know that much.

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Lancaster, Pa.: Jorge, the combo of Rodrigo Lopez and Bruce Chen is killing the team. There is virtually no chance the Orioles will win when they pitch. Is the team planning on doing anything about this?

Jorge Arangure Jr.: Honestly, there really aren't many options. The only one really is Hayden Penn. Otherwise who else? Adam Loewen isn't nearly ready. Radhames Liz is still in Class A. There's no one at Ottawa, other than Penn, ready to step into the rotation. The team has all but given up on Eric DuBose.

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New York, N.Y.: When you're not reading sports, what are you reading? You seem like the guy who may check out Us Weekly every now and then.

Jorge Arangure Jr.: There's no question this one came from my old roommate who now works for US Weekly. To answer the question: i never read that rag.

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Reno, Nev. via York, Pa.: Hi Jorge. Thanks for doing these chats. I had no idea until a chat a few weeks ago that you had lived in the great metropolis of York for a few years. You must've been thrilled to leave a dreary place like San Diego in favor of the pastoral Eden that is south-central PA. Hope you enjoyed the inexpensive Yuengling Lager while you were there...

On to baseball: Are the Orioles determined to irreparably offend every impending free agent they ever have? (See: Mu$$ina, BJ Ryan, pre-disgrace Palmeiro, et al.) Is there any reason why they haven't given Mora a new contract yet? Isn't he far and away the best soon-to-be-available third baseman, and isn't he also the one who convinced the franchise player to stop demanding a trade? If he isn't re-signed soon, and the Orioles continue sputtering along the way they are, is there any chance that he comes back and that Tejada doesn't resume trade demands? Is there any reason for optimism about the franchise for a poor fan living in an Orioles-bereft zone in the high desert?

Jorge Arangure Jr.: The Mora contract situation has been maddening to follow. Apparently there are still discussions centered around a contract the Orioles offered Mora within the last month. Mora tentatively agreed to it and it was sent back to the Orioles for approval from ownership. Mora's camp didn't hear back from the Orioles for almost two weeks. And now they are in the process of trying to iron out more wrinkles. At the pace the Orioles work, it could be september before this thing gets finalized.

It's not surprising that teams and agents consider the Orioles one of teh most difficult teams to deal with.

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This O's chat: This has to be one of the most depressing chats ever. There seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel for O's fans.

When does Redskins training camp start again?

Jorge Arangure Jr.: I have to agree with you. I'm getting depressed.

I honestly haven't had one optimistic question. I'm not trying to be negative here but i have no choice.

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McLean, Va.: Jorge,

How angry would Angelos be if Ripken, Jr took a position with the Nationals. I would love for Ripken to do so.

In all realistically, I think Rip would make a great Manager or GM.

Your thoughts? Chances of this happening?

Jorge Arangure Jr.: It would be an embarrassment if Ripken took a high level post with the Nats. But taht won't likely happen. I don't see a team giving Ripken a high level position without some other type of off the field experience (ie coaching or lowel level front office job).

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I95 rivals: How do you see it? The good news is one of these franchises will win a series...

Jorge Arangure Jr.: Not neccessarily. What if one of the games gets rained out and the teams split?

I'll say Nats take two of three at home.

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O's @ RFK... Jorge on vacation?: Jorge,

Since Barry's going to be covering the series at RFK, what will you be doing? Do you get to go on a three-day weekend trip somewhere, maybe to Italy to write about the big soccer scandal that's preceding the World Cup?

Jorge Arangure Jr.: I'm trying to get soccer writer Steve Goff to switch jobs with me. He gets to cover the Orioles while i go to Germany to cover the World Cup. So far he ain't buying it.

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Washington, D.C.: So would Hayden Penn solve all of the Orioles problems? Or do we have to wait until John Parrish has recovered from his surgery for the arrival of a savior?

Jorge Arangure Jr.: Hayden Penn won't solve all of Baltimore's problems and it's unfair to think he would do so. He's only one young arm and that won't turn everything around.

I don't see how Parrish will be a savior if he's just likely to be a middle reliever.

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Washington, D.C.: Jorge,

What will u be doing this weekend?

Also, kudos to the Post for not buying into this first battle of the beltway garbage. Given the advertising, you'd think the cities of Baltimore and Washington D.C. had never played a baseball game against each other.

Jorge Arangure Jr.: I'll be at RFK on Friday and Saturday and flying to Seattle on Sunday. I wouldn't miss the I-95 series for anything!!! Actually i would totally miss it. The Post is just making me go.

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Boston, Mass.: Do you think there's any way Bud Selig would change the schedule a bit so the Red Sox play Baltimore more often this season? Perhaps in lieu of, say, Toronto?

Sincerely, Theo E.

Jorge Arangure Jr.: I'm not so sure Angelos would be upset by that. They'd get at least 10,000 more fans (granted Red Sox fans) into Camden, so instead of 15,000 they can have 25,000.

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Bowie, Md.: Pop question, I don't know the answer:

Is the Orioles franchise above or below .500 since 1954? (Neither would surprize me.)

Jorge Arangure Jr.: They are 4,298-3,954 and getting dangerously close to .500

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South Riding, Va.: So Jorge,

Tell us. Does Mike Wilbon and Tony K have the biggest offices at the Washington Post while all of you scrubs are in tiny cubicles?

Jorge Arangure Jr.: It's like you have a camera in our offices.

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Dupont Circle, Washington, D.C.: Just a quick note to the O's fans coming down for the games this weekend -- at the D.C. Armory on Saturday and Sunday they are having a giant jeans-shorts expo. You might want to skip the game and stock up on these Baltimore summer fashion staples, for the Nats are going to give your team a terrific drubbing!!

Jorge Arangure Jr.: This was too funny not to post.

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Silver spring, Md.: Orioles excitement!!!: Hey, Mu$$ina's a free agent after the season. Hmmmmmmmm?

Jorge Arangure Jr.: Yeah like he would sign with the Orioles

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Alexandria, Va. - A note about O's season ticket holders: As a longtime Sox fan I got into an interesting discussion last night with a guy who might have been the only Os fan in the park. He said he and his family come to a couple games a week because they feel they have to after paying for 4 seats x 81 games. But he said he, and a few other familes they know, wont be renewing after this year until changes are made. Do you think this is a long term effect Angelos is discounting? Short term attendence is one thing, but when you suddenly lose those blocks of people at a time, that's a problem that may take years to recover.

Jorge Arangure Jr.: I wish i could say i knew what goes through Angelos' mind when it comes to the Orioles. All i know is one former orioles front office person who worked for angelos for several years said he had no idea what logic peter uses to make baseball decisions.

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Silver Spring, Md., formerly Sec 322: Jorge,

You should watch the O's this season for two reasons:

First, it's what they pay you to do, and second, your sense of humor is one of the few bright spots for O's fans this year.

Jorge Arangure Jr.: They don't pay me that much. You should see how my sense of humor changes when i open my paycheck.

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Alexandria, Va.: Jorge, during the Nats vs. Os interleague series which team do you think will win the attendance battle?

Jorge Arangure Jr.: Capacity is bigger at RFK i believe, so i'll guess the crowds will be bigger there.

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Mission Bay: Is Detroit for real?

Jorge Arangure Jr.: I'm disappointed in you Mission Bay. You live in such a beautiful place and you ask a question about Detroit. Shame on you

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Silver Spring, Md.: Who do you think will turn it around first: Rodrigo Lopez or Bruce Chen?

Jorge Arangure Jr.: Well i'd say Lopez since he's had a more successful career. Lopez has had some decent starts, while Chen has struggled mightedly.

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Big Deal or Not:: "Actually i would totally miss it. The Post is just making me go."

Facetious? These are the kinds of comments I mean...

Jorge Arangure Jr.: I just would prefer to watch the big interleague matchup between the Padres and whoever their supposedly American League rival

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Jorge Arangure Jr.: Ok folks that's it. That's all you get. Should be interesting to see what the crowds will be like for this weekend's series. All joking aside, i'm looking forward to it simply because Boz might spontaneously combust. Later.

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