Orioles Fire Perlozzo

So Sam Perlozzo of the Orioles was the first manager fired in 2007. I feel bad for Perlozzo because he wasn't the guy who was buying the groceries but today he's the guy who had to pay the bill. When you look at the offseason moves by the Orioles front office - you come away - let's just say less than impressed.

Only the pitiful offense of the White Sox has scored fewer runs than the Orioles this year. Aubrey Huff was the big bat that was signed in the offseason for 3-years and $20 million. With just 4 HR and an OPS of exactly .700 - Huff is a black hole on the payroll and on the line-up. There are a number of teams trying to make the playoffs who need help at 3rd base. If the Orioles could dump Huff for just a player to be named later it would be worth it for the payroll relief that would come with moving the contract.

With the Orioles 12th out of 14 AL teams in attendance - let's face it - dumping payroll should be a priority for incoming Chief Operating Officer Andy McPhail.

Jay Payton was the other hired bat brought in this offseason. Payton was "only" signed for 2-years and $9.5 million but for that money he should have better than 1 HR and a measly OPS of .695.

Perlozzo didn't sign either of these guys but he paid the price for having to give them a combined 429 at bats this season. Is it any wonder that the Orioles didn't score any runs?

Just to emphasize the bad luck the Orioles are having - Baltimore also made a mistake in signing Danys Baez to a 3-year $19 million contract but on the first day Baez was eligible to be traded he instead landed on the 15-day DL with tendinitis in his pitching forearm.

The Orioles need to burn down this team and start from scratch. This means trading Huff, Payton and Baez if humanly possile. It also means finding Miguel Tejada a new home so that the Orioles can better use the $26 million due him (plus what's left from the $12 million due him in 2007). More importantly - trading Tejada allows McPhail to put a new "face" to the organization. McPhail should also jettison Mike Flanagan and Jim Duquette as soon as possible. The Orioles roster is a mess and there isn't much in the farm system either. That responsibility falls squarely on Flanagan's shoulders and he shouldn't be allowed to further screw up the organization.

Baltimore needs to pare down the payroll to about $50 million and then rebuild from there.