sign in sign up
<<
Home , Paul Janish

World Champions 1983, 1970, 1966 American League Champions 1983, 1979, 1971, 1970, 1969, 1966 American League East Division Champions 2014, 1997, 1983, 1979, 1974, 1973, 1971, 1970, 1969 American League Wild Card 2012, 1996

Friday, October 14, 2016

Columns:  Orioles offseason positional roundup: third base The Sun 10/13  Orioles utility Paul Janish outrighted to minors, elects free agency The Sun 10/13  Because You Asked - Next Friday MASNsports.com 10/14  Janish outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk, elects free agency MASNsports.com 10/13  What should the Orioles do to be better in 2017? MASNsports.com 10/14  Paul Janish Refuses Orioles Assignment, Elects Free Agency CSN Mid-Atlantic 10/13  2016 Season Report Card PressBoxOnline.com 10/13 http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baltimore-sports-blog/bal-orioles-offseason-positional- roundup-third-base-20161013-story.html

Orioles offseason positional roundup: third base

By Jon Meoli / The Baltimore Sun October 13, 2016

With Manny Machado there, does anything else matter? Our Orioles offseason positional roundup continues.

With the 2016 season finished, there’s no better time than the present to take stock of the Orioles’ organizational depth at every position around the diamond.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll break down every position individually and separate the players all through the system into three categories: who was the man there this year, who else was in the picture, and who is working through the minors to join them. We end the week, and our trip around the infield, with third base. Manny Machado means things are going splendidly for the Orioles at that spot.

The man: The Orioles have the joy of running out 24-year-old star Manny Machado at third base, and seemingly every time they do, he does something that solidifies his status as one of the game’s best young players.

Machado, who finished fourth in the American League MVP voting a season ago, put forth an effort worth at least that this year by batting .294/.343/.533 with a career-high 37 home runs and 96 RBIs. He made the All-Star team for the third time in his four full seasons, and provided one of the more exciting moments of the year when he slugged Yordano Ventura after a -by-pitch in a June game at Camden Yards.

There were special moments provided inside the structure of the game, too. Machado homered in the first, second, and third inning on Aug. 7 in Chicago to become just the second player in major league history to do that. He swatted three grand slams, and while he sometimes left a little to be desired with his situational hitting, it’s nitpicking to find much wrong with what Machado did this season.

Even if he didn’t hit so well, Machado would be worth having around because of what he does defensively. Machado is widely considered a top-tier defensive , and he showed just how precocious his talent is by shifting to when J.J. Hardy fractured his foot in May. He shifted positions seamlessly, and though he’s not the elite defender at short that he has proven to be at third, that seven-week cameo solidified just how valuable Machado is in many senses.

The alternatives: When Machado went over to shortstop in Hardy’s absence, the Orioles rotated through three players at third base — , Paul Janishand Pedro Alvarez. Flaherty played the most of those three while Machado was at short, batting .225 with a .650 OPS and three home runs in that time. Janish made nine starts at third base. Alvarez was a third baseman for all of his career before defensive issues prompted the Pittsburgh Pirates to move him to first base in 2015. He appeared in 12 games at third base for the Orioles, starting six.

The future: Any future that’s not centered around Machado at third base is a worst-case scenario for the Orioles, and that’s no knock on the players below him on the depth chart. The biggest name among them is 19-year-old Jomar Reyes, who spent the season at High-A Frederick this year.

Reyes is a big, young man with big-time raw power, but through three professional seasons he hasn’t been able to harness it in game situations. He hit .228 with a .607 OPS and 10 home runs in 126 games for the Keys, and is a candidate to repeat the level. He also made 25 errors at third base, and while he entered the season trimmed down, he might ultimately be too big to handle the position full-time.

Ahead of Reyes is Drew Dosch, an interesting player who took a major step forward in 2016. Dosch would have gone much higher than the seventh round in 2013 had he not torn his ACL shortly before the draft, but the Orioles still might have gotten a bit of a bargain in selecting him there.

Dosch shot through the system in 2014 and 2015, but scuffled last year in -A and was batting .226 at the All-Star break this year. He developed an all-fields hitting approach and had a 306 average with an .878 OPS the rest of the way, ending his season with a .261 average.

Michael Almanzar, the former Rule 5 pick, hit .241 with 10 home runs as the everyday third baseman for Triple-A Norfolk.

The skinny: Even without much behind him, Machado’s mere presence means third base is one of the Orioles’ strongest positions both now and going forward. He’s a perennial MVP candidate entering the prime of his career, and the expectation is he’s only going to get better.

The Orioles still have two more years of control on Machado’s contract, and while that seems like a small number, having a player like him trumps anything you could get for him when you’re still trying to contend, as the Orioles are.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-utility-infielder-paul-janish-accepts- outright-assignment-to-minors-20161013-story.html

Orioles utility infielder Paul Janish outrighted to minors, elects free agency

By Eduardo A. Encina / The Baltimore Sun October 13, 2016

Paul Janish is exploring his options after being designated for assignment last week. Utility infielder Paul Janish, who was designated for assignment Friday, has elected free agency after being outrighted to the minors Thursday.

Janish had cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk. But because he had a previous outright, Janish was able to refuse the assignment and become a free agent.

He hit just .194/.286/.226 in 14 games with the Orioles, but provided valuable infield depth, especially at shortstop. This past season, Janish made nine of his 10 major league starts at third base when Manny Machado filled in at shortstop for J.J. Hardy in May and June.

In each of the past two seasons, Janish has been a valued depth piece for the Orioles, one of the first summoned from the minors when they needed help at shortstop, second base or third base.

The fact that Janish has elected free agency doesn't mean he won't be back in the Orioles organization. In each of the past two offseasons, Janish was designated for assignment, became a free agent and re-signed with the Orioles on a minor league deal.

Had the Orioles not designated Janish, he would have been arbitration-eligible. Last season, he was not tendered a major league contract by the club but remained with the organization. http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2016/10/because-you-asked---next-friday.html

Because You Asked - Next Friday

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com October 14, 2016

The Orioles’ season is over, a walk-off home pushing them out the playoff door, but the repetitive questions keep coming to me.

I refuse to walk away from them.

You ask, I answer. You ask again, I answer again. The sarcasm comes at no additional cost. All in good fun, of course.

It’s my spin on the traditional mailbag. The biggest challenge is not repeating a movie sequel in the title. I’ve done so many of them. And you really can’t top “Electric Boogaloo.” I peaked too soon.

Do you think the Orioles will make Matt Weiters a qualifying offer?

It’s still spelled “Wieters.”

Sorry Rock. Do you think the Orioles will make Wieters a qualifying offer?

It’s ... never mind. Assuming that the offer still exists, and FOXSports.com reported that it’s increasing to $17.2 million, the Orioles aren’t expected to extend it to Wieters. Executive vice president Dan Duquette said no decision has been made, but right now the assumption is they won’t do it. The New York Post is reporting that adjustments could be made to the current setup that include a team being unable to extend it to the same player two years in a row.

Would you offer it to him?

I don’t have that kind of money, but yes. He’d reject it. Take the draft pick. Getting a multi-year deal shouldn’t be difficult for Wieters. And heck, if by some miracle he actually accepted it, there’s your placeholder until Chance Sisco is deemed ready. OK, a really expensive one. I get it. And it likely would impact other moves by taking a large chunk out of the budget. Not good at all. But I just can’t see any way that Wieters would accept it now that he’s so far removed from his elbow surgery. I’m a gambler.

Would you make a qualifying offer to Mark Trumbo?

In a heartbeat. To me, that’s the no-brainer. It’s a win-win. Trumbo also will be fielding multi- year offers after leading the majors in home runs. He’s 30. Nelson Cruz was 34 when he signed a four-year, $57 million deal with the Mariners. I’m not letting him walk away and getting nothing in return.

Why didn’t Buck use Zach Britton in the wild card game?

He didn’t? I must have missed that. Something about the other relievers ahead of Britton pitching so well, tie game on the road, the roof being open, the price of poutine. OK, I’m making up the last two. I still wonder if there’s more to the story than we’ve been told.

Is Buck’s job in jeopardy?

No. I checked despite already knowing the answer and it’s still no. I get the criticism over using Ubaldo Jimenez, a slow starter, in the 11th inning, but this team was picked to finish in last place and it made the wild card game. It’s great that the bar has been raised. A .500 record or better no longer is cause for a wild celebration. But fire the manager? Seems like an extreme reaction and it’s not happening.

Have the Orioles announced a FanFest date and will it be in December again?

No and no.

What do you know about Jed Bradley?

Just the stats that the Orioles provided, plus the others that I looked up, after they claimed him off waivers from the Braves. Left-handed relief depth for now, but also a prime candidate to come off the 40-man roster when the Orioles need a spot.

Why did Dave Wallace keep leaving the team during the season?

The same reason that he’s retiring from coaching. It’s a family matter that he prefers to keep private. I respect his wishes and don’t write about it. He’s needed more at home and Showalter got him to return in 2016 by promising these short trips during the season. An instructor type of position would be ideal. Feeds his craving to work with young while also giving him more time with his family.

Who’s going to be the new pitching coach?

I’d just be guessing, since we’re so early in the process. Bullpen coach Dom Chiti probably is the leading in-house candidate. Roger McDowell will be interviewed after the Braves let him go, but the reviews are mixed. Depends on the person you ask. He has a good reputation for working with veterans. The Orioles, of course, want to make sure they get someone who’s equally good with the younger arms. Maybe it’s McDowell. Again, depends on who’s providing the scouting report. But I know it won’t be Rick Adair.

Who’s going to the World Series?

Anyone who can afford to pay the same amount as the qualifying offer for one ticket.

Of the teams that are left, who’s going to the World Series?

I’d be more confident in the Indians if they could squeeze four innings out of Andrew Miller in every game. I’m going with the Blue Jays and Cubs, but I’m guessing that most fans would like to see the Indians get in there because they haven’t won the World Series since 1948. I’m pretty sure it’s been longer for the Cubs.

Why was attendance down at Camden Yards?

It’s important to note that the Orioles drew more than two million fans this year, so we’re not talking about a major drop. But, yes, it was down. People have different reasons. Cost, kids, weather, the “unrest” last summer that I still think qualified as rioting, the delay in sending out season ticket invoices, the team down the road. Pick your favorite(s).

Binge-watching any shows now that you have some time off?

Define “time off.”

Binge-watching any shows now that you’re not covering games most nights and traveling all over the country?

I made it to Season 3 of “The Good Wife,” but lost my momentum. Not because I wasn’t enjoying it. Same with “The Wire” earlier. Now, I’m all about “Broad City,” which apparently airs on Comedy Central, though I never heard of it. In Season 3 now and it’s really funny. Quirky would be an understatement.

If Paul Janish wants the Orioles to pursue him as a free agent, why did he refuse their outright assignment?

Because he can. Janish earned the right after a previous designation and he may as well check the market. What does he have to lose? I’m sure that the Orioles will take him back on another minor league contract. In the meantime, his agent can attempt to find a better deal. He loves his time in Baltimore, though it isn’t sustained, so his refusal doesn’t reflect his opinion of the organization.

Any chance that Chris Lee breaks camp with the team next spring?

I would have liked the left-hander’s chances if he hadn’t be limited to eight games at Double-A Bowie due to a lat injury or strained shoulder or whatever we’re calling it. He continued to rehab in the fall instructional league. The Orioles just want to get him healthy and pitching again, most likely with the Baysox. But we could see him in 2017.

Could Trey Mancini move to the outfield with Chris Davis blocking him at first base?

It would be a drastic shift in organizational thinking. The Orioles were willing to experiment with Christian Walker because they thought he could make the switch. They viewed Mancini only as a first baseman. But I see nothing wrong with Wayne Kirby hitting him fly balls in . I’d get an earlier start and invite him to minicamp. Worst that can happen is he looks like Billy Rowell and moves back to first base.

Who’s the next Cruz/Trumbo for the Orioles?

You mean the next guy signed or acquired in a trade who leads the majors in home runs as a pending free agent? That’s probably asking a lot. Maybe Edwin Encarnacion would be kind enough to accept a one-year, team-friendly deal in March and use it as a platform for a bigger contract. Couldn’t hurt to ask. Maybe give him a real parrot to rest on his arm as he circles the bases.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2016/10/janish-outrighted-to-norfolk.html

Janish outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk, elects free agency

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com October 13, 2016

Update: The Orioles just announced that infielder Paul Janish elected free agency after passing through waivers. He refused an outright assignment and is free to sign with any team.

Janish, who turned 34 yesterday, is hoping that the Orioles retain interest in him, but he may as well check the market.

Janish has the right to refuse the assignment based on a previous outright.

Manager Buck Showalter is a huge supporter of Janish, placing great value on the infielder’s defense at shortstop and general approach to the game.

Janish re-signed with the Orioleslast winter, accepting a minor league deal over a similar offer from the Astros. He went 6-for-31 in 14 games and batted .248/.333/.280 with eight doubles and 18 RBIs with 76 games with Norfolk.

Janish committed only two errors in 297 chances with the Tides. It’s a glove story.

The Orioles designated Janish for assignment on Oct. 7 to create a spot for left-hander Jed Bradley on the 40-man roster. Janish will most likely be invited to spring training and compete for a utility job.

The Orioles selected Janish’s contract on May 7 and outrighted him on June 21.They selected his contract again on Sept. 15 and added him to their expanded roster in September, but he didn’t get into a game.

Janish went 10-for-35 with three doubles in 14 games with the Orioles in 2015. http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2016/10/what-should-the-orioles-do-to-be-better-in- 2017.html

What should the Orioles do to be better in 2017?

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com October 14, 2016

From 2015 to 2016, the Orioles won eight more games, going from 81 to 89 wins. If they could now add six or eight more - maybe not even that many - they could end the 2017 season as American League East champions.

While every team wants to win the World Series, securing the division title is the first goal. You avoid a one-game scenario where you may have to play on the road and a one-game scenario where your team may get only four hits and go home.

So how do the Orioles find a few more wins and get better for next season?

The major question mark heading into last year - the starting rotation - found some answers in the second half when the rotation ERA went from 5.15 to 4.24. But as that happened the Orioles offense took a nose dive. They averaged 5.08 runs per game during the first half and 4.02 after the All-Star Game.

So in what ways can this team improve?

A leadoff hitter: The Oriole used Adam Jones in 108 games as their leadoff hitter and Joey Rickard 40 times. Jones had a slash line of .282/.320/.471 batting first and Rickard went .240/.297/.347.

As a team, the Orioles ranked ninth in the AL in batting average from the leadoff spot at .264, 13th in OBP at .310, eighth in slugging at .427 and ninth with an OPS of .737.

The Orioles could do better here. Barring an acquisition that they choose to bat first, Hyun Soo Kim seems to be one clear choice to hit first if manager Buck Showalter goes that way and uses him more versus lefty batters. Rickard could hit there if he makes the team, but his stats batting first were worse than his overall numbers. The two could platoon in that spot.

The pitchers: The Orioles could use an ace, we hear fans say. Well, of course they could. But aces don’t grow on trees, there are none available via free agency and if anyone wants to trade one, the price in both salary and players will likely be very high. So we can probably forget about the Orioles adding an ace.

At the same time they may have one in the making in Kevin Gausman and/or Dylan Bundy. An ace pitcher can earn a total contract of $200 million or more. Is that really a smart investment since pitchers get hurt and don’t always perform at a $200 million level? Boston saw that with David Price this year.

On-base percentage: How long have O’s fans been calling for upgrades here? What it may really take is the addition of one or two major players that can truly make a difference. Dexter Fowler would have been one since his OBP this year was .393. So the team at least tried for the big upgrade and if decided not to come to Baltimore.

For the year, the O’s OBP was .317, ranking 10th in the AL. The league average was .321. They were not far off that, but they were far off the two other playoff teams from their division with Boston at .348 and Toronto at .330.

It is being Captain Obvious to say the Orioles offense could use more speed, more on-base guys and more players that can advance runners and use small-ball techniques when needed.

More rest: The offense faded in the second half. Did some players just get tired? There is evidence to support that theory. Jones played 152 games, Chris Davis and Manny Machado 157 each, Mark Trumbo 159 and Jonathan Schoop 162. Here are the batting averages/OPS numbers for each player in each half.

Jones - .268/.776 first half and .261/.710 second half. Davis - .237/.844 first half and .200/.725 second half. Machado - .318/.944 first half and .266/.798 second half. Trumbo - .288/.923 first half and .214/.754 second half. Schoop - .304/.847 first half and .225/.643 second half.

The Orioles clubhouse has a collective mentality where they show up ready to play every day. That is admirable, it just may not be smart for the long haul. Showalter has to take a hard look at the second half numbers and if he determines that players did tire that has to be addressed for 2017.

So what is your take? How do the Orioles get better in 2017? Are some answers already here?

http://www.csnmidatlantic.com/baltimore-orioles/paul-janish-refuses-orioles-assignment-elects- free-agency

Paul Janish Refuses Orioles Assignment, Elects Free Agency

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Mid-Atlantic October 13, 2016

Paul Janish, who the Orioles designated for assignment last week when the team claimed left- handed pitcher Jed Bradley on waivers, has cleared waivers and refused an outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk.

Janish, who batted .194 in 14 games with the Orioles, has declared for free agency.

According to , the Orioles re-signed catcher Audry Perez, a Triple-A All-Star, to a minor league contract.

Outfielder Julio Borbon and left-handed pitcher Kyle Lobstein have also declared for free agency.

Borbon, who spent nearly all the 2016 season at Double-A Bowie, batted .308 in six games with the Orioles.

Lobstein was acquired on Aug. 31 from Pittsburgh in exchange for left-handed pitcher Zach Phillips and designated for assignment when the Orioles signed outfielder Drew Stubbs a few hours later.

Lobstein cleared waivers and reported to Sarasota to work out along with Borbon, Janish and several other players in case the Orioles needed them.

Janish was added for the final weeks of the season but didn’t play.

https://www.pressboxonline.com/2016/10/13/baltimore-orioles-2016-season-report-card

Baltimore Orioles 2016 Season Report Card

By Paul Folkemer / PressBoxOnline.com October 13, 2016

The Orioles' quick one-game playoff exit brought an abrupt end to an otherwise successful 2016 season, during which the Birds finished 89-73 and made the postseason for the third time in five years. As the O's grinded through their six-month regular-season schedule, some aspects of the club came through in a big way while others were a big disappointment. Let's issue some final grades for the 2016 Orioles in an end-of-season report card.

Offense

Grade: B

It feels like the Orioles' offense should get two separate grades -- one for the first half and one for the second. That's how drastically different they performed before and after the All-Star break. During the former half, they averaged 4.91 runs per game, the second-best total in the American League, and scored three runs or more during all 28 games of June. But the offense collapsed afterward, scoring the second-fewest runs per game (4.03) during the second half, with a .713 OPS that was nearly 90 points worse than the first half (.800).

Add it all up and the Orioles finished 2016 in the middle of the pack in runs scored, with their 744 runs ranking seventh in the AL. The Birds had an all-or-nothing offense at times, scoring more than half their runs via their major league-leading 253 homers. While their long ball potency made them a threat to score at any time, they had trouble stringing together extended rallies. Thanks to their mediocre .317 OBP, the O's had the fewest plate appearances with runners in scoring position in the AL. Mashing home runs can atone for a lot of ills, but the Birds' overall offensive attack wasn't as well-rounded as it could've been.

Defense

Grade: B-

Under manager Buck Showalter, the Orioles have developed a reputation of having a strong defensive club. However, that was only half true in 2016. While the infield defense remained strong -- led by multiple Gold Glove winners Manny Machado and J.J. Hardy on the left side, and a solid Jonathan Schoop and Chris Davis on the right -- the Birds' outfield defense was a liability. The club's decision to focus on offense rather than fielding prowess on the corners had the expected consequences. Right fielder Mark Trumbo had a strong throwing arm but terrible range and trouble fielding near the wall, while Hyun Soo Kim had neither range nor a good arm. Even center fielder Adam Jones seemed noticeably slower, perhaps hampered by injuries, and wasn't as effective as usual at catching up to fly balls over his head.

FanGraphs dinged the Orioles for minus-25 defensive runs saved, ranking 12th out of the 15 AL teams. Of the Birds' regulars, only Machado, Hardy, Davis and catcher Matt Wieters compiled positive totals in DRS, while all others were solidly in the negatives (including Trumbo, Jones and Kim at minus-nine, minus-10 and minus-13, respectively).

Starting Rotation

Grade: C-

For the second straight year, the Orioles' starting rotation was the team's biggest Achilles' heel. It's kind of a miracle the O's were able to get into the playoffs despite their starters' 4.72 ERA, better only than two last-place teams, the Athletics (4.84) and Twins (5.39). With a stronger starting rotation, the Orioles might've won the AL East.

The good news is the Orioles' rotation improved as the year went along. They jettisoned not- ready-for-prime-time righties Tyler Wilson (5.67 ERA during 13 starts) and Mike Wright (6.22 during 12 starts) from the season-opening rotation while shifting promising rookie Dylan Bundy from the bullpen to the starting staff during the second half. Righty Kevin Gausman rebounded from an April injury and early-season inconsistency to become the Birds' best starter by the end of the year. Ace Chris Tillman went 16-6 with a 3.77 ERA and had a chance at a 20-win season before August shoulder bursitis put him on the shelf.

Tillman, Gausman and Bundy gave the O's a strong homegrown core of hurlers, but the main problem was the veterans -- Ubaldo Jimenez, Yovani Gallardo and Wade Miley. Jimenez looked outstanding at the end of the year, posting a 2.45 ERA during his final seven starts, but that didn't erase the dreadful 6.94 mark he compiled before that. Gallardo lost his velocity and flatlined to a 5.42 ERA during 23 starts, while trade-deadline acquisition Miley was awful, amassing a 6.17 ERA during 11 starts.

Bullpen

Grade: A

The bullpen, as usual, is where the Orioles excelled in 2016. Their dominant and versatile relief corps helped pick up the slack for the struggling starters, keeping the O's in contention all season long. The O's had the best relief ERA (3.40) and save percentage (79.41 percent) in the AL, as well as the fewest bullpen losses (15). When the Birds carried a lead into the late innings, they were nearly certain to hold it.

Baseball fans everywhere are familiar with the incredible season of closer Zach Britton, whose eye-popping numbers (a 0.54 ERA and a perfect 47-for-47 in save opportunities) earned him legitimate Cy Young buzz. But Britton wasn't the only star. Setup man Brad Brach went 10-4 with a 2.05 ERA and made the AL All-Star team before a few second-half stumbles. Righty Mychal Givens rebounded from some early-season struggles against lefties to post a strong year, going 8-2 with a 3.13 ERA during 66 games. Brach and Givens each struck out more than 10 batters per nine innings. Even rookie lefty Donnie Hart made a contribution in limited action, allowing just one earned run in 18.1 innings spanning 22 appearances.