Earl Weaver Rules

The Orioles signed right handed relief pitcher Danys Baez to a three year, $19 million deal yesterday.  Baez is 29 and he’s a good but not great relief pitcher so once like Jamie Walker, I think the Orioles really overpaid for Baez.  Then again, this is a very strange year.  I guess the “former closer” tag is worth a lot more these days.  Baez has 111 career saves, for what’s that worth, to his name.

Baez got off to a hot start in 2006 and he had eight saves and a 1.32 ERA in the month of April.  He had a 6.60 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP in the second half though and that really roughed up his numbers.

It looks like Baez will set up Chris Ray in 2007.  $6+ million for a set up man.  This stuff is crazy.

There’s no doubt that the Orioles need help, and it couldn’t come soon enough.  Billy Rowell was the Orioles top draft pick this year, and after a slow start, the third base prospect has been lighting up rookie ball.  While he hasn’t shown much with the glove, his hitting numbers stand at an impressive .308/.397/.474.  Not bad for a kid who was playing out his senior year a couple of months ago. 

And I know he’s far off, but Orioles’ fans have to have something to cling too.