And now Mike Cameron knows that he is indeed chopped liver.

Wow, the Baltimore Sun writer was reading that thread we had yesterday in which I forgot to mention Cameron as well.

Either that or both of us forgot him because unlike the other 4 he hasn't been mentioned in trade rumors and doesn't employ Scott Boras.

FWIW, Cameron's ZR is way down this year and MGL had him at -7 runs/150. He might have lost a step in CF. After all, he is 34 years old.

“What he brings to the table I think could be the direction that we go, and that’s pitching and defense,” interim manager Dave Trembley said.

Sure. Because that has worked so well.

The free-agent center field market this offseason could include Torii Hunter, Andruw Jones, Eric Byrnes and Aaron Rowand. Each would represent a major offensive upgrade for the Orioles, but the competition and the price tag for the group will also be steep.

I see the Orioles haven't really learned much of anything.

Eric Byrnes: Age 32 in 2008: Last three years of OPS: 75, 95, 119. So obviously the 119 must be the real player.
Aaron Rowand: Age 30: OPS: 93, 87, 137. So obviously the 137 must be the real player.
(Meanwhile, Andruw Jones, Age 31: 133, 129, 97. So obviously the 97 is not the real player. Sometimes we only look at the most recent year, sometimes we completely ignore the most recent year. Whichever is most convenient.)

Hunter's performance has been good all three years, but he'll be 32 and is having a career year.

Patterson: not very good, but also 27.

“What he brings to the table I think could be the direction that we go, and that’s pitching and defense,” interim manager Dave Trembley said.

Sure. Because that has worked so well.

The free-agent center field market this offseason could include Torii Hunter, Andruw Jones, Eric Byrnes and Aaron Rowand. Each would represent a major offensive upgrade for the Orioles, but the competition and the price tag for the group will also be steep.

I see the Orioles haven't really learned much of anything.

Eric Byrnes: Age 32 in 2008: Last three years of OPS: 75, 95, 119. So obviously the 119 must be the real player.
Aaron Rowand: Age 30: OPS: 93, 87, 137. So obviously the 137 must be the real player.
(Meanwhile, Andruw Jones, Age 31: 133, 129, 97. So obviously the 97 is not the real player. Sometimes we only look at the most recent year, sometimes we completely ignore the most recent year. Whichever is most convenient.)

Hunter's performance has been good all three years, but he'll be 32 and is having a career year.

Patterson: not very good, but also 27.

Patterson would probably be an upgrade on Kotsay.

Thank god Patterson is the Orioles problem and not the Cubs.

Thank god Patterson is the Orioles problem and not the Cubs.

Assuming this is not sarcasm, Patterson currently sports a 76 OPS+, is 23/5 as a base stealer, plays stellar defense, and costs $4.3 mil. The Cubs current centerfielder has a 69 OPS+, is 2/2 stealing bases, plays passible (at best) defense, and costs $5.6 mil.

A comparison to the 2006 Cubs CF would be even more favorable to Patterson.

So maybe it was sarcasm.

Patterson does one thing very well: he's fast as hell. This attribute makes him an excellent CF and base runner. Combined with a weak bat, I wouldn't mind having Corey back on a 1 or 2 year deal for 4th outfielder money. Unfortunately, some team will pay him like a starter. Hopefully, that team isn't the O's.

So maybe it was sarcasm.

Nope it isn't. Corey is just doing his normal hot streak being pathetic again. A hot steak by the way that is all built on batting average. Take a look at the 100 PA in May. In the middle of June his OPS was .543! And for all that some team is going to have to come to some sort of decision on whether or not to give him some sort of 4 year deal, with some sucker team probably doing it. I'm glad it isn't the Cubs. The Cubs pretty much have all of what Corey is going to do for the Cubs and it won't cost them 4.3 million to do it, nor are they going to be walking a tightrope and potentially making a huge mistake when it comes contract time.

By the way the Cubs CF'ers have a .709 OPS, Corey even with his recent hot streak has a .664 OPS

Nope it isn't. Corey is just doing his normal hot streak being pathetic again. A hot steak by the way that is all built on batting average. Take a look at the 100 PA in May. In the middle of June his OPS was .543! And for all that some team is going to have to come to some sort of decision on whether or not to give him some sort of 4 year deal, with some sucker team probably doing it. I'm glad it isn't the Cubs. The Cubs pretty much have all of what Corey is going to do for the Cubs and it won't cost them 4.3 million to do it, nor are they going to be walking a tightrope and potentially making a huge mistake when it comes contract time.

What about last year? Patterson had a 750 OPS, a 95 OPS+, and stole 45 bases at an 83% clip. Combined with excellent defense, he was well above average for a CF. He was far better than Pierre in almost every respect.

Which is not to say the Orioles should break the bank for him. If they can sign him to a 1 or 2 year deal for a few million, great. If he returns to his 2006 form he'll be a bargain. If not, he won't be an albatross.

2006? You mean the year where Corey put up a .677, .642, and .732 OPS in May, June, and July. It was same old Corey, he had about 100 good PA that tends to hide the long long stretches of horrid batting.

I find it hard to believe the Orioles would want Byrnes back for any amount of money. Last time he didn't top .300 in OBA or SLG.

2006? You mean the year where Corey put up a .677, .642, and .732 OPS in May, June, and July. It was same old Corey, he had about 100 good PA that tends to hide the long long stretches of horrid batting.

Every player has good and bad months. You can spin it however you like, but it doesn't change the fact that overall Patterson was quite good last year. Was that the real Patterson? I don't know. But he did what he did.

By the way the Cubs CF'ers have a .709 OPS, Corey even with his recent hot streak has a .664 OPS

With better defense, better baserunning, in a tougher hitting environment, in the tougher league. And that Cubs CF OPS is propped up by Soriano, who is no one's idea of a CF, and Angel Pagan, who is no one's idea of a regular player. The majority of CF time has been by Pie (OPS+59), and Jones (OPS+ 69).

The 2007 (and 2006) Cubs would have been better served with Patterson in CF rather than the mish mash they have put out there this year.

Angel Pagan, who is no one's idea of a regular player.

I have my doubts about him, but there are some things to like about Pagan. He's 25 with a decent translated minor league track record, solid PECOTAs (projected .260 Eqa in 2007) and good CF defense. I don't think he'd kill you as an everyday CF and he's an awesome 4th OF.

Every player has good and bad months
You mean every player hits like a double A prospect for 3 months out the year? The fact remains that in 2006 and virtually every single year in Corey's major league history he is garbage at the plate for vast stretches at a time. Last year Corey had a decent beginning and a good ending everything in the middle was garbage in terms of hitting.

And that Cubs CF OPS is propped up by Soriano
Soriano had a .655 OPS, the Cubs CF'ers as a whole are hitting .709 (now .704). JOnes has a .753 OPS and Pagan had a .798 OPS in center this year.

The 2007 (and 2006) Cubs would have been better served with Patterson in CF rather than the mish mash they have put out there this year.

So the Cubs would have been better off with a guy who had on July 1st a .585 OPS? That is half a year of .226/.277/.308. I'll post it again, .226/.277/.308!!!!