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Cintron called up from Norfolk!
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Cintron called up from Norfolk!
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Cintron called up from Norfolk!
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Nov 1, 2006
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O's recall Cintron from Norfolk
Infielder was hitting .288 in 16 games for Tides; Reliever McCrory optioned to Triple-A
<dl class="byline"> The Associated Press <dd> 1:56 PM EDT, May 11, 2008</dd> </dl>
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - "The Orioles purchased the contract of infielder Alex Cintron from Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday and optioned right-hander Bob McCroy to their top farm club.
Cintron is a career .277 hitter in 598 games with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago White Sox. He hit .243 with two home runs and 19 RBIs last season with the White Sox.
"He is a second baseman-shortstop," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "He's a switch hitter who has got experience playing in the big leagues. He gives us some depth. I've never seen him play before..."
I'm certainly glad of this. With Brian Roberts out for a bit since the rain delay yesterday, he's [Cintron] got to better than LHernandez @ 2B. I like that kid, but right now my patience is wearing thin. I know a lot of posters here are big on Alex, I hope he can deliver in the way many say he's capable.
After a tough loss to KC today, this is good news, IMHO. Bannister must of been pitching for his Mother a little harder than Burress for his. 
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Cintron called up from Norfolk!
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Cintron called up from Norfolk!
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Dec 26, 2006
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Glad to see Cintron with the big club, but does this mean McCroy will be back after this round of off days? If so, who goes down? Hernandez I hope. Of course things may play out differently between now and then, but we'll see...
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Cintron called up from Norfolk!
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Cintron called up from Norfolk!
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Sep 19, 2006
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I understand not having the patience, but you need to relax a bit. These are baby birds for the most part and it is going to take some time for them to come around to be able to play on a consistent level. Shoot, after what we have been through as fans over the past few years, I welcome this greatly! The birds will come around and be good, with t his movement. it will be sooner than later.
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Cintron called up from Norfolk!
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Cintron called up from Norfolk!
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Nov 1, 2006
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m31241, I think DaBanjo hit what I was trying or hoping to say in some sorts. McCrory is who I think deserves another shot in the Bigs this year sooner, but LHernanez only should get another shot before September if he improves drastically in the Minors or another Infielder gets injured. Right now the Baby Birds gig is already moving into the next gear. Little by little, Andy is getting this ball club geared up for the next stage. We're not thinking about next year anymore. Heck, if the Rays are in it, so are we.
We're even competive, usually, when losing. That wasn't the case last year. We'll be stronger as quickly as Brian Roberts is healthy again. Let's Go Baltimore! Let's Go O's!
Heck, when I think of Baby Birds, I can't help but think of the likes of Willy Miranda, Russ Snyder, Curt Belfary, Sam Bowens, etc., etc. Damn, I'm gettin' old.  Damn Good Players, they were. Most excellent. I miss them all.
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Cintron called up from Norfolk!
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Cintron called up from Norfolk!
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Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Feb 24, 2007
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I cant stand this at all. It's not that I don't like Cintron, it's just that I dont see how he will help us. People, you have to remember, WE ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO WIN THIS YEAR!!! I'm not trying to sound like a pessimist, and I love the wins and all, but comon. What was this whole year supposed to be about? Letting Adam Jones, and Luis Hernandez, and Garret Olson, and Jim Johnson, and other youngsters get a full season under their belt. We dont need Cintron with B-Rob being day-to-day, and now-a-days I am regretting that we never traded B-Rob. As of now, I dont believe that the Cubs will need Roberts because Cedeno is crushing the ball. So if we keep B-Rob, the year to win will be next season. That's when we will see a Wieters' callup and possibly (praying for) a Mark Teixera signing. But seriously, Bynum is fine at SS and Luis Hernandez will be fine till B-Rob gets back. I just hope they send Cintron back down ASAP, because him being on this team doesn't help the club's future at all. Sorry if I sounded so negative, I was just saying what I was feeling.
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Cintron called up from Norfolk!
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Cintron called up from Norfolk!
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Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Feb 24, 2007
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One more thing, dont get me wrong, I'm not completely disagreeing with what your saying, but just look at what you said (if that makes any sense). You said that if the Rays are in it, than so are we. We are like the Rays, just not the ones from this year. We're like last year's Rays, they have tons of young talent that has to adjust to the pros, plus we have a top prospect who will find his way to the big club in a heartbeat. Think about it, in years to come, we will have a team just like the Rays and the D-Backs, a young team that is explosive. But saying that we're going to compete this year after 6 weeks is a little too optimistic. Lets just shoot for a winning record and go from there. If we cant get that, then lets get some of our better prospects up here (not Wieters, because IMO he should stay in the minors for 1 full season).
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Cintron called up from Norfolk!
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Cintron called up from Norfolk!
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Nov 1, 2006
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By next year, we'll have Weiters up from the Minors and our middle-infielder problem answered. Luis Hernandez , sorry to say, doesn't seem to be our solution. I wish it was, but I don't see it. There are much better prospects/options out there.
Sure wish I was wrong.  I really lost my patience, and I'm kind of a patient kind of a guy, with all my years. 
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Cintron called up from Norfolk!
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Cintron called up from Norfolk!
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Apr 7, 2007
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Well, I'm not saying there aren't much better prospects and options out there because there certainly are. The problem is they aren't in our organization right now. If one of those guys surprises us, that helps a lot. By being willing to lose Hernandez right now, you are also willing deplete our already depleted depth at the position. When he gets comfortable and he is still making boneheaded decisions, then I will throw in the towel. He's a nervous kid out there with some obvious defensive skill. He showed that in spurts and definitely when he filled in for Roberts at second base. While there is certainly better out there as you said, we don't have them yet and until we do, we can't be so willing to deplete our depth further. It's just not necessary at this time. Bynum has played well and who knows how long he will keep doing this good. Maybe he falls flat on his face and maybe Luis does too, but we have some time to work with here and they might surprise us. If we make a deal later in the year to bring in better options and depth at the position, then there is no need to have Hernandez on the team if he hasn't picked it up by then. They can't succeed or fail if they aren't playing though. They need to prove their worth or lack of it. Hernandez didn't do himself any good when he had the starting job, but Trembley doesn't seem ready to give up on him yet either.
Weiters doesn't help the situation at second base/shortstop because he doesn't play there.  He sure would plug the hole at first base though. I really hope he changes positions.
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Cintron called up from Norfolk!
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Cintron called up from Norfolk!
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Apr 7, 2007
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What was this whole year supposed to be about? Letting Adam Jones, and Luis Hernandez, and Garret Olson, and Jim Johnson, and other youngsters get a full season under their belt. You hit the nail on the head there. Hernandez and Bynum have a better chance of being part of the future in Baltimore than Cintron does, so those two should be playing and getting experience so we can see what they truly have to offer once they settle in a little. So many people here including myself were complaining about how we always used veterans as patchwork or a temporary fix instead of trying to develop young players. Now, most of you want Cintron up here at the expense of a young player that hasn't really been given a real shot and that is exactly what everyone was up in arms about. I don't get that much really. I don't understand why everyone hates Luis Hernandez so much while pushing for Cintron to be here instead. He is not a good enough player nor does he even have a chance of being part of the future to start giving up on young players who have some kind of chance. Even if the chance is only slim, it's more of a chance than Cintron has. This year was primarily supposed to be about developing young talent and seeing what we have here. Seeing if we can work with these young players and make them better. See how they respond to things and how they progress over the course of the season if at all.
I too am starting to wonder if passing on the Cubs offer for Roberts was the right thing to do. More time will paint a clearer picture of that situation.
The Rays are a much better team than us this year. I don't think we'll be as bad as the Rays were last year, but we won't be as good as them this year barring injuries.
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Cintron called up from Norfolk!
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Cintron called up from Norfolk!
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 22, 2006
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Luis A Hernandez is NOT part of the Orioles future! Freddie Bynum will be a bench player for years because he can play 7 positions. He is NOT the answer either. Alex Cintron is just 29 and although he too is probably not the long term solution, he offers the O's the better alternative offensively.
In addition, the Orioles are playing competitively and should play to win. The season has already reached the first quarter post, and the AL east is wide open. The "baby birds" for the most part haven't even reached the big leagues yet. I keep hearing how young this team is. It's not! The baby birds are in the minors. With the exception of a couple of BP arms, the BP is made of veterans. Of the starters, 60% of our rotation from last year returned. If you include Matt Albers who started more than half the season last year with the Astros, along with Daniel Cabrera, Steve Trachsel and Adam Loewen it's more of a veteran staff. Garrett Olson and Brian Burres played last year too. And if you discount Luis Hernandez, and I do, only Adam Jones is a young fielder. This team should play to win. It's a veteran team with a few rookies thrown in! It may be the vets last chance.
If the O's fall out of the race after the all-star break, September will be a peak into the future when the real "baby birds" get called up. Until then, let's stop pretending that this is a year we gave up for the future. The future is not here yet. It's in Norfolk, Frederick, Bowie, Delmarva and Aberdeen.
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Cintron called up from Norfolk!
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Cintron called up from Norfolk!
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Nov 1, 2006
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OnThMove...
Whew, you must be as old as I, if not older. You speak from experience. Maybe I should sit back and relax, you tell it like it is, Brother. Amen!
Let's just say I agree with 99.9% of what you normally say. Why should I say Boo!, anymore?  U Da Man!
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Cintron called up from Norfolk!
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Cintron called up from Norfolk!
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Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Feb 24, 2007
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OntheMove, let me name every player that is considered young (28 or younger) on this team: Adam Jones, Nick Markakis, Freddie Bynum, Luis Hernandez, Guillermo Quiroz, Dennis Sarfate, Matt Albers, Daniel Cabrera, Brian Burres, Garret Olson, Jim Johnson, Lance Cormier, and Adam Loewen. The O's are in the top 5 youngest teams in the MLB. The only other "baby birds" left to come up position wise are Weiters, Moore, and Rowell. Pitching wise are Tillman, Patton, Arrieta, and Erbe. I think I may have a solution to our problem. Lets make Rowell start playing SS and let him come up there. Then Moore can have 3B and our problem is settled. How does that sound?
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Cintron called up from Norfolk!
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Cintron called up from Norfolk!
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Sep 14, 2006
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OnThMove, I disagree with you on two main things:
First off about needing to try to win, I ask, what's the Orioles goal right now? Is it to piece together whoever we can to remain competitive in a very close AL East this season? Or is it to test out new talent and improve player development in order to build a franchise that is competitive year in and year out?
I would say it's the latter. Winning now is nice, but it's not necessarily our biggest focus. Some sports writer, and I have no idea who it was, could have been anybody from Roch to some national writer, said that the good start we've had is the absolute worst thing that could happen for the O's, because it makes it easier for us lose sight of our actual goal (being patient with young talent), and go back to the 1998-2007 Orioles philosophy of thinking we have a legitimate foundation, buying cheap, mediocre at best talent to try to put a winning TEAM together, as opposed to the Billy Beane philosophy of constantly rebuilding to create a winning FRANCHISE. Alex Cintron is very obviously not the future. You might say Luis Hernandez isn't, but I'd say he's got a much better chance than Cintron does.
Second, yes, we are absolutely a young team. I think it was Scott Miller's article on this website a week ago that pointed out that we are the third youngest team in baseball. And there's no way we are a "veteran" team. Just because Adam Loewen spent a couple months in the big leagues last year does not make him a "veteran." He might not be a rookie, but he's not a true veteran either. And that goes for nearly half the team. Even some of our older guys don't really have a lot of big league experience (Sherrill, Scott).
Maybe it's just me, but the thought that we need to start winning now is actually pretty scary. It's exactly what Syd Thrift, Mike Flanagan and Jim Beattie did for so much of the last decade, and it got us nowhere. Finally, a decade later, we have the beginnings of a solid foundation. Let's not blow it by trying to stock up on the twice-released, m | |
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