By Mike Miller
It was just prior to 10:30 Saturday morning when Orioles President of Baseball Operations Andy MacPhail delivered the revealing, albeit ambiguous, news to a crowd of season ticket holders at Orioles FanFest. In response to a fan’s question regarding the likelihood of the Orioles adding an additional bat to the lineup, MacPhail responded, “As close to 100 percent as could possibly be.” With that, the crowd seated in front of the stage on the bottom floor of the Baltimore Convention Center gushed with cheers and applause.
A mere two hours later, news broke that the club had reached an agreement with Miguel Tejada on a one-year, $6 million deal that would move the former Orioles shortstop to third base, according to The Associated Press. While the deal is pending a physical, Orioles players and coaches offered nothing but complimentary reactions, if not full-out endorsements, when asked about the possibility of Tejada returning to Baltimore.
“I love Miggy,” said second baseman Brian Roberts, “I’m excited. We’re all excited to have him back. We’re looking forward to what he brings to the team on and off the field, his personality in the clubhouse, the way he plays the game every day and certainly the numbers that he puts up.”
Manager Dave Trembley, meanwhile, has known Tejada since the Bani, Dominican Republic native was a 17-year-old playing in the Instructional League for the Oakland Athletics and Trembley was managing in the Chicago Cubs organization. During his morning media session, Trembley embraced the possibility of a Tejada reunion.
“I would say this about Tejada: I don’t think there’s ever been a guy that wants to win more than Tejada,” he said. “The guy has a very, very strong passion for winning. The guys on the team love him. I never had a problem with him.”
Tejada, however, has never played third base in the Major Leagues and hasn’t played the position professionally since 1996 when he spent part of one game at third as a member of the Single-A Modesto A’s. MacPhail originally approached Tejada in 2007 about a possible move to third base but it was to no avail.
“He didn’t think it was time,” MacPhail said of the ’07 conversation. “He went to the National League after I traded him there and was an All-Star shortstop for two years so who’s to say Miggy wasn’t right.”
But after recently acknowledging a move to third was inevitable at this stage of his career, Tejada seems to have made the choice that ultimately returned him to Baltimore and for a significant salary reduction, no less. After originally signing a six-year, $72 million deal in December 2003, Tejada spent four seasons in Baltimore before being dealt by MacPhail to the Houston Astros for five players in December 2007. In two seasons with the Astros, Tejada batted a combined .298 with 27 home runs and 152 RBIs. Despite declining power numbers, Tejada remains an offensive threat and led the National League with 46 doubles in 2009.
“Anytime you add Miggy to the lineup you’re talking about the possibility of 200 hits, 100 RBIs,” said Roberts. “He’s a guy who is a professional hitter and knows how to hit with men on base. He can certainly drive in runs.”
“Nothing against Miggy, I love him,” said right fielder Nick Markakis, “but I thought our lineup last year was great. Now, just adding him makes our lineup even that much more complete. It’s going to be fun.”
MacPhail’s pursuit of the six-time All-Star did not come without first canvassing not only players and coaches but trainers and other team personnel as well. In fact, the biggest proponent of a Tejada homecoming was Roberts who placed phone calls, left voicemails and campaigned to MacPhail on behalf of his former double-play partner.
“I think that Mr. MacPhail certainly did his research and found out that guys love being around him and he brought a lot to this team and organization,” said Roberts. “He’s a guy who, his personality is really contagious. I’ve never heard of anybody who has ever played on a team with him that didn’t like him.”
ON THE REBOUND
Among the first to arrive at the Convention Center Saturday morning was Garrett Atkins, Baltimore’s newest first baseman. Atkins acknowledged, even before the Tejada news broke, that he was told he would be playing first base heading into spring training. The 30-year-old Atkins has made 105 appearances at first including 75 starts over the past seven seasons with the Colorado Rockies.
“Unless they sign a [Carlos] Delgado or someone like that, that’s my plan right now,” Atkins said.
Much has been made of Atkins’ dismal 2009 season, during which he batted a meager .226 with 9 home runs and 48 RBIs at home run-happy Coors Field. Still, Atkins comes to Baltimore with hopes that he can return to the form that made him a legitimate 25-30 HR and 100 RBI threat.
“Atkins just wants to know he’s going to play,” said Trembley. “He wants his four at bats and he is very committed to getting back to the form that he had in previous years. He just wants to put the past behind him and wants a chance to play.”
The 2010 season will be the first outside the Rockies organization for Atkins, who was a fifth round selection by Colorado in the 2000 amateur draft. While he enters unchartered territory in a new city and a new league, Atkins was able to meet his new teammates for the first time on Friday night at the team’s Casino Night and said he looks forward to further bonding experiences in spring training.
“This event helps,” he said. “I’ve never played with anyone on this team. “I don’t know a whole lot except for what you see on TV. Guys like Roberts, Markakis and Jones had real good years. But the other guys, I’m not too familiar with.”
VETERAN PRESENCE
In stark contrast to many of his Orioles teammates who arrived at FanFest wearing chic, name-brand clothing, Kevin Millwood was just as unassuming as the average fan. Sporting a black baseball cap, a grey sweatshirt and blue jeans, Millwood gave fans and media alike a glimpse of his even-keeled and seemingly unobtrusive personality. Acquired in a trade with the Texas Rangers for reliever Chris Ray on December 9, Millwood is expected to mentor a young pitching staff after tutoring Texas’s stable of highly regarded pitching prospects the past four seasons.
“We really felt a need to get a veteran presence in there and Kevin’s someone who has done that in Texas,” said MacPhail. “With a young staff, he really helped [Texas] along in a tough ballpark to pitch in. He really fit the bill for us and we’re exciting about having him.”
When asked about fulfilling the role of ace, Millwood responded: “I think we all need to try and be aces every time we pitch.”
“I like the attitude,” said Trembley. “Millwood and I spoke last night and what Millwood brings to us is more than just the ability to go out there every five days, give us 200 innings and pitch. He’s going to be a guy who shows the way, experience and let [Brian] Matusz and some of those other guys learn from him.”
Right-hander Brad Bergesen is one of Baltimore’s young phenoms most looking forward to working with Millwood in 2010.
“It’s huge,” Bergesen said of the acquisition. “I haven’t had a chance to meet him yet but I’m really looking forward to the spring and being able to pick his mind and ask him about a million questions just to try to learn something from him.”
The 35-year-old Gastonia, N.C. native did want to make one thing clear to Orioles fans: don’t place too much stock in his subdued tone of voice. The low-key Millwood said that while he’s happy to be an Oriole, he’s not one to let his emotions go over the top.
“If you’re looking for me to get real excited, it’s not going to happen.”
FAN APPRECIATION
The Orioles announced that 12,000 fans were on hand for this year’s FanFest which included autograph sessions, fan forums and interactive games. The turnout impressed several Orioles who noted Baltimore’s passion for both baseball and, most importantly, a winning product.
“It’s great to see the fans out here and how they react and interact with the players,” said Markakis. “It’s good for the fans, the community and it’s good for Orioles Nation.”
MacPhail cited the importance of being honest with the fan base and seemingly took his sentiments to heart as he spent parts of the day addressing fan questions on-stage at the Convention Center.
“Never underestimate your fans,” he said. “Be honest with them; tell them what you’re trying to do, make it clear. It’s not all going to work. It’s baseball. We’re relying on human beings trying to predict what they’re going to do in the future in a very tough environment. We’re going to be right some times, we’re going to be wrong, but be honest with them.”
“I think the fans are about as loyal and have such a passion for the Orioles as any fans I’ve ever been around,” said Trembley. “The fans here are positive, they’re direct, they have passion and they give it to you straight. They’re very appreciative of what Andy’s done and what we’ve tried to do is restore some pride and improve the attitude and now we need to take it to the next level. We need to win more. It’s that simple. We need to win more.”
BERKEN READY
Jason Berken is the first person to admit he could’ve done better in 2009. As a 25-year-old rookie, Berken pitched to an ugly 6-12 record with a 6.54 ERA while opposing batters hit a lofty .327 against the right-hander. While acknowledging that the numbers aren’t at all pretty, Berken insists he’s better off for it.
“The experience that I gained was something that will help me throughout my career forever,” he said. “I feel like this year helped me know what to expect and I kind of have a better idea of knowing what I have to do personally to be successful.”
And what exactly is that?
“Just being more consistent. Towards the end of the year, just being able to sink the ball, being able to locate my fastball and not trying to do too much was just something that really helped me. If I can find ways to just string better outings together and not have the bad ones. If there is a bad one, just trying to find a way to limit it to a couple runs versus seven or eight runs and give us a chance to win.”
It’s been a busy winter so far for Berken, who operates numerous baseball camps both in his native Wisconsin and in Ellicott City, Md., where he and his wife used to live year-round before purchasing a home in Atlanta, Ga. in late November. Unfortunately for local fans, the Baltimore camp was cancelled due to the record snowstorm that blanketed the area with upwards of 20 inches in mid-December. Berken’s camps have become quite popular and he’s even solicited the help of numerous current and former Orioles including fellow pitchers Brandon Erbe and Rich Hill and roving catching instructor Don Werner.
“Camp was great,” Berken said. “We had about 145 kids come about two weeks ago. It was by far the best camp we’ve had yet. I had a couple camps and I’ve been busy. Now, I’m slowly getting back into baseball.”
BERGY’S BACK
It was a sight (and sound) most Orioles fans won’t soon forget. After a scorching line drive off the bat of Billy Butler nailed him in the left shin and ended his season prematurely on July 30, Brad Bergesen said he is finally back to full strength.
“It took me a lot longer than I thought but I felt one hundred percent back to normal the beginning of November so It’s not a worry anymore,” he said.
However, Bergesen has yet to return to the mound. The 24-year-old right-hander has restricted his offseason throwing program to only light tossing as he takes advice from Trembley and pitching coach Rick Kranitz to be cautious heading into spring training.
“Just talking with Kranny and Trembley, they told me to push it back just a little while longer,” Bergesen said. “It’s just for caution reasons.”
Bergesen admitted that the comeback process has been frustrating, especially late last season when he originally believed he would be able to return to the rotation before the end of the year.
“I thought, originally, once I found out it wasn’t broken I was only going to miss one or two starts,” he said. “When that day came, two weeks later and two starts became four starts and so on. Then they shut me down so it was very stressful.”
Injury aside, Bergesen can’t help but reflect on his consistently dominant rookie season and said that it’s changed his life.
“It’s changed tremendously to make that jump from Triple-A to here and be fortunate enough to stay here all year. It’s huge.”
