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It looks like the Orioles offense is rounding into shape in time for the club's six-game homestand versus Boston and New York.
Even without Brian Roberts, the callup of Rhyne Hughes and return of Miguel Tejada has pumped some life into the bats and the lineup.
Now let's see that impact the whole team.
It's no secret the O's clubhouse is filled with some low-key guys. Nothing wrong with that, there are plenty of good guys and real pros on the roster.
But for the next six days the O's will play at home against two of baseball's best teams. Teams that look at them as their whipping boys and have for years.
I am not expecting that the Orioles can match up talent-wise with those clubs right now.
But they can and should match them in effort, intensity, fundamental play and attention to detail.
This would be a good time to show the home fans that a passion and fire burns within the Oriole players.
Let's see some enthusiasm on the field, some take-out slides at second base and better situational hitting. Advance the runners when presented with a chance.
Match the Yankees and Sox in intensity. I don't think the O's have done that in recent years. Boston and New York play hard every play, every day. Sometimes I think the O's players feel they are going all out but it still comes up short in intensity to these two clubs.
At 3-16, now is the time to let it all go, so to speak, and play like this is a game in October. The players do care, so show the fans that in no uncertain terms.
Don't be afraid to brush back a Yankee hitter that crowds the plate. If a foul pop is hit into the second row of the stands, dive in there after it.
If nothing else, at the end of this homestand, let the fans see real fire and intensity from this team and don't back down for one second to these teams.
If we see that, maybe we will all begin to feel better about this team right now.
A few wins would be nice as well.
Checking on the O's offense:
Seattle series: .184 team avg, 4 runs, 5 extra-base hits, 1-12 with RISP.
Boston series: .331 team avg, 16 runs, 12 extra-base hits, 11-44 with RISP.
dear steve do you think that atkins will lose playing with the latest call up of hughes
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I think he already has been on the bench for two games and right now Hughes should stay in the lineup. I just wish some fans weren't so down on him. I understand he hasn't hit well, but I sense a feeling like Pie had to deal with early last year when he wasn't hitting.
It's a long season and the O's will need contributions from Atkins at some point. If his bat gets going it would help a lot.
If he has a poor year, that's on Andy MacPhail, who signed him, not Atkins, who accepted someone's offer. Well, Atkins too for not playing well, but hopefully you get the point. He didn't sign himself after hitting .226 last year. - Steve
I totaly agree, Play with ENTHUSIASM!!!!!!!!! PLAY BASEBALL!!!!! NOT JUST WITH THESE BRONX BOMBERS OR BOSOX EITHER DO IT WITH EVERY TEAM AND DO IT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey Steve,
Reading this made me think. I'd love to see the O's play with passion against these two teams, especially at home when they should be feeding off the home crowd. But as we all know, it isn't exactly a home crowd when these two teams are in town. If I'm an O's player, I would be extremely discouraged to see the ballpark that I call home fill up with more and more vocal fans of the other team. For me, it would be hard to get up for those games. And as a fan, I think the most frustruating thing in the world for me is wearing orange and black to Camden Yards and getting harrassed by the whole section I'm in. I guess that's nothing a couple winning season won't fix, but as for now I avoid Yankees and Red Sox games. But make sure you wear your orange this week Steve!
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Well, in the press box, it's a working environment and I don't wear the team colors, that's just not professional.
I can understand the fan frustration in the stands. I have sat in those stands near Yankees fans before.
As for the players, they can't let that impact thier play and it is not an excuse for losing to those teams. Beat them more at home and less NY and Boston fans would show up. - Steve
What a great post. They should let you fire the team up in the clubhouse! Reading that is motivating me, and I'm not going to be on the field tonight!
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Thanks, Jason. - Steve
Great post, Steve. BTW, can you provide any information on Givens and the future plans?
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I'll see if I can get an update. Right now it is looking like he would play SS at one of the short-season teams in June. - Steve
I make a point of going to at the very least one Yankee and one Red Sox game each year (I'll be there Saturday night). Don't kid yourself...it's absolutely miserable. I don't buy into the whole argument where people say that if the O's beat them it's fun to see all of those people leaving with their heads down.
I really do feel badly for our players in that sense. I know they say all the right things regarding the situation, however it has to eat at them. I will say that I've attended every game between the O's and Nats that's been played in DC, and we do see this "phenomenon" in reverse in that case. Granted we're almost talking about a cross-town rival so to speak, but it still makes a difference. But I've never seen an Oriole fan boo a Nationals player when we're the road team, and I can't say that about Red Sox fans (who for my money are the worst).
By the way Steve, I'm sure that you all have other things that you're required to do that are unbeknownst to fans, and I get the whole "working environment" thing. I majored in radio and my dream was to either be Chuck Thompson or Howard Stern...had I not gotten stuck as a hotel manager, I probably still wouldn't have been able to make it in sports media because I'd find it difficult to remain neutral. But hotels is a good career; nothing like having to smile when you're called a son of a you-know-what, or getting written up because you accidentally cut a guest off on the highway and he called guest relations and filed a complaint about the nasty manager at the hotel. (Those are true stories, and that's why I don't work at that chain any longer!)
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I'm not neutral Dominic when it comes to O's-Yankees. As a kid I must have gone to hundreds of these games, cheering my lungs out for the Orioles. Of course, I still want them to win. But I try to write and do my work here not necessarily as a fan but with the background of being a fan, if that makes any sense. I think I have a good sense of the Baltimore sports fan, because i've been one for a lot of years.
Now the rule in the press box is no cheering, it is a working environment. That doesn't mean you aren't doing a little cheering on the inside. But it also means if the O's get waxed 9-1 tonight, what I write and the questions I ask in the clubhouse would have to reflect the result. - Steve
Steve, I know what you mean. Anyone that gets into that line of work does so because he/she is a fan to begin with. I'm just saying that I probably wouldn't have the self-control not to cheer. And if ol' blue makes a bad call against the O's...watch out!
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After you've been doing it a while it's not hard to not cheer. You just get used to that as part of the job. - Steve
Steve,
I have an unrelated question that you might know the answer to.
I was discussing the 40-man rosters with my brother, and I was wondering what goes into the decision about some of the people who are on the 40-man. For example, Jake Arrieta (who is close to being called up) is NOT on the 40-man, yet we have some people who are nowhere close to being called up on it: such as Pedro Floriman, Chorye Spoone, and that guy Viola that we just picked up.
Why are these guys on it whereas Arrieta is not? What goes behind that decision to keep these guys on there once the Rule 5 Draft is over (which I understand is all about Service Time and what not)?
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It has to do with how many years they have played. I believe the rule is, if you were drafted at 18, you can play five years before having to be put on the 40-man roster and four years for those 19 or older when drafted.
Arrieta is in his third year in the system. That Rule 5 draft is where you can lose players not protected on the 40-man. At the end of this year, if he were not on the 40-man, Arrieta would still not need to be protected.
But if you call a player to the Major Leagues, he must go on the 40-man and you must have an opening on that roster or someone has to be removed. Goggle 40-man roster or Rule 5 draft for a more thorough explantion, but that is basically it. - Steve
Steve,
Your making a good point regarding passion and intensity which indicates the manager has not been doing his job....that being getting the most out of his players and having them perform for him every day. No matter what the level of talent we should expect effort and we don't always get this from the entire roster.
Dave T may not be the entire problem but he has yet to prove to be the solution.
So, according to your post, we can't match up with clubs like the Yankees and Red Sox, but over the last few years we made up for this lack of talent by not hustling, playing smart baseball.
If I understand where the Orioles are today, they have a lot of young, talented players that need more seasoning (credit to Macphail), but they exhibit no enthusiasm for the game and have repeatedly demonstrated a less than total effort on the field (and we have to include the veterans as well...Roberts, Lugo,etc and their strolls to first base).
Can you then please explain to me why Trembley is still manager? What exactly, from a talent perspective, does he bring to job? It certainly can't be motivation skills or decision making. I'm just saying.....
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He is still manager because last year he was asked to help develop young players at the ML level and Bergy, Reimold, Wieters etc, all did well. Now the O's want that young talent to translate into more wins. We all know that hasn't happened at this point. - Steve
Steve, since we do not have the bombers of the Belanger era Orioles, we need more bats in the lineup...Keep Hughes and Ty on the right side of the infield, move Tejada to short and put Atkins at third. We can't win by scoring only 3 runs a game or less. Aside from Bergesen, the starters have been fine. Hopefully Simon, Castillo, Koji and other AAA arms can shore up the back of the pen
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No matter how many times fans ask for Tejada at short, it is not going to happen. That doesn't keep someone from bringing it up every day. Not giving you a hard time, but that is not an option. The offense has started to hit and won't be avg three runs a game all year. - Steve
Regarding the whole no-cheering part of your job, Steve, I imagine the Orioles have made that pretty easy for you the last 12 years or so.
I totally agree about the hustle and intensity. I know it's hard to maintain that over 162 games, especially when you're losing, but, as a fan, seeing your team really try and not give up means a lot. If we the fans care more than the team appears to, then we feel like schmucks. Does Lugo realize how he lost the fans when he pulled a Ramon last week?
Steve,
I hope the team does play like its October and a Pennant is on the line. I also hope the fans dont go Gonzo and start booing players before they can take a swing or make a pitch. I was lucky enough to be at Fantastic Fans night and it was by far one of the most fun nights at a game that I've ever had. While I think the team should go in a different direction with the manager I hope some of the players realize the "its a long season" comments are done.
I hope the fans show up with some sort of pride and not let the Yankee fans overtake the Yards. The team needs to do better but we need to do better as fans too, regardless of whose the owner, GM, or Manager. Philisophical differences should be put aside for some Baltimore Pride and a good time at the park. Wish I could be there!!!!
So Steve you gotta do this... If the Orioles lose, during the post game interview when Dave comes into the room, fumble through your notebook like you are reviewing all the questions you have. You have to mumble but still be audible to most of the room... What is he still doing here? I don't have questions for him. I thought the new guy swould be here by now.
It would get you on Sportcenter when Dave jumps over the dais. Just make sure Schmuck is in between the two of you. I mean it worked for Jim Rome. May even boost post game ratings for MASN. Conflict = Ratings.
Just a thought. Maybe not a good one but a thought.
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I probably can't do it, but I'll check with Schmuck. I think they are really looking to promote him, heck he even has t-shirts. - Steve
Steve,
It's a great question and I really enjoyed the post. I'm not sure if you heard Curt Schilling's comments on 105.7 earlier today. During an interview he basically said that teams look forward to playing the Orioles because they are like a break in the schedule. A lot of people were upset with Schilling, but me I'm disgusted to hear that the Orioles are seen this way. This does not only speak to an inferior product on the field, but also the lack of intensity and fundamentals. Changing a manager could help that some (and I still think they should do that ASAP), but these guys have to check their guts and figure out if they have the grit to fight the rest of the way. I'm tired of hearing how losing "takes its toll on you". Nobody likes to lose, but I know this, I can take losing better if I know I fought my opponent as hard as I could every step of the way. It sure would be nice if this team could at least do that, they sure haven't done that yet in 2010.
Steve -- I'll be at the ballpark Wed and Thus. You still doing the radio lead-in from the Warehouse Bar? I'd love to stop by and say hi.
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Unfortunately, not doing radio this series. - Steve
why should this night be different than all other nights. trembley would depress and bring down tony robbins and zig zigler.
I want to see tempers flare stemming from the "altercations" in Spring Training. I then want a benches and bullpen clearing brawl. That will show some fire!!
Steve,
This is an interesting point that you bring up. I was talking to my wife about this on Friday during the game. Watching on TV, I saw Lester and Bard go ballistic in the dugout after coming out of the game - both very animated, smacking the dugout bench, etc. Contrast that to our guys after coughing up the lead, and the game - seemed like there was no emotion at all as Johnson, et al, walked off the field. There seems to be no passion among our guys. I know we have a bunch of low-key personalities on the team, but come on! Somebody show at least a little passion!
You're right - we might not have the talent to compete with NY, Boston and Tampa, but it doesn't require talent to compete with a little fire. We just seem to look defeated as soon as something goes wrong. I know that the saying is that a team takes on the personality of its manager/head coach. If that's the case, it's not hard to figure out why they seem to be so flat all the time. Trembley doesn't seem to have that fire.
Passion and intensity should be a given. I'm not saying that every player can approach every play like Pete Rose or Frank Robinson. Heck, even BJ Surhoff let up every once in a while. But if you don't have at least the every day passion and intensity of players like Bordick and Dempsey, then you need a serious wake up call. This team should treat every game as if they were playing the Yankees or Red Sox, because just about every team they play this year will be better than they are. Anyone on this team who lets down for the Royals or the Rangers either doesn't play to win or has way too big an opinion of himself.
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Don't get me wrong, some players have the pasison and fire that is not always seen outwardly, but we could always see more. - Steve
Reading this post made me feel like you've never actually participated in alot of athletics Steve. Boston and New York don't play harder or with more intensity, they just have a larger group of talented players. What you perceive as not "trying" hard enough is just a weaker team having difficulties again stronger opponents. Correct fundamentals are one thing, you're right that the team has to get better at doing the little things, advancing runners etc. But I'm sick of hearing the team has no intensity, no fire, that the players "feel like they're going all out" but aren't going as hard as other pros/teams? Losing at this level isn't remedied by just trying harder. It's talent. I know you said you don't expect them to keep up with NY and the Sox because of that talent gap, I'm just saying it's too easy to sit and watch a weaker team and just claim they're not intense or focused enough. Losing sucks, and it's hardest on the players. Guarantee they're not sleeping well at night, and trying to figure out ways to turn it around. Just my opinion.
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I respectfully diagree. I cited the talent gap, no question that is the biggest factor. My point is, not that the O's don't play hard or hustle, they do. My point is a team mired in losing like the Orioles has one level of playing hard and a team that wins all the time like NY or Boston has another level.
I see a difference. I think the O's can eventually match that level and will. I don't see it every night. - Steve
Steve Melewski for the next O's Manager!!
I'll gladly be your bench coach. I tell you what I don't care what name is on any jersey, I'd do some extensive motivating drills to get the best out of my players. They go out there and not only embarrass themselves; they embarrass the fans, the players of the past, and they embarrass their family name. As a manager you gotta rip into an umpire, stick up for your team one time to show a little heart and fire the boys up. Tell somebody to step it up, be a team leader, be a bullpen leader, set the standard and make it high.... then encourage your teammates to reach that level or come close. It's amazing what average teams can do when they put forth 100% concentration/focus at their job. Lets get it rolling. Let me see some veins popping outta your neck Davey. 2-3 hrs pure focus.
Last night I watched the Red Sox vs. Blue Jays.
Dustin Pedrioia fought off like 12 pitches and finally got a pitch he could handle even after going 3 for 4 he hungered for more. He ripped that pitch down the line for a double. I know Luke Scott has a heart. He's gotta show it. Adam Jonesy too. It's about Tradition. Bring Cal Ripken back for 1 week to teach that.
Please watch this Phillip Fulmer speech (one of the greatest):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqcSk7Vjzu4&feature=related
Kev, you couldn't be further from the truth.
When you put runners on with a 1-4 run lead by means of a BASE ON BALLS that has nothing to do with talent level, that's lack of concentration. When you can't get runners over by either sacrificing your PRECIOUS AT BAT for the betterment of the team that too, is a mental mistake. When you're throwing back to back WILD PITCHES on the grass that has something to do with mental preparation instead of letting the ball loose out of your hand like you always do. That means you're scared. Didn't come prepared - that has nothing to do with talent. Just like Brad Bergy's AAA coach told him, boy you just gotta relax your as good as anybody when you just go out and throw. What did Jeremy Guthrie have to do? Just go out there and throw the ball look how many quality starts he has. When you come to camp looking like Matt Albers that's a lack of discipline. He didn't do much to shed the LB's over winter.
Cadillacing on a groundballs.........."trying" You think that is trying? Is that playing with fire? Intensity? No.
Guys like Rhyne Hughes, who worked hard all winter... Brian Matusz, Ty Wigginton came ready to play the game of Baseball not play Mental headcase, and you can see the fruits of their labor. Markakis is gifted but he too came to camp looking slimmer and stronger.
Losing does suck but guess what, when you control the amount of work you put into something - the results always come back to those guys.