Mike Elias’ annual season-ending press conference lasted 36 minutes today at Camden Yards. The time wasn’t an issue.
It was the date.
The Orioles thought they’d be playing games instead of packing and heading home. The sixth-year executive vice president/general manager didn’t want to reflect only a few days into October.
The Royals swept the best-of-three Wild Card series and traveled to New York for the Division Series. Some Orioles players and coaches returned to the ballpark today, including major league field coordinator Tim Cossins, pitchers Dean Kremer and Seranthony Domínguez and infielder Jorge Mateo, to grab the rest of their belongings. Everyone believed they had a chance to hoist a World Series trophy, but they didn’t get close to it.
“Clearly a very disappointing, bitter ending, whatever word you want to use. I think a lot of those words were used last night by the players and those of us in the organization that spoke publicly,” Elias said.