A few gripes
Or maybe these are pet peeves. You decide.
I've got two of them concerning the Orioles, in no particular order. They can't avoid giving up runs immediately after scoring them, usually more than they've totaled, and they have far too many breakdowns in fundamentals.
The second grip/peeve is especially puzzling, since improving fundamentals was practically the theme of spring training. New stations were created specifically for this purpose. And yet, a simple rundown can be more perplexing than splitting the atom.
It's not from a lack of preparation. I spent six weeks in Fort Lauderdale. I know what these guys did each morning, and how manager Dave Trembley and his staff left nothing to chance. And yet...well, you know. You've watched the games.
Garrett Olson continues to be an enigma. Or just a young pitcher who's still learning his craft in an unforgiving environment.
He was missing the strike zone badly in the first few innings. We're talking a mile or two. Catcher Ramon Hernandez should have been required to pay a toll to get his mitt on the ball. But then Olson settled down and the Orioles had a chance to win with the standard late-inning rally that again didn't bring the desired end result.
Olson still gives the impression at times that he's afraid to throw strikes, even if that's not the case. He exudes confidence when he's passing through the clubhouse or talking to reporters. He makes eye contact and initiates conversation, his chest is puffed out, he's mature beyond his years. And then he takes on a whole different look on the mound. And just as suddenly, he looks like a guy who can't be bullied, like a guy who knows he can win in this league.
I'm perplexed.
At Double-A Bowie, Brad Bergesen set the franchise record tonight with his 15th win, allowing two runs in 6 1/3 innings. Sebastien Boucher homered twice. Matt Wieters had his first triple, and it drove in a run. Nolan Reimold and Wieters hit back-to-back doubles later in the game.
Brandon Snyder, Billy Rowell and Chris Vinyard all homered for Single-A Frederick. Vinyard is tied with Wieters for the team lead with 15.
Yes, it took that long for someone to catch Wieters.
Here's one.
Last night, Ramon hit a sure-catch pop-up that wasn't caught. As usual, he flipped the bat, then strolled to first, only to see the ball drop untouched. If he had run, there is a possibility that he would have been standing in scoring position.
I frankly am tired of jogging to first. A lot of guys do it. Why? Is it not cool to run hard on a routine play? Get trash-talked by opponents? I have never seen Suzuki do this.
Ray, this is just one guy's opinion, but I think Trembley does bench players on some occasions. He just chooses not to publicly call it a benching. I recall one game earlier this year when Roberts and Markakis and others (I think) were out of the lineup and Trembley said he was just giving them a day off. But some in the media (Maybe even Roch) hinted that there was a reason those players sat that day.
I could be wrong.
High bob!
I have seen better fundamentals in my Rec league. That stuff would make me nuts if I were them! Forget the hitting, the pitching problems, that's baseball, BUT failure to make basic plays at that level is ... an embarrassment. It's focus & concentration. IF we botched some of the plays the O's did the last 2 days in a REC league, some people would have been p!ssed & said something. It would have been unacceptable. The difference is, we aren't ML players & we are , on the average, much older too. No excuse for this crap.
Olson can play macho man all he wants in the clubhouse, he needs to show it on the mound. I am glad he cares & wants to succeed but Actions talk, chit walks.... no pun intended.
Maybe the pitchers need to take it more personal, get their dander up so to speak. Stop getting b!tch slapped around by average teams & take control.... you can't play baseball scared.
Here is an example of a problem I hope isn't team wide.... I saw a story about Mora saying his stats were as good or better than many other 3B in MLB. He said he didn't care what other people thought. That's fine, perhaps he is correct on the pure batting numbers, but how about their defense, their decision making, their base running, how does he measure up there? Those are intangibles that win games & don't always show up in a boxscore or stat sheet.
Bottom line... I kind of feel sorry for Capt. Kirk right now....
A week or so ago Joe Maddon at Tampa Bay benched his youg star, BJ Upton, for not running out a groundball. When was the last time this happened in Baltimore? The lack of hustle, poor instinct resulting in more boneheaded play, and the laziness from certain players on this team is unending.
At some point, and I don't ever expect it to happen with these veterans and possibly this manager, you have to bench people for not executing fundamentals. It's the "old tail wagging the dog" thing.
Roch, I'm sure that the team did drill these things over and over again in the spring. But, one thing I've learned from coaching many years is that some athletes just don't or won't get it, regardless of how often you work on it. Melvin Mora is one of those players, worse instincts I've ever seen in a major leaguer, and then sometimes his attitude gets in the way. Ramon fits, but more than anything he's just plain lazy. If I were manager I simply tell both of these guys that they look tired and I'm going to give them a few days off. Maybe they'll come back with a refreshed and better approach.
This past off-season we traded two guys whose attitude permeated the clubhouse in a bad way. To me it's starting to look like, in a smaller way, Ramon and Melvin are replacing those two. In the ninth inning last night(O's at bat) Melvin and Ramon we're shown sitting at the end of the dugout looking exhausted. Ramon had his back to the action, not even bothering to watch if his team could muster a comeback. My 10 year old said, "that's a good way to get hit". To me it was a far greater statement.
Baysox fever update: They win again while Akron lost to bring both teams into a tie on top of the standings. Bowie doesn't have many home games left, one more weekend home series this weekend and one Tuesday - Thursday series from the 26th - 28th. This is a fun team to watch full of guys who will be playing for the Birds next year.
What amazes me, is the pitchers can't throw strikes. Errors are a part of the game, but these walks continually turn the line up over.
Most teams have one or two hitters you want to avoid and we never seem to walk them. (i.e. career stats of Manny, ARod & Vlad) These are the people we decide to throw strikes.
Also, is it just me or is there any other team who has more trouble with the bottom of a line up?
I'm not sure what the criteria is used to bring pitchers up, but throwing strikes should be at the top.
In conclusion, it seems more often than not, the Orioles play well enough to lose.
My Gripes(the biggest ones)
1-Why does r. hernandez jump out of the catchers box almost into the batters box and giv e a target a foot off the plate-for cripes sake,these guys can't throw strikes as it is!He sets up way outside and they throw even further out-you can't possibly "frame" a pitch and get a strike call on a close one if you are out there.Hernandez is either done or has quit-he has gone from a defensive catch to a liability.Where is Sakata when we need him?
2-When the heck is trembly going to stop being Mr.Cool,calm,and ,and the studious gentlemen with the umps when they constantly blow calls?Heck the umps call some close ones against us cause they'll get no flack from him as opposed to the oppostion.Blow your stack Dave-back your players,maybe ,just maybe they'll just get fired up for you!!
This team is too,too laidback.Trembly wants them to respect the game.Then respect it by playing hardnosed,SMART baseball-and play fundamental like Castro in the field-not loosey-gooseyacrobatic,highlight film attempts like most of our infielders that cause error after error.
Sam was run out of town by the public,but Dt gets pass after pass.I am losing respect for his style. Play right or sit-and fine them for laziness and mental mistakes.
A few gripes too:
1.for a seasoned veteran, Mora looked pathetic at 3rd in the last few games. He can rant all he wants but he has made fundamental mistakes as well as misplaying some balls. He's supposed to be a leader, not a "follower", when it comes to the basics.
2. Why are Cintron and Cormier still on the roster?
3. Let Montanez get a regular turn in LF. If he can cut it, then you can trade Scott in the off seasson for some decent prospects. If not, keep Scott since Riemold is still an unknown at the ML level.
4. Call up Hernandez and Bergeson (older and more experienced that Tillman) to see what they can do. Give them a "taste". They can't be worse than Sarfate or Waters (a ML reliever with a one game fluke). I'd include Olson but he is a real starter unlike the other 2 and has the potential if it ever "clicks".
This is a last place team, building for the future, so check out the prospects to see what you have and what you will need.
Looks like you are finally coming around and addressing what has been a longstanding issue-- Trembley preaches fundamentals a lot (and rightfully so!) but talking does not change low baseball IQ. We have been the anti-Patriots in terms of drafting and acquiring intelligent players. Frankly having a 25-year old learn to field his position or teaching a 36 year-old to run bases is like teaching a high-schooler a foreign language-- it's an uphill battle.
The inability of pitchers to throw strikes and position players to know situations is an organizational issue-- not a Trembley issue in my opinion. It's also not a MacPhail issue. Regardless, it needs to be addressed. Perhaps it should not be perplexing. It was the organization's most glaring weakness to begin the season. We have only lost veterans and gotten younger. The biggest concern are that guys like Markakis, Roberts, Mora, and solid vets seem to be picking up some nasty habits.
Anyway, a friend who is a Mets fan had tix to a Nats game. The new stadium is no great shakes as others mentioned during the O's series. The Nats hit a batter to let in the eventual game-winner. I got nostalgic for Orioles pitching...
Garrett lost his "marbles" again! AARRGGHH!!
So we went to the game tonite cleverly disguised as "Those Fools" who have a sign specifically intended to get on TV. And a non-local network, even (so we wouldn't even KNOW). Something to the effect of "School of Roch... Cleveland Campus field trip" and of course the obligatory MASN logo for good measure. The ticket takers couldn't decipher it, and thus, it certainly would have offended someone (or maybe it was a political statement they didn't get... maybe) resulting in said sign being confiscated. Damn. And I was hoping to win the prize for "sole sign at Progressive Field that does not ask Grady to marry me". There's always tomorrow.
Maybe they thought we were a gang. And they just stole our gang signs. Grr.
On a related topic, how did Ramon NOT get Carroll out? How did he NOT block the plate for that? Do I have my runners confused? It just seemed like someone the size of Pat Burrell or Adam Dunn afraid of getting pummelled by someone the size of Brian Roberts.
I want a new catcher.
I have been Web watching Blake Davis ss for Bowie is he considered a prospect. he is hitting .275 and from what I have read he is a above average fielder.
I am just as perplexed as you, Roch. Fundamentals are the name of the game. And, yet, they have not even made any roster moves. I.E., bring up Penn, Bergeson, Mickolio, and Mitchell.
And, somebody teach Ramon how to properly catch and throw. It's just getting pathetic right now. I can forgive Lou for these throws since he is new, but he needs to practice accuracy. Can somebody get Nick Markakis to help Lou?
Can you even tell the team these gripes and see what they're doing about it, Roch?