The Earl of Baltimore
Check out this week's issue of Sports Illustrated for an interview with Earl Weaver as part of the "Where Are They Now?" series that ranks among my favorites every year.
Apparently, Weaver's basic philosophies on the game haven't changed since he retired for the second and final time.
"Team speed?" he says. "Get some big (expletive) who can hit the (expletive) ball out of the park!"
Preferrably, with two runners on base.
Does it shock anyone that Weaver has never heard of Moneyball?
We know how he'd feel about this year's team when he says, "Making
outs on the bases is the worst. Run yourself right out of a frickin' inning."
I love this clubhouse exchange from many years ago, which is included in the article:
Weaver: [To his team at a closed-door meeting] "You guys don't
want to win bad enough! I never failed to get a guy in from
third base with less than two outs!"
Pitcher Dave McNally: "Yeah, and you never played higher than
Double-A."
Weaver: "And another thing, if you don't make the last out of the
game, you never lose! I never made the last out."
[Pitcher Jim Palmer raises his hand.]
Weaver: "What?"
Palmer: "We all know why you never made the last out, Earl."
Weaver: "Why?"
Palmer: "Because they always pinch-hit for you."
Weaver: "Aw, you ruined the mood, Palmer!"
I'll be co-hosting with Anita Marks again today from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on MASN and 105.7 The Fan. And that, my friends, is your shameless plug alert.
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Categories (click for archive)Roch Kubatko | Roch Kubatko Orioles |
Roch, you really need some sort of saintood medal for the time you put in with Marks. She is one of the THE most horrible personalities on radio.
That was great!!! That's the kind of stuff I love to read on slow news days--
Roch
I think my favorite quote of Earl Weaver was an exchange with Pat Kelly that went something like this:
Pat Kelly to Earl Weaver: "Skip, But coach, don't you want me to walk with the Lord?"
Earl Weaver: "I'd rather you walk with the bases loaded."
Classic stuff.
Earl is priceless. I dont neccessarily agree w/ his approach but I guess it is proven. Good pitching + slugging. That said, the O's could use a slugger. He doesnt really fit but it would have been sweet for the O's to find a spot for Adam Dunn.
Gotta love Earl. I wish there was some way a younger version of himself could come back and manage this team.
looks to be a great magazine. heard there's a great write up on the "Goal Line Stand."
Roch,
When will the roster move be made, today or tomorrow?
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I would expect tomorrow before the game. - Roch
Weaver was The King! The King.
Earl .... classic .... rackem
Here is a quote from an espn article for Brummie/Jack to choke on.
With their stunning pitching depth in the minors, "next year's Orioles might be like this year's Rangers: Truly competitive, while giving fans the sense that the best is yet to come. The best three teams in American League all play in the East this year, but by 2011 that number might be four."
I always thought Weaver's style of baseball was in line with the principals described in Moneyball.
Thanks Roch that's hilarious!
I would like to see that exchange is there a video of that somewhere?
Watching the 81 All-Star Game on MLBN. Singy still hits the HR.
Dave Parker is still wearing the yellow-on-yellow Pirates uni.
Eddie Murray pinch-it for Rod Carew. Pretty good team. Ryan in a Stros uni. Eddie faced Ryan later and grounded to Manny Trillo.
72,000 in Cleveland.
These guys would crush today's All-Stars. Well, maybe not Manny Trillo.
Jim Frey was AL manager, weeks before he got canned by KC and replaced by Howser.
LOL! McNally and Palmer are hilarious!
Personal favorite Earl Weaver video is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl-4FSRYagc
I'm sure most O's fans have seen it, but it's him getting ejected with all the dialogue caught on a mic the ump was wearing for TV.
Roch, I'm not sure your line works in the piece above... Earl didn't need to hear about Moneyball -- he WAS Moneyball before it even existed: as he said, he eschewed sac bunts and stolen bases, treated every out as precious, and arranged his offense to take advantage of the 3-run homer (se pg 78 of Moneyball and his book "Weaver On Strategy"). Plus he was a pioneer in keeping stats and using them during games (see John Eisenberg's article in the Sun from Aug 20, 2004).
Sorry I can't do the URL links properly, but a brief Google search will find them.
Dylan, perhaps some kind of warning should come with that post?
None the less it was/still is on the funniest things I have ever seen....
You're in this game for one reason.......
Here's the link btw
http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1157671/index.htm
Roch, Earl WAS Moneyball before Moneyball. Are you implying he is out of touch, or before his time? Hopefully the latter.
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I'm not implying anything. Just saying he doesn't strike me as a guy who would read Moneyball, or care about "trends" like that. - Roch
Roch any updates on who may be traded between Pie and Salazar or possibly someone else? And, why is it that Tillman would be the next guy up if and when Berken is sent down, when Troy Patton is pitching well, is older, and has major league experience. Thanks Roch!
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Sorry, no updates. Tillman is pitching well, too, just hasn't gotten the wins. And Patton is coming off the labrum surgery. We're likely to see him in time. - Roch
Weaver was is a one and only! GREAT MANAGER!!
I was born in the 80's but have heard many Weaver storie's, to bad he was before my time but the legend of Weaver is strong in Bmore. Good luck with "Ineeda" new profession Marks
Roch,
My favorite Earl story. A young reporter walks up to him in the clubhouse after a loss, not sure what to say. Earl, wearing nothing but underwear, with a half-eaten chicken leg in his hand, says "what's the matter, kid? this ain't &^%%)+%ing football, we do this every day." I'm not even sure what that means but it's hilarious!
thanks, Roch
#4 was the best manager. ever.
Jack, thanks for the update on our stellar short stop. Just remember Andrew signed Izturis, so he must be a good player! LOL
Roch- Have you ever heard the clip that "team speed" quote was from? It was an "manager's corner" episode. It might be the funniest thing I have ever heard on a live broadcast.
He tells some lady to get out of the bars at night and her tomatoes will grow and drops an F bomb about every other word.
the best is at the end, he cuts the announcer off and goes,
"Well, that's it for Manager's (expletive) Corner, I'm Earl Weaver on the Baltimore (expletive) Orioles radio (expletive) network. Go (expletive) yourself."
If you never have heard it, go to youtube a.s.a.p.
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Yeah, it's a classic. I believe Tom Marr is the host. - Roch
Roch, please show this article to Trembley! Especially the part about base-running!
Roch, What are the chances that Huff ends up on the DL to make room for Izzy?
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They could go that route, but don't know how serious it is. - Roch
John A, I posted the link earlier, it's a great article all around.
http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1157671/index.htm
Rochster...when Anita is going on one of her rants....the split screen is on you, and you look bewildered, and then when the break comes, you look at her with a big old grin. She is that type of woman, you cant control her mouth, but she is so sexy in other ways to make up for her mouth. Gotta take the good with the bad brothaa....
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She wants me to read this comment on the air. Stay tuned. - Roch
Thanks Bro...you made my day!! Love the blog...charter member....Like her too..but MAN!!, she is totally HIGH maint!
Roch, do you borrow your t-shirts from Mark Zinno, size extra medium?
Gary Coleman's wife was arrested for domestic violence. I don't want her on the Ravens.
T-Shirt Idea: Roch: The Best One-Handed Typist On MASN
I have read that the Orioles wanted the Marlins top players in Mike Stanton or Logan Morrison, but not ask for Matt Dominguez plus one more like Jose Rosario, Rick VandenHurk, or Tom Koehler?
Roch.....
Earl was the best!!!
Do you think Izzy should start and push the young 'dino to the bench?
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Absolutely. - Roch
Thanks for the tip on the article Roch....Earl Weaver was a great manager..he is by far the best manager the O's have ever had and probably ever will have in my life time. He played all his position players lots...they played hard and not many mistakes..they played good D...starting pitchers were tough and pitched well into games..he was in everyones head to play and never lose..just like this post said...the guy did not want to lose and had the fire to prove it and keep the intensity in a long season. One of a kind guy. Just a baseball guy.
One of my clients is Bobby Grich. The first time I met him I asked him what it was like playing for Earl. He just laughed. Then he said it was fun to watch him and Palmer go at it. But he also said he like playing in Baltimore and for Weaver. He's a really nice guy.
Pheeeeeeenomenal article on Weaver. His win totals are astounding and impressive. How many years did he win 90 games? WOW. It sure helps to have a really good pitching staff though. Makes me proud to have Earl as part of Orioles history. Go O's!
Roch your take on Earl Weaver was great! here's another one. During Hall of fame ceremonies for Earl. Weaver told a joke on himself. In a game where Mike Flanagan ws ptiching, Flanagan was called for a balk. Weaver stormed out of the dugout and argued the call by the ump. when the inning was over, Earl turned to Flanagan and asked Mike did you balk? Yes Earl I did.
Can anyone tell me what page this article is on?