10 straight and counting
I'm not trying to rain on anyone's Super Bowl parade, and I'd never discourage fans from basking in the success of a Baltimore franchise, but the Ravens have beaten two putrid teams and Philip Rivers threw for 436 yards against them. Those are just the facts.
The Browns couldn't get in the end zone if it was laid out in their locker room.
That said, I'll take 3-0 over 60-95. It's a lot more fun.
If I'm manager Dave Trembley, I can't feel good about the following comment from Andy MacPhail, president of baseball operations, that ran in today's edition of The Sun:
"I'm disappointed in this road trip. I know we're beat-up and running out of bullets, but I'm not real pleased with it. Some of it, I can understand. But I don't think Cleveland and Toronto are terribly different than we are."
It looks like we've been hit with another September swoon. It just aired on a delayed basis.
We all recognize the signs. Big early deficits, relievers bringing cans of gasoline to the mound, the offense sputtering as if it's run out of gas. You keep reaching for the remote, hoping that a few minutes away will magically influence the outcome, or at least ease the pounding in your head.
Been there, done that.
Am I shocked by the 10-game losing streak? Absolutely not.
It isn't easy to lose that many games in a row without trying, but look at this roster. Adam Jones and Nolan Reimold are on the disabled list. Felix Pie is day-to-day. The first baseman and closer are gone. The new closer is in a funk. The most effective starter, Brian Matusz, has been shut down. He replaced the staff ace, Brad Bergesen, who was lost for the last two months. The rotation includes three rookies and Mark Hendrickson. The Opening Day starter has 16 losses. Most of the relievers you're seeing now are candidates to be axed from the 40-man roster.
You expected a 10-game winning streak?
I foolishly believed that the schedule favored the Orioles on this road trip, but I must have left the cap off the Krazy Glue. And I've been spiking my coffee. I'm not thinking clearly.
The Rays have been a total bust, but they're starting Jeff Niemann, Wade Davis, James Shields and Matt Garza in this series. Their lineup still includes Carl Crawford, Evan Longoria, Jason Bartlett, Ben Zobrist, B.J. Upton, Willy Aybar, Pat Burrell and Akinori Iwamura.
Meanwhile, the Orioles are evaluating Jeff Fiorentino and Michael Aubrey for next season. Fans are clamoring for Justin Turner. And did I mention the bullpen? We're sitting around debating whether Sean Henn should replace Cla Meredith with a runner on base in the fifth inning.
Chris Tillman probably won't make his last start, which means another fill-in takes the ball at Camden Yards during the final series. It won't be easy to watch, but we'll do it because it's baseball. And because we have a high threshold of pain.
The last 12 seasons should have toughened us up.
 |
Categories (click for archive)Roch Kubatko | Roch Kubatko Orioles |
Never thought that they couldn't win 3 out of 13 given the teams we were playing. At the rate we are going, we'll be drafting 2nd next June.
And what looked like a relatively set team next year, short of a new corner IFer, and an experienced start, now looks like a team with many holes since the present 'pen is all but worthless. Like last year, you may have half of the roster turned over from the '09 opening day, plus new base coaches hopefully and maybe the manager.
A team in flux, if not in termoil, going into the off season. AM has his hands full in turning this team and its attitude around for '10.
"The last 12 seasons should have toughened us up."
That's exactly the way I feel! It's like my brain has been calloused. I am completely numb to 10 game losing streaks, being 30+ games under .500, and blowing leads late in games. Sadly, this is what I have come to now expect. I forget what it even feels like to have my baseball team winning games more often than not. I can't wait for the day when I can sit down to watch a game and not have a knot in my stomach while watching it. There have been about 6-7 times this year where it hasn't been that way. This can't go on. I just hope the Orioles win a World Series before I die at this point...
I might go to the game on Saturday just so I can get my Orioles Tankard!
I guess I'll beat the trolls to the puIch...i've been sitting here hitting the refresh button waiting for Roch's new post to pop up....here it is!!!!!!! Like in The Jerk..."The new phone book is here, the new phone book is here!!! I AM SOMEBODY!!!!!!" Jack and Brummie are typing away right now, I hope the lights don't go off in their parents basement!!!!
The new phone book is here, the new phone book is here!!!! I AM SOMEBODY!!!!!!! Wow Jack, you are just typing away right now!! taptaptaptap
The new phone book is here, the new phone book is here!!!! I AM SOMEBODY!!!!!!! Wow Brummie, you are just typing away right now!! taptaptaptap....pretending to be a journalist!!! wow Brummie!!!!
Roch:
I couldn't agree more with your comments. And, you're not painting a very pretty picture for the last week of the season. Maybe Nick or Weiters can come in and relieve? It's worth a try.
The unfortunate thing, Trembley might lose his job and that wouldn't make me happy. I think he's done a decent job with what he had to work with. I question some of his moves, but he's at a point of throwing gloves against the wall and see what sticks. Who says you can't fire the players? If I was in charge, I'd fire a number of players before now, and definite after the season.
As difficult as it might be, keep using your humor to try and get us threw another losing and disgusting season. I'll keep watching and hoping something will turn around.
JO
Hey Roch,
I've been pretty upbeat through the worst of it this season because I've had rookies to watch who were shining at moments. Now that it is almost exclusively retreads, it's getting painful. I really don't want to hit 100 losses, but I'm not sure the Os can take even one from Tampa. That said, what's the word on Pie? Is it day-to-day, but doubtful, or do they expect him to play this week?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
He's expected to play this week. - Roch
Andy is clueless....and a bad golfer!!!! But...how can he afford those Country Club greens fees when: OLE PETE IS CHEAP!!!!!!?????? I dont get it!!!!!????? The new phone book is here...the new phone book is here!!!!!!!!!!! Jack and Brummie ae just typing away...Jack pretends he is a baseball coach....and Brummie pretends he is an internation journalist!!!!!!! What imaginations!!!!
Roch you coffee is not spiked, you are simply being a realist.
I hope everyone sees now that you cannot bring in 30 pitchers to ST who are simply 25 rejects from other organizations. You can bring in a hundred, but in the end you simply have 95 rejects sitting around. Safety in numbers only counts if you have quality....not just quanity.
Maybe Dandy Andy will do things differently this off season. Who knows or cares at this point. This team is so defunct, it is going to take another 5 years to put some type of normalcy back in the clubhouse.
A well rounded plan has an implementation phase for both the minor and major league levels. The minors have been addressed thru poor performance at the ML level with the exeception of Hobgood (terrible pick). There has been nothing performed to address the poor performance at the ML level over the last two years. Who have we brought in and is still here besides Adam Jones to substantially overhaul this defunct group of AAAA players?
This team has regressed at the ML level over the last two years. And that my friends falls squarely in the lap of Mr Lightning!
I'm so glad this is America....and I can post as much as I want!!!!! I'm so glad I am a kids baseball coach...so I can teach them the finer points of the game!!!!!!!
I wonder if Brummie, the international journalist, knows Austin Powers, the international man of mystery????????? I wonder if Jack coached them both in Little League....I have sooooooooooooooooo many questions...I'm so glad that this is America, where I can post all I want.....it's only fair right?????????????
Matusz has been great but Brad Bergesen has been the best Oriole pitcher this year. Of course, he has been shut down as well by injury. Next year, (the siren call for losing teams) it is much less likely that with a healthy Bergesen and a stretched out Matusz the Orioles loose more than 4 in a row.
Remember the Seinfeld episode where that weird guy had the pics of Elaine all over his room....like a whole shrine?????? Jack and Brummie print out all of their posts and put them up all over thier bedroom walls.....and the ones that Roch replies to......they are 2x the size....wow!!!!!!!! Type away boys...type away!!!!!!
The decision on Dave will have more to do with who are the better options rather than the O's performance over the last seven games. Are Showalter, Valentine or others better options to lead a young team with promise, but in desperate need of shaking the losing culture?
Trembley is a good baseball man, but the losing mindset is hard to shake, it may be time to make a change.
Dave Johnson's postgame comments yesterday indicated that his feeling is some of the bullpen moves that were made were because Trembley had been told he will be back next season (such as the one you mentioned, removing Cla Meredith when he was pitching well).
I think I'm going to the doctor's today to get some pills for the severe mood swings I suffered yesterday. I kept flipping channels from the Ravens to the Orioles and could not help think what a great franchise the Ravens are and such a terrible franchise the Orioles have become. It's sad to me. I love both sports, but I'm more of a baseball fan. It's an odd thing we have going on here...the prospects we have brought up make me feel encouraged, yet the team keeps getting worse and cannot even compete w/teams that I consider to be on our level.
Jack said: Tillman really stinks..one of Andy's boys...wait..I said in May I wanted him up...never mind! I meant that Lou stinks, he cant hit..wait...never mind...I like him now....OLE PETE IS CHEAP!!!!!!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OK dude, take a breath. Point made. - Roch
Jef Fiorintino for next year? Are you kidding me? He still can't hit and he can't throw from the outfield. So of what value is this person? Don't tell me I'm in for a 2010 season just like the past 12 or I won't be watching baseball come spring.
At this point, I wonder if we should just try for the #2 pick. I don't really like the idea of "tanking," but what are we playing for? Pride? Obviously not, since we can't be too proud of doubling Cleveland's win total for the month. Hopefully, there's a good corner infielder from college who could step into out lineup in a year or two.
MacPhail's comments seem to indicate that Trembley isn't coming back next season. I think that's the right decision.
I think popeye finally snapped...
MY CAPS ON WORKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!MY CAPS ON WORKS!!!!!!!!!!! WOW!!!! i CAN BE JUST LIKE JACK!!!!
Roch-
I agree on all counts---I think Aubrey deserves a chance at 1st...why pick up somone older and more expensive? I would however take a hard look at Tejada for third..there are many advantages, including the fact that he could play short when Itzuris needs a rest, plus he can still hit and field, and he'd come pretty cheap...the lineup could be:
Roberts (S)
Jones (R)
Markaikis (L)
Weiters (S)
Reimold (R)
Scott (DH)(L)
Tejada (R)
Aubrey (L)
Itzuris (S)
Bench
Moeller
Wiggington
Pie
Andino or Turner
That is a decent ML lineup with r/l balance and some power as well as some speed
Rotation
Guthrie
Burgeson
Matusz
Tillman
Hendrickson as 5th starter when needed
Bullpen
Johnson plus TBA
AM--DO NOT give away our young pitching! maybe around .500 next year and then things can get a lot better in 2011 with a couple good free agents..what do you think?
Hey Roch..here is a question for you...do you have International journalist credentials like I do???????????? Hey Roch..are you a successful baseball coach like me??? Brummie/Jack loves the blog...Brummie/Jack loves the blog!!!!!
Roch,
Along the lines of Andy's comments, I think the things that have irritated me the most and have really led me to flip on Trembley- previously I wanted him to be given another year- is the approach in comparison to other teams.
Out here in KC MO, I have dealt with watching Royals fans bemoan a disappointing season- much like the 'birds built around better things starting to show this year hopes- only to see them really put together a good September. The difference I see, is that 'it's September, let's go for broke' mentality of play. Really aggressive running and true National League style of 'small ball'.
This is exactly what I don't see happening with our team. I cannot figure out what Dave's plan is regarding what he was trying to see this month. Why so much pulling of relief pitchers for the traditional match ups? To me this is the time to see what a reliever can get out of on their own- throw away the statistical 'should be' match ups. 35 games below 500- there is no such thing as a situational match up at that time- situational match ups walked out the door at the end of July. Also, this is the time when the David Hernandezs, Berkens, and others should be left in the games longer. Who cares if the give up 6 runs rather than 4-5; let them learn through the tough times and see if they show they have some amount of pride- in having to be standing out there.
Why is NY stealing a dozen bases against the Red Sox when we probably only attempted 1. The O's are a fairly slow team, but why not just take the chance. I would rather run ourselves out of an inning than just waiting for us to fly/bounce/pop out in a grinding station to station manner.
Trembley speaks of this team not having power to knock it out of the ball park; well then play like you have plan b to work around that deficiency. I get the out of market cable package to get the games and this weekend I had to listen to the Indians broadcast team. They could not get over how few sacrifices the O's have this year.
I guess this is just a rant; but, I think if the O's played more of a let it all out offensive style, the players might look like they were a little more into the games than they come across presently.
Head of School said:
" ... It won't be easy to watch, but we'll do it because it's baseball. And because we have a high threshold of pain."
Schoolman and Everyone,
I have been saving the following for two months at least; Roch just gave the signal that it is time to post it:
No matter how great our current disappointment, history tells us that baseball fans have an infinite capacity to endure disappointment. So, buck up, and Stick with them O's.
TROLLING IS JUST ANOTHER LEFT-HANDED FORM OF ENDEAVOR.
I LOVE AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!! I can post all I want!!!!!!!!!
I'm sorry you have to keep covering this garbage baseball Roch. At least us fans can just not follow the games. For once I'm thankful to be in PA during baseball season, I'm afraid if I was back home I'd be tempted to turn on the tv and watch a game or two. Oh the horror....
Looks like popeye got a bad can of spinach.
I have for a while expected Trembley not to be back, though ambivalent regarding the prospect of it happening. At this point, it would probably be best for both him and the organization to get a fresh start. Nobody would remotely think he is the cause for their immense suckitude (can I say that on a family-friendly blog?) this year, but along with an upgrade in talent it is necessary to install a new attitude. Or at least a new voice at the top.
While I'd love to have LaRussa, he's not coming here, and even if he did I'd be surprised if he could get this squad to .500, even allowing for the experience the rookies got this year to lead to natural improvement. We should all remember that Earl did not have major league experience before he took over in '68, but he did have a club that was a whole lot more talented and experienced than what they have in Baltimore now. So if AM can't convince Tom Kelly that he needs the challenge of trying to work magic in Baltimore then I'll back whoever he chooses to manage the team next year. Even if it's Trembley.
The ravens going in to the season were picked to lose to San Diego (meaning lost in translation but many scholars believe it means a whales). Even though he threw 436 yards did they win? Flacco and company are coming Roch, if they win in Foxboro will you be convinced then? I mean they only went to the championship game last year.
Keep it coming Popeye. It's better than the other stuff!
To say the first baseman is gone is not fair to Michael Aubrey, who's played pretty darn well since coming up.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So Aubrey Huff isn't gone? - Roch
Roch -
Boy, did everyone have the same bowl of Cheerios this morning or what? If this was the stock market I would say that we are close to a bottom with all the negativity. Let's face it, the team is not that good right now and probably won't be again next year, but we still keep hoping for the best. Until we can start a season with more than five legit starters (so we can handle mid-season injuries) we are in the wannabe category, but I'll still keep rooting for the O's because that is what fans do.
Hey look on the bright side; Octoberfest celebration at the ball park on Saturday (I'm still flying in from Chicago to see the game, have a few beers and hope we score some runs). Who cares about 100 losses, like 98 would be some rally-cry that we all pound our chests about? Keep the faith.
I was talking to someone about managerial solutions, and one name that was mentioned was BJ Surhoff. Personally, BJ was my favorite Oriole growing up, and I'd love to see him get the job because I think he would do a great job. What do you think his chances are, Roch, and how well do you think he could do?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
He has absolutely no managing experience. Think he needs to be a coach first or take a job in the minors, and not sure that's what he wants to do. - Roch
The whole mentality of this club is out of wack. They rush to shut guys like Adam Jones down who need reps. Another week of AB's is another week of AB's. They are a laughing stock, there is no other way to spin it. You would think that guys like BRob would be mad & out there yelling at guys when they screw up. Nah, he seems happy as a clam everytime he's interviewed on MASN. He's making alot of money & is the owners favorite player, why would he be upset? Where is the spirit..heart...emotion? Guys are too comfy. Clippers east !
Roch, I'm in desperate need for some keep saves in my fantasy league championship. If the Orioles somehow got into a save situation this week, does the ball still go to JJ or do you think someone else gets a shot with all the blown saves he's had now.
wow!! deleting some of my posts...but you let the trolls post on....big man you are!!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I let enough of them go through. I'm not going to post 100 of the exact same thing in a 10-minute span. And I'm tired of people trying to run this blog for me. So if that makes me a "big man," so be it. I'll approve what I want to approve. I'm not going to lose total control of a blog with MY name on it. - Roch
Yo "popeye" get a frickin life. One post a thread is enough let alone a 1000. For god's sake, give it up already.
As for DT, who knows. It has been a tough season and he has had to work with what he was dealt......however, not what I would call a glowing endorsement from MacPhail. Regardless, the young studs have gotten invaluable experience this year and have been enjoyable to watch. We got hit with a couple of key injuries and we shut a couple of players down early. Those are the cards we were dealt. Love the young talent we have on this club and am looking forward to next year, although that will not preclude me from from watching and cheering hard for the O's for the last few games of the year.
As I have said many, many times.....for the love of the game!!
And if you don't love it, go somewhere else.
Roch, you could also have mentioned that Nick Markakis has been in a coma. I'm someone who likes what McPhail is doing; for the first time in years there's a plan. The O's have stockpiled a lot of young talent, and we have lots of reason to be hopeful about the future(Jones, Matusz, Wieters, Tillman, Arietta, etc.) But who is he kidding by suggesting that this team, in its current shape, can compete with anyone?
Okay, let me start with thanks for you, Roch, and for everyone who's made this blog as much fun as it is. If there's ANY chance that I'll be at the Yawn next year, it's only because of this place.
With that said, it's depressing not just to watch the losses mount up this year (we knew those were coming), but to realize just how much we're counting on every single thing breaking right next year and the year after to even have a chance at .500. I mean, EVERYTHING. ALL our pitching prospects have to work out (and we're already seeing that they're not), NOBODY can get injured, EVERY reliever must come in and shut the door, EVERY time. And if all that happens, we might get up to...mediocrity?
I mean, look at the Rays. Every break a team could get, they got in 2008. This year, it was a bit more balanced, and there they are, back watching the Red Sox and Yankees in the playoffs again.
I know, it's not going to happen overnight. And I can always count on the people here to talk me down from the ledge. But I'd really love to see my kids able to root for the Orioles, as a good team, the way I used to be able to.
And thanks for letting me vent that as well.
Roch, Can it be?! I saw in the Jerusalem Herald that Schmuck broke your record of 3,000+ entries during his brief trip to the Middle East! Oh, wait, on second glance it says entrees, not entries. He had 3,000+ entrees during the trip. Nevermind.
I used to be a philosophic pessimist, believing it is always better to expect the worst; the idea being that you will thus either have your expectations met or be pleasantly surprised by an outcome that is better, i.e. you'll never taste the disappointment that is inevitable when you continually deploy optimism in that all-too-human (or just American?) endeavor of always looking forward. But not anymore. It's a cowardly way to be -- the equivalent to going to church because you see the logic behind Pascal's wager and nothing else. Hedging your bets, but with cold reason and nerdy game theory findings as your cozy insurance policy. But not anymore. Because believing is THE thing, not the means, just like love and faith are THE thing, not the means. So with this attitude, and applied to a much more trivial subject, I'd like to enumerate 3 POSITIVES of the current 10-game non-high-score streak:
1) The play of Michael Aubrey. He's proven that when he's healthy, he can live up to his previously high expectations. His hustle, defense, and clutch hitting have stood out most among all O's the past two weeks. No pop some people have said, but with 2HRs in 62 ABs, that translates to 18-20 HRs over a full season. Small sample size alert, but to me he's top candidate at 1st in spring training (barring another acquisition or break-out AFL performance)
2) The continued improvement of Felix Pie (before injury of course). Again, the hustle is evident, but his whole approach seems dramatically better. I agree with DT that at 24 his ceiling is not 4-th OF, but starter. That DOES NOT mean that Nolan is out; on the contrary, it means we have four very good, young OFs. That is always a good thing, whether that is for future rosters or trades.
3) Higher draft pick potential. I never root for accruing high numbers in the column that is labeled L. But once that tally starts to rise, though managers and I'd even say GMs (at least not admitting it) cannot think this way -- a practical outcome for teams with no chance of winning anything is that they have a better chance for getting a better player in the draft. The O's have the potential for the 2nd pick. Either the 2nd/3rd puts them in a very good draft position.
Did I miss any other positives?
Upon weeding thru readers entries, amist multiple entries from the two idiots (which gives me a headache)I found an intelligent conversation starter a post ago from I think Jim Dandy, speculating about Dave T's successor if he is fired. Another poster brought up Tom Kelly, and right away I thought it to be an interesting option. Upon looking at his record however, after his initial success with the Twins, he had a long string of 8 consecutive losing seasons, among them 5 straight 90+ losing seasons, finishing with a career managing mark of .478. Next candidate please!!
Mr. Trembley comes across as a nice man, but he is not in the same class as the other big league managers. Mr. Macphail would do well to hand over the fortunes of this club to a more ingenious and enterprising hand.
Popeye, the anti-troll. I like it.
Maybe my memory is a bit rusty, but have you ever heard of people being "shut down" late in the season for anything other than a broken leg or open heart surgery?
I mean, can you evee imaging hearing that Juan Marichal was shut down because the Giants were not in the pennant chase? Ted Williams? The list could be unending.
Shutting people down for whatever reason is a euphemism for quitting.
Sorry...maybe you need to spike your coffee in Fed Ex field's endzone b/c the Skins certainly have left lots of room for your cup.
Regarding DT staying or leaving...
Come on, folks. When a manager or coach in any professional league gets axed, they always end up somewhere else. Sometimes when I read a post lamenting the potential firing of a manager, I think that the guy in question must be someone's bacon winner at their own home.
These guys rotate from team to team, league to league. Don't shed a lot of tears. Reserve your tears for folks with real jobs --- like those at OPCY whose jobs with concessions paid a whole lot less b/c there were less fans in the stands. They won't go to another team for a six-figure plus position.
Roch
Lets all take a deep breath and relax. What ever would we do without a baseball team to worry about. The kids in Iraq and Afganistan (SP) would love to have the problems we Oriole fans have. This is a game not life or death.
I would let Trembley go. I do not think he is a good game manager and it has cost us a few this year. But when you lose the core of your team over the course of the season you are not going to win very many games..regardless of who your manager is or your general manager or your owner. If the Yankees had lost the core of their team they would not be winning either.
Roch,
While you're right about The Ravens opponents being pretty dismal, but John Harbaugh made a good point yesterday. He expects teams to put up more passing numbers and points against them because The Ravens offense has gotten so much better.
Think about it, if a team is behind two scores they aren't even going to try to run, they're going to pass, and passing yards come in bunches, especially when your defensive M/O is to blitz and that blitz isn't always effective. The Ravens should make the New England game a good one since Rex Ryan's Jets showed that Tom Brady is struggling against the blitz. The Ravens just need to get more effective with their blitz packages.
As for the Orioles... well I'm just glad The Ravens are here to dull the pain. Here's hoping that next season really is the turning point. I'm predicting 79-83, 4th place in the AL East behind NY, Boston, and TB. 2011 may be different, especially if Tillman and Matusz improve and if Bergeson shows up like he did this year.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I see Harbaugh's point, though I don't think Rivers passed for 436 yards because the Chargers were down two TDs the entire time. But teams definitely will be airing it out more if the Ravens keep scoring at this rate. - Roch
To the contrary of many readers beliefs, there is no one who wants the Orioles to NOT hit 100 wins more then me.
I think it is a milestone which labels an organization is total mayhem.
There needs to be heat applied to this FO and Ownership. There is no accountability for their indecisions. I think the concept which needs to get out there is "status quo" is no longer acceptable. Yes Andrew has drafted a few two players. One is legit the other will never see the light of AAA. I hope I am wrong but we shall see. My gripe has been to the fact there has been NO emphasis on trying to improve the quality of play at the ML level. And improvement is needed with both the caliber of players and the mindset the coaches allow these players to play with. I cannot tell you how many times Roberts has jogged to first or Mora tells the manager when he wants to play which totally disgust me.
So NO, I dont want the Orioles to lose each night. But when this team continues to let each off season slip away, emphasis needs to be put in a public forum to get fans off their butts and start applying the pressure. If you dont think people from Mr. Lightning dont monitor this blog, you are smoking crack. It is one thing to see the attendance to drop like it is. But when the fans start TALKING openly in a forum for the entire world to see how disgruntled they are.....that opens eyes. Because in all reality, it cuts down on attendance wherever the O's go to play. And that in itself cuts into Ole Pete's P/L statment.
Roch, SERIOUS QUESTION, since you sensored the Popeye guy for doing the exact same thing the 2 morons do, why don't you hold them to a 1 post limit per entry. It only seems fair!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One post? Go back and count how many of Popeye's got approved. I only deleted a few that said the exact same thing a few seconds apart. If I didn't, people would complain about having to scroll those, too. Again, I'm not going to lose total control of this blog. - Roch
1997 1st AL East 98 64 0.604
1998 4th AL East 79 83 0.487
1999 4th AL East 78 84 0.481
2000 4th AL East 74 88 0.456
2001 4th AL East 63 98 0.391
2002 4th AL East 67 95 0.413
2003 4th AL East 71 91 0.438
2004 3rd AL East 78 84 0.481
2005 4th AL East 74 88 0.456
2006 4th AL East 70 92 0.432
2007 4th AL East 69 93 0.425
2008 5th AL East 68 93 0.422
2009 5th AL East 60 95 0.387
P---R---O---G---R---E---S---S
Yep - I'm sold. (hopefully for more than Chad Bradford)
The Ravens have won 2 more games in the last 10 days then the Orioles. Heck, the Detriot Lions have won more games the in the last 10 days then the Orioles. How sad. My hope for the future is gone. We will never win again.!!If we ever win again I will not know how to handle it.
Andy MacPhail has had the team now for the last two and one half years. So, to ask a Reagan question, "Are we better off today than we were two and one half years ago?"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you mean the farm system, and the number of prospects who are reaching the majors, or on the verge, then the answer is "yes." If you mean the won-loss record, then "no." - Roch
Hi Roch, just a comment. I was a daily reader until about a week ago, when I wrote in and mentioned that I was going to be much less frequently because of the two jerks that have to post multiple times with the same message. So, today, I log on, just to see if anything has changed, and I see a spoofer of the two jerks, posting multiple times, and you block his posts after what looks like one day (the other 2 have been doing this for months on end). whats up with that, I think the guy was trying to make a point.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is really getting frustating. The guy made his point. I said as much. But he was filing stuff every minute or so. I let most of them pass, but a few were exactly the same, or with only a few words altered. He wasn't even commenting on the team. It stopped being clever after the first 20 comments. Enough already. It's days like this that I wish I had stayed in bed. - Roch
Roch - Do you think it's possible that the O's could hold on to Trembley and fire some of the coaching staff or would it be an all or nothing deal?
I'm not suggesting that as my preferred scenario or that Trembley would want to replace any of them but I can't remember it happening before. Usually the O's fire the manager and either keep the coaches for the next manager or fire them as well. I'd really like to see T-Bone and Samuel gone and maybe Kranitz. Not even so sold on Crowley any more after watching how pathetic they are with runners in scoring position.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It wouldn't be the first time that a manager has stayed and been told to replace a coach (or more). But I don't know if that's part of the Orioles' thinking. - Roch
-- I cannot believe some of you guys. When you look at the guys we're playing with right now, it would be hard to finish in the upper division of the International League. Still, I was hoping they would sweep the Indians and overtake them here at the last.
-- One criticism is correct. I do think that we shut guys down for no apparent reason, especially pitchers. They need to battle through 162 if they can at all do so; otherwise when these guys do improve, they're not in condition to do anything but pitch well through the all-star break. I thought the mentality was supposed to be that our starters pitch 9 around here??
-- I will reiterate that the pitching staff is in desperate need of left-handed talent. No way 5 righties should be in the rotation next April. And we still haven't found anybody to be the second lefty from the pen. A third would be nice.
-- If Aubrey continues to hit .300, let him play 1B; I'll take his hits over Huff's ground ball double plays anytime. It's not a bad lineup when it's healthy, but for the still-yawning need of getting a power-hitter in the middle.
-- 3B...I think it's up to Melvin to win the job. He should get every chance, but he's going to have to show some more pop in that bat than he did this year.
-- I think we're set at vital positions -- C, the entire outfield and 2B. The SS we have is decent afield, so being strong up the middle is a promising thing to start with. This team still needs some reliable starting pitching, a big DH bat, and a closer.
-- Starting pitching...I think every spot is open. We had tryouts through pretty much the entire year. Bergesen is in for sure. Guthrie probably is the only other guy that can be lightly penciled in as a starter, based on how well he finished up. The others have some questions to answer about whether they're ML material, I think. Berken? He also finished up better than he started and has very deceiving numbers, so he has a leg up on the others. Tillman and Matusz struggled wildly with inconsistency from start to start and Hernandez seems to have regressed in the last few weeks for whatever reason.
-- Trembley stays. With so much turmoil on the field, why would you create more turmoil in the dugout? This year was the year they tore everything down (twice, pretty much). Next year, the rebuilding begins. Sit back and enjoy the trek. Sometimes, all a team needs is time. We're pretty close to that stage, I think. My attitude toward McPhail and the Orioles..Trust, but verify. I think they're earned my trust somewhat based on my own inspection of the talent moving through.
StinkyD - good call on M. Aubrey's stats. While acknowledging the limited sample size, he currently has the highest slugging average on the team. He has certainly warranted an oppurtunity to compete for the starting 1B job next spring, barring an acquisition of a more obvious candidate. While his power is not ideal for 1B, with his defense and overall hitting capability it may be enough to keep him around.
Some other positives from this current stretch of non-winning baseball:
1) Matusz won't get either his arm or his confidence hurt down the stretch.
2) The question of who to remove from the 40-man roster after the season is made easier with some of the performances of the 20-man bullpen.
3) Wieters has had a good month and gotten a chance to hit third, continuing his development and making next year look even brighter.
Hey Roch, thanks for putting up with all our junk. The end of this season has been a frustrating one and it seems as if people are grumpy. So again, I appreciate that you persevere and continue to give us quality information.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks Scott. Most of it isn't junk, and I enjoy doing this far more than I consider it a burden. Some days are just better/easier than others. - Roch
Dr. Tom,
As somebody posted in the last day or so (sorry I can't remember who) the Pirates won't pay the big bucks for a top level prospect so in effect the Orioles already have the number two pick in the up coming draft. So who's available. This is the only upside of the Orioles being so horrible, but class, raise your hands if any of you really thought (not hoped) the Orioles would be much better than they are now. When expectations do not conform to reality then disappointment results.
Ravens and O's fans,
Celebrate, enjoy and cherish every Ravens win no matter who we beat, even if it is just the Browns. We need to think positive Roch. We beat the Browns bad. A win is a win in the NFL. We should enjoy this since we can never enjoy baseball in this town. stop complaining about the O's and lets focus on FOOTBALL because I need us to beat the STEELERS. I live in PA and got tourmented last year losing all 3 games to them. I want some payback this year and so far I love coming into work 3-0 and listening to these Stillers fans complain about the Stillers. I LOVE IT. It is even more gradifying after getting busted on by them all last year. Once (IF) the O's ever win again it will be SO Gradifying going through what we have gone through.
Roch:
Not that it matters, but I understand why you let posters continue to bash McPhail etc... At least (though I don't agree) they speak to things that are relevant to the Orioles, and do not just imitate other posters and become Internet Hooligans. Just wanted to let you know that I'm on your side buddy. My fear is that if this becomes some sort of "internet shouting match", that the ability of users to post will be lost. I hope this does not happen. As you are a wealth of information on this team. Just figured I'd let you know. Sometimes when you should have stayed in bed, all you need is somebody on your side to make it all seem worth it. :-)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks Alex. It's not a perfect system and it may require some tweaking. I'm attempting to get some feedback from people in the Web studio. I don't want people abandoning the blog because of the comments, but I also can't seem to convince them to just scroll past the names they don't like. - Roch
Hey Roch,
Love the blog. You are doing a great job. Chin up. This day will end sooner than the Orioles season.
One more positive, at least your not wearing those Medium sized shirts on MASN anymore. ;)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tune in Sunday for O's Xtra. We'll be in the bullpen area, so no tie and jacket! - Roch
Oops. Sorry, I spelled you're incorrectly.
I know it's a bit early but any speculation on who the O's will take in the 2010 draft?
You want to keep control of the blog you need to send Jack and Brummie to the showers. It would be an ultimate case of addition by subtraction. You can’t deny any ones post as long as you allow Jack & Brummie b/c they post the same stuff 5 times each and every post. They appear to be trolls. Most sites don’t allow for trolls to run the comments section. Most of us have begged you to run them off for weeks but yet we get censured and their garbage is allowed to go through. It makes one want to click on this blog less and less and certainly not post comments
To answer the question posed above, yes we are absolutely better off than two years ago. At some point in time this team needed to get younger and when you go young you are going to lose and sometimes ugly because of the inexperience and honestly weeding out legit prospects from those we believe to be prospects. Lets remember that while Tampa Bay was winning the American East last year, they also had the first pick in the amateur draft in June, which means what kiddies, yes they had finished with the worst record in baseball in 2007. When you flush the system out it can get ugly but eventually it will work better. Success- introducing Bergeson, Matusz, Tillman, Hernandez, even Berken can be serviceable, all with varying degrees of success and with long term potential. Success- signing Markakis and Roberts to long term deals. Success- introducing Reimold and Weiters to mlb and having success. Sometimes wins and losses doesn't truly measure success. The thing that scares me is a housecleaning with manager and coaches, because then you have start over again with coaching philosophy. Trembley, et al., need the opportunity to see what they can do with talent on the roster that has a couple of years major league experience behind them. Lets face it, Joe Torre wasn't a genius in St. Louis it is amazing what he has done once he got a chance to manage a talented team.
Wow. A morning away from the blog and lots happens.
I'll just repost something I put up yesterday.
FROM THE SUN: 1 October 2007
"The Orioles will need a setup man and a closer. They could use a veteran starting pitcher and still lack a powerful bat in the middle of their order."
Two years later............same problems..........same MACFAIL.
WHERE IS THE PROGRESS ANDREW?
WHERE IS THE HEAT FROM THE MEDIA AND FANS?
Roch, looks like you need a little love today man. Personally, I think you've done a hell of a job again this season and I look forward to your off season entries when the stove starts heating up! Kudos to you, and I will never stop reading! (Except for maybe some of the comments)
:)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks. Just one of those days. - Roch
What do you think abot going after Andy Marte from the Indians during the off season? I think he would do really well at first base playing every day. Also i would welcome Tejada back for a one or two year deal.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The only benefit I'd see in signing Marte is they wouldn't have to face him anymore. - Roch
Roch,
As the September swoon hits us and early October also, I just wanted to say Thank You for all your hard work and dedication to this blog and the team as a whole. In fact, I barely watch the games anymore with football around, but I continue to read your blog everyday. Thanks again and hopefully next year we can get a School of Roch night at the Yard.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks Matt. I'm definitely in favor of a School of Roch Night. - Roch
"I don't think Cleveland and Toronto are terribly different than we are."
Keep looking in the mirror and telling yourself that, ANDREW!
Those teams know how to beat bad teams. It's why they have better records than the O's. Those teams try their best to win. Even if they expect a bleak season, the FO never tells the players "This year is not about wins and losses." Winning is everything in sports. Only losers say things like " this season is one for evaluation."
Andrew did tell the players that, and so guys like Nick and B-Rob have simply mailed in the last three weeks.
Roch, you don't get paid enough!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ha! I keep saying that... - Roch
ughhhhh...I'll check back in a few weeks to see of there is a limit or ignore feature or SOMETHIN!!! Others seem to be limited, while the two dopes type on, with the EXACT same messages you deleted the other guys for..cant believe you let 2 guys ruin part of your livelyhood
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Others? One guy whose comments had nothing to do with the team and became repetitive and annoying. One guy. He made his point. He didn't need to do it that many times in a row. It was literally every minute. I can't keep approving them over and over. That was taking it way too far. And now he can sit back and feel proud that he's gotten this much attention. Personally, I grew tired of this topic about four hours ago. Sorry that you're leaving for a few weeks. Sounds like a major over-reaction. But again, people will choose to respond however they want. - Roch
Really getting tired of the Opportunists on here calling for Jack and I to be banned/censored. The moment the "ignore feature" was mentioned, the whole crowd that does not like what Jack and I say ( because we are realists) jumped on the bandwagon and acted like their lives were going to end if Roch did not do something to limit us. I love all these "posters" that have never posted on here before suddenly posting to claim they are going to stop reading, because they know it will go straight to Roch's heart and force his hand.
I can smell an opportunistic BS artist when I see or read one. Afterall, we have one in the Warehouse running this team into the ground. LOL.
Roch: I post multiple entries because face it, many people do not have the patience to read a Ken Francis like 2,000 word essay. Short comments are easier to read and more likely to receive attention. I may in the end bash the FO, but I try to take a different angle one each post.
Just for you guys:
WTG ANDREW!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The problem is when it's the exact same point and insults over and over. That's where we've run into a problem here. And why I need to figure out how to appease the masses. Can't please everyone, but I can't have people leaving the blog until I'm out of a job. I appreciate that you mixed up the topics yesterday, but too often, it's the same thing. McFail, Ol' Peter, ripping the broadcasters. We get it. - Roch
maybe the o's would be better with sean penn and don meredith in the bullpen. aubrey hasn't looked bad at first. put enough of the popeye posts. please. must be something in his spinach can or something needs to added to it to stop this garbage. come on roch. how about keeping this blog about baseball.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You mean like deleting the repetitive ones? Like I did earlier, only to be subjected to all this criticism? - Roch
Popeye - being a jerk in a different way than the trolls is still being a jerk. You did prove your point and it was a necessary one but the last couple calling out Roch is just pouring salt onto a open wound. We need to make up for the trolls by holding ourselves accountable to a higher standard and not playing their game their way.
This simplest answer is to STOP FEEDING THE TROLLS!!!!!!! Our reactions justify their continued outlandish comments. I have done my best to never mention them by name or call them out for their nonsense but I have had enough of everyone else feeding them. They will never answer your questions or debate you and the more you react, the more they will post. Psychology 101 people, not brain science.
As Smokey the bear might say, "only you can prevent troll feeding".
Your actions were spot on re: popeye.
Some folks just need their self-image raised, and they seem to get that done by reading the tripe the generate on the flat screen in their hut.
Looking forward to your talking about the up-and-comers in Springtime. It'll be good to see a healthy Bergie, Jones, and Reimold from the get-go in March.
Hope springs eternal.
"Hope is the word which God has written on the brow of every man." ~Victor Hugo
Sorry Roch, and all, but I have been here since the Sun days, and am totally fed up. Roch, I DONT have the time always to scroll and look for good posters, I would like to read EVERYONES. Plus, I don't EVER remember you not posting one of the troll comments (Brummie had 7-8 almost right in a row not too long ago, SAME MESSAGE..SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT WORDS) unless they violated TOS with the verbage. They would have complained to the high heavens!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How would you know if I didn't post someone's comments? They don't always call me out for it. Jack had to re-word one of his yesterday because he crossed a line, and seemed to understand. Like I said, you clearly made your point, and it was amusing for a while. But I couldn't just keep submitting the exact same ones over and over. I felt like at that point, you were taking advantage of me. Or the blog. Whatever. You still ended up with quite a total, if you go back and count. Sorry if I sent mixed signals. Don't want it to appear that I'm somehow playing favorites. I appreciate you reading the blog. - Roch
Roch,
What can baseball do to fix the competitive balance problem?
I don’t see NY ever having a 100 loss season.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I haven't seen them win a World Series since 2000. I guess that would be a counterpoint. We can always root for the Twins to win the Central and run the table. - Roch
Roch,
I think I'm a patient person, but you've got far more patience than I do. I would have tossed the goons a long time ago and not thought twice about it. They add nothing to the discussion and are here solely for the attention.
Last week, when Hendrickson was pitching, Brummie said it would be PAINFUL to watch. After he threw quite well, he disappeared. This week, he predicts it to be PAINFUL. Same sh-t, different day.
It's bad enough we're following such a struggling team, but to have two ignorant attention seekers running the comments, it's too much. They fear an ignore feature because they know they will no longer get the attention they seek.
Roch.....as I am sure you are tired of this thread and the ton of comments, I hope you read this one.
All I have to say is......double Grey Goose, extra dirty, blue cheese stuffed olives and shutdown your computer. This thread is ridiculous.
Take a break...................................
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sounds like a plan. Right now, a nap would probably be just as appealing to me. I hope that's not a sign that I'm getting old. - Roch
Roch,
How would you assess the job Kranitz has done this year with the young talent? To be honest, I was a little dissapointed in the results based on all the hype preluding him as a young pitching specialist.
From what I have read, the Orioles are high on Griffin's ability to work with the young pitchers. Do you see a change coming this off season?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'd like to see him work with these kids for a full season. Keep in mind that he had them in spring training (well, not Berken), then not again until they trickled to the majors. You could say he's done quite well with Bergesen, or you could credit Bergesen's minor league pitching coaches, high school coach, etc. Really hard to determine who gets the credit and blame. Griffin is highly regarded. I guess he'd be a candidate if the Orioles clean house after the season. - Roch
People - if you don't want to read posts from certain people, just scroll past them and keep your comments directed to the subject at hand (or any constructive subject). It's really not that hard, you know?. The complaining about these people on here is more annoying then the posters' comments themselves. To ask Roch to censor the board for content and repetitiveness is ridiculous. Wouldn't you rather have him spend his time more constructively by digging up and sharing his inside knowledge of the team with us?
Roch - no need to worry about an ignore button. People will just sign in with another name. Keep up the great work. Very informative stuff!
p.s. Sorry my post turned out to be exactly what I was complaing about. :)
I think the best way to deal with posts/posters you don’t like is to skip over them and continue on with your life. The worst thing you can do is to go on the attack against someone you perceive to be an antagonizer. All that does is ratchet up the sour discourse, which is basically what’s been going on here since spring training.
Roch, I think you’re doing the best you can here. I think most everyone should be able to see the difference between what that Popeye character was doing on this post and what other posters have done and you’ve navigated that well. It’s your blog and not a democracy (now I sound like my parents) and it’s up to you to police, if you feel that necessary, and not anyone else. You’ve been more than gracious and accommodating to everyone posting here, as can be seen by the wide range of opinions and ways of expressing them on any given day, and unfortunately, there will be people that take advantage of that and then feel aggrieved when you call them on it.
A nap and a martini sounds like a good plan. A sign of getting old is not that you want a nap but that you want a nap more than a martini. Sadly, that’s where I’m at.
Fair enough Roch. But I do think right after a game some leeway should be given. We are all O's fans on here and some of us take the losses pretty hard. We need an outlet to vent our frustration.
I think these issues will resolve themselves once the season is over and there are no more IMPLOSIONS to vent over.
Anyways, not to be sarcastic or speculative, but your ex-colleague Mike Preston always said that the heat is first on the coach/manager. If they are fired, then the heat moves to the GM.
If Trembly "moves on" and the team continues to struggle, would some heat finally be placed on the shoulders of Andy?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If there's absolutely no progress made next season, I would expect him to catch more heat. This plan requires patience as the young kids move up and the farm system is stocked with arms, plus all the attention given to the international scouting, but the results need to start showing. Beyond all the kids who reached the majors this season, which is significant. - Roch
Roch, I wont be doing it again, and I'll go back to my old name. One of my pet peeves is people who will type things behind the protection of the keyboard, but would never say that in person to the subject. If those two jerks would say things like that to Andy, or Trembley's face. There would be a major a** whoopin given on the spot...no doubt! Andy could take either one of them with both his arms tucked inside his sweatervest...GUARANTEED!!!
Roch:
I think I've got these bloggers, i.e., Brummie, Jack and Popeye figured out.
At first, I thought they were For anyone to constantly repeat the same ole story and complaint, over and over again, have to be one or the other. One. An extremely hen-pecked, spineless househusband who can only speak when his wife gives him permission, OR, a woman who constantly nagges the hell out of everyone. Please open the pink curtain and show what's it.
Thanks for doing all of us a favor by deleting these entries.
JO
CSB: Thanks... You're list is spot on. I think 2) is especially perspicacious. Sometime before August, I remember Roch and many readers speculating on how the 40-man would be reworked to accomodate the much need call-ups. At the time, it seemed like a difficult task. What we've seen over the past 10 days is players essentially making future roster decisions much easier. And that is a positive, because before you can fully address it you have to fully understand the need, and that requires as much information you can gather to "map" your assets. Then the pruning can start, which if done judiciously will yield more growth.
Anthony: Good point about mimicking a troll being no better than the trolls themselves. Whether a point is worth making or not (if there was indeed a point other than self-gratification), it is the method itself that is unsound. There is no distinction.
Bobby Ballgame: Great Hugo quote -- thanks.
I do not want Michael Aubrey to play 1st base next year. We need something better. Just because he is young and cheap. We have enough of those kind of players. I guess everyone is satisfied to have another losing season in 2010. Well, I am not. I have had enough. This season, especially the last 2 months, have done me in. All O's fans, (that are left) need to say enough is enough. Why do most of you care if a player is cheap? We have had our share of cheap players. And look where we are and where we will be for years to come. You all act as if you are saving money for Angelos. As if he has spent so much. We need and deserve better.
Brummie,
You're getting tired of people calling for an ignore feature? The vast majority of this blog has been tired of you since ... spring training.
You're just scared no one would read your pathetic rants if they could put you on ignore.
I see a lot of people commenting about next year's rotation, but for some reason no one (today anyway) throws Alfredo Simon's name on the possibility list. After all, he won a job out of spring training, and Berken (who has been in the rotation most of the year) wasn't even invited.
Your thoughts Roch??
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
He won a job with a couple good outings, at a time when the Orioles were scrambling to fill out the rotation. I'd label him a longshot to be a starter in 2010. If he's healthy enough to compete for a job after having Tommy John surgery, maybe he could win a spot in the bullpen. - Roch
I know we covered this a while back, at least I think...but...Brandon Snyder, he was supposed to compete for a job in ST next year or do you think he is a possible call up some point during the season?
I couldn't remember and I only ask because Aubrey has been playing pretty well lately and I was wondering if it's possible that he might cause MacPhail to watch what he spends on a bat for 1B because of it.
I'm not a big fan of sample size, never was, never will be, but he's had to open some eyes in the last month and he was an 11th overall pick right?
The situation kind of reminds me of Carlos Pena, he was the 10th pick (I think) in the 98 or 99 draft and really didn't do anything until 2004.
Not comparing Aubrey and Pena btw, just when they started breaking out.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
He'll compete for a job in spring training. The rest is up to him. - Roch
Popeye....funny parody, I hope the troll now know how ridiculous they look!
Popeye,
Way to show the trollish posters how their posts appear to us; but, for the love of Ole Pete, don't presume that you can hijack the blog beyond the point when you have accomplished your goal. Enough is enough.
Roch does not have a double standard. If you believe that he should have curtailed the saddle sores earlier, don't jump on him for shutting down an anti-troll after he permitted popeye to flex his constitutional sinews.
The truth of the matter is, I believe, that there are very few transgressions, which call for Schoolman to censor a post -- obscenities and the like; but, absent an "ignore feature," every student's post should be available to be read or scrolled.
Really getting tired of the Opportunists on here calling for Jack and I to be banned/censored.
Brummie, for the sake of HRH Elizabeth II, I trust that, as a paid journalist, you will be properly shamed when I point out that you wrote "I" instead of "me," and you will have the good sense to not attack me for calling attention to one of the more basic errors committed by writers and speakers.
"Jack and I" is the equivalent of fingernails across a chalkboard. Just own it, bud.
Also, why do you oppose an "Ignore Feature?" Your right to post here is not absolute, especially if I, or anyone, chooses to limit your right to place your ideas in my brain. This is not a rhetorical question; I invite you to respond.
Roch will be unavailable after 3PM, he is watching his BABE on MASN!!!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scott is a handsome man. - Roch
I'll just refer to a quote from the old Honeymooners TV series between Ralph and Norton "I know, that you know, that I know, that you know, etc!!"
New Rule: The orioles are so bad that when they play the Yankees and Red Sox, it only counts as half a win for New York and Boston
Here is what was going on in my head wile scrolling this entire comment list, seeing all the posts, thinking about the past few games, etc... WHO CARES.
Who cares what Jack and Brummie think. Who cares if some dude posts 1,000 times. Who cares if the Os lose another 7 games.
I don't, to tell you the truth. The O's season was done a long time ago. It has been Spring Training Part 2-The Sequel Part Deux Freddy's Revenge, etc etc. Evaluations are being done, and I don't know about you, I sure have been evaluating... JJ isnt a closer. Roberts can hit a double or two. Wieters looks AWESOME in the 3 hole. Fiorentino needs to go back to bunting school. Berken has GUTS. Guthrie should politely decline the next WBC. Jones needs to stay healthy. Izturis looks a heck of a lot better than the eleventeen other dudes that we had last year.
I don't care for Brummie or Jack. They probably won't send me a Christmas card either. Does it bother me? Not in the least. I don't understand why they both have no flexibility to acknowledge that a good portion of the Plan is working. Or why they continue to bash a kid who lost his father early in life, who definitely has a lot of talent, and who at least one scout (and a good friend of mine) says that he will project out to be a stud. Thats the stuff that makes me scroll those guys.
Let em post. I won't hit ignore, I just won't read them if I don't feel like it.
As far as Roch censoring anyone: Roch, we come to this blog because of you, and your insight. You have a gift for this thing and if you want to censor anything, if you want to add features, if you want to have a contest for the worst blog comments ever, well its your right. One of these days, I am going to bump into you at Camden Yards and shake your hand. You put up with a lot and, I think I can speak for everyone here, we wouldn't trade you for as the player to be named in the Chad Bradford deal.
We love ya man!! Keep it up.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Does that also include the Joey Gathright deal? Thanks William. Definitely say hello if you see me at the Yard. - Roch
Roch,
To me, the highlight of the season was the O's sweeping the Phillies in Philadelphia (I was at the first game...it was great!) What was the highlight of the season for the O's in your opinion?
Great blog!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't know if this would be No. 1, but watching Matusz's debut with my parents in Ocean Pines and hanging on his every pitch like Game 7. And texting him congratulations afterward and receiving his response at 3 a.m. "Thanks Roch!" And talking to his father about it and reliving it through his eyes. Just a very cool moment. And Wieters' debut at the Yard. And the comeback vs. the Red Sox. - Roch
Kudos for Roch for exercising more control of the blog. I don't know what the definition of "troll" is, but personally IMO, repetitive posts either pro "or" con are boorish and detract immeasurably from the otherwise informative comments found here. Everyone has a right to their opinion, and God bless MASN and Roch for allowing this forum, but no one has a right to slander other posters or otherwise verbally assault those with differing opinions. Also, it does not take me long to ascertain which posters offer me nothing in the way of intelligent content. I just read the posters name and immediately lower my eyes to the next post when I see an entry posted by those I consider opinionated, pro, or con.
Thanks Roch for the forum.
Go O's!