Trembley explains the Roberts move
Orioles manager Dave Trembley approached Brian Roberts a few days ago, after Adam Jones severely sprained his left ankle, and floated the idea of batting him third. It was more of a request than an order, with Roberts told to give it some thought.
Roberts says that he's fine with the switch, and it really doesn't matter once you've gone through the order. He'll hit third tonight for the first time in his major league career, with Felix Pie batting leadoff.
"My No. 3 hitter, Adam Jones, is out for an extended period of time," Trembley said. "As soon as he did that, that night I went in there and sat in that clubhouse and said, 'Well, what can I do to put the best lineup out there? What can I do to see how I can help the team?' Plus, Pie's swung the bat well."
Trembley told Roberts that it was fine if he wasn't comfortable moving down, but he felt it also would benefit Nick Markakis to have the switch-hitting second baseman in front of him.
"He said, 'No, I'll do whatever you need to do to help the team,'" Trembley said.
"At this particular time of the year, I think you want to try to put your two best hitters in the middle of the lineup. It also gives us an opportunity to see what Pie can do."
Pie has great speed, but only one stolen base.
"That's another phase of the game that we're trying to work on with him, the baserunning," Trembley said. "There have been some episodes along those lines. But I just think if you put a veteran guy hitting third and you have another veteran guy hitting fourth, it might help us a little, taking some of the burden off some of these other guys. I've asked an awful lot of (Nolan) Reimold. I've moved him from third to fifth to third to second. There's some things I want to see out of him."
Trembley doesn't know how long the arrangement will last. Could be a few days, could be much longer.
"We'll see how it goes," Trembley said. "I'm kind of excited about it, to be honest with you. I'm kind of excited to see what could happen. Let's play with it for a few days and see how it shakes out."
"If we don't score any runs tonight, it might be one day," Roberts said, grinning. "If we get no-hit, I guarantee it won't be tomorrow."
Trembley pointed out how Markakis hasn't received much protection in the lineup.
"If anything, I'd like to see if maybe this will help him a little, as well," Trembley said.
"I'd like to see Brian get on and score more runs and maybe help Nicky a little bit, as well. Not that he needs any help, but I think it's nice to have Roberts hitting in front of him. He's a good hitter, knows how to get on base. If they want to take the hole away from Nick, Roberts will steal second. If they want to throw breaking balls to Markakis, off-speed stuff, Roberts will steal. If they want to throw fastballs to Markakis, he'll whack it. That's just baseball stuff.
"I'm appreciative of how Brian Roberts has been a team guy with me about it. He didn't have to be and I didn't say, 'Do it.' I asked him if he'd think about it, and he's been great."
 |
Categories (click for archive)Roch Kubatko | Roch Kubatko Orioles |
Anyone care to bet me , I say that Pie gets caught with the hidden ball trick ala Allan Wiggins at some pt. while hitting leadoff?
Brian,
Ever since Felix Pie joined the Orioles, you've seemed to get a kick out of trying to humiliate him.
Does it disappoint you when he does well?
By the way, Alan Wiggins made his Major League debut with the San Diego Padres on this date in 1981.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OK, I have to ask: How did you know about Wiggins? Did you look at up, or did you have the date memorized? I'm intrigued. Or maybe just bored, but we'll go with intrigued. - Roch
Roch,
I like the line up. It's not like we are in the pennant hunt. Let's try some new things. Brian Roberts hasn't exactly been swiping bases at an insane rate and with the way he hits doubles...he might drive in some runs. Wish Dave had done this type of outside the box thinking on a more regular basis. Would've made the season more exciting even if we lost the same amount of games from it.
considering roberts is not that great at taking pitches early in the count very often which is what he really should be doing as a lead-off hitter and that he rarely shows bunt on the first pitch which if he was smart he would do because it would draw the 3rd baseman in closer it's a good idea to try. though i'm not a trembley fan for the way he manages i give him credit with this move. whether it works or not isn't that important. it's a smart move to try.
I'd certainly consider myself a Trembley supporter, and yet I do question his judgment here. Roberts is a leadoff hitter, plain and simple, and doesn't provide enough pop to hit out of the three spot. I also think it puts unnecessary pressure on Roberts, not only to perform in the new spot, but to perform once he returns to the leadoff spot. That said, a silver lining may be that Pie learns how to be more patient and selective at the plate.
Well BRob will be batting 2nd next year, behind Figgins
Dimitrios said:
I'd certainly consider myself a Trembley supporter, and yet I do question his judgment here. Roberts is a leadoff hitter, plain and simple, and doesn't provide enough pop to hit out of the three spot. I also think it puts unnecessary pressure on Roberts, not only to perform in the new spot, but to perform once he returns to the leadoff spot. That said, a silver lining may be that Pie learns how to be more patient and selective at the plate.
September 4, 2009 6:21 PM
Last I checked BRob leads the league in doubles with 49. Anyone else on the Orioles "with pop" you want in the 3 hole? BRob is a patient hitter which no doubt will give Reimold more selective pitches to see/hit in the two hole. Roberts has been in the league for ages; if he "feels pressure" for having to hit elsewhere in the lineup then something is really wrong with him.
Barry said:
Brian,
Ever since Felix Pie joined the Orioles, you've seemed to get a kick out of trying to humiliate him.
Does it disappoint you when he does well?
By the way, Alan Wiggins made his Major League debut with the San Diego Padres on this date in 1981.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Barry what else would you expect from "Brian/Brummie/Jack?" The last couple times he whined about Pie batting in the two hole, Pie went Yard. Hence the constant name change he uses. If Pie gets a couple hits again and BRob has a great game, he'll come in under yet another name and whine about something else.
Trembley asked him to consider it.... Who the devil is managing that club?
fkterp said: "considering roberts is not that great at taking pitches early in the count very often which is what he really should be doing as a lead-off hitter..."
Would like to point out Brian consistently has one of the better pitches seen per at bat stat. He is at 4.01 pitches seen per at bat right now. Youklis leads the league with 4.40. Brian is tops on the Orioles among those with enough at bats to qualify. I know he does some first pitch swinging, but overall, he works pitchers pretty well. At least the stats seem to support that.
Why does Trembley need Roberts approval?? BS,,,the players rule the roost here
I was thinking the same thing. Roberts should not be asked if he will consider it. I think that is what is a lot wrong with Trembley as a manger. He cares if his players like him over winning. Nothing should be more important than winning. Evidently, the players do not think winning is important either or they would not make a comment like, " I will think about it." Whatever is the best for the team to WIN. There is no "i" in team.
Harrisburg Steve said:
Well BRob will be batting 2nd next year, behind Figgins
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
That would be great, but I won't hold my breath. While you and I realize the obvious advantage of having a "true" lead-off hitter to set the tables, I think this organization is intent on getting a power bat at that position, and will wait out prospects like Bell & Waring to see if they can step in there instead. I'd prefer we got Figgins, then found our #4 hitter at 1B instead. I'm not convinced of Bell's ability to field his position and see him as a DH. JMO, and I think it was the opinion of the Dodgers too, which is why they saw him as expendable (with no DH in that league).
Agreed, BRob is best suited as a #2 hitter. He can work the count, he can drop a bunt, he can steal a base, and those doubles will be more effective with somebody (Figgins) on base. Then you plug Markakis in there behind them at #3.
Trembley is a "player's manager" and this is another case in point. I can just picture Dave talking to Roberts. "Um, gee, Brian, do you think, um, if it's not too much trouble, you might, um, consider letting me, um, bat you in maybe the, um, three spot?"
Not unlike the garbage with Mora this season and how we had to endure over three months of Mora batting fifth or higher.
The O's need a guy like Lou Pinella to come in and kick some major a** in that clubhouse. "Roberts! You're batting third! On second thought, why the h*ll would I be stupid enought to bat Pie leadoff? He doesn't get on base enought to leadoff. Roberts! You leadoff!"
And this interaction with Mora on ... say, on April 30th: "Mora! Sit your a** on the bench! If you show me you still know how to hit the d*mn ball, you might be able to play you way back into the lineup! ...What's that, respect? Your right! See that sign on my office? It says MANAGER! You're d*mn right there needs to be some respect around here! Now go spend the next month with Crow - two hours before every game - before I put my shoe up your a**!"