And the Oriole award for mental toughness in 2009 goes to...
...Jason Berken.
I have respect for anyone good enough to ever put on a Major League uniform. But during the Orioles' 2009 season, I gained a ton of respect for pitcher Jason Berken.
As the losses mounted for Berken, so did speculation that he'd soon be headed back to Triple-A. For a while there, his fate seemed to hang on every pitch. And some of those pitches hung as well, ending up in the left field seats.
Somehow, someway, Berken never wavered. At least outwardly he didn't.
On August 2, his record was 1-9 and his ERA sat at 6.93. He then put together a string of very solid starts and wound up going 5-3 over his last 11 starts.
"He had a very difficult month of June, and July, and he got to August and he didn't snap. He has not cracked," Dave Trembley said of Berken back in late August. "Kranitz kept telling me to stick with him, because he pitches with his heart and he's not afraid.
"His stuff may be average, but he gets by because he doesn't give in. Lesser guys would have cracked for what he went through.
"His record does not indicate how he's pitched. There are the intangibles you are looking for. He's not looking in the dugout for someone to take him out. He doesn't slack off on his work between starts."
Berken finished 6-12, 6.54 in 24 starts, surely nothing to write home about.
But by getting up and fighting back each time he got knocked down, Berken gained admirers in the clubhouse and on the coaching staff.
Berken first showed some mental toughness in April. When his teammates Chris Tillman, David Hernandez and Brad Bergesen all headed to Norfolk for Opening Day, Berken was held back with Double-A Bowie.
He didn't complain, soon found himself with Norfolk, and was in Baltimore before the end of May.
After his last start of the year, Berken said:
"I take a ton of positives from the season. The ups and downs were tough, but there are things to build on for next year. The learning process was great.
"Now it's time to be more consistent and get better results. The learning curve is over. Now it's time to do it."
An honorable mention for this award goes to Felix Pie. Blasted by the fans when he hit .157 in April, Pie went on to bat .333 in August and .290 after the All-Star break.
The season began with Pie looking overmatched, but in mid-August he hit for the cycle and his cleats from that game were sent to the Hall of Fame. Quite a turnaround.
Pie showed plenty of mental toughness to overcome his poor start. The day after he hit for the cycle, he thanked Terry Crowley and Dave Trembley for sticking with him and he teared up.
You had to feel good to see how far he'd come and it was nice that he remembered those who helped get him there.
By the way, there is no truth to the rumor that the Yankees are seeking the Orioles' scouting reports on the Phillies. The Birds swept three straight in Philadelphia in June. It was their only road three-game sweep all year.
Finally, some people seem upset that Jimmy Rollins predicted on the Jay Leno show that his team would win the World Series in five games. Amazing. Is this really a controversy?
Did someone expect him to pick the Yankees? It's not like he guaranteed a win or pulled a Joe Namath or anything. He was on a comedy show and was put on the spot. What did he do or say wrong?
If that's is the best some talk-show hosts can come up with for topics, they need to do more show prep before airtime.
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Categories (click for archive)Orioles News | Steve Melewski |
Berken, I feel did show some mental toughness and improvement at times. It seemed that when he did pitch well for 5 innings, the O's didn't score any runs for him. So, that had to be really frustrating. Especially,since his good starts were few and far between. Even, when he was getting hit hard, he stayed positive and was willing to take the ball again. He made no excuses for his poor outings. I do think he needs to be in AAA again, in 2010. Hernandez, too. As far as Rollins goes. Why would he choose the Yankees? Even if he thought the Yanks were a better team. What kind of team mate, would chose the opposing team over his own? The only mistake he made was making that bold prediction, of winning it all in 5. I would not have gone that far. Because, we know it will come back to haunt him, big time. And I mean BIG. He forgets it is the Yankees, his team is playing against. Their fans and media, always take it to the next level. I just hope Jimmy is right. Go Phillies............that would make the 2009 season, a little bit sweeter, for me.
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The Yankees could care less what Rollins thinks about the Series. - Steve
The award should go to Reimold who played through injury in his rookie season. Berken can have an honorable mention.
The award should go to Reimold who played through injury in his rookie season. Berken can have an honorable mention.
Steve-
You kinda made my point for me.
I'm not saying we ARE poor. Think if they had signed Guerrero.
I'm talking about when people say Chapman is out of our price range.
The O's HAVE spent in the past. Why does Macphail keep saying things like we couldn't hang with the Sox and Yanks in some of these battles.
Ofcourse, you are right, the player would have to want to sign here. That's why they are going to have to overpay in the begining here until we start winning.
Yes, they committed 100 million to Roberts and Markakis, BUT, the annual payroll is only 38 million now including their salaries.
Even if you took the 7th year of Nicks contract, to make it 93 million of 7, that is 13.3 a year.
Many teams have MULTIPLE 15+ earners.
I just think they have more money and could be in some of these bidding wars if they want.
What they offered Konerko as you point out, and Guerrero is proof of that. I mean, had they sign them, how would they have paid for them? They just offered Tex 150-160 last year, where is that money?
You understand what I am saying?
We had an average payroll of 91.5 million from 1995-1999. Then the Belle thing, where for 2 years we were at 86.5.
Now the past 7 years, the average has only been 56. now 38. So if that averages out to 9 years and 62 million, then they have saved 30 million a year. (and that is not taking into account higher tickets, or the fact that obviously, you would assume your payroll would be HIGHER 10 years later). So, they have saved a MINIMUM of 270 million over 9 years. They could go after Chapman, Lackey/Harden, lock-up all the young stars, and so much more if they wanted too.
I mean, maybe they will. Who knows. This offseason has not even started yet. I am just scared that they will go the "Eaton", "closer from within", "wigginton/Huff" route until Snyder/Bell is ready, style of writing off years that they have for 3 or 4 now.
I hope I'm wrong, but I guess I have become cynical when it comes to the O's.s
I just think this is the MOST important offseason since 1994-95 when they signed Palmiero and Alomar. We ARE close. A Lackey/Harden signing and a trade for a top tier closer like H. Bell or Nathan would be +25 wins at least. That would give them 88, if it were an exact science.
I'll just chill until after the winter meetings I guess.
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I have no idea how you arrived at 38 million or saving 30 million. Let's just move past that. If in fact it is 38 million now, I assure it will be much more than that after the free agent period and arbitration, etc, etc.
MacPhail has said he will be a bat shopper, so let's see what he does on that front before we crticize. He may put out big money here, either in signing a player or trading for one who already has a big salary.
Markakis and Roberts proved they will put out the money when they need to with their own players. How many fans said Markakis would one day be a Yankee ?
Steve
Where do you think Berken begins next season? The Orioles starting rotation, long reliever, or assigned to Norfolk?
If he is the long reliever, what do you think the Orioles would do with Bass?
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He could move to the bullpen, that would be my guess. That doesn't mean Bass could not be in the pen also. - Steve
Berkins problems always seemed to be in the first inning. kranitz should work with him on this,is it how he warms up,is he focus,or what. this would scare me if he's sent to the bullpen.
The three games in Philly are the type the fans will see in 2010.
Rollins remarks no big deal it's what you would expect from a player.He wasn't going to say the phils had no chance but talk shows need something to fill their time.
Steve really enjoyed your reports on the minors this year and hope you continue filing the same or better info next year.Thanks.
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We'll continue to have a lot of minor league stories here, count on that. Thanks.
Steve
Steve, I give it to Pie. Here's a guy who was blasted by some in the media and most fans (surely 95% of MASN commentors) and he never gave up and turned out to be a pretty decent player. One thing I noticed about him from day one in Baltimore is he always worked hard and always was the first out of the dugout cheering on a teammate who got the game winning hit. He always seemed upbeat in spite of everything. I like Reimold as a player but he always showed he could hit in the minors and continued to hit when promoted to the majors. Both he and Pie always ran out routine ground balls and pop ups, something that was lacking on the team. He also showed he could play hurt. The only reason I give it to Pie is, well, in all honesty he looked like a deer in the headlights early in the season, and worked hard and over came it. Reimold has been a good player from day one of his arrival on the MLB club.
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I tell you one difference between Pie and Berken as I thought about and wrote that article. Pie was out of options and could not be sent to AAA and Berken could. Berken's position on the club was always more precarious and I felt that made it so he had to overcome even a litle more than Pie. Kudos to both for fighting through tough times. - Steve
Steve-
No, I totally see your point. I pray they spend this offseason. As important as it is to get the farm in line, and they have, and have a core group of young guys coming up together, and they do, it is AS important to spend to get the final pieces.
Lets not forget that the Yanks had Pettite, Jeter, Posada, Rivera, and Cano. They traded Soriano for A-Roid.
So, they didn't buy the WHOLE team, O's fans may not look at it that way.
As far as everyone saying Markakis would be a Yankee one day...well, his career isn't over yet.
If he becomes a top guy over the next 5 seasons, he will be 30 going into a FA year. So, let's not get too excited yet. :)
All I am saying is there is no excuse for them not to spend money. I hope they don't try to bargain basement it where they don't have too. Bullpen help would be one key area where, if they spend, there are guys there this FA market.
I arrived at 30 million simply because they had a payroll average of 91 million. From 01-09 they averaged only 61. So, assume they where fine with 91 over a decade ago, that is 8 seasons of saving 30 million a year. Thats all. Those numbers are according to posts on MLBTR.
From 01-09 they averaged only
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Ryan, as you said, sometimes you spend for the "final pieces." While we all hope they will be much improved next year, after 98 losses, they are far from the "final pieces" stage yet. Spending money alone doesn't get it done. Remember all the money they spent on the bullpen a few years back, they overpayed there and what good did it do.
I think they need to get over .500 and show potential free agents that they are clearly better with a lot of youth and then some players will be more open to coming here. Hopefully that day is coming. - Steve
Steve, I think you've made two good choices. Jon mentions Reimold and there's no doubt that he showed a great deal of toughness playing through the injury. That might even be enough to have him share the honorable mention with Pie, but the award really should go to Berken, no question.
The reason I'd pick Jason over Nolan is what he had to struggle with. Consider that Reimold only had the injury to battle; he had success from the time he got the call up and his sustained success over the season only increased his confidence that he could play in the AL East.
Berken, on the other hand, was getting hit (and hit hard at times) and battled to stay in games, stay in the rotation, stay in the majors. Along with battling some of the toughest hitters in the game nearly every time he took the mound, he also had to battle all the naysayers who said he can't make it and perhaps had to battle self-doubt, as well.
If he didn't have that mental toughness, he could have fallen apart, but the funny thing is, he seemed to get stronger near the end of the season. One thing that separated Berken from struggling starters from last year, such as Brian Burres and Garret Olson (and perhaps a key to future for success to him) was that no matter how hard he got hit he trusted his stuff and didn't nibble.
This season was a real baptism of fire for Jason, but he should come out his ordeal all the stronger for it. If he can get better command of his pitches, especially his fastball, he may have a real future with the Orioles.