What are the O's to do with Felix Pie?

The Orioles aren't confronted with many dilemma's they would like to have these days. Usually, they have to figure out which minor leaguer is the best candidate to be promoted in order to replace a struggling player on the big league roster. However, the Orioles are confronted with the opposite situation.

A few months ago, ESPN.com featured a piece on the O's young outfield (pictured) including Nolan Reimold, Adam Jones, and Nick Markakis. There's no argument that the trio make up one of the best young outfields in the majors. However, what ESPN did not account for at the time is the Orioles new-found depth in the outfield. With Felix Pie's increased playing time and opportunity to prove why he was once the Cubs number one minor league prospect, number 18 has suddenly burst onto the scene as more than just your everyday fourth outfielder.

Since his cycle game, Pie is batting .386 going 17 for 44 over that span of 15 games. What's most impressive is that his power numbers are drastically improving in just a short period of time. On August 12, his slugging percentage was stuck at an unimpressive .336. Since then, he's raised his slugging to .459, a 123 point increase in only a couple weeks! It doesn't appear that this recent hot streak is simply a fluke. A few weeks ago, the O's hitting coach Terry Crowley announced that he helped Pie make his swing more compact. Since working with Crowley, Pie has shown instant improvement which suggests he isn't just getting lucky.

So the dilemma the Orioles are in now is what to do with Pie. He's filled his role as the team's fourth outfielder very well but is he beginning to outgrow his role? With Adam Jones return to the lineup after a mild back injury, Pie is back on the bench except for Sunday games and the occasional spot start. I would expect Trembley to start letting Pie play more often than he has in the past. However, Nolan Reimold earned his spot in left field months ago so how does Pie factor into the O's future? I understand that Pie needs to prove himself over a longer stretch of time but it wouldn't surprise me if the Orioles have four legitimate young outfielders by the time the off-season rolls around.

Is it feasible to let Nolan Reimold take a shot at playing first base during spring training next year? He's only played one game at first in his professional career but the Orioles have been successful at converting players in the past. Melvin Mora was brought up as an outfielder and they were able to develop him into a solid third baseman, one of the hardest positions on the field. The Orioles gave Luke Scott, a career outfielder, an opportunity to play first base this season and he's filled in adequately for Huff's vacancy.

Or is it more feasible to let go of someone like Luke Scott in order to allow Reimold to be the DH next year? As much as I like Luuuuke Scott and his scorching hot streaks, I wouldn't be opposed to seeing him go. In the past, I would've been completely against trading Scott because he is only 31 and seems to have a decent number of productive years left. He also recently signed a contract extension. However, two or three years from now, do you see the 34 year old Luke Scott playing a bigger role than Nolan Reimold or Felix Pie in the O's future?

Andy MacPhail has stressed that the Orioles should have an inventory of young players. I couldn't agree more but at some point, the O's need to distribute their wealth and surplus of young players at certain positions in order to fill holes in the roster where perhaps they don't have players waiting in the wings. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that the Orioles don't have incredible depth in their minor league system at first base. How about we give Reimold a shot at first and go from there?

The Changeover Begins...

We all knew it was coming, it was just a matter of when. The inevitable changeover in the Baltimore sports landscape from the last-place Orioles to the Super Bowl seeking Ravens is complete. With the Ravens first regular season game only a few weeks away, local sports fans are quickly forgetting about the O's and devoting their full attention to the Purple and Black.

As of now, the O's are in last place in the AL East and have the 3rd worst record in all of baseball at 51-75. The team is going through it's annual late-season swoon as they have only won one series since the All-Star break. Orioles fans and even team president Andy MacPhail had mild expectations for the season. Those lowly expectations are coming into fruition.

Fortunately, all hope is not lost for the O's. The young pitching staff is showing signs of potential dominance and the O's offense only has a couple glaring weaknesses. Chris Tillman, Brian Matusz, David Hernandez, and the former AL ROY contender Brad Bergesen have all shown how well they can pitch in the majors. They have also shown how there is a lot of work to be done before the staff becomes respectable. The light at the end of the tunnel that everyone speaks of is visible for the birds. For now, that light is being blocked by a different type of bird, a Baltimore Raven.

Baltimore's proudest and most elite sports team is proving that they have the capability to bring another Lombardi Trophy to the city. In their first two preseason games, the Ravens have showed what they're capable of when their first team is on the field. I know not to look too far into preseason results (the Detroit Lions were 4-0 last year in the preseason), however, the Purple and Black have dominated nearly every stat category in their first couple games. The Passing attack looks formidable even without a star wide receiver. The running game looks solid and it appears Ray Rice has the tools to be a exceptional primary back. The defense is a year older but doesn't appear to have lost their intensity even with the departure of Bart Scott and the injury to Terrell Suggs. The only unresolved spot on the team is the kicker, a position which doesn't usually make or break an entire team. I'm confident the Ravens will resolve the kicking dilemma one way or another.

There's a lot to look forward to this year with the Ravens. Joe Flacco has a year under his belt and Ray Lewis stays with the Ravens to lead one of the most dominant D's in the game today.

As for the O's, their time will come, just not this year. Let's Go Ravens!

Why is Jason Berken Still Pitching for the O's?

Uhh, did I miss something? There really is no argument left for Jason Berken to remain on the major league roster. Although Brad Bergesen is injured and Rich Hill has proved to be an incompetent big league starter, the Orioles are doing nothing but embarrassing their team and Jason Berken by letting him continue to start. I understand that the O's aren't trying to make a run for the pennant this year but I find it somewhat disturbing that they're letting a rookie pitcher start his major league career 1-9. He is the scheduled starter for Friday's game at Toronto. Chances are, he'll lose that game too and fall to 1-10.

I love how the Orioles are giving chances to their young players a shot to play in the majors. Some may argue that the O's are calling up too many of their young pitchers too early. I disagree. Guys like Chris Tillman and Brian Matusz deserve a chance to show what they can do in a time when the big league club doesn't care too much about wins and losses. However, Jason Berken's chance to show off his stuff (or lack thereof) this year has expired. He seems like a pitcher who belongs in the minors to develop his skills. As I said earlier, I don't have a problem with the O's letting their young guns work out their kinks at the highest level. But letting a young, undeveloped pitcher embarrass himself cannot be good for his psyche or his ego. As we all know, confidence in pitching is a huge component of one's success.

As for a Berken's replacement, let's go with someone who won't embarrass themselves. Who that is, I'm not really sure. There aren't many viable candidates for the job at AAA. Nonetheless, the Orioles need to be careful not to let Berken's introduction to major's get too far out of hand. When Bergesen comes off the DL, the Orioles better decide to send Berken back down to AAA.

The Orioles' Second Half Swoon Begins....

We all knew it was coming, it was just a matter of when. I'm worried that the slide has begun, a month earlier than usual. The inconsistent offense, the struggling and depleted starting rotation along with a recently faulty bullpen will combine to hurt this young team heading into the rough months of August and September.

You may be wondering why I am so quick to proclaim that this team is doomed. Well hear this: The O's are currently embarking on a 40 game stretch with only one off-day, yes, only one, thrown somewhere in the middle. 7 of the 12 series the Orioles play during the stretch are against teams with a record over .500. I've heard 'baseball experts' explain how this stretch is arguably the hardest stretch for any team in all of baseball during the entire season.

Since the All-Star break, the O's are 2-7. In addition, they've only one two games on the road in the AL East. However, there will be things to cheer about as the birds enter the home stretch. Chris Tillman's major league debut, projected for Wednesday at home vs. the Royals, is fast approaching. I have to assume that Jake Arrieta will be the next O's prospect to get the call sometime in the next month or two.

Sometimes ESPN Makes Me Angry

Check out this preview for the first game of the upcoming Orioles-Yankees series. Now I know the Orioles are far from interesting on a national standpoint, but, come on espn.com! At least get Jeremy Guthrie's name right! Take a look at the third-to-last paragraph of this stupid piece of writing: http://espn.go.com/mlb/preview?gameId=290720110

Quick O's, Ravens Stuff

Orioles

Topic: Danys Baez.
Time to trade this guy before he falters even further. Someone who was seen as a good trade chip a month ago has done very poorly out of the bullpen since then. His ERA on June 22 was 3.22. His ERA coming out of the All-Star break was 4.26. And just before I started to write this blog, he came into a tough situation; first and second, one out. He hit Jermaine Dye in the head, so the bases were loaded. Then he allowed a home run to Jim Thome. So his ERA is now much higher than 4.26. Trade him and get what you can out of him before other teams notice he's going back to the Danys Baez of two years ago.

Topic: Nick Markakis and Adam Jones.
Is it a sign of a good second half to come for these two? Both of these guys came into the second half on homer-less streaks, and both have hit a homerun so far tonight, which is good to see from these two. Hopefully they can keep it up, especially Markakis, who has really disappointed me with his patience at the plate. It seems that every time he comes up he bounces a ball to the right side of the infield when he should have taken the ball the other way, swings at too many pitches early on in the at-bat, or takes strike three. Markakis needs to go back to what brought him success last year: being patient. He walked 99 times last year, and batted .306 with 20 homers. He's on pace to barely break 60 walks this season. Going into the second half, his batting average was .291 with 8 homers. Before tonight, he hadn't hit a homer since June 16th.


Ravens

Topic: SUGGS.
Great to see the Ravens give up a lot of money to get this guy signed. A six year, $63 million-dollar deal is rare in the NFL, but is a great idea to give to Suggs. The Ravens needed to get this guy back for a while. Having already lost Bart Scott and Jim Leonhard (Ray Lewis, too, will be gone sooner than we know it), we needed to keep this guy, who has really become the centerpiece of this tough, Ravens defense.

Topic: Derrick Mason.
After Derrick Mason's surprising announcement of his retirement, John Harbaugh will meet with Mason, and discuss his future. This retirement took Ravens Nation by complete surprise, considering there was no discussion of a possible Mason retirement. If Mason does not end up coming back to this team, the Ravens are in trouble. The duo of Mark Clayton and Demetrius Williams is nowhere close to a playoff-calibur one. The Ravens need to sign a big-name receiver if Mason truly retires. Marvin Harrison, Anquan Boldin, Plaxico Burress, Brandon Marshall. Those big names are all out there, and they all wouldn't mind playing for a contending team, I'm sure. Check them out if Mason truly retires.

Orioles Midseason Awards

In an up-and-down first half full of disappointing losses, but many exciting wins (as Brad mentioned in his latest post), the Orioles ended up with a 40-48 record. This record stands out, though, because it is the best of the last-place teams in the majors, which is saying something in the AL East. Let's hope the Orioles don't make an August-September downhill dive, which has become commonplace in recent years. Here are my first-half Orioles awards, which I'm sure everyone has been waiting for with baited breath:


Orioles' First-Half MVP: Luke Scott

Who thought at the All-Star break Luke Scott would be leading the team in home runs, on-base percentage (of people with over 100 AB's), and slugging percentage (of people with over 100 AB's)? This could be Scott's career season, his numbers resembling Aubrey Huff's of last season. As long as he keeps it up, Scott could hit 35 homers, with over 100 RBI's, and have a batting average over .300. Right now, he's batting .305, with 18 homers, and 51 RBI's. No doubt this guy is the MVP of the first half. Even with a stint on the DL, he's put up these great numbers. Plus, he hasn't had a major slump, which it seems like every Oriole hitter has had once or twice here in the first half. What a great first half for LUUUUUUKE. Hopefully he can keep it up. At 31 years old, I hope he does not get traded before the deadline, for he could help us out at DH for years to come.
Sorry to: Brad Bergesen, George Sherrill, Adam Jones

Orioles' First-Half Pleasant Surprise: Brad Bergesen

This guy kind of fell off the radar for a lot of Orioles fans before the season, considering other, bigger names were getting all the publicity, like Chris Tillman, Brian Matusz, and Jake Arrieta. But there is no doubt this guy has had a huge impact on this team. After starting off relatively shaky, he has become the Orioles most consistent pitcher, and is the definite ace on this revamped pitching staff. In his last nine starts, eight have been quality starts. Overall this season he is tied for the team lead in wins with six, with an ERA of 3.54 and a team-best 104.1 innings pitched. This rookie looks like he has a bright future ahead of him. Great season for this little-known rookie prior to his call-up.
Sorry to: Adam Jones, Nolan Reimold, Robert Andino, Mark Hendrickson (out of the bullpen), Danys Baez

Orioles' First-Half Disappointment: Jeremy Guthrie

The team's "ace" has not pitched like one all season long so far. Granted he has not had enough experience in the majors to really be a team's ace, but he has never pitched this poorly in the majors. He can still eat up innings like the best of them, but he has given up a major league leading (i could be wrong about that) 20 home runs. His stats for the first-half are not stellar, either: 6-8, with a 5.35 ERA. We've seen how good Guthrie can be in past seasons, so here's hoping he can turn it around in the second half. As for now, though, it's looking like it could be a long second half.
You're welcome to: Koji Uehara, Chris Ray, Jamie Walker, Rich Hill, Melvin Mora

Orioles' Rookie of the First-Half: Nolan Reimold

Yes, I think Brad Bergesen actually deserves this honor, but because Reimold kept a good streak going up until recently, and Bergesen got the first-half surprise award, we'll give Reimold this prestigious award. Before his recent slump, Reimold was consistently hitting above .280. He has hit nine home runs, most among rookies, and has a solid 23 RBI's since being called up. He has been a major surprise. He was doing great at AAA Norfolk, and his success there immediately translated to the majors. His homers have always been exciting, whether their coming off of Mariano Rivera or winning a ball game in the twelfth inning. He has been exciting to watch, and completes the trio of a great future outfield in Reimold, Jones, and Markakis.
Sorry to: Bergesen, Matt Wieters

So, there are my first-half awards. Hope you agree. If you don't, well, you're probably wrong.

Best Games of the First Half

In this supposed 'rebuilding' year for the O's, there have been a handful of thrilling games with spectacular performances from the young guys and veterans. While their record was 36-45 at the half-way mark, the majority of fans agree that this team is on the right track. Here is a list of the 5 most memorable games from the first half.

Opening Day, April 6th. Orioles 10 vs. Yankees 5.

The Orioles kicked their season off on the right foot by beating the Yankees and their prized off season acquisitions. Mark Teixiera was properly greeted by tens of thousands boos hollered by bitter O's fans. C.C. Sabathia allowed six runs as Roberts, Jones, and Markakis combined for 8 hits and 7 runs between the three of them. This game was more than just a win but rather a benchmark for where this team was fostering hope for the future.

Reimold's Heroics, May 27th. Orioles 12 vs. Blue Jays 10 in 11 innings.

Nothing was in the Orioles favor for this game. For one, it was a day game, they were facing the American League's best pitcher at the time in Roy Halladay, and it was the final game of a series in which they won the first two games. Despite all of those pieces in the Blue Jays favor, Orioles Magic returned to Birdland. Halladay was bumped from the game after 7 solid innings and the O's had there chance. The Orioles were down by 5 runs entering the 8th but battled back with a merry-go-round of hits to tie the ballgame. In the top of the 12th however, Danys Baez gave up a two run homer to Aaron Hill to break up the tie. In the bottom half of the inning, up stepped Nolan Reimold playing in just his 13th career major league ballgame. With the score 10-9 and two runners on base, the rookie jacked the 1-1 pitch over the left field fence, game over, O's win 12-10!

Wieter's Debut, May 29th. Orioles 7 vs. Tigers 2.

This potentially historic game drew national attention as the #1 prospect in baseball was called up. However, Matt Wieters' debut in front of a packed house at the Yard was overshadowed by Luke Scott's two home run performance and Bergesen's gem. Luke's grand slam onto the flag court and Brad Bergesen's 8 strong innings helped the O's win their 7th game in 8 days.

Roberts Silences Citizens Bank Park, June 20th. Orioles 6 @ Phillies 5.

In the midst of interleague play, the Orioles stunned 40,000 Phillies fans at Citizens Bank Park by taking the lead after trailing by two entering the top of the ninth. After a Ryan Howard bomb off Danys Baez in the 7th to give the Phils a two-run lead, the O's used a Gregg Zaun solo shot and a Brian Roberts two out, two strike, two-run home run to overcome the Phils. The Orioles went on to sweep the World Champions the following day.

Historic Comeback, June 30th. Orioles 11 vs. Red Sox 10.

What really is there to say about this one? Wow! Everyone who was at or watched this historic game was speechless. This is perhaps the most memorable game of the past decade for the O's. The Birds overcame a nine run deficit, yes a NINE RUN deficit, to beat the first place Red Sox. With five runs in the 7th and five more in the 8th, the Orioles set a franchise record for largest comeback in team history. This win is a testament to the team's heart and persistence regardless of the situation, the two qualities winning teams must have in order to succeed. Unfortunately, Orioles fans will always remember the 4-run lead the Orioles blew in the 9th the following day. That's baseball.

Honorable Mentions

Battle of the Beltways part 1, May 22 @ Nationals. 4-2 in 12 innings.

The Orioles kicked off their interleague schedule by taking a trip down 95 to play in the 'Battle of the Beltways' versus the Nats. This was a very well played game by both teams and it took a fluke play to split the 2-2 tie. In the top of the 12th, Danys Baez was forced to hit because the O's ran out of bench players. He swung at the second pitch he saw and the ball dribbled down the left field line as Baez reached first safely to keep the inning alive. Roberts and Jones followed with consecutive doubles as Baez scored what ended up being the game winning run. Take that, 12-29 Nats!

K-Rod's Collapse, June 18 vs. Mets. 5-4.

Trailing 4-3 entering the bottom of the 9th, the O's were in line to add another loss to their 0-34 record when trailing after 8 innings. With arguably the best closer in the majors on the mound primed to record another save, the Orioles stood no chance right? Nope, the O's defied the odds and scored two runs of Francisco Rodriguez, aided by a game winning single by Aubrey Huff, to win the series against the Mets.

First Road Trip

Okay while BK is right in the fact that this blog is going to be more than a travel log, our various road trips are going to be one of our main discussion points (one of many!). So here's a little recount of my first roadtrip, and what it meant to me:

I'm sure many of you fans out there know what it's like to go on the road and support your team. However, there's just something about that first trip that really gets you... You always remember it. You always will! It's the first time in your life as a fan when you take a stand for your team, and follow them into someone else's house to defend your city's pride. In fact, it's not just your city's pride — It's your pride too.

That withstanding, there's always something that keeps you sitting on your nerves, or for that matter — The edge of your seat. You have all this emotional energy pent up inside your body. It's not just because you're watching your favorite team... But it's because you're investing a lot more of yourself than most — You have more at stake. After you step outside your own city limits, it's true — It really is an 'us against the world' mentality. Well my first sports road trip, to see the Orioles play at least, was one that I'll always remember. It was a real spur of the moment type of deal. And those are the best, aren't they? Something about the free-spirited, go-anywhere type of mindset really appeals to me — And I think I'm not alone in that...

This little venture came on a Friday night — May 19, 2006. I had just finished up a pretty long week at school, and was ready for the weekend. Talk about a good mood! After getting a quick bite to eat, we swung by my Uncle's place downtown, and headed for the road.

Destination: RFK Stadium, Washington D.C.

For a team that is notorious for playing well below .500 baseball, the Orioles were in a surprising earshot, sitting at 19-22 (.463 winning percentage). The Washington Nationals of course, were orbiting much closer to the real world, with a dreary 14-27 record and a dismal .264 winning percentage — Can you say... Win? At least... That's what we were hoping for! The Baltimore/D.C. traffic was pretty bad as usual, and we were left feeling pretty good about our early departure time. Undoubtedly the traffic woes were caused by the large percentage of Baltimore fans who were making the trip as well. When we got to the New-Carrollton metro stop, we decided it would be the best place to park. From level 3 of the garage, we made our way into the station and bought our metro passes, and awaited the next train. There were quite a few Nationals fans there, and it was obvious it was going to be an exciting night. The ride to RFK took only fifteen minutes (the Stadium-Armory exit is on the Orange line as well), and before we knew it — The stadium was in sight! Walking towards that stadium gave me a great feeling. For once, I truly felt like a die-hard fan. Now, I'm not suggesting that I wasn't a huge fan before that... But there was something just a little more daring about walking into the lion's den sporting my hometown colors. It was some type of an epiphany — I felt as if I had broken out of my shell.
RFK Stadium sure was a throwback. In fact, I loved it! It felt like a time warp... The drab marble-clad insides really reminded me of the dull-colored tiled insides of Baltimore's old Memorial Stadium. Not only that, but the more I walked around RFK, the more I felt like I was back in Memorial. There were many striking similarities:

• They had similar names! (RFK is actually short for Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium)
• They were both from the 1950s/60s era (one which was a fairly quiet time in the history of stadium building)
• The concourses were tight
• There were numerous ramps (which were quite narrow in size)
• They were both multi-purpose stadiums (RFK was originally built for the Senators and the Redskins)
• They both had wooden seats (watch out for splinters!)

The feeling I got just being there was one that I loved. Camden Yards is nice and all... I consider it to be the most beautiful ballpark in the big leagues. But just give me a summer night in Memorial — I wouldn't trade that for anything. But this visit to RFK... This was as close as anyone could ever get to having that feeling again. And I loved every second of it, believe me.As for the game itself, it was never really in doubt. I think the first clue came when during the Star-Spangled Banner, the entire stadium yelled "Oh!" — Including most Nationals fans! It really was something... To think that you could go to a visiting ballpark, and feel like you were at a home game! That must be what those countless droves of New York/Boston fans feel like when they swarm down Eutaw St. every single season... With the overwhelming amount of Orioles fans there, tourists would have had a hard time figuring out that they were actually in Washington, D.C. One of the only clues probably would have been a scoreboard gimmick that they ran, involving animated former U.S. Presidents (George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt) racing each other around the bases — If memory serves me correctly, I believe Thomas Jefferson won.The starting lineup for the Orioles was delightfully suspect, as was the case for most lineups pre-Andy McPhail. However, this didn't deter the visitors from eventually wearing out their welcome... It took awhile, but the Orioles finally cracked Mike O'Connor's code. Kris Benson on the other hand, was in total control for the entire night. Not only did he come with the complete stuff — And I mean complete (game) stuff, but he even managed to throw an RBI in the mix. Corey Patterson made the play of the game however, ripping an RBI triple in top of the sixth inning. This opened the scoring for the night, allowing for Benson to drive home his previously mentioned run.During the middle innings, I walked around the upper deck promenade to try and get a feel for the place. Camera in hand, I made it a point to document my day's travels. I wanted proof — Proof that I had seen my own team play on someone else's turf. Much to my surprise, I took quite a bit of ribbing during my walk. The funniest part was, the majority of the people who were giving me the hardest time were mostly guys in their mid 20s/early 30s. These were guys who had rooted for the Orioles (MY TEAM) their entire lives! They weren't even alive when the Senators left for Texas back in 1971!! AND THEY WERE GIVING ME GRIEF?!I just laughed every time someone said something... Here I am, being told to "go back to Baltimore," by a bunch of people who used to make the 35 mile trip north every baseball season to see and root for MY Baltimore Orioles. Give me a break people. I might have been a pretty young kid... But even I was aware enough to realize how hypocritical they were being. It was ridiculous — And you know what? That just made the win all that much sweeter! They never even got close to staging a comeback... Alfonso Soriano, it appeared, was the only one who took exception to the Orioles dominance. But not even his towering home run could stop the bleeding. The Nationals were done.
Looking back on it, I was quite glad we had decided to make the trip. It was pretty neat seeing my favorite team play in another city. Also — It was cool seeing RFK before they did the complete overhaul... Just a little over a month later, under new ownership in Ted Lerner, the Nationals staged a "Grand Re-Opening" of RFK Stadium. Part of the changes included the now famous presidential race (involving people dressed up as presidential mascots), and a new terrace food court (where an empty marquee once silently sat).
All in all, it was a good experience.

Atmosphere: A (Despite all the ribbing, I thought the atmosphere was great. Hometown fans are supposed to rag on opposing fans. That's part of what being a fan is all about...)
Stadium: A+ (Many people consider RFK to be a dump, but I love throwbacks... Especially this one. However, this grade is based more so on principle. Considering the Yankees aren't even playing in the real Yankee Stadium anymore, pretty soon there won't be a stadium in Major League Baseball that was even standing before the 1990s. This time warp type effect is one that many kids being born now will never know. No matter what venue you're talking about, there's something to be said for going to a game in a stadium that's stood the test of time. You can buy amenities, you can buy luxury boxes — But you can't buy history. Unfortunately, there are many people who just don't understand that.)
Food: B (I don't remember anything sticking out too much. As I said, I visited before the overhaul, so better food was still 1-month away.)
Transportation: A- (The D.C. Metro has had a pretty clean record up until their recent blunder.)

Overall Grade: 92.5/100

Orioles Away Record: 1-0

Some shots of the group:Uncle Chuck, Mom

We are family.

Orioles' Play Sends Message: Coaching Staff Needs Overhaul

Something with these Orioles needs to change. It doesn't have to be now, necessarily, but judging by the Orioles' recent play, it has to be soon if they want to contend in the near future. This Orioles game tonight, an 11-4 loss to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, puts everything into perspective for me. I did not watch the whole game, but I managed to catch the Orioles giving up the lead on the radio, and then completely blowing it on television. Tonight wasn't just a blip on the radar screen; tonight was the continuation of a recurring theme for a young, Orioles squad. Mental mistake after mental mistake killed them in this game, from the pop up that dropped in between Roberts and Markakis that gave the Angels the lead, to the poor throw by Andino to Mora that allowed the Angels to lead off the eighth with runners on first and third and nobody out.
These mental errors have been a constant in this Orioles season, leading me to believe coaching changes should be on the horizon. They will not happen tomorrow, and they may not happen within the next month, but, if things continue the way they have been, they may happen by the end of the season. Most of the mental errors the Orioles have made have come on the basepaths, with runners trying to extend singles to doubles (Melvin Mora) and getting picked off of third base (Aubrey Huff), but tonight was a sign that the Orioles have more mental problems than just on the basepaths. In their last four losses, the Orioles have committed five errors. The defense was supposed to be a strong suit on this ballclub, but it certainly has been having its troubles recently.
The mental errors haven't been occurring in spurts, nor are the Orioles just in a mental funk; it has been a season-long problem. Dave Trembley has been mentioning to reporters that the Orioles need to stop making these mental errors, but has he been doing anything to change it? Day in and day out we see this team make mistakes that ultimately lead to a loss, and Trembley sits idly by, complaining, but not changing.
Along with this, there have been many other problems I have noticed with this ballclub that, if this team wants to contend within the next couple of years, need to stop. Here are two positions on this ballclub that Andy McPhail and Peter Angelos might want to look in to tweaking in the coming months.

Manager: Dave Trembley
Dave Trembley is a very likeable guy. He has a solid personality, and obviously loves the game of baseball, but here are things I do not like about his coaching style (other than the mental error problem that he cannot control). He doesn't know how to deal with pitchers. I often am frustrated by how long he leaves pitchers in, and by how quickly he takes them out. Rarely do I find myself going, "Yes, this is a good time to take this pitcher out" when Trembley goes to the mound. In the game on Wednesday, Brad Bergesen had pitched a gem of a game against a strong Red Sox ballclub (8 innings, 4 hits, 0 walks). The score was 5-1 Orioles, and it was the top of the ninth inning, with the Sox coming to the plate. Bergesen had just pitched a 3-up, 3-down eighth inning, but Trembley goes to the bullpen. Trembley should have trusted Bergesen, who has become the staff ace since coming to this ballclub. Do not take him out of this ball game until he allows another base runner. Let him pitch his way through the ninth until he shows signs of a struggle. But, no. Trembley can't put that much trust in a young pitcher, so he goes to the bullpen, which conveniently gives up four runs, and the O's lose the game in 11 innings. There are many more, worse, situations with pitching that Trembley has been somewhat at fault, but this one is fresh in Orioles fans' minds.
Another problem is Trembley puts too much trust in players who have done poorly this season. Chris Ray started the season off terribly, so he was sent down to the minors. After doing "great" at AAA for, I don't know, a week and a half (that's what it seemed like), he comes up and fails immediately. Rather than complain to the front office and say, "Get Ray out of here. He is not good," he sticks with him, and puts him in ball games in crucial situations, when the Orioles are up or down a couple of runs. Jason Berken is another example of a player who should be down at AAA, yet Trembley sticks with him. After having two solid starts to begin his major league career, he has had one outing where he has pitched five-plus innings and allowed less than four earned runs. Time for him to get some more work in the minors. BRING UP CHRIS TILLMAN.

Hitting Coach: Terry Crowley
Terry Crowley has been a solid hitting coach since coming to this ballclub, but this year has gotten me worried. Certain players on this team have gone cold at the plate far too often on this ballclub. Nick Markakis had a month-long slump, Adam Jones has been cold of late, and veteran Brian Roberts has been up and down all season long. Yes, Markakis and Jones will be solid all-around players in the coming years, but it's frustrating to see them stay in slumps when all Crowley needs to say, repeatedly, to them is "be patient." I have had people tell me, "Well, there is so much a hitting coach can do. After a while it's on the player to do well," but if the hitter isn't listening to his hitting coach, it may be time to install a new one. It's frustrating seeing veteran Brian Roberts get into a long slump where part of it is, obviously, that he's trying to pull pitches on the outside corner of the plate. It's frustrating to see Nick Markakis take an upper cut at every pitch, and not try to serve one down the left field line. It's frustrating to see Adam Jones swing and miss at three breaking balls in the dirt in three straight at-bats. All you need to do as a hitting coach is watch some tape with the player, show them what they're doing wrong.
Tell them to change their stance if they have to. Change something. Someone needs to get these players out of these slumps, and while most of it is on the hitter, the hitting coach needs to fire them up, also.

These are the major cuts I would make as the young prospects continue to make their way up. If they want to contend, they need coaches who want to win, and not coaches who are waiting to get through the rebuilding process.