FEATURED JOBS
Comments (0)Playing a game called “Running Bases’’ with a pink Spaldeen was a popular pastime among street urchins back in the Forties. The rules were simple. The runner would try to advance to the next base without getting tagged out.
But the present day Orioles have refined this game, renaming it “Base Blunders,’ with Felix Pie as the chief practitioner. Pie has perfected the art of running the bases backwards, and several of his teammates have followed his comic example by forgetting how many outs in the inning or attempting to advance a base against all odds. The Keystone Kops did a better job pursuing bank robbers
At first, manager Dave Trembling (my preferred spelling) and third base coach Ron Samuel put the entire blame on the players, accusing them of running with their heads on the sand. But the following day, Samuel took full blame for sending Ty Wigginton, who runs like a fullback, into a certain out at home.
Since day one, Trembling has stressed the importance of successfully executing the game’s fundamentals. Obviously, his students missed the base-running sessions in training camp. But what about the fundamentals of a sacrifice bunt. Did Trembling make his players achieve some success at bunting in Florida before dismissing them. Obviously not. All told, the Orioles have a team total of 11 sacrifice bunts, with Cesar Izturis, who had played “small ball’ in the National League, accounting for four. Brian Roberts, who has the speed to pad his average by bunting for hits, has executed one sacrifice bunt.
So for a man who preaches fundamentals, Trembling deserves a “D.’ His handling of pitchers is just as appalling. In a recent loss to Cleveland, he sat transfixed in the dugout while watching Brian Bass allow five straight hits to end any chance of an Oriole comeback. For the most part, Trembling, like almost all his contemporaries, is too caught up in pitch counts and hesitant to stick with a pitcher showing command once he approaches the foreboding 100 pitches
Talk to most of the dominant pitchers of the past, like Warren Spahn, Robin Roberts and Whitey Ford, and they all believed that the more you pitched, the stronger your arm became. Oriole stalwarts Jim Palmer and Mike Cuellar prided themselves in going the distance, both pitching 25 complete games in a season. But now, young pitchers are coddled. Trembling has already announced he plans on shutting down rookies Chris Tillman and Brian Matusz in the final weeks of the season, for fear their arms might fall off
And then, of course, there is Trembling’s passive attitude in arguing for his players on an umpire’s questionable call. Yes, he has been tossed several times, but his impersonation of Earl Weaver is strictly amateurish Quite simply, Trembling must not be rehired.
And what about evaluating his boss, Andy MacPhail? In trading veterans Eric Bedard, Miguel Tejada, Garrett Olson, George Sherrill and Aubrey Huff, MacPhail has practiced his philosophy of obtaining as many young prospects as possible, particularly promising pitchers. His swaps have already netted two players—Adam Jones and Nolan Reimold—who are now viewed as outfield fixtures for years to come.
Most of the fuzzy-cheeked pitchers still have to prove they can be part of next year’s rotation, and, even more, to win more often than not. All have exhibited flashes of matching the potential Oriole scouts first saw in them, most notably Brian Matusz and David Hernandez. But Hernandez throws a lot of high pitches, and long flies can easily reach the seats in the now cozy Yankee Stadium and Camden Yards.
Chris Tillman is still a work in progress and highly-touted Jake Arrieta is likely to remain in the minors. The best of the babes is Brad Bergeson, who posted seven wins before a wicked shot to his shinbone finished his rookie year.
Who will fill the rest of the starting rotation is a perplexing question. Jeremy Guthrie, once considered the Oriole “”ace,’’ should be the fourth starter at best since he has the dubious honor of allowing the most home runs in the American League. He has pitched better of late, but it is still scary when he has to face such potent lineups as the Yankees and Red Sox
If you have to criticize MacPhail’s moves, go no farther than his costly acquisition of former Japanese star Koji Uehara. For some unexplained reason, MacPhail believed he could convert Uehara, who had pitched mainly in relief his last two years with the Yomiuri Giants, into the Birds’ No. 2 starter.
It did not take long before the Orioles discovered Uehara lacked stamina and quickly wilted pitching in hot and humid Baltimore. He suffered a torn tendon and has been rehabbing the past two months. When and if he returns before the season ends, he will pitch out of the bullpen, which is precisely where he belongs
With money to burn in 2010 due to the departure of Huff and the certain farewell of third baseman Melvin Mora ($8 million), MacPhail, if he gets owner Peter Angelos’ blessing, can shop for a proven starter.
The bullpen is also in flux. No Oriole fan would shed a tear if Bass and Danys Baez ($7.1 million) shed their Oriole uniforms. No one has sealed the middle reliever’s job, but side-armer Cla Meredith and lanky Mark Hendrickson are the current favorites. Chis Ray appears to have benefited from his recent demotion to the minors and is no longer trying to strike out everybody. He could prove an effective set-up man. Jim Johnson, despite a few recent letdowns, should prove to be less scary than Sherrill as the bullpen stopper.
As for the regular lineup, the middle infield seems set with Roberts and sure-handed Izturis at short. He has also been a pleasant surprise at bat, providing a number of timely hits.
Rookie catcher Matt Wieters , cast as “Superboy,’’ has failed to live up to all the fanfare. He is now hitting for a decent average, but lacking consistent power and striking out every four at bats. His handling of the young staff has been adequate, but his throwing has been erratic. Needless to say, he has no serious challengers.
MacPhail will need to occupy most of the off-season in finding replacements for Huff and Mora. Luke Scott is better suited for a DH role than as an everyday first baseman. Ty Wigginton is at best a utility infielder.
There are no quick fixes available in the minors, although Josh Bell, obtained in the Sherrill deal with the Dodgers, has been putting up big offensive numbers at Bowie.
MacPhail probably took more abuse from Oriole fans for acquiring Pie from the Cubs in exchange for Olson than any move he has made. In the first half of the season, the Dominican native appeared completely overmatched at the plate.
Apparently, veteran hitting coach Terry Crowley performed a near miracle in shortening his stroke. Pie got a chance to play regularly when Jones suffered a hamstring pull and has been the Orioles most productive hitter the past few weeks, causing fans to overlook his base-running gaffes.
Add up all his moves, and MacPhail deserves at least a “B.’’ But he realizes his young pitchers will have to develop quickly to stand even a ghost of a chance of seriously competing in the treacherous AL East. Finding a new manager should be his easiest job, with Rick Dempsey deserving serious consideration.
