Post by Fish Troll on Jun 22, 2007 13:57:33 GMT -5
6/22/2007 12:26:00 PM
Woes of loving the O's
By Mallory Rubin
Being a young Baltimore Orioles fan is not easy. I was conscious for only the second half of Cal's career and for playoff berths in 1996 and '97, but that's about it. When my Dad grew up in Baltimore, the Orioles were a proud franchise. The American league wasn't ruled by the Yankees, it was ruled by the Birds. The Orioles had the best record of any team during the 1960s and the ‘70s and won championships in '66, '70 and '83. My Dad can talk about Brooks Robinson winning 16-straight Gold Gloves, Jim Palmer never allowing a grand slam and Eddie Murray playing the game with quiet and consistent excellence. He can talk about Earl Weaver's managerial antics and love of the three-run homer. He can talk about the Oriole Way.
I can't talk like that. The team hasn't given me those memories. Instead, my Orioles have handed me little more than over-hyped prospects, failed trades and bad signings. And there's no forgetting Jeffrey Maier reaching over the outfield wall.
But still, even as a once-loyal fan base loses faith, I watch, I care, I hope. I'm embarrassed that Joe Girardi turned down the manager's job this week but excited about Andy MacPhail's appointment as the president of baseball operations.
In his introductory press conference, MacPhail sounded confident that he is the man in charge. He said he wouldn't be in Baltimore if he didn't feel he had complete control.
"I'm absolutely responsible for baseball operations," MacPhail said at the press conference. "I like one voice. I like simplicity."
I like it too. And I like that it seems owner Peter Angelos has finally handed over the reins and decided to let someone who knows how to run a team do so.
When team General Counsel Russell Smouse introduced MacPhail, he said, “the fans have been sending a strong message that they want change. The Orioles have heard that message and are responding.”
It's about time. MacPhail is a capable executive and genuinely wants to be in Baltimore. He spent eight years in Baltimore while his father, Lee, ran the Orioles. According to The Washington Post, MacPhail's childhood contributed to his desire to run the Orioles before the end of his career.
And so MacPhail gives me hope. So too does the fact that the trend of the team's top prospects falling from favor, getting shipped away in trades that never pay off, suffering from injuries or simply never meeting their potential, seems to be coming to an end. The talent in the farm system right now is thin, but it's still worth believing in the last crop to join the parent club.
Erik Bedard has top-of-the-rotation stuff, as does Daniel Cabrera. Bedard seems to have gotten over his inconsistencies and this season is leading the league in strikeouts and has a respectable 3.64 ERA. Cabrera, on the other hand, is still plagued by his lack of control; he is leading the leagues in walks. He has not shown the type of improvement pitching coach Leo Mazzone expected to see, but it's way too soon to give up on his high-90's fastball and no-hit stuff. Young lefty and former first-round draft pick Adam Loewen is out for the season with a fracture in his elbow, but recent surgery should not hamper his preparation for 2008. And though closer Chris Ray is having a poor season (4.45 ERA and five losses) he showed great promise last year and notched 33 saves.
Rookie Jeremy Guthrie has a 1.64 ERA in 10 starts this season and has been nothing short of sensational. He has a positive work-ethic, good mound presence and a fresh arm for his age (he's 28, but he took two years off from pitching to go on his Mormon mission).
There's youth and talent in the field as well, though admittedly not as much as on the mound. Though his star has fallen in this past two years, second baseman Brian Roberts is still a stud in the field and on the base path. But it's right fielder and former first-round draft pick Nick Markakis who really has star potential.
So despite the fact that most of Baltimore traded in its Orioles orange for Ravens purple long ago, I haven't, and I won't.
Woes of loving the O's
By Mallory Rubin
Being a young Baltimore Orioles fan is not easy. I was conscious for only the second half of Cal's career and for playoff berths in 1996 and '97, but that's about it. When my Dad grew up in Baltimore, the Orioles were a proud franchise. The American league wasn't ruled by the Yankees, it was ruled by the Birds. The Orioles had the best record of any team during the 1960s and the ‘70s and won championships in '66, '70 and '83. My Dad can talk about Brooks Robinson winning 16-straight Gold Gloves, Jim Palmer never allowing a grand slam and Eddie Murray playing the game with quiet and consistent excellence. He can talk about Earl Weaver's managerial antics and love of the three-run homer. He can talk about the Oriole Way.
I can't talk like that. The team hasn't given me those memories. Instead, my Orioles have handed me little more than over-hyped prospects, failed trades and bad signings. And there's no forgetting Jeffrey Maier reaching over the outfield wall.
But still, even as a once-loyal fan base loses faith, I watch, I care, I hope. I'm embarrassed that Joe Girardi turned down the manager's job this week but excited about Andy MacPhail's appointment as the president of baseball operations.
In his introductory press conference, MacPhail sounded confident that he is the man in charge. He said he wouldn't be in Baltimore if he didn't feel he had complete control.
"I'm absolutely responsible for baseball operations," MacPhail said at the press conference. "I like one voice. I like simplicity."
I like it too. And I like that it seems owner Peter Angelos has finally handed over the reins and decided to let someone who knows how to run a team do so.
When team General Counsel Russell Smouse introduced MacPhail, he said, “the fans have been sending a strong message that they want change. The Orioles have heard that message and are responding.”
It's about time. MacPhail is a capable executive and genuinely wants to be in Baltimore. He spent eight years in Baltimore while his father, Lee, ran the Orioles. According to The Washington Post, MacPhail's childhood contributed to his desire to run the Orioles before the end of his career.
And so MacPhail gives me hope. So too does the fact that the trend of the team's top prospects falling from favor, getting shipped away in trades that never pay off, suffering from injuries or simply never meeting their potential, seems to be coming to an end. The talent in the farm system right now is thin, but it's still worth believing in the last crop to join the parent club.
Erik Bedard has top-of-the-rotation stuff, as does Daniel Cabrera. Bedard seems to have gotten over his inconsistencies and this season is leading the league in strikeouts and has a respectable 3.64 ERA. Cabrera, on the other hand, is still plagued by his lack of control; he is leading the leagues in walks. He has not shown the type of improvement pitching coach Leo Mazzone expected to see, but it's way too soon to give up on his high-90's fastball and no-hit stuff. Young lefty and former first-round draft pick Adam Loewen is out for the season with a fracture in his elbow, but recent surgery should not hamper his preparation for 2008. And though closer Chris Ray is having a poor season (4.45 ERA and five losses) he showed great promise last year and notched 33 saves.
Rookie Jeremy Guthrie has a 1.64 ERA in 10 starts this season and has been nothing short of sensational. He has a positive work-ethic, good mound presence and a fresh arm for his age (he's 28, but he took two years off from pitching to go on his Mormon mission).
There's youth and talent in the field as well, though admittedly not as much as on the mound. Though his star has fallen in this past two years, second baseman Brian Roberts is still a stud in the field and on the base path. But it's right fielder and former first-round draft pick Nick Markakis who really has star potential.
So despite the fact that most of Baltimore traded in its Orioles orange for Ravens purple long ago, I haven't, and I won't.
sportsillustrated.cnn.com/si_blogs/baseball/fungoes_blog/2007/06/woes-of-loving-os.html
Yep I guess your right, the ship is sinking!
