I went to 19 Orioles games this year--1 at Fenway. They went 7-12 in those games, worse than their season percentage. Particularly bad, considering that at home, they went 40-41. Anyway, on to the recap.
There's been a debate about whether this year was worse for the Orioles than last year was. It's a tough call.
In a lot of ways, last year was crushing--they started out so well. They didn't go below .500 to stay until July 29. Hopes were high. People were seriously talking about the playoffs. Then...the collapse. Injuries. Palmeiro's steroid allegations. Mazzilli fired. The O's spent the last few months crashing and burning, ensuring that the O's will have to stay good for an entire season (at least) to bring the fans back to the Yard.
Then the offseason, with Tejada requesting a trade. I spent part of my Christmas vacation concerned that we were getting Pat Burrell for him. Gah. But the O's also went out and got Ramon Hernandez and Corey Patterson. There was some potential there; some of us had hopes for at least a .500 season. Is that too much to ask for, really?
Well, yes. Obviously. For all that last year was heartbreaking, the Orioles went 74-88. This year? 70-92. And it was just consistent badness. It was the Orioles finding new ways to lose (the intentional walk turning into a game-winning single; making the final out at the plate when you're not even the tying run; giving up a grand slam to a guy who hasn't homered in two years; a manager in love with having hot hitters sacrifice bunt, bringing up guys who are slumping). It was pitchers who had been decent last year (Chen, Lopez) turning incredibly craptastic. It was a bullpen who sucked beyond belief. It was playing utility infielders in left field. It was incredibly unclutch hitting and a talent for leaving men on base. From game 1 to game 162.
Not that there weren't highlights. There were things to get excited about this season. Corey Patterson made a great comeback, providing excitement on the basepaths (45 stolen bases) and fantastic defense in center. Nick Markakis, after a slow start, was fantastic in the second half, including a 3 homer game. There are a couple of lefty pitchers to be happy about--Erik Bedard and Adam Loewen. Ramon Hernandez proved to be a great signing. Daniel Cabrera has been a bit more consistent since his stint in the minors. Chris Ray proved to be more-than-serviceable as a closer.
So where does that leave the O's? They desperately need bullpen help (though some of the young guys--Birkins, Britton--have been doing pretty well). They need a #1 or #2 starter. They need a power-hitting 1B and/or LF. And unless they get both, they should not trade Tejada, because what's the point? You're just switching where your power is coming from. And really, I don't want Tejada traded anyway. I'm an optimist, though, I admit. I'm hoping that Jim Duquette--having now had some time to settle in--will get things done. More than in previous seasons, they do seem to be making the right noises. But...we'll see.
I'm practically at the point that even if they just release Russ Ortiz, I'll be happy.
(As for Kevin Millar, I like him. And the O's need someone who can hit lefty pitching. But this becomes a debate about who should be on the Orioles bench, which definitely shouldn't be the front office's top priority.)
Which leaves those pesky steroid allegations that the O's just can't shake. It hit me hard when I first heard on Sunday, I admit. Particularly upsetting is that my boy's name is included. Which...just doesn't add up. There is just nothing about Brian that has ever said "steroids." People will point to his power surge early last season, but these are the same people who don't realize that he hit 50 doubles in 2004, and that doubles + experience + a good offseason workout regime = home runs. And from everything I know about Brian's childhood and life...I just don't see him ever messing around with steroids.
Plus, there's so much back-and-forth about the validity of what Grimsley said. It comes out, then stories saying that there were "significant inaccuracies" and Grimsley's lawyer saying he (Grimsley) never named Roberts and Gibbons. So, I'm going to live here in my happy land. I certainly don't think that steroids aren't a problem, but I don't believe for a minute that Brian took any.
Posted by Barb at October 2, 2006 11:08 PM | TrackBack