In my heart of hearts, I did not want this to happen. I wanted
the Orioles to actually do well this year and challenge the usual
suspects for a place in baseball's post-season. It has been so
long since the Orioles have done well. I cheered them on, but it
got harder and harder to watch.
For the most part, after this last homestand, it is safe to say that
the wheels have come off and the engine has fallen apart. The
starting rotation which surprised some with its early success succumbed
to what the preseason prognosticators predicted--not terribly
good. I think it is safe to say that the two bright spots in this
rotation--Cabrera and Bedard--are another year away from truly
fulfilling their potential. The lineup has been exposed greatly,
with little production coming from the bottom half of the lineup.
The outfield has been incredibly lacking in production, and that is
even if Sosa's bat catches fire--corked or not. The catcher
platoon did very little to replace the offensive production and
protection that was missed with the absence of Javy Lopez. I like
the addition of Eric Byrnes, as I think he is a good clubhouse addition. I also like the fact that unlike the departed Larry Bigbie he has some pop in his bat. My apologies to both Fool and Siana
for his untimely departure. The bullpen has been terribly lately
and been exposed for its incredible shortcomings and its penchant for
blowing leads.
The front office and ownership are not completely blameless. At
some point, I sincerely hope that the Swarthy Greek Owner realizes his
folly. Here is hoping that he emerges from his Steinbrenner phase
to let his baseball people run the team with little interference.
I also hope that the front office will stop crying small market--this
team is most definitely a medium-size market and can afford a payroll
befitting such a team. Their dual-headed leadership is much too
deliberate, and the attempts
at dictating what is a seller's market at times maddeningly
frustrating.
Finally, the news that Palmeiro used steroids is a blow this team could
have avoided. It is bad enough that the Orioles are in such an
embarrassing freefall, but to have a player who adamantly denied his
use of steroids before a Congressional panel suspended for ten games is
an embarrassment to both the player and the organization. Nothing
stings more than a public shaming. I think that he will still enter
the Hall of Fame, but not before the spectre of this suspension raises
its ugly head.
Thankfully, to avert my eyes from this trainwreck, Ravens Training Camp has begun.
As I remarked to a friend yesterday in an virtual conversation, it is
amazing that in ten years, the Ravens have emerged as a front office
that is respected around the NFL. During the same period--and
some would say extending beyond that--the Orioles have become a pariah
among baseball. The major reason for that is that the ownership
has taken a decidedly back-seat approach, letting their football people
make the right decisions.
It was a good ride, and there is always next year. Hopefully, the
end is not too bloody. Nonetheless, the distraction of the Ravens
and the NFL is a welcome salve.
9:41:50 AM 
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