Baltimore Orioles Soundoff

Alex Sanchez of the San Francisco Giants was the first person to be caught by baseball's new steroid testing policy.

Rafael Palmeiro is no Alex Sanchez. He is a bonafide star.

What does this mean for baseball? What does it mean for us Orioles fans?

I have noticed among fans on Orioles talk forums that many of them have lost their faith in Raffy. They are spurning him by calling him a liar and a cheat. I am not so quick to spurn Raffy.

Don't get me wrong. Palmeiro took steroids--Unless, in order to make himself more credible, Jose Canseco has been slipping into Raffy's bedroom on occassion and injecting him in his sleep. Hey, is that really all that impossible? I've seen Canseco speak, he's a nut.

I've also been a Raffy fan my whole life, since he was an Oriole the first time. I have grown fond of that sweet swing and also of his sweet, never demanding, viagara-taking, and utterly quiet nature. He's never been considered anything but a professional by anyone he's ever met. He is modest, although his numbers are up there with the clouds.

Here is my argument against Palmeiro taking steroids, it may be a weak one, but let me have my dreams (I still like the Jose Canseco theory...) :

Palmeiro has never, ever been on the disabled list. Steroids, if taken over a long period of time, cause muscles and tendons to tighten to the point where they can snap at any wrong movement. The point behind steroids is to tighten the muscles. Now, I ask, how can Raffy have been habitually taking steroids if he's never had to go on the DL? It just doesn't make sense. Look at Jason Giambi, he took steroids and the man crumbled.

With that being said, why Palmeiro had the 'roids in his system now, is beyond me. (Unless because of the Jose Canseco thing). See even if Palmeiro had taken steroids in the past, why take them now? You have 3,ooo hits and 500 home runs, what more do you need? You have one more year left in baseball, why take steroids now? That was stupidity and I didn't want to believe Raffy was that stupid. I guess he is.

Baseball won't miss a beat because of this. It will keep moving in a positive direction. It may actually do some good--if Raffy can be caught and punished, maybe I can too...

It won't hurt the Orioles either. They are invincible from this because they have enough problems already. It's like if you hurt your foot and you want it to stop hurting so you hurt your hand, then your foot isn't so bad anymore. The Orioles can't hurt about the Palmeiro thing at this point, they are too busy hurting about firing their manager and losing.

This may help the O's. Sammy Perlozzo takes over, they start winning some games (2 in a row and counting), and then Palmeiro comes back nicely into the lineup and they take off. Hey, it could happen.

Look, I love my Raffy. I think he is a hall of famer without any doubt in my mind. I think he did a stupid, stupid thing. I don't condone it. But as FU2RMAN, so eloquently points out, "Even the freakin' leader of the free world has Rafael Palmeiro's back!"

Orioles Game Update: Orioles 10, Rangers 5
Box Score

Like Lou Brown, manager from the movie "Major League" once said, "Yesterday we won a game. If we win today, that's called two in a row, if we win tommorow, that's called a winning streak. It has happened before."

Yes, that's right O's fans, your Orioles have won--get this--two games in a row. Sam Perlozzo is doing an excellent job with the pitching staff and the Orioles have responded by scoring more runs(10) than they have in a long time.

Brian Roberts and Jay Gibbons went yard, Chris Gomez and BJ Surhoff added doubles, Melvin Mora was on the bench. Let's hope this continues O's fans--not Mora being on the bench, the hitting part.

Weekend Series: Orioles @ Texas: Saturday, August 6th at 4:05 p.m. and Sunday, August 7th at 2:05 p.m.

Hallelujah! Praise Sammy Sosa! Praise Rodrigo Lopez! But, most of all, praise Sam Perlozzo for leading the O's to their first victory in their last nine games.

Yeah, Eric Byrnes hit a triple off of Orlando Cabrera's leg and Sosa crushed a ball out to left for the four runs the O's scored, but if this were a Lee Mazzilli managed team, four runs would not have been enough.

Perlozzo masterfully worked the bullpen and was able to put the right pitchers in, and keep them in, at the right times.

Too many times Mazzilli would take a lead into the 5th, 6th or 7th innings, and too many times the O's would end up losing that lead because of their bullpen. But is that really the bullpen's fault? Or is it Mazzilli's?

Rodrigo Lopez pitched an excellent game for 4 innings. In the 5th, things got a little hairy. But Lopez finished strong and got out of the inning. Having thrown a lot of pitches the inning before, Perlozzo felt Lopez needed to be taken out. I might have left him in one more inning, but whatever.

Enter Todd Williams. Williams did an excellent job for an 1 2/3 innings. Perlozzo didn't have to make any decisions there, so nothing special. Now is when Perlozzo's actions show why he is the better man for the job.

Tim Byrdak, one of the O's best relievers in the past few weeks, came into the game next. He got the man he was supposed to get, the left-handed specialist did his job. But then, something crazy happened, a right-handed hitter came to bat and Perlozzo didn't put Chris Ray in the game. He didn't change pitchers at all. And it worked! Byrdak got the man out. Imagine that.

Then, with switch-hitting Chone Figgins coming to bat, Perlozzo wanted to make him face a hard thrower from his weaker side. He took Byrdak out, and brought in Jorge Julio. With two runners on base already, this seemed to me an excellent idea.

But Julio failed.

He walked the man he came in to face and loaded the bases. Here it comes, game after game, the same thing. It's bases loaded, O's up 4-1, bottom of the 8th, time to blow it.

And Mazzilli left Julio in and he gave up the game-winning homerun, again. But wait! Mazzilli was fired! Perlozzo is the manager of this team.

Perlozzo yanked Julio like his was a particularly bad performance on the Gong Show. If you are a reliever and you walk a batter, you come out. No more chances. Way to go Sam.

B.J. Ryan was placed in the game and he struck out his man to end the inning. Threat over. Orioles still leading 4-1. Orioles win.

To me, the difference is as clear as night and day. Mazzilli would have left Julio in. Perlozzo took him out. That is the whole game right there.

Congratulations Sam Perlozzo, I look forward to a lot more of this to close out this year. If you keep this up, you might just be sticking around to manage for years to come.

Game Recap: Orioles 4, Angels 1
Box Score

The O's have finally won a game! The impossible has happened, and I love Sam Perlozzo. Eric Byrnes tripled in two runs and Sammy Sosa slammed his 14th HR of the year for the other two. Rodrigo Lopez pitched excellent for 5 innings and Todd Williams, Tim Byrdak and BJ Ryan held down the fort superbly as the O's moved their record closer to .500 at 52-56.

Now all we need is the Red Sox to go on the same collapse that the O's went on, plus we need about a 12-game winning streak and we are back in first. Maybe.

Next Game: Friday, August 5th, 8:05 p.m.
Baltimore @ Texas

Bruce Chen vs. C.J. Wilson

After just about a season and a half, Lee Mazzilli has been fired as manager of the Baltimore Orioles. Story.

I hate to say I told you so...But...I TOLD YOU SO!

Mazzilli couldn't stand the heat. He didn't know what to do at the end. He was a lost puppy dog. The Orioles didn't need a lost puppy dog running the team.

Congratulations Peter Angelos. You've missed out on countless free agents over the years because you are greedy greedy tightwad, but you got this one right.

Sam Perlozzo will take over the team on an interim basis. Paging Cal Ripken. Cal Ripken could you please report to the manager's office.

While watching last night's game, it became clear to me that Lee Mazzilli was not the man to lead the Orioles to the promised land--and they showed so much promise this year.

Here's the old adage, "If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch." And Mazzilli seems to be a miniature pinscher when it comes to his managerial style. He yelps a lot and makes a lot of noise, but in the end, are you really afraid of such a little tyke? No. Neither are the other teams, or even his own players.

Last night I saw Mazzilli make two critical mistakes--one managerial and one spiritual.

With the game still within reach at 5-2, and after Tim Byrdak came in to pitch to a lefty and so dominantly retired the batter he faced, Lee "Matchups" Mazzilli struck again. Instead of leaving in Byrdak, who looked effortless while getting his man out, he decided to bring in Chris Ray because of match up reasons, since the next batter was a righty.

Mistake "Matchups," mistake. Are you telling me Byrdak isn't a good enough pitcher to get two guys out in a row? He looked great, why change? It makes little sense to me.

The other mistake that I saw Mazzilli make was a crucial one to his role as leader of the Baltimore Orioles. This may be why some on the team do not respect the man. After the game got out of hand--Mazzilli's fault for putting in Ray--Mazzilli could do nothing but hang his head in the dugout.

He didn't get fired up, he didn't get mad and scream at anybody, he didn't do much of anything. He just hung his head. Is that what a leader would do in that situation? Would Miguel Tejada just hang his head after striking out? I've seen Miggy slam thing and hit himself so I don't think so.

Would Earl Weaver just sit in the dugout while his starting pitcher was consistently hitting the outside corner of the plate to no avail from the umpire? Weaver would still be kicking dirt in Anaheim right now. And be throwing things.

Would even Davey Johnson just sit back, hang his head and let the bad things happen?

Would Cal?

Where have you gone, Cal Ripken Jr? Orioles nation turns its lonely, losing eyes to you. Woo Woo Woo.

The Baltimore Orioles, as they stand right now, are good enough to contend with anybody. They have one of the best lineups in baseball from top to bottom. They have a good young pitching staff, which nobody can deny. Their bullpen was supposed to be dominant. What are they missing? A leader in the form of a manager, that's what.

Who is the one person that nobody in or around Baltimore would ever dare to put down? Cal. Who would lead the Orioles with the spirit of man who comes to play every single day, and plays hard? Cal. Who does Miguel Tejada emulate more than any other? Cal. That's right. Cal.

On this O's squad, Miguel Tejada is the clear leader. Nobody is looked up to more than Miggy, no, not even Maz. That shouldn't be. The manager is the leader, that is just the way it is. There is only one person in Baltimore that is larger than Miguel Tejada, and a better leader.

Cal Ripken, you could save the Orioles. Please come back.

This team is ready to have a leader show them the way. Cal Ripken is that leader.

Cal Sr. managed the Orioles, and he didn't do that great of a job. Sr. was beloved by everyone but he wasn't a great manager, he was a better coach. That won't happen to Cal Jr.

Cal Ripken Sr. wasn't revered as much as Jr. because he never had the talent or the impact on the Orioles that his son had. Ripken Jr. is the Baltimore Orioles, always will be.

Orioles fans could come to Memorial Stadium and Camden Yards from 1982 until 1998 and count on #8 being in the lineup. They could count on his stellar bat and his golden glove at shortstop and then at third. They could count on Cal, always.

And now, when Orioles fans need it the most, through seven losing seasons and on its way to a most devastating eighth, they need to be able to count on Cal again.

Come back, Cal. Your team, the Orioles, needs you.

Last Game: Angels 8, Orioles 4
Box Score

Erik Bedard pitched a great game for 4 1/3 innings. Then he hiccupped. What had happened was...His pitches, in my opinion were hitting their spots on the outside corner. The umpire didn't see it that way. He called all his pinpoint pitches balls and forced Bedard to come over the plate. The Angels hitters were much obliged, scoring six times in the 5th inning.

If not for that crazy inning, the Orioles might have--gasp!--won a game. Oh well, we'll get 'em next time. HA!

Next Game: Thursday, August 4th, 4:05 p.m. @LAA.

Rodrigo Lopez vs. Erwin Santana

With the recent suspension of Rafael Palmeiro, the Orioles were allowed to call up a player from the minor leagues to take his roster spot until he gets back.

Lee Mazzilli's choice: Midre Cummings, OF (click for stats)

Why Midre Cummings? First of all, Cummings plays outfield and Palmeiro is a first baseman. OK, so Mazzilli feels that Chris Gomez or B.J. Surhoff can play first while Palmeiro is gone. But what does Cummings bring to this team that is badly in need of a spark?

Absolutely nothing. He won't even play, aside from cameo pinch hitting performances at the end of games. And what did he contribute last night? He struck out in his only at bat.

My choice: Walter Young, 1B OR Alejandro Freire, 1B

Freire is leading the Ottawa Lynx with 18 roundtrippers, and although 30 years of age, could be the spark the O's need. A guy who can come up to the majors and hit a few home runs. Anyway, if you are going to take a guy like Cummings, who also is getting up in age, than why not the guy is who producing best for the Lynx?

You want to talk about exciting? Walter Young could be like a jolt of electricity for the dark ages the Orioles are suffering through. Young is only 25 and he has been ripping home run after home run for years in the minors. At 6'5" 320 lbs. why wouldn't you take the chance to insert that into your lineup for a few games to see how he does?

I don't know Mazz, it makes sense to me. But then again I'd have gone with Nick Markakis--who at the ripe old age of 22 is tearing through the system--over Midre Cummings. But that's just me. What do I know?

Every single day I check the Orioles lineup card during the pre-game, and almost every single day its like my birthday--only when I see my surprise, it makes me want to vomit.

The Orioles opening day lineup was beautiful. Roberts, Mora, Tejada, Sosa, Palmeiro, Lopez, Gibbons, Matos, Bigbie. What is wrong with that lineup?

The answer, my friends, is nothing. However, Lee "Matchups" Mazzilli feels the need to shake up the lineup almost daily, never keeping continuity for too long. I nickname Mazzilli "Matchups" because it seems that he will compromise some of his best hitters in favor of favorable pitching matchups. For example, sitting Rafael Palmeiro, Jay Gibbons or the former Oriole Larry Bigbie and playing Chris Gomez because the pitcher happens to be a lefty. Nothing against Gomez but Palmeiro, Gibbons and Bigbie are all better hitters, period. So why sit a better hitter just because the matchup is less favorable by the numbers? I believe that the best hitter should hit. Always. If you are going to give a guy a night off, that is one thing. But strictly adhering to lefty righty matchups is ridiculous in my opinion.

Another qualm I have with our boy "Matchups" is his penchant for playing musical chairs with the lineup. Roberts is always leadoff. After Roberts, your guess is as good as mine. Roughly, Melvin Mora, Miguel Tejada, Rafael Palmeiro, Sammy Sosa and Javy Lopez are all somewhere near each other in the order, but come on! Sometimes Mora bats second, sometimes third. Sometimes Tejada bats third, sometimes fourth. Palmeiro started the year batting fifth but has also batted fourth and sixth. Sosa, who moves around a lot to find his best suited spot in the order but it seems sucks anywhere you put him, has batted second, fourth, fifth and sixth. Lopez has also hit in many different positions, batting fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh.

The bottom of the order is a whole other story. The combinations of David Newhan, Luis Matos, BJ Surhoff, Larry Bigbie, Jay Gibbons, Chris Gomez and Sal Fasano have moved around so much they feel like military children. Mazzilli has even gone so far as to bat Bigbie, Matos and Newhan in the two hole from time to time.

I know why the O's offense has struggled so much lately! The Orioles hitters have traveled the lineup so much they have jetlag. So please Lee, for the good of the team, keep it simple stupid. Let the best hitters hit, every day. Keep the lineup solid, when the offense knows the job it has to perform day in and day out, it can better perform its duties.

So here is my perfect lineup. Lee take a lesson from me and stick with this!




Brian Roberts, 2B
Melvin Mora, 3B
Miguel Tejada, SS
Rafael Palmeiro, 1B
Javy Lopez, C
Sammy Sosa, RF
Jay Gibbons, DH
Eric Byrnes, LF
Luis Matos, RF

Tonight's Game Recap:
Anaheim Angels 10, Baltimore Orioles 1
Box Score


Well the O's certainly had a performance worthy of this last blog. They managed 13 hits and only scored one run. ONE RUN! Vladimir Guerrero went deep twice for the Angels who dominated every pitcher the O's threw at them. Sidney Ponson is at least consistent. Consistently bad. He continued his losing ways by giving up 8 runs in just over 5 innings pitched.

O's Record: 51-55
9.5 games out of first

This only begs the question: Will the Orioles ever win again? Stay Tuned! Next Game: @LAA 10:05

# posted by Jeff Lippman @ 9:42 PM 3 comments