Baltimore Orioles Soundoff

Baseball can run through the veins. It inhabits the every thought and feeling of those who love and embrace it.

Baseball is a game, simply a game. And baseball is special to those who hold it dear.

But for some, baseball is just a means to an end, a job, simply a paycheck. And when that happens, baseball becomes an ugly thing. Fans can tell the difference.

Pure baseball, baseball for the love of the game, is played by boys. Boys, who, no matter what their age, get giddy every time they step up to the plate or take the mound. Men play serious baseball. Men take baseball too seriously.

It is quite easy to tell when baseball is being played by boys, and when it's played by men, isn't it? The smiles vanish. The fun disappears, and baseball becomes a job, not a game.

The Baltimore Orioles have been both boys and men this season. In fact they have gone boys to men. The boys won, the men lost. The O's need a resurgence of boys.

The Oakland Athletics series may have been the right team at the right time to welcome back the good ol' boys of Baltimore.

After throwing a strikeout to the final batter to sweep Oakland in a three-game series, Todd Williams, who notched his first career save, exuberantly pumped his fist and celebrated like he had just closed out the little league championship game.

After the final out was made, Melvin Mora and Miguel Tejada--smiles from ear to ear--did their crazy special handshake that was so prominent during the first half of the season, only to be absent by the all-star break.

Interim manager Sam Perlozzo clapped his hands and celebrated with his team, also with a smile on his face.

In fact...Did you notice it? Every player in a Baltimore uniform shared the same look of happiness.

Now, of course, winning is much better than losing, so obviously the players will smile after sweeping a three game set. These were not just winning smiles. The O's are starting to realize baseball is fun again.

Melvin Mora and Miguel Tejada are still not hitting like they should be, and don't even get me started on Sammy Sosa. Palmeiro and Daniel Cabrera both were hurt before the final A's game, but that didn't matter.

What matters is that Mora no longer steps up to the plate every time with a scowl on his face. Or that Tejada doesn't force the weight of the world on his shoulders. What matters is that they get back to doing the one thing they have always loved to do--play baseball.

Even the pitching staff treats every start like a business meeting. Instead of going out and pitching like they have always known how, they press. They press and they tighten up and they ultimately fail. Rodrigo Lopez, Bruce Chen and now Eric DuBose has found a way to get back to just pitching. Hopefully Erik Bedard will follow suit.

The O's played this last series with a lighter heart, and it worked, didn't it? They played this series like boys, playing it for the love and not the money. They became a group tired of losing, their old manager never smiled, never did much of anything. Their new manager always has a smile on his face, and it's infectious.

They are having fun again. They are playing baseball like it was meant to be played, like it is the best game on earth.

Playoffs or not, the O's should have a wonderful end to their season if they continue down this path back to boyhood.

For losing stings boys and men of all ages, but men take it personally where boys shrug it off and go out for pizza anyway.



Next Orioles Game: Baltimore @ Cleveland; Friday August 19 @ 7:05 p.m.





Erik Bedard vs. Scott Elarton

Let me introduce you to the Baltimore Orioles. The REAL Baltimore Orioles. The team that at one point was 14 games over .500 and had at least a four-game lead in the AL East.

Missing: One entire baseball franchise. The black and orange-uniformed players usually answers to the collective name "Orioles." May be looking a bit thin because of malnutrition and insufficient win-loss proportions.

If found, please contact Oriole Park at Camden Yards immediately. The city of Baltimore, Orioles fans everywhere and Peter Angelos are determined to get their players back. And soon.





In an E-mail to Peter Angelos, A's owner Lewis Wolff writes:

Dear Mr. Angelos:

My playoff-contending ballclub has recently discovered your franchise here in Oakland. We don't know how they strayed so far from home, but we do believe that it is, in fact, the same team that we played in Baltimore at the beginning of the season.

Barry Zito is convinced that he was run over by several players matching the description you gave on your missing posters. Joe Blanton, as well.

The A's will gladly send your franchise back to Baltimore. Frankly, they are wearing out their welcome in Oakland. Mr. Angelos, you do realize we are in a playoff race, do you not?

We do not appreciate the fact that your misguided team was lost, and then found, in our home city. It does not help our cause. We would, of course, be grateful to see them go.

I sincerely hope you realize the service that my A's have done your franchise. We took them in, clothed them, sheltered them and then they bit the very hand that fed them.

No need to thank us, Mr. Angelos, just continue winning, and do not come back to Oakland for the rest of the season.

Sincerely,
Lewis Wolff
Owner, Oakland Athletics


So the Orioles have been located! The Oakland A's are Baltimore's saviors. They are for the Orioles what spinach is for Popeye. OK, this might possibly be a slight exaggeration, or a complete coincidence, but I am running with it.

The Orioles are now one game under .500 and a series sweep on Wednesday afternoon would be the icing on the cake.

Sammy Sosa, Melvin Mora and Miguel Tejada all produced for the O's in last night's 4-3 win. Yes, that's right, those are the last three O's that Orioles Soundoff has bashed, and they responded! (And PassFirst's Bill Ferrara thought upon reading my last post, Sammy Sosa would commit suicide...)

Bruce Chen had the type of game that makes you sit back and enjoy life. The type of game where he wasn't walking men around the bases and spraying hits to all fields including the parking lot. Bruce Chen has been the O's most solid pitcher this year. He has reached 10 wins for the first time in his career and he deserves some recognition.

Orioles SoundOff hereby recognizes Bruce Chen: All Hail Bruce "Almighty" Chen. Bruce Chen is the Panamasian Devil!

It is now time for the Orioles to catch fire. Hopefully, Oakland is all the kindling the Orioles need to reheat up their once-blazing season.

The Oakland A's are like Rachel Phelps, the fictional showgirl owner of the Cleveland Indians in the movie, Major League. Phelps inadvertantly motivated the Indians to win 32 of their remaining games after starting 60-61, and ultimately get to the ALCS.

Hey, if it can happen in the movies, it can happen in real life, right? Maybe not, but the O's are still in the hunt, and the time is now to begin playing like a first-place team again.



Jeffrey Maier Sighting in Tampa

Are the rumors true? I was tipped off that in last night's Yankees, Devil Rays game, Eduardo Perez hit a bottom-of-the-ninth homerun that was interfered with by a fan in left field. Is this true? I can find no information on this anywhere.

Has Jeffrey Maier really become a Tampa Bay fan? Has he spurned the team that he once helped rob the Orioles of an LCS crown? If you have information on last night's interference/home run or on the whereabouts of that snake in the grass, Jeffrey Maier, please leave comments below.

That is all I have to say about Jeffrey Maier. I wish you all a good night...er, afternoon. Oh, unless you are Jeffrey Maier.

Next O's Game: Baltimore @ Oakland; Wednesday, August 17 @ 3:35 p.m.

Daniel Cabrera vs. Danny Haren

# posted by Jeff Lippman @ 10:29 AM 3 comments

During last night's defeat of the Oakland Athletics, Sammy Sosa was once again a major contributor to O's victory.

By going 1-4, Sosa provided the hit, shot really, that lifted the O's to take down Barry Zito and the A's. That one hit of Sosa's, well that was an RBI single, an RBI single that was blasted softly to the pitcher. Yes, folks, Slammin Sammy Sosa's only hit in his past 17 at bats was a dribbling come backer to the mound.

How pathetic. Effective, but pathetic. A hit is a hit is a hit, says Sosa, he'll take it any way he can get 'em.

Oh really? Take them any way you can get them, huh? If that were so than why doesn't Sammy bunt in situations that calls for it?

The answer is because he won't take it any way he can get it. And he is full of it if he thinks all he cares about is the team. Of course, he is embarrassed that the only hit he's gotten in 17 at bats is a dribbler, so what else will he say but he'll take it. Of course he'll take it, what is he going to do? Give it back?

He doesn't bunt in bunting situations because he still believes that he can hit it out of the ballpark all the time. This just isn't so, anymore. He doesn't have the bat speed. He stands too far away from the plate. He is too slow. Give him a good fast ball up and inside of the zone and he'll whiff, every time.

Shoot, give him a good breaking ball out of the zone and he'll whiff, every time. The moral of the story is that he is more of a strikeout machine than an RBI machine. He hurts the team more than he helps.

Perlozzo has now taken to moving him progressively down in the order--Sosa hit 7th against the A's. What Perlozzo must do is not-so-progressively move him out of the order. Make him a pinch hitter or something. Just don't let him strike out in big situations anymore.

Pitchers do not fear Sammy Sosa anymore. He was once the most feared bat in the majors, this is just a memory. Pitchers, in fact, delight in facing Sosa. They can watch their stuff destroy a once impenetrable ego. To burst Sammy's bubble is to throw him something hard, down and outside. Or hard, up and inside. Just don't throw it hard, straight and right down the middle--Sosa CAN still hit those.

So, while Sammy will take anything he can get at the plate, Sam Perlozzo should not. He should explain to Sammy that he has two choices.

Choice Number One: Become a team player. Bunt when you come up with a runner on second and no outs. Sacrifice to get runners over. Play baseball like you belong to a team, not the Sammy Sosa, I-do-everything-for-myself club.

Choice Number Two: Start hitting home runs again! You were acquired because you are a right-handed power hitter, not a soft-slugging singles hitter, who doesn't single all that much and has a penchant for striking out in big situations.

If Sosa can not comply to either choice--smart money is that he can't--than it is time to bench the 500-homerun club member. If he does no good for the team, he doesn't belong on the team. That is simple, right?

It may be harsh, but it is what needs to be done. Look at the Yankees for example. Yes, Orioles Soundoff still hates the Yankees with a passion, but you have to give them credit for not tolerating losing. Jason Giambi was hitting horribly and the Yankees had no allegiance to him that wouldn't make them hesitate at sending him down to the minors or removing him from the order until he got his stuff together.

Sometimes threats work. Threaten Sosa, heck, beat him, for all I care. Just either get him hitting again or get him out of there.


Game Update: Orioles 6, Athletics 2
Box Score

Is it possible that there is just something about the Oakland Athletics that make the O's start to play like a cohesive unit? I don't think there is much to this claim but know this: Baltimore began the year red-hot, right out of the gates, but it began with a series against the Oakland A's. Baltimore won their home opener against, of course, Barry Zito--A game that Rodrigo Lopez also won. However, the O's dropped their next two to Oakland only to win 7 out of their next 9 to take first place in the AL East. Maybe the A's bring out the best in the O's. Maybe it is just the battle of the teams with one vowel and then an apostrophe to make it plural. Or maybe it is just coincidence. Either way, the O's defeated the A's 6-2 on a strong pitching performance by Rodrigo Lopez and some timely squibblers and errors. The birds managed to score five times in the 7th off Zito after he had blanked them the rest of the game. In that 7th inning the O's tallied 3 hits, two of them infield singles, two bases-loaded walks, two hit batsman, one error by Bobby Crosby and two pop-up outs by Melvin Mora.

Let's see if this kind of luck continues for the O's as they look to take a season-series lead on the A's with a win tonight.

O's Record: 58-60


Next Game: Baltimore @ Oakland, Tuesday, August 16 @ 10:05 p.m.






Bruce Chen(9-6) vs. Joe Blanton(7-9)

Pay close attention to the Orioles Sunday afternoon 7-6 loss to the Blue Jays, and you will see a pattern develop.

I must warn you what you are about to read may be quite disturbing, shocking even, alarming to say the least. The stats I am about to produce are all correct, no need to adjust your computer screen.

Melvin Mora (#3 batter): 1-5, RBI, 7 LOB...(LOB is men that were left on base after the batter made an out)
Miguel Tejada (#4 batter): 0-3, RBI, 5 LOB

Yes, that means that, combined, the Orioles 3, 4 hitters went 1-8 with 2 surprising RBI's, but more importantly 12 runners left on base. Twelve!

That means that almost every other Orioles hitter was doing his job. Almost every other Orioles hitter was getting on base and setting the table for the big hitters, the RBI machines.

And the RBI machines failed. Miserably.

How can the Orioles expect to win a game if their big RBI producers aren't producing RBI's in RBI situations? They can't. And they didn't.

The table setters did their jobs nicely. Brian Roberts, Javy Lopez and Luis Matos combined to go 8-11 with 3 RBI's and only 2 LOB. That means they were getting on, and if anyone else was on, they were hitting them in. It also means that Melvin Mora and Miguel Tejada failed miserably to add to their efforts.

Now, I am not suggesting that Melvin Mora or Miguel Tejada be moved around in the order, but something is wrong. They are not seeing the ball as they have in prior situations. Both need to be rested.

I realize you can not rest Tejada, with his pursuit of Ripken's streak still going strong, but you can DH him. If the O's insist on playing Chris Gomez, why not play him at his natural position of shortstop some days. Give Miggy some time to rest between at bats.

He looks tired. Most of the Orioles do. In fact, the only Orioles that look to be playing with any vigor are Eric Byrnes and Luis Matos. Matos is patiently climbing the batting average ladder and is currently sitting at .296 after a 3-3 game.

If the O's could only put it all together. If they could only get good pitching on the nights they have good hitting. If their middle of the order guys can only produce when their bottom of the order guys are. Then they would be a scary team.

For some time in the beginning of the season, they were playing like champions. I know they have it in them. It won't happen this year. But it's there. The magic is there. Orioles magic is alive and kicking.

Finishing the season above .500 is priority number one for the O's. Priority number two is pitching and defense.

Then, who knows, next year they could go wire-to-wire.


The Return of Rafael Palmeiro...is an ugly one.

Rafael Palmeiro returned to the lineup on Sunday, and instead of looking like he never left, he looked like he had just got off the juice and didn't have much strength left in that over-40 body of his.

Palmeiro batted 6th in the order and was the DH. He finished 0-4 with a walk and 4 LOB. Two of those LOB came in the bottom of the 9th, when he came to bat with two outs and the men on second and third, the game on the line. He popped up softly to end the game.

Soft was the key word for Palmeiro, who looked it all game long. The man couldn't get a ball in the air with any distance, grounding out to the right side on most occassions.

The fans gave him a decidedly mixed reaction, many cheering--some with a standing ovation--others booing and jeering him. But if you ask me, I don't care about all that. If the man is going to be in the order, he better produce, otherwise he can just retire.

On Sunday, he didn't produce. In fact, he failed. He had a chance to be a hero and he blew it. If I am the fans, that isn't the way to get back into my good graces. Alejandro Freire can just as easily pop up to end a game, so can Walter Young. Shoot, so can Sal Fasano for that matter. The Orioles needed a hero, and Palmeiro would have made his return something special. Something to build on. A repuation boost when he needed it most.

Instead, for all I care, he can sit the rest of the season out. Give the young guys a chance to play. We don't need him.

If this is harsh, Raffy. Get a hit next time.


Weekend Game Recaps:

Friday: Blue Jays 12, Orioles 0
Box Score

I am not even going to mention this game. It speaks for itself. Orioles couldn't hit, pitchers couldn't pitch. Enough said.


Saturday: Orioles 1, Blue Jays 0
Box Score

In a game that was the complete opposite for the Blue Jays, the Orioles were impressive with a 1-0 win. John Maine was called up to make his first start of the season and was spectacular for 5 solid innings to get the win. Miguel Tejada got the Orioles lone RBI as the O's only managed 4 hits but got the win. B.J. Ryan struck out the side in the 9th for his 26th save.

I never thought I would see an Orioles 1-0 victory again this year. Congrats O's. You proved me wrong.


Sunday: Blue Jays 7, Orioles 6
Box Score

The Blue Jays took the series from the Orioles, distancing themselves from the O's in the standings. Erik Bedard pitched a rather uninspiring game and the Orioles big hitters couldn't come up with the big hits. The bullpen couldn't get it done either.

Orioles Record: 57-60


Next Game: Baltimore @ Oakland, Monday, August 15 @ 10:05 p.m.






Barry Zito vs. Rodrigo Lopez