How Not To Run A Baseball Team

Winston-Salem, NC – Just about everyone has their opinion on the Baltimore Orioles’ current situation. I’ve read every major source from ESPN to the Baltimore Sun to Fox Sports, and just about every baseball analyst has something to say about the Orioles’ decision to fire Sam Perlozzo. In my blog a couple of weeks ago, I mentioned how the Orioles signed a pile of “tier II” free agents this past offseason. This group of players combined with the “core” of homegrown players was supposed to thrust the O’s to their stated goal of 0.500 (winning percentage). It’s not the manager’s fault that the revamped bullpen as been defunct, or that the bats are colder than Fairbanks, Alaska in January. Here’s the issue: there is not one leader on this team to be the “clubhouse speaker.” I’ve noticed that in the past several years while attending O’s games; when something goes wrong on the field, the players put their hands on their waste and look dumbfounded. I’m pointing the finger directly at Melvin Mora. In other scenarios, I’ve seen Miguel Tejada just shake his head. Brian Roberts places his glove on top his cap. There is absolutely no emotion in this team.

Something else I've noticed... when the Orioles played the Nats in DC about a month ago, the Orioles were leading by one run late in the game and were up to bat. While the hapless Nats players on the bench all stood at the top step cheering Jon Rauch to strike out the last batter to prevent another run from scoring, EVERY ORIOLES PLAYER WAS SITTING BACK ON THE BENCH, ARMS CROSSED, COMPLETELY LIFELESS. Shouldn’t it be the other way around? This example is one of many why a baseball fan from the Mid-Atlantic area should root for the Nats, instead of the O’s.

Will Joe Girardi, the proposed managerial replacement, make a difference? With his dictatorial style, he should be able to instill some life into the current roster. However, the Orioles aren’t going anywhere if these players are still on the roster:

Aubrey Huff – There’s a reason why the Houston Astros, another offensively inept team, chose not to re-sign him.
Miguel Tejada – He’s clearly on the downside of his career. He can’t hit for power anymore. In 2004, I thought he was the best signing in Orioles’ history, but I was wrong by the end of 2005. Trade him for a top prospect.
Melvin Mora – Lacks intensity, always has an unhappy look on his face, again another mistake with the O’s front office giving him a 3 year deal.
Jay Gibbons – He can’t hit anymore, he’s useless in the field with Markakis usurping his position in right field. He’s still on the books for 2 years after this one.
Jay Payton – The O’s needed a defensive center fielder, but for $9.5M, it could have been better spent.
Kevin Millar – His best days are behind him. He’s the only guy close to a clubhouse leader, but his bat and glove are interchangeable with Gibbons and Huff.
The Bullpen – Baez, Williamson, Williams (released yesterday), and Bradford. All mentioned here have been huge wastes of cash. They're paid to each pitch an inning every other day and they cannot do that.

The problem with “blowing up” this team is that most of the players have mid-term (3-4 years) deals. Instead of signing Huff, Payton, Williamson, Baez, and re-signing Mora and Gibbons last year, the Orioles could have pooled their money together, which would total $96M. That would have been good enough for a top free agent. However, with all of their cash now tied to this group of players, the likes of Andruw Jones, Torii Hunter, Carlos Zambrano, et al will pass on them for greener pastures.

Out of the hundreds of articles that I’ve read on the Perlozzo firing, the one that I concur with from top to bottom is Ken Rosenthal’s “Nothing Will Change.” You can read the article here. As Rosenthal states, it all starts at the top: Angelos. Angelos has agreed to relinquish his authority to the newly hired COO Andy MacPhail. But, how many times have we heard that tune before – Mike Flanagan? Or that tune about free agent spending when MASN is in place? Or that tune about having a healthy farm system? I’m convinced, until Angelos sells the club, the Orioles are doomed.