What Is Wrong In Baltimore?

In a city with so much baseball history, why can't current teams do anything right? Baltimore was once a perennial power house, filled with big names, great players, and a once-upon-a-time storybook bullpen. Now look at them Their biggest known player is Nick Markakis Their best pitcher is George Sherrill, and their number 1 prospect hasn't even been given a call-up he so very much deserves. This season's struggles, walking in runs, horrific pitching from the starting 5, an over worked bullpen that cannot hold a lead past the 7th inning, and an offense that is colder than an Anarctic winter, has made the 2008 Orioles baseball season one to truly forget.

      Aside from all the bad things that have happened this year, many positives have been shown. Yes, this is a franchise that is in the "rebuilding" stage, but one can only guess what is there to gain by shopping off your All-Stars and team anchors, mainly, Miguel Tejada. Well, to put it simply, alot is to gain. The Orioles have one of the best prospect-filled farm systems in all of baseball, ranging from phenom Matt Weiters (a catcher) to a future All-Star in the making, Brandon Erbe (pitcher). The Orioles have enough talent to compete right now. but, they choose to keep the most problematic players they have, namely, Brian Burres. They need to release him, trade him, or just plain outright him to the minors and quit wasting their time with a has been. Yes, those are harsh words, but in this day and age of young guns, Brian certainly does not fit in. He has blown numerous games for them this year, both as a starter and reliever. He doesn't belong in a corp of up and coming superstars that the Orioles are training,and in that view, a few other players come to mind, Daniel Cabrera, Alex Cintron, Scott Moore, just to name a few.

     To have a winning season, the Orioles need to focus on "Small Ball'. Get back to basics. Keep the entire coaching staff, which they have done now with the resigning of manager Dave Trembley. They have proven themselves a good team by the way they have played this year. Veterans Kevin Millar and Jamie Walker, the two oldest players on the roster, taking younger players under their wings, showing them the ropes, and grooming them fantastic fielders and pitchers.

     Next season, look for the Orioles to have a starting line up of not only Kevin Millar, Nick Markakis, and Brian Roberts, but a trio of young guys: Matt Weiters, Adam Jones, Nolan Reimold (who is quickly regaining his prospect status by tearing up AA ball for Bowie), and hopefully Brandon Snyder (the replacement for kevin Millar once he retires/leaves the team). Orioles fans everywhere need to look towards the future.

    As for becoming a better team, one cannot fault the management entirely. Overall fan attendance is down by 11% this season, revenue is becoming scarce, and more big name players , mainly veterans of the game, are demanding entirely too much money for the Orioles to compete.

Look for them to gradually improve, bring up top prospects, and show the baseball world why they are never to be counted out.