Getting to Know: The Baltimore Orioles

In an effort to diversify the coverage of the teams here at Major League Jerk, I am going to provide a regular series called “Getting to Know”. My intent is to interview a fan of a team and ask them what we need to know about that team. If you want to be the first one on your block to be interviewed by me, the Great RomanWarHelmet, please send an e-mail to majorleaguejerk@gmail.com and put Roman in the subject. Well today I bring you our first team, The Baltimore Orioles. Due to the bitching of MLJ commenter and gadfly, illformula, I have decided to base the whole future of this project on him. If he sucks, blame him, he wanted this. I would have been perfectly content telling you why Fernando Tatis may be the second coming of Christ. So anywho, let’s get to know….The Baltimore Orioles.

I am big on understanding where a team’s fans come from and how they interact. I decided that to know a fan I must know his roots so I first asked illformula how he became an Oriole fan and how he follows the team today. (All of ill’s words will be in bold.)

I was born in the safe city Baltimore and moved outside the city when I was 3 after burning my house down (true story). My dad’s side of the family enjoyed the good years of the Orioles, so they raised me a fan. Basically, they are indirectly responsible for my depression over the last 13 years.

And how does this pyromaniac enjoy his O’s today?

I live and work in DC now so I only make it to about 5 games a year. That’s still pretty good considering how hard it is to get tickets these days. Otherwise, I watch them and Amber Theoharis on local MASN.

Give me an idea of the fans, do they cling to a certain group of players or a certain team (i.e. the 1986 Mets)?

Wow. Talking to old people (almost always fun) at the games, I think that all of the history came before my time. They won the WS 3 years before I was born and one year after. Most people cling to the “Oriole way” belief. Sounds retarded, but guys like Markakis and Roberts play the game hard and don’t embarrass themselves on the field with their emotions. That reminds people of players like Brooks Robinson, Cal Ripken, Eddie Murray and most of the old cast. It’s hard for my generation to cling to anything like that.

I once went to a ballgame at Camden Yards. At the start of the National Anthem, the whole crow screamed “OHHH!”. I am assuming it was because they love the Orioles and weren’t having a collective orgasm. I also found this a tad unpatriotic.

The Ohh thing bothers everyone who’s not from B-more. It’s tradition, one of a low class city. There’s no harm intended.

At least you admit it was classless. Elaborate on the “Oriole Way? I picture it being a group of guys bent over getting needles stuck in their asses.

Cal Ripken can probably speak on the Oriole Way better than I can.

RIPKEN: Well, the Oriole way was — is basically a system that was developed over the years through the people that were involved at that particular time. It wasn’t anything fancy. They basically figured out what they liked and what they disliked. They discarded what they disliked and kept and built on the one — things they liked.

It was about people. My dad was part of the Oriole way. I think he was there 14 years in the minor leagues, I think seven of those years, they had the same people in place. So it was about continuity. It was about stability.

And as things evolve and as things grow, change occurred, and I think everyone’s still trying to get back to a way, an Oriole way, which really represented a good baseball model that developed their players, moved them through the system, made good choices at the top level.

And the end result was, you won at the top level, and your winning percentage at the bottom really wasn’t so critical. It was how many players you had in the big leagues that you developed.

The Ripkens are gods in Baltimore.

Wow. Billy Ripken is an immortal, that’s for sure. I have the baseball card where he is giving the finger. Anyway, tell us a bit about this year’s team? The O’s haven’t won in a while so this year’s team looks like it may be a bit more exciting than those in years past.

A view from 30,000 ft at the current Orioles team will show some future promise but plenty of holes. Our worst contracts are Melvin Mora and Ramon Hernandez. Neither of those two players will be around the next time this team starts contending. Furthermore, because of their contracts they are almost impossible to move. Huff has a big contract too, but he seems to always produce, as quietly as it is ugly. Millar came over from Boston a few years back to try and help us win. That obviously didn’t work, but he has played a huge clubhouse role in helping these young players grow and learn the MLB life. The rest of the guys (not including Roberts) are just fill-ins. Horrible fill-ins. The shortstop situation has to be the worst in MLB by far. We have no one that can field and hit at that position. And sadly enough, no one in the farm system that will help anytime soon.

The pitching has looked a lot better this year than previous years. Starting the year, Guthrie had the most wins of any starting pitcher in any season (7). That’s never good. He’s thrown well this year despite no run support. The experiment that is Daniel Cabrera continues on. I don’t know where I stand with that situation. He’s more up and down than anyone I’ve ever seen. As for the remaining starters (Olsen, Burres, Liz, Albers) who knows, their young but none of them will WOW you.

I would think that the only real talent on your team is Nick Markakis and Adam (not Pacman) Jones. Give me a little on those two.

Markakis is solid. You can look up his stats if you want, but he’s OPS+ over 1.000 every season he’s played. He hits for avg, power, steals, and is a plus outfielder. Plus he’s Greek-American so Angelos loves him. He will always be an Oriole.

When Jones first came over I thought he would be good but never great. Having said that, after watching his progress this year, he’s going to be great. He makes adjustments so quick that you wonder how soon he could be great. He’s starting to pick pitches to hit for power, go the other way more, and plays shallow in center because he can go back on balls very well (almost Andruw Jones-esque in his prime). I loved Bedard when he was here, but he needed to go and Jones alone was worth making the trade. He and Markakis will anchor this team for the next decade.

What are the players on the team that don’t get enough press, good or bad, for their impact on the season?

Jim Johnson is the first that comes to mind. He’s been extremely effective out of the bullpen and as the set-up guy. Matt Albers has performed better than expected but really doesn’t deserve much press as a long-reliever and spot starter. Markakis gets some press, but not enough. He will change that soon.

Very interesting, I can see why you wanted us to talk about other team zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz What? Wait? Who. OK yeah. I kid I kid. Anyway, you mentioned Peter Angelos, what do you think of him and how he has done with the franchise?

Jesus is the only person I trust less than Peter Angelos. The guy is good at business and has both a track record and money to prove it. But he knows nothing about running a baseball franchise. It’s really dangerous what he’s doing to, not only the Orioles, but the city of Baltimore. The western half of the city is already a hazardous shit hole, the eastern part (where the stadium is located) is almost nice now. However, if Angelos continues down this track, fans will revolt and turn Baltimore into Gotham City.

Sounds like a great guy. My understanding of the city of Baltimore comes exclusively from commercials of the Wire (I have never watched the show, I may someday, get off my back). It looks like Angelos fits right in with Omar, Fo Show!. Anyway, tell me a bit about Andy MacPhail and Dave Trombley?

It’s Trembley bitch (joking). It’s a little early to tell if Trembley is the guy. He makes a lot of poor bullpen decisions. McPhail has done well so far. Even though we had no back-up SS when we traded Miggy, he had to go when he did. And look at the Bedard trade.

How would I know how to spell the fucking guy’s name? You expect me to care about the Orioles? Why in God’s good name am I interviewing you then? Huh? Tell me? That’s what I thought. Well let’s look at the future. What do you think of the changes this team has already made?

Well, both trades in the off-season have worked out pretty well. So I can’t blame the mini fire-sale that McPhail began last year. They really do need to rebuild the farm system and sign free-agents a year or two down the road. I think most Oriole fans would agree that it’s better to watch youth lose daily than overpaid assclowns.

What do you think the O’s can do to improve this team? Trade George Sherrill possibly?

I’ve been saying for a month now that we should trade him. He’s performed well this year. Couldn’t ask for more. But, he’s approaching his most innings pitched in any season and he’s 31yrs old. Get what you can for him now while he’s an All-Star and continue to rebuild. Besides, his style of pitching won’t last long in the AL East. He relies on players chasing pitches outside of the zone and teams like the Yankees and Red Sox take pitches all day long. Goodbye Mr Sherrill.

Mark Texiera is a local boy and is rumored to want to come back and play for the O’s. If he’s available at the end of the season. I see the Birds signing him. It’s not likely, but highly probable.

Are there any prospects on the horizon?

Matt Weiters will be catching for this team as early as next season. He is the truth. Now that he’s in AA I see him play almost every weekend. Some others that have potential are Luis Montanez, Chris Tillman and David Hernandez. Everyone seems to think this years #4 overall pick, Brian Matusz will be up quickly. But other than Weiters, nothing is for sure.

Unsolicited illformula provided me a possible 2010 starting lineup. Obviously he has already written off 2009. Things look promising in Baltimore.

2010’s possible starting line-up:

1. Roberts-2b
2. Jones-cf
3. Markakis-rf
4. Texiera-1b
5. Matt Weiters-C
6. Luis Montanez-lf
7. Jeff Nettles-3b
8. Signed FA-ss
9. who knows at DH.

That’s a long shot but could compete with some pitching help. Maybe I will start going to church.

Fucking A you better go to church. I hear who knows is a hell of a DH though. Well, I thank you for your time any other interesting things I need to know about?

Harold Baines (played for Baltimore) went to my high school and played against my dad. He’s a legend back home. There are stories of scouts coming to the games in the 70’s to watch him only to see hom intentionally walked every at-bat. So they would have to throw him BP after the games. I’ve met him many times and coached his kids. All around nice guy.

Overall, the fans are happier this year than any of the previous 7 or 8 seasons. They know the Birds are playing above their level and don’t expect too much. That said, we suck and expect to see us in the bottom of the barrell come September.

Well, I am glad you are friendly with a former B+ ballplayer. And I hope the O’s get themselves on track soon.