Way More Stunning Than KC's Start...

by royalsreview on Apr 7, 2008 7:26 PM EDT

After winning again today, the Orioles are 5-1 and owners of a five game winning streak.

This is a team that honestly looks like a lock for 100 loses, maybe even 110. They're doing it in very similar fashion to our Royals: barely enough offense and a shutdown bullpen.

If only they had hired a new manager, we could attribute it to his new attitude. Maybe we'll see a story about how Erik Bedard being gone has actually helped them be better, or does Arod only get that treatment. (And Texas has been so much better than the Yankees, haven't they? I mean, they have Michael Young! He's gritty! He's white!)

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Maybe we'll see a story about how Erik Bedard being gone has actually helped them be better, or does Arod only get that treatment.

Well, there was that guy in the other league, with that home run thing. What was his name?

by 2X2L on Apr 7, 2008 8:12 PM EDT 0 recs

I'm pretty sure Bedard

isn't what you'd call a raging clubhouse cancer, though.

by jonfmorse on Apr 7, 2008 8:27 PM EDT up 0 recs

au contraire (sp?)!!!

bedard is a jerk like you can't phathom. he treats the media like toilet paper.

a notorious curmudgen in b-more.

by royalstern05 on Apr 7, 2008 8:57 PM EDT up 0 recs

just bc he treats journalist like crap,

and I don't blame him for that how many times can you answer the same question over and over before it gets annoying, doesn't mean thats how he was with team mates. I personally have no idea how he was in the club house.

by TXroyal on Apr 7, 2008 9:00 PM EDT up 0 recs

I'd treat the media like crap

if I was a player, too. Well, except for the guys I knew weren't schmucks.

by jonfmorse on Apr 7, 2008 9:52 PM EDT up 0 recs

I'm reluctant to call anybody a clubhouse cancer, since I'm so seldom (OK, never) in the clubhouse. Well, I was in the visitors' clubhouse in San Francisco once, but it was part of a tour of Pac Bell Park on a day with no game.

Regarding players with the reputation of "clubhouse cancers", I'll mention only that on this site we criticize the national press for seldom having a clue about the Royals. I have every reason to believe that it's pretty much the same story with the Giants. From what I can tell, a very small number of Bonds ex-teammates in San Francisco have ever said anything ragingly negative about him -- Kent, sure, but consider the source. If you get the chance, ask Kevin Frandsen who was throwing extra batting practice to him late last season and who got credit for helping him to improve his hitting. (Hint: some guy over 40.)

by 2X2L on Apr 7, 2008 9:09 PM EDT up 0 recs

Barry's cancer

wasn't ever of the "teammates hate him" sort. Indeed, except for Kent, I haven't heard any of his teammates say anything bad about Bonds. They did, however -- almost to a man -- confess that the circus surrounding him had reached barely-tolerable levels in recent years, making it more difficult on them.

by jonfmorse on Apr 7, 2008 9:52 PM EDT up 0 recs

yea, but that distraction

wasn't generated by Barry

nevertheless, Bedard didnt care about winning
the proof is in the pudding

look at the records

by royalsreview on Apr 7, 2008 10:15 PM EDT up 0 recs

Lots of them did say, or least they agreed when questioned, that practical matters in the clubhouse would be easier for them without the large media contingent to bump into.

But that's different from saying that the situation was barely tolerable. Many of them also said they were glad they got to watch the show on the field, which I think most of them understood couldn't be separated from the circus in the clubhouse. (Matt Morris was a notable exception, complaining to the press last summer while the frenzy was at its height that it was hard to tell what the team's priorities were.)

In any case, the guys who still have contracts with the Giants are unlikely to come out and say they wish that Bonds was still around, as the organization is probably asking for everyone remaining to fall in line behind the official line or just keep quiet. But the broadcasters, particularly Krukow, have made it clear that their reaction to his departure is definitely not "good riddance". They aren't criticizing the team that pays them for the moves that have been made -- they never do that -- but they're making it clear that he's missed, at least by them.

by 2X2L on Apr 7, 2008 10:15 PM EDT up 0 recs

struggling franchise

You know, I wouldn't mind seeing the Orioles do well for once. They've been bad for a LONG time (something we can relate to) so good for them. Hopefully it lasts, though chances are....

by kansasjhawk044 on Apr 8, 2008 3:42 AM EDT 0 recs

To hell with Baltimore

My second wife was an Orioles fan. They were in town for an unscheduled doubleheader (rain-out two days before) on June 23, 1991, and I took her to the stadium. Thanks to baseball-reference, I can accurately describe my agony.

Game 1, the Royals led 8-4 going into the ninth. Chris Hoiles hit a grand slam off Jeff Montgomery, then Tim Hulett and Brady Anderson homered in the top of the tenth. My wife started in on me.

Game 2, the Orioles led 8-3 going into the bottom of the ninth. My wife had been ragging me all game long. Brian McRae singled, Kirk Gibson singled, Brett walked, Tartabull singled scoring McRae and Gimpy, Warren Cromartie(!) flew out after a wild pitch, scoring Brett, Seitzer singled, Mayne singled scoring Tartabull, Gary Thurman ran for Mayne, and PECOTA singled scoring Seitzer. Tie game! After another wild pitch, Carmelo Martinez was intentionally walked to load the bases.

McRae grounded to second, and Gary Thurman, whose main attribute was being Joey Gathright, got thrown out at the plate. And then Gimpy flew out to left.

Orioles won it in twelve.

And yes, she's my ex-second wife now.

And, of course, when I moved to Virginia... damned Orioles fans crawling all over the place. Fie on them.

Sarcasm™. It's the new gravy.

by jonfmorse on Apr 8, 2008 10:21 PM EDT up 0 recs