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TronBlaster

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    What's your favorite interaction ever with an Orioles player, coach, or manager?

    in Orioles Talk

    Posted

    Years ago at spring training my brothers and I went to the Sarasota dog track one night. We spotted Troy Patton and he struck up a conversation with us like we were old friends. He said that he had been sent down that day and was preparing to drown his sorrows. I’m still struck by how open and honest he was with a few fans, but the conversation later took on a more somber tone based on how his career played out.

    On a lighter note, a few weeks ago at spring training Richie Martin had a great game in Bradenton with a triple, couple RBIs, a great defensive play. As he was running back to the lockers in the 7th inning or so I was sitting a couple rows back right next to the dugout, and just said “Great game, Richie!” He paused, turned, looked me dead in the eyes, pointed At me and said “thank you!”

    He’s fighting for a job and seemed genuinely appreciative of the recognition, especially in an opposing stadium. It made my trip. Better than an autograph.

    • Upvote 4

    Orioles All-Time "Last Gasp" Team, Part 2 (OF/DH)

    in Orioles Talk

    Posted

    3 minutes ago, Moose Milligan said:

    I forgot all about Joe Carter.  He was terrible.

    Alright, I'll give...why's everyone hate Keith Moreland?  I'm too young to remember the 1989 team in detail.

     

     

    Me too! TBH, I don't think I even knew that Rick Burleson and Keith Moreland were MLB players before this thread. Based on the stats, it looks like Moreland had a long, productive career throughout the 80s (mostly with the Cubs) peaking between 1985-1987 as a super utility guy with a pretty live bat who could wear like 4 different gloves and provide 1-2 WAR. The Orioles traded Brian Dubois to Detroit for him late in '89 for a playoff push, and he did absolutely nothing as a full-time DH, batting .215 (.243 OB%) with 4 BBs (12 Ks), 7 GIDPs, 1 HR, 4 2Bs, and 10 RBI in 33 games for a -1 WAR. Some commenters said he may have almost single handedly derailed the Why Not? team from making the playoffs. They probably would've been better off just giving his ABs to Tim Hulett or virtually anyone else. Frank Robinson as a player/coach probably could've done more at the plate
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    Orioles All-Time "Last Gasp" Team, Part 2 (OF/DH)

    in Orioles Talk

    Posted

    17 minutes ago, ShaneDawg85 said:

    Joe Carter is the first name that pops in my head whenever something like this comes up, and for good reason.  One of the many reasons the '98 team underachieved significantly; old and well past his prime.

    It's funny, if you can read the back of that card in the image, it's a quote from Carter saying "I wanted to go out with a bang. Playing at Camden Yards is a way to go out with a bang." Unfortunately, based on the results, it seems like he expected the ballpark to do all the work for him.

    Orioles All-Time "Last Gasp" Team, Part 2 (OF/DH)

    in Orioles Talk

    Posted

     

    Thanks for all the great discussion and suggestions after Part 1 (C/IF), I definitely missed some good ones but tried to incorporate them if possible! I also tried to avoid guys who may have had a few good seasons and definitely stunk as Orioles late in their career, but were never really perennial stars in the first place (Lew Ford, Colby Rasmus, etc)

    Onto the OF and DH, and stay tuned next week for pitchers!

    LF: Tim Raines, 2001

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    The lightning-fast Hall of Famer and 7-time Expos All Star has perhaps the most heart warming story on this list, staving off retirement to play four games for the Orioles at 41 with his rookie son, Tim Raines Jr., in 2001. On Oct. 4, they became just the second father-and-son duo to play as teammates in a Major League Baseball game after Ken Griffey Jr. and Sr. in 1990. The senior Raines managed three hits, including a home run, and five RBIs in those four games with error-free defense, proving that he still had some gas in the tank, which he depleted on one final season with the Marlins the following year (.191 AVG, 4 XBH in 98 games).

    Career Highlights: 2,500+ H, 700+ XBH, 950+ RBI, 800+ SB (Top 5 all time), .290+ AVG, 7-time All-Star (1987 MVP), 2017 Hall of Fame, 1986 NL batting and OB% title, 4-time stolen base champ, 1986 Silver Slugger, 2-time World Series champ, played in 4 different decades (70s, 80s, 90s, 00s)

    Orioles Last Gasp: .273 AVG, HR, 5 RBIs in 4 games

    CF: Joe Carter, 1998

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    The Blue Jays legend came to Baltimore in 1998 as a 38-year-old with little left to prove in his career, having won two world championships (including one on a walkoff home run in 1993) and five All Star selections. Unfortunately for the Orioles--who paid more than $3 million for his services--Carter performed in an Orioles jersey like a player with nothing to prove. In Baltimore, Carter batted a middling .247 with 11 home runs and 34 RBIs in 283 at-bats before the Orioles had seen enough and sent the former No. 2 overall pick to San Francisco for Darin Blood, a pitcher who never appeared in the bigs. Carter fared a little better in San Fran (.884 OPS in 40 games), but was out of the bigs himself after the season.

    Career Highlights: 2,100+ hits, 396 HR, 881 XBH, 1,445 RBIs, 231 SB, 5-time All Star, 2-time Silver Slugger, 2-time World Series champion, 1986 AL RBI champ

    Orioles Last Gasp: .247 AVG, 11 HR, 34 RBI, 4 errors, in 85 games

    RF: Sammy Sosa, 2005

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    Ahh, now we’re talking. The mere sight of Sosa in an Orioles uniform is enough to turn the stomach of most Orioles fans, reminding them of an era of futility and misguided investments in past-their-prime former superstars. And Sosa was the epitome of a former superstar when the Orioles traded for him for a trio including Mike Fontenot and Jerry Hairston (paying more than $10M of his $17M salary), coming off of his seventh All Star season as a Cub. While Sosa had the stink of steroids and corked bats on him, there was reason to believe that he could at least be a productive bat for the Orioles, as he was coming off of a 35 home run, .849 OPS season. But after six consecutive losing seasons and a string of bad signings, most Orioles fans knew better than to get excited, and Sosa justified their concerns. Slammin’ Sammy struggled to a paltry .221 AVG with a Chris Davis-like 14 home runs in 100 games for a -1.0 WAR, the worst of his 18-year career. Two years later, Sosa came full circle with the Rangers--the team that originally signed him in 1985 as a 16-year-old--and hit a respectable .252 with 21 round trippers and 92 RBIs before riding off into the sunset to patiently await his Hall of Fame induction.

    Career Highlights: 2,400+ hits (.273 AVG), 600+ HR (9th all time), 1,600+ RBI, 230+ SB, .878 OPS, 7-time All Star, 6-time Silver Slugger, 1998 MVP/PoY/Clemente Award, 1999 Hank Aaron Award, 3-time runs and total bases champ, 2-time HR and RBI champ

    Orioles Last Gasp: .221 AVG, .671 OPS, 30 XBH in 102 games, 3 errors, -1.0 WAR

    Honorable mentions: Dwight Evans (1991), Bobby Thomson (1960), Andy Van Slyke (1995)

    DH: Jim Thome, 2012

    Jim+Thome+Baltimore+Orioles+v+Minnesota+

    To many Orioles fans, this will always be a “last gasp” that we can look back fondly on. Getting to see a future Hall of Famer and five-time All Star in an Orioles uniform during a playoff run made a special season just a little more special (all for the cost of Gabriel Lino and Kyle Simon in a midseason trade). Thome had a soft spot for the Orioles, too: Eddie Murray was his role model early in his career with the Indians. And it’s not like he hurt the team or stole much playing time from anyone. To be fair, though, his contributions may have been more valuable in the dugout and clubhouse than at the plate, as he produced only eight extra-base hits (just 3 of his 600+ career HRs) and 10 RBI in 115 plate appearances in a Baltimore jersey, exclusively at DH. That said, he did reach base twice in the Wild Card win over Texas to help propel the Orioles to the ALDS (we won’t talk about his performance in the ALDS). The big lefty ended a two-decade career with one last playoff run, and the Orioles got to add another Hall of Famer and all-around great guy to their all-time roster.

    Career highlights: 2,300+ hits, 600+ HR (8th all time), .276 AVG, 1,700~ RBI, .400+ OBP, .956 OPS, 72.9 WAR, first ballot Hall of Fame 2018, 5-time All Star, 1996 Silver Slugger, 2002 Clemente Award, 2004 Gehrig Award, 2006 Comeback PoY, 2002 OBP champ, 2003 HR champ, 3-time BB champ

    Orioles last gasp: .257 AVG, 8 XBH (3 HR), 10 RBI, 4 GDP, 40 K, .744 OPS in 28 games

    Honorable mentions: Rick Burleson (1987, this is a catch-all cause I missed him at 2B, but he did start 7 games at DH in ‘87 and absolutely fits the bill here), Keith Moreland (1989), Ron Kittle (1990)

    • Upvote 1

    Orioles All-Time "Last Gasp" Team, Part 1 (C/IF)

    in Orioles Talk

    Posted

    12 minutes ago, ShaneDawg85 said:

    I suppose you could fit him in both the IF and OF category, but Jeff Conine part II definitely fits the bill.  I loved Conine during his first go round with the team, he was a bright spot during some absolutely awful years.  But, 2006 he was 40 and was the textbook definition of "veteran presence" that the Orioles loved to emphasize back in those days.  While his overall slash line could have been much worse for a 40 year old, you could have probably gotten it with much younger and cheaper alternatives.

    And he somehow managed to play for THREE more teams (Phillies, Reds, Mets) AFTER his second stint with the Os ?

    • Upvote 1

    Orioles All-Time "Last Gasp" Team, Part 1 (C/IF)

    in Orioles Talk

    Posted · Edited by TronBlaster
    Length

    4 hours ago, TronBlaster said:

    ? Rick Dempsey, 1992

    I should also say that the spirit of this list is in no way meant to mock or belittle the careers of these great players, especially Demp. After all, you can't end a great career without having a great career in the first place. Most of us dream of playing even a single minor league game, let alone the awesome careers these guys had. I just think these are interesting stories and curious final chapters to brilliant careers.

    198072-12707718Fr.jpg

     

     

    • Upvote 2
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    Orioles All-Time "Last Gasp" Team, Part 1 (C/IF)

    in Orioles Talk

    Posted

     

    t_17121_07.jpg

    In honor of "King" Felix Hernandez' spring fling with the Braves (a low-risk move I actually would've liked to see the Orioles make), I thought it would be fun to come up with an Orioles All-Time "Last Gasp" Team. That is, a hypothetical roster of formerly great players who tried to squeeze one or two more seasons of big league glory out in Baltimore, usually with sobering results. A few of these cases are so infamous that they're obvious choices, Sammy Sosa being the poster boy. Others are up for debate.

    I tried to choose players who (A) had long, successful careers in the MLB (B) came to Baltimore as one of their last several stops in the bigs before hanging up their cleats, and (C) didn't have much success with their comeback attempt in Charm City. That's why you won't see Albert Belle or Nelson Cruz on this list. They were great in Baltimore.

    While I did my best to pick the most fitting choice for each position, I'd love to hear your thoughts/arguments. Here we go:

    ? Rick Dempsey, 1992

    This may be a controversial choice, since the beloved Dempsey obviously had plenty of success with the Orioles before leaving in '87 to play for the Indians, Dodgers, and Brewers. But his triumphant return to Baltimore in 1992, at age 42, was not so triumphant, as he batted .111 in eight games before hanging up his catcher's mitt and rain delay pillow for good in exchange for the microphone.

    Career highlights: 1,000+ hits in a career that spanned four different decades (1969-1992), 1983 World Series MVP, Orioles Hall of Fame

    Orioles Last Gasp: 1 hit, 2 walks in 8 games

    Honorable mentions: Gregg Zaun (Dempsey's newphew), 2009; Javy Lopez, 04-06

    1B: Derrek Lee, 2011

    The towering first baseman from The City of Trees enjoyed a stellar career from 1997 through the aughts, winning a World Series with the Marlins in 2003 before heading to the Windy City from 2004-2010 where he earned two of his three Gold Gloves, a batting title, and two All Star selections as a Cub. After an unremarkable stint in Atlanta, the Orioles gambled $7 million on D-Lee regaining his All Star form. The dice roll did not pay off, as Lee hit a meager .246 with 12 home runs in 85 games in an Orioles uniform. Lee fared a little better after being traded to Pittsburgh (.982 OPS), but called it a career at the end of the season.

    Career highlights: 1,900+ hits, 330+ HR, 1,000+ RBI, 2003 World Series champion, 2005 NL batting title, two-time All Star, 3 Golden Gloves

    Orioles Last Gasp: .246 AVG, 12 HR, 41 RBI, 7 errors in 85 games

    Honorable mention: Will Clark, 1999-2000

    2B: Harold Reynolds, 1993

    Perhaps better known now as a MLB Network analyst, the speedy second baseman was a key member of the Mariners throughout the 80s and into the early 90s, earning two All Star selections, three Golden Gloves, and leading the league in stolen bases with 60 in 1987. The Orioles signed the 32-year-old to a $1.65 million contract in 1993, hoping to plug some speed and a reliable glove into the lineup. But Reynolds’ flame as a big leaguer was starting to flicker out by then. He was caught stealing 11 times in 23 attempts, committed 10 errors, and collected only 28 extra base hits in 145 games as an Oriole. He was even less effective as an Angel in 1994, and his playing days ended unceremoniously with the MLBPA strike.

    Career highlights: 1,200+ hits, 230 doubles, 50+ triples, 250 SB, two-time All Star, 3 Golden Gloves, 1987 AL stolen base title

    Orioles Last Gasp: .252 AVG, 12 SB, 28 XBH, 10 errors in 145 games

    Honorable mentions: Delino Deshields (2001), Julio Lugo (2010)

    3B: Ray Knight, 1987

    After replacing Pete Rose at third base in the Big Red Machine, earning two All Star selections, and a World Series MVP award with the Mets in 1986, Knight’s 1987 season as a free agent with the struggling Orioles was very forgettable. It was the first time a World Series MVP ever ended up with a new team the following season, and he did little to make the Mets regret the decision. He struggled to a .683 OPS with 14 home runs in 150 games, and a career-high 18 errors at the hot corner. After a much worse year in Detroit in 1988, Knight’s playing days were over.

    Career highlights: 1,300+ H, 595 RBI, two-time All Star, 1986 World Series MVP

    Orioles Last Gasp: .256 AVG, .683 OPS, 14 HR, 18 errors

    Honorable mentions: Chris Sabo (1994), Garrett Atkins (2010)

    SS: Ozzie Guillen, 1998

    The outspoken Venezuelan enjoyed a long, successful tenure with the White Sox from 1985 until 1997 (1985 Rookie of the Year, 3-time All Star) when he was amicably granted free agency status. The Orioles took a $450,000 chance on the aging veteran and came up empty handed when Guillen batted .063 in 12 games with just one hit and one walk before jettisoning the soon-to-be commentator and coach to the Braves, who took him to his one and only World Series (though he didn’t record a hit against the Yankees in five at-bats). Guillen did manage to stretch his playing days into the new millennium by joining the upstart Devil Rays for a forgettable season to end a memorable playing career.

    Career highlights: 1,700+ H, 370+ XBH, 600+ RBI, 169 SB, 1985 Rookie of the Year, 3-time All Star, 1990 Gold Glove

    Orioles Last Gasp: .063 AVG, 1 H, 1 CS, 2 Ks, 1 GDP, 1 E, in 12 games

    Honorable mentions: NA

    Stay tuned for Part 2, the Outfield and DH! I think everyone knows who one of the outfielders will be...

    • Upvote 8
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    Unused season ticket replay program?

    in Orioles Talk

    Posted

    Does anyone know if the season ticket replay program has been updated? I can't find any info on it online. In previous seasons you could trade in an unused ticket for a future game for $1 or $2. I didn't go to my season plan game last night (thank goodness) and I want to try to use that ticket tonite. Any accurate info is appreciated.

    • Upvote 1

    Chris Davis 2019 and beyond

    in Orioles Talk

    Posted

    On 6/17/2018 at 8:38 AM, ScGO's said:

    What did Einstein say?  The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results?  

     

    That whole "definition of insanity" thing is absolutely ridiculous:

    https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/in-therapy/200907/the-definition-insanity-is

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