Markakis speaks out

[Old#5fan]

Markakis: "You can have anybody come here and you still are going to have a couple of guys who are not going to change their approach and fix it. It’s worthless. You can point your fingers here and there, but it is what it is. You’re in the big leagues. You have to change your approach on your own. If you go up there clueless, you’re going to come back [to the dugout] clueless. It’s that simple."

Let the speculation begin on who he is talking about.

My guess..... Matt Wieters is one of those guys...

I have wondered whether Wieters is actually getting secretyly paid by the Yankees not to hit, and in bigger dollars than he is getting paid by the Orioles to hit.

Then again, I like conspiracy theories, as they often explains what doesn't make sense!:laughlol:

[Three Run Homer]

You think Tejada and Wiggy go up with a plan?

Sure. Tejada's plan is to swing at everything. Wiggy's plan is to try to pull pitches breaking down and away from him.

It may not be a good plan, but it's a plan!

[flashjordnk]

This is a bit shocking. Sounds just a tad frustrated..

I am not so certain this is a positive. It is one thing to blast teammates behind closed doors, its another to do it outside the clubhouse.

I'm with you! I think there is a bit too much fan in some of his statements and not enough teammate.

Like I said hopefully he took care of his business before he did this. Otherwise a clubhouse that's already not really cutting it, is about to get a lot worse.

[Dipper9]

I think it's interesting that Markakis mentions the need for a 40 HR guy in the lineup, and then also mentions that you don't need guys that can hit a lot of HR's.

Nick has lost so much of his power this season and looks frail to be honest. We don't even have a leader who has an opinion that means anything. When you have three HR's and look like a slap hitter most of the time I don't think you have a lot of room to criticize others. I know Nick is patient, but times like last night show that he's TOO patient sometimes as well.

Right, it had nothing to do with the reigning 2 time NL Cy Young winner on the mound!

[sbauer]

I think it's interesting that Markakis mentions the need for a 40 HR guy in the lineup, and then also mentions that you don't need guys that can hit a lot of HR's.

Nick has lost so much of his power this season and looks frail to be honest. We don't even have a leader who has an opinion that means anything. When you have three HR's and look like a slap hitter most of the time I don't think you have a lot of room to criticize others. I know Nick is patient, but times like last night show that he's TOO patient sometimes as well.

You don't need everyone to hit HRs. You just need someone to hit 40 hr. He just wants people to get on base, and have an approach.

[flashjordnk]

I think it's interesting that Markakis mentions the need for a 40 HR guy in the lineup, and then also mentions that you don't need guys that can hit a lot of HR's.

Nick has lost so much of his power this season and looks frail to be honest. We don't even have a leader who has an opinion that means anything. When you have three HR's and look like a slap hitter most of the time I don't think you have a lot of room to criticize others. I know Nick is patient, but times like last night show that he's TOO patient sometimes as well.

I think his point was more that, guys that are 40 homer guys should focus on that, but right now we don't have that.

So guys that can't do it, shouldn't try. But he'd sure appreciate that guy hitting behind him.

[Old#5fan]

I think it's interesting that Markakis mentions the need for a 40 HR guy in the lineup, and then also mentions that you don't need guys that can hit a lot of HR's.

Nick has lost so much of his power this season and looks frail to be honest. We don't even have a leader who has an opinion that means anything. When you have three HR's and look like a slap hitter most of the time I don't think you have a lot of room to criticize others. I know Nick is patient, but times like last night show that he's TOO patient sometimes as well.

What is even more said it the unheralded right fielder of the Nationals is even posting numbers virtually identical to Markakis right now! Nick isn't exactly having an outstanding year himself either.

[SrMeowMeow]

You don't need someone to hit 40 HR...

[murrayfan420]

A month ago, Jones would have been my first thought, but he seems to be the poster child (in a positive way) for what Markakis is talking about. AJ has been making changes that needed to be made. He is still not performing up to his potential, but he has definitely made strides and pointed the finger at himself for his poor approach early in the season. If anything, I could see AJ's admission the other night as something that might have encouraged Markakais to speak out.

Exactly my thoughts, AJ is one of the few who has noticeably changed his approach after a poor start. People may still not be crazy about his approach, but he's working at it.

[murrayfan420]

What is even more said it the unheralded right fielder of the Nationals is even posting numbers virtually identical to Markakis right now! Nick isn't exactly having an outstanding year himself either.

I was waiting for you to chime in with something like this... obviously he could hit more home runs, but he's doing everything else he can. He's one of the few on the team who actually look like he knows what he's doing at the plate. Also, for one to always say the O's need a leader, or the O's need a manager to fire the guys up.. I don't see you commending Nick for directing some tough but fair criticism at his teammates.

[ledzepp8]

I think it's interesting that Markakis mentions the need for a 40 HR guy in the lineup, and then also mentions that you don't need guys that can hit a lot of HR's.

Nick has lost so much of his power this season and looks frail to be honest. We don't even have a leader who has an opinion that means anything. When you have three HR's and look like a slap hitter most of the time I don't think you have a lot of room to criticize others. I know Nick is patient, but times like last night show that he's TOO patient sometimes as well.

That's not what he was saying though. He's saying that having a 40 HR guy in the lineup would be great but you also need guys that can get on base and aren't going up to the plate trying to hit a HR every time.

[Birds08]

Markakis has absolutely no protection. To criticize him and his .820+ OPS is laughable. He is far and away our best hitter right now.

[DuffMan]

You know it's a rough season when I consider this to be the highlight of the year so far! Good for Markakis somebody needed to speak up and I'm glad that it's him.

[O-The-Memories]

Right, it had nothing to do with the reigning 2 time NL Cy Young winner on the mound!

I watched the game yesterday man, and Lincecum is indeed one of the best pitchers in baseball.

He didn't look like it yesterday though. He didn't have his best stuff, his velocity was down from what I've seen before, and he still struck out a lot of our hitters. That means our overall approach is terrible, and Markakis isn't immune from criticism. He's not the biggest problem on the team, but he's not having a good season either. I've seen Nick watch too many hittable pitches and then strike out while taking the bat off his shoulders one time.

[DuffMan]

Also didn't see anyone mention this, but I thought it was important...

Markakis was backed both by interim manager Juan Samuel and veteran infielder Ty Wigginton, who agreed that there have been times where guys haven't had a very good plan in going up to the plate.