The Orioles performed the inevitable, the ritualistic sacrifice or mercy killing of Dave Trembley's managerial career. The results, a dreadful 11-0 shutout at the hands of the Boston Red Sox. Did anybody think this was going to be easy? Remember in 1988, Cal Ripken Sr. was fired after the season started with a six game losing streak. Frank Robinson was called in but the losing streak would reach 21 before the Orioles achieved their first win. Surely, Juan Samuel will not endure such a horrible fate.
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There were some good signs in last night's game. Right after a couple of slip ups on the field and running blunders, Juan Samuel went directly to those players to discuss the situation in much the same way John Harbaugh handles similiar situations with the Baltimore Ravens. The message, every player is accountable and no mistake will go unanswered. It doesn't have to mean Samuel is required to be nasty. Some will be teaching situations, but all events on the field count for something, and when they add up to an 11-0 shutout, there's is still much to learn.
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It won't be easy taking team that knows nothing but losing in the right direction. The damage runs deep and could be called institutional. It's the club house culture. Any vestages of the Orioles way, whatever that was, a connection with the winning tradition died in October, 2001 when Cal Ripken Jr. retired. No effort since then has turned the mess around.
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Andy McPhail noted a major problem was how a number of key players deterioration this year was a major concern. Looking at Adam Jones, Matt Wieters, and Brian Matusz in particular, the point is clear. They are works in progress who still need much attention before they are working up to the vast potential they show.
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Juan Samuel couldn't have been brought in during a more difficult run, six games against Boston and New York. However, could the Orioles have possibly come home after their disasterous road trip and faced the world with a shell-shocked Trembley still assigned to lead the team?
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What's most disturbing is that the Orioles have had a terrible record of falling off miserably in the second half of the season, especially in August and even more so in September when the competition they face is attempting to nail down post season spots. The task of improving this season only gets tougher as the season rolls along.
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