The Orioles Lack "Urgency"

Jim Palmer spoke on 105.7, "The Fan," Baltimore's FM sports-talk station yesterday afternoon before the Orioles abysmal pasting at the hands of the lowly Oakland A's last night. In furthering his observations from comments he made during his last telecast when the Orioles' played the Yankees, Palmer looked at the team's performance on the field and while conceding this is young talent getting its first taste of major league play, assessing the the team as a whole he emphasized the team lacks a sense of urgency.



That says a lot and it's exactly what a top-tier sports operation can never be accused of showing. It's one thing to have players screw up because they're trying too hard or simply haven't developed the finesse to handle all situations, but when a certain "ho-hum" is obvious to a Hall of Famer who has been a part of Orioles' history since 1965, it's time to listen.



The Orioles going into tonight's action are 6-18 since the All-Star break. Suddenly, the Washington Nationals who were headed to a historic losing season have caught fire enjoying an eight game winning streak. In the competition for rock bottom or the #1 draft slot, the Orioles are now only six games ahead of the Nationals. At their current pace the Orioles will finish 66-96, noticeably worse than the last two seasons' frustrating pace.



On paper, the team has turned the corner. Two years ago, they were in an end of the season tailspin which got progressively worse especially after a game giving up 30 runs to Texas. Andy McPhail had just assumed the reigns in the front office and Dave Trembley was about a month into running things on the field. The great turnover began in the off season with some players showing up in regular action last year and prospect galore working into the roster this year. Regardless, a total mess of a team with a dysfunctional roster needing a total overhaul in 2007, a team in transition in 2008, a team with what should be the core of the future in 2009, the results on the field show little difference.



Hopes were that the end record could be similar to the last two years, in the second half of the season would show a team starting to gel, players getting used to working with each other, a sense of what a new Orioles Way could be.



Sad to say, it's the same old, same old. This is not to criticize the kids who've arrived from the south coming to town from Norfolk and Bowie. Their potential is obvious. Norm Reimold is emerging as a great power threat. Matt Wietters in getting comfortable against major league pitching at least from the right side. Chris Tillman and Brain Matusz show some good stuff that's still pretty green but capable of being developed into something special. Adam Jones, in his second year, the team's appointed All-Star, is a five tool player developing into top form in all aspects of the game. Nick Martakis is rock solid and predictable. While not playing up to his usual standards having a bit of an off-year, few second basemen are more valuable than Brian Roberts.



While there's much to like about Dave Trembley, the lack of intensity and urgency falls on his shoulders. He faces the balancing act of nurturing young talent still learning their way around the major league clubhouse with the responsibility of a major league team never takes the field without the expectation of winning, period. One has to wonder if the team on some level seems to write games off almost playing this season like an extended spring training.





If the Orioles continue to perform at only winning one out of four games, no matter what one thinks of Trembley as a person, the team needs new approaches to their labors next year. While part of the criticism focuses on not seeing visible signs of working out the young players, failing to take infield and batting practice for day games, we must remember in today's modern stadiums, a lot of the training takes place in batting cages and training equipment underground beneath the stands of the stadium. Fans can't assume players aren't working with hitting coach, Terry Crowley, for instance.



It's a performance business and Orioles fans are correct to demand at least seeing hustle. Failing to run out ground balls, base running lapses, failure to hit cutoff men and being in position for other defense assignments, and repeating the same old mistakes are all things those watching the team on a regular basis see far too often.



Take it from #22, it's time to show a sense of urgency. A lack of that necessary ingredient will find some folks on the outside looking in next August.