The Missing Link
The day after honoring Brooks Robinson, the fellow who
personified the beginning of winning baseball in Baltimore the team on the
verge of its first post season play since 1997, it’s hard to find much
connection between the winning Orioles of old: the big six: Brooks, Frank
Robinson, Jim Palmer, Earl Weaver, Eddie Murray, and Cal Ripken. With
supporting players and great pitchers from Boog Powell, Paul Blair, and Dave
McNally through a cast of many including Mike Cuellar, Davey Johnson, Bobby
Grich, Mike Flanagan, Scott McGregor, Ken Singleton, Mike Mussina, B.J.
Surhoff, and Raphael Palmeiro, one great’s career transitioned to another’s
rise.
Only one player connects the O’s of old to today’s team,
probably the loneliest fellow to be assigned an Orioles jersey in 2012 ---
Brian Roberts. He started his reign with
the Orioles in 2001, Cal Ripken’s retirement year and labored through 17 games
this season only connecting for 12 base hits making it three consecutive
seasons unable to answer the call for most of the season – the fellow who was
supposed to be the first piece in the team rebuilding into a contender once
again.
It’s not all over for Brian Roberts. He could heal up and
return to Spring Training in 2013 and finish his career with the Orioles as a
winning team. It would only seem just. However, the sport makes no promises and
after years of being a rare bright spot in a sea of frustration, he’s the
fellow who took throws from both Cal Ripken and Matt Weiters (perhaps a future
member of the statue club in Legend’s Park.)
The irony only runs deeper considering his close friend and
teammate, Nick Markakis, one who answered the call during darkest hour in 2006
also sits on the sidelines, the victim of a C.C. Sabathia pitch in early
September hoping the suddenly hot Orioles remain deep into the off season,
so he can join the celebration contributing on the field.
In the team’s finest hour in 15 years, it’s time for a quiet
thank you to Brian Roberts with high hopes for Nick Markakis as the Orioles
team of today reaches out for its place among the Orioles teams that brought
so much winning to Baltimore starting with a friendly third baseman who quickly
became a city’s pride and joy. Time's getting short for Brian Roberts, a fellow who in better days might have found his place among the Orioles elite -- who could ever anticipate the burden of carrying the torch from the glory days of old to what could be a bright future ahead could be such a touch labor.
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