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The Orioles Explore the Depths of Hell
By Jamie Mottram | September 17, 2007
The O’s winning their first series in a month doesn’t obscure the flaming cowpie this season has been, especially since rewarding Dave Trembley for his 29-25 start. Here via email to rattle off the list of ineptitude is reader Geoff Preisman:
The Orioles officially hired Dave Trembley as their manager the afternoon of August 22nd. Since then …
*They have gone 3-18 (ed. note: now 6-19) in a stretch where the vast majority of their games have been against below .500 clubs.
*They have been outscored by exactly 100 runs – admittedly this includes the 30-3 game, but *STILL*.
*They have been no-hit by a rookie in his second big league start.
*They have had games where they’ve given up ungodly amounts of runs: 30, 18, 17, 15, 11, 10 twice, and 9 twice.This is a complete train wreck. The ‘88 Orioles started the season with a 12-0 loss to Milwaukee and went on to set a major league record with 21 straight losses to start the season – including 3 shutouts, 6 games where they only scored 1 run, and a bunch of games where they gave up more than 10 runs – but even THAT team was only outscored by 85 runs in the 21 game stretch.
I have to think this is the worst stretch in O’s history. Do you fire Trembley or let him come back next year? DEFEND YOUR BOY!
I questioned the timing of signing Trembley through ‘08 the day it happened. If they fire him now, they not only lose face but guaranteed cash as well. Plus, he’s hardly the problem as the bullpen is combustible, the offense is middling and losing Cy Young candidate Erik Bedard doesn’t help.
While this month has been miserable, it’s only part of the past decade that’s “the worst stretch in O’s history”* — 10-straight losing seasons and, at best, nine fourth-place finishes. If they don’t hold off Tampa Bay, they finish last for the first time since ‘88 and are left asking yet another painfully obvious question: Is Baltimore baseball’s worst franchise?
The simple answer, with apologies to Pittsburgh, is “yes.” Unfortunately, admittance is just the first step towards recovery.
Update: Speak of the devil, and he appears. FanHouse’s Pat Lackey commemorates Pittsburgh’s 15th-straight losing season.
* Before becoming the Orioles, they were the St. Louis Browns and posted 12 straight losing seasons (‘30-41). Thank you, Baseball Reference!
Topics: Dave Trembley, Orioles | 3 Comments »
September 17th, 2007 at 10:19 am
Although their teams undoubtedly have better prospects and “future stars,” as Topps would say, I have a hard time believing that the O’s are a worse franchise than either Florida team or K.C.
If for no other reason than the fact that we have Camden Yards.
September 17th, 2007 at 10:30 am
+1 for the Future Stars reference.
As for Florida, Tampa Bay and KC being worse off than Baltimore, please refer to the Marlins’ two championship in the past 10 years and the Devil Rays and Royals pacing towards eight-win and six-win improvements this year over last, respectfully. But yeah, they’re miserable too.
September 17th, 2007 at 4:08 pm
0-21 to begin the season in 1988 was probably the worst, but you can still find great ribs at Boog’s Place, just steps away from Camden Yards!