A friend of mine told me about an hour before first pitch Sunday at Camden Yards that he had two really good tickets that he wasn’t going to use. He asked me if I knew anybody that would want them.
I made a couple phone calls. No one could swing it. I put it in on Facebook. Nothing. I put it on Twitter, where thousands of Orioles’ fans follow me. One tepid inquiry. Nothing else.
So, yes, you couldn’t give away tickets to the Orioles’ home finale of 2017. And I get why – besides the Ravens’ clunker in London.
I was contemplating what to write today – hey, the Orioles scored more than the Ravens on Sunday – because I know it’s not a banner Monday here at the Tap Room. Yet I also knew you all could use a cold fake one. So, we’re open.
And I figured this is one of those times to turn the computer over to you. But you have some serious editing you’ll have to handle.
With the Orioles’ 9-4 win against the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday, the club finishes its 2017 record at 46-35 – not bad, all things considered.
With a crowd of 23,424, the Orioles drew 2,028,424 – the sixth consecutive year of two million fans or more. It also was the lowest total number since 2011, their last losing season.
The Orioles (75-82) have five more games remaining, two at Pittsburgh and three at Tampa Bay. But those mean nothing, except maybe in which place the Orioles end up finishing. And I’m not sure that’s really a concern for anyone. They also have a chance of losing 50 on the road; the Orioles are an abysmal 29-47 away from Camden Yards.
So, I considered summing up this season now that there are no more contests at home (and I’m done watching these guys live in 2017).
But I’ll have plenty more to write this week.
So, this one is yours. Give me one word that sums up his season for you. Don’t cheat. One word (although you can follow it up with an explanation. That’d be appreciated).
Keep it clean if ya can. A family establishment here.
But take a shot.
Tap-In Question: What one word sums up this Orioles season as home season concludes?
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Frustrating........knew the Os didn't exactly have the best pitching in the majors but was NOT expecting what ultimately played out with the inconsistency and at times just plain ineffectiveness. A starter would go 6 innings one night then 5 days later can't make it out of the 3rd. Or said starter would be cruising along giving up nothing only to have that good outing suddenly and inexplicably turn into batting practice for the opposition. And things seemed to repeat itself like that through out the season, a snowball effect if you will that just got out of control with seemingly no solution or explanation. So thats why I pick 'frustrating'. Hopefully pitching somehow gets addressed this offseason.
I have a feeling I'll be doling out a lot of drink chips today. Cuz the first few have been spot on. Can't debate a word above. Drink chip
Inconsistent. Nobody could get right and stay right except for Schoop. He was pretty much a model of consistency all season. I suppose I could throw props to Mancini too. He appeared to be extended slump-proof. But up and down the lineup, other hitters were hot and cold all season. And pitching? Fuggetaboudit. Bundy was quite consistent early on, but he struggled later at times. Not unusual for a young pitcher, so I can't hold that against him. I read some quotes the other day from, if I recall correctly, Chris Davis, who said that when the team was hitting the pitching struggled and when the pitching was on the hitters were cold. I'd like to go back and look at patterns in the final scores and see how frequently there were 10-8 types of games strung together then a stretch of 3-1 types.
It definitely seemed like they never put all facets together for a stretch besides the early run. Even the seven-game streak had one side dominating per game.
Disappointing. If the Orioles had gotten starting pitching that was average, they would have been in the playoffs. When you look at their starting pitching, it is amazing that they remained in contention until September. The good news is that Chance Sisco and Austin Hayes have been impressive since their call-ups. So, I think we have the best outfield we've had since McLouth-Jones-Markakis with Hayes in RF, Jones in CF and Trey Mancini in LF. Now, if we could just trade Mark Trumbo for some pitching to a team that needs power ... (Giants, Pirates, Braves). The other word I would use is "entertaining." This team had some remarkable comebacks and you never knew what would happen from one night to the next.
If they can deal Trumbo it likely would be for a pitcher who is high-salaried and struggled recently. Probably worth such a swap tho given the rotation abyss.
I know the common word will be Inconsistent so I will give a fresh answer and say FLAWED.
I'm a fan of originality whenever possible.
Let me get one last Natty Boh and I'll get into this...
Closed. As in the window of opportunity that the Orioles had with the core group of players to win a championship. It wasn't just an open window on our part, but we had a couple of really great chances to do it while the Yankees and Red Sox were having down years. Those times are over now, and even though we have some great players still hanging around until the end of 2018, this club is going to need to undergo drastic change and soon in order to be competitive in the AL East. The O's need to be honest with themselves for next year - we will be able to get the pitching help needed to win in 2018? We couldn't do it this year, yet we tried anyhow. What sense does it make to do it again, when we could be trading away a few guys this winter for a haul that will help improve this team for the long term? The fact that attendance was down from last year does not surprise me in the least, and it begs the question - What is Ownership doing to fix that serious problem? And the answers to that question aren't easy at all.
Lastly Dan, I saw your ticket offer on Twitter. I thought about it, but decided not to. Here's my reasoning : 1) Still kinda depressed over the Ravens game. 2) I really wasn't ready to sit out in the heat all day yesterday. 3) The most important reason for me is that I had already said goodbye to OPCY 2017 on Thursday. We won a great game, then the O's lost 2 in a row without much of a fight. I wanted to have a good final lasting impression of the O's going into the off-season, so I didn't want to chance ruining it. Thanks for the offer anyway....
I think this makes sense. But I don't think the Orioles will let that window close before at least mid season next year. Not with so many fates -- including Showalter's and Duquette's -- up in the air. So I don't think it is closed yet. But it may just have a broomstick (not boomstick) propped in it. As for the tickets, I'm sure that sentiment was prevalent. Just surprised me a little that no one bit.
Confusing
Yup.
Lost.
You know it's bad when the optimist drops the mic.
Lackluster
I nearly used this word as well. This team never really wowed me. Even in the hot start, it was evident to me that the pitching was unsustainable. Nobody paying attention thought Miley would maintain his April-May 1.500 WHIP all season and keep an ERA below 3.00. Thing is, the ERA got worse and so did the WHIP. I wanted to look at the team at some point in July or August and feel like this was a team on the verge of something special, but it never could materialize. I tried to convince myself in August that they were about to get it right, then September happened. They just never showed themselves to be special as a team this year. So, I agree with lackluster as a defining term.
Well. There was some luster. Immediately followed by rusting. And I love that word by the way.
Pitching.
A different approach on this than everyone else. Yes, the hitting this year was extremely inconsistent, and that helped doom the team. But, with as bad as the contenders for the second wild card have been down the stretch, having decent pitching this year could have put the Orioles in the playoffs. My favorite phrase when it comes to the Baltimore Orioles is "it's all about the starting pitching." That facet of the team will help determine how successful the team is any given season.
This year, it frankly wasn't good enough. In fact, it was terrible. Gausman's first half, Tillman's entire year, Jimenez's entire contract, the Miley trade, a lot of terrible there. No one stepping up to compete with these guys. Hellickson too. Sure, each of them showed glimpses of success, and Gausman did turn it around in the second half again. But, it wasn't near good enough.
Now, the Orioles will have to determine how they move on. This team has the lineup to win in 2018. One poster above said their word is closed, as in the window of opportunity closed. I don't think that is the case yet. Next year will be a chance to compete, but it is going to depend on what is done to bolster the rotation. Only two current pitchers will be starters next year. The rest...???
When it comes to the Baltimore Orioles, it is all about the starting rotation, and 2017 was no different, and neither will 2018 be.
I may turn the entire Tap Room over to you Nate. Pretty much my exact sentiment. Watch the site in the next 24 hours.
Nate, I totally agree. When the season started I didn't view our rotation as playoff caliber. Nothing changed my thinking on that. Even the trade deadline acquisition of Hellickson did nothing. After his "honeymoon" success he was what people thought he was. That deal was done more or less to rid us of Kim and say we got something for him.
Even when the fans got excited at our "chance" after the 7 game winning streak I contended that we had no one pitcher in our rotation who could be counted on in a 5 or 7 game series to inspire confidence that we would win. Our rotation was a roll of the dice at best.
O do worry about the lineup: injuries and age are catching up with Adam Jones, I see nothing that indicates an improvement from Trumbo and I feel Chris Davis' best days are behind him...he looks clueless at the plate. The rest of the lineup is solid.
How the front office approaches the off-season will be telling for the future.
Walks.
Unless they make a trade, the lineup looks nearly set for next season, so the offseason has to be all about pitching. Please find an innings eater that throws strikes. Tired of seeing all the SPs near the top of the list in pitches per plate appearance and walks. To that end, goodbye Ubaldo and Miley.
Yeah. Crazy thing is Hellickson is a control artist and he walked guys once he got to Baltimore. Like it was in the water.
Belloch. The word is Belloch. This is the part of 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' where, after 6 years of dodging poison darts, leaping over bottomless pits, shooing away tarantulas and racing away from giant rolling boulders, that a****le french archeologist Belloch (NY and Boston) steps out and takes the idol from Indiana Jones' (the Orioles) hands. "Dr Jones, you chose the wrong friends (pitchers). This time it will cost you"
Forget about preserving the brains of former football players for research purposes. I'm hoping the Stache's brain is one day preserved for study. I'd love to know what makes that one work. Drink chip, you creative patron.
We could have warned them, if only we spoke Hovitos.
interesting that someone said 'inconsistent' but i'd actually say 'predictable'.
Predictably the same flaws that derailed us last year again reared their ugly heads. No depth in quality in the starters, and too much boom or bust from the batting lineup. I couldn't have predicted which of the starters would struggle. Gaussman I guess I'd have got most wrong, though he finished as i'd hoped he was going to pitch all year. The batting is a losing formula. Sure teams fear facing our team during certain points in the season, when we've got 3 or 4 guys in form - but there's no way of scratching out wins with this lineup. I'm really hoping that front office focus on figuring out how to become a little less one-dimensional for next year. Hopefully Hays or maybe even Mullins will be given a chance.
Excellent points Woody. Too many ifs that didn't pan out.
Stuck-n-neutral. Except for that 7 game winning streak in August, they could never get anything going despite having a talented squad.
And the beginning. But you are right. I think the fact it is a talented squad, sans the rotation, is why the frustration level was so high.
Rollercoaster.
I'm not trying to be overly positive, but it's the first word that I thought of that captures the highs of April and August...with the lows of other stretches.
I've used it myself.
Psychoanalysis. Doing the same thing and expecting a different result. All the things we (and others) thought could go bad actually did. Time to do an '89 while we have something to shop. Worried about Jonesy's legs for next year and beyond.
I hear you Gary.
I really hope that someone is able to sit down with AJ in a room and sell it to him that if he shifts over to corner outfield next season he'll prolong his career, be a better hitter (and one of the best corner fielders in the game) and help the team. Center field is a young mans game - nothing can really compensate for the range you lose when you lose a yard of pace.
But the key is that its AJ's choice I think, by right. So it really is important that somebody can convince him to do this.
I think for that to happen you have to find someone that can do it better. Sort of like Ripken to third. I think If the Orioles had someone who offensively can play and defensively is a better CF than Jones, that conversation can be had. But you have to know you have that, and right now the Orioles' options in that capacity are unknown.
I hear you Dan and what I've seen that person isn't Joey - he doesn't know his own limitations and makes too many mistakes trying to get to balls he can't. But I'd challenge you (nicely, it's your tap room!) on how easy it is to do it better than AJ now. He's still good, but watching CF your eyes can deceive you. AJ doesn't look so bad because it looks like he still makes good plays, and he's playing deep. But you can't reverse age, he doesn't have the range he had and every month there are literally dozens of balls dropping for hits that mullins would hoover up. If Mullins doesn't have the offense then perhaps we have to spend. Because one thing for sure, it's damn cheaper to buy that guy than buy the pitchers who's balls don't get hit.
Durocher. As in, "Nice guys finish last." Part of the frustration is that you really like these guys and really want them to do well. But sometimes it seems like I want them to win more than they do. Where's the fire? I'm not suggesting mean or nasty, just a disciplined intensity that is standing up to the strengths rather than waiting for weaknesses. I think Beckham gave them a shot in the arm, but after a month they regressed to the mean: shell-shocked pitchers saying how good they felt about their performances, goofy baserunning, absent-minded fielding, aimless at-bats, etc. My optimism is that it was a freak season, disconnected from the past and hopefully the future.
I don't think there is a lack of passion. I don't. Maybe they aren't as hungry as they once were when they had never played in the postseason. But from my time around these guys, they do care. Just my observation anyway.
I stand corrected. It was hard for me to come up with a single word to characterize my experience of the 2017 O's because of two conflicting impressions: one, it was a team of good guys; two, it was a losing team. If I doubted that they cared, I would not consider them good guys. Thank you for an opportunity to clarify.
passionless
See above. I really don't think they lack passion. Trust me, I've been around teams that did. This doesn't seem to be one of them.
Rotationless
Haha. Points for creativity. Drink chip.
Unsurprising. Sticking with Ubaldo and Miley all year was bringing the proverbial knife to the gunfight that is the AL East. Tillman's one-win season and Gausman's abysmal first half were the nails in the coffin.
Listless
CRUSHED
APPALLING:
Main Entry: appalling
Part of Speech: adjective
Definition: horrifying
Synonyms: alarming, astounding, awful, bad, daunting, dire, disheartening, dismaying, dreadful, ghastly, grim, grody, gross*, harrowing, hideous, horrible, horrid, horrific, shocking, terrible, unnerving
Pitching
Heartless.
1. They've broken our hearts at various times in the past seven years; leaving us with no love, no heart. Worst was in Toronto 2016 play-in game, or JJ giving up a homerun to Russ Martin and crippling a great team in the postseason. This team, though, started 22 and 10 and gave us a lot of reason for optimism . Then, they broke her heart again.
2. For the first time in the Showalter era, the team played with no heart many nights. Buck can see what he wants, they were not hustling on many many occasions.
3. The front office has been a disappointment, buck was a big disappointment this year. They were cruel or heartless to us.
Disappointing. A 22-10 start -- even with the obvious flaws -- gave me hope of relevance. Collapse now makes me wonder what future holds.
evaluating talent including coaches
trade Manny to Dodgers for third basemen and prospects Dodgers rotate 3 or wait until Yankees clear payroll with cc and a rod coming off books then Manny gets 40 mill a year. Next year we will lose schoop and britton. sorry my hands are hurting do not get old
Hundred. As in each starting pitcher commonly approaching 100 pitches at or before the 5th inning when, of course, they didn't get assaulted by their pitches like Miley in the first or second.
Horribly managed. (I'm cheating, using two words.) Fire Showalter now. Please don't give me the lame excuse for keeping him that he made the playoffs three times. Play-in games don't count, and he lost one of the two of those.