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Whacking Day

Johnny Dickshot Jun 18 2007 10:34 AM

O's have called a 1pm press conference so as to shitcan Sam Perlozzo. Andy MacPhail apparently moving from the Cubs to be new head of operations (another reduction of Jim Duquette's influence?) Bullpen coach Dave Trembley to be interim skipper. Speculation is the O's will look to Joe Girardi.

seawolf17 Jun 18 2007 10:43 AM

Johnny Dickshot Jun 18 2007 10:48 AM

They may also consider re-hiring Davey Johnson, the Balto. Sun sez. Johnson was the last winning manager the O's had, 10 years ago.

metirish Jun 18 2007 10:55 AM

The whole managment structure there is a mess,isn't Duke a sort of Co-GM....can they whack the owner?

metirish Jun 19 2007 10:55 AM

Tim Kurkjian who covered the Orioles for the Baltimore Sun at one time had this in an article today. ] And it didn't help his cause that he didn't have the best working relationship with co-GM Jim Duquette. ] Updated: June 19, 2007, 12:35 PM ET In early May, before things went all wrong for the 2007 Orioles, owner Peter Angelos was in a relaxed mood in his private box at Camden Yards. But when a writer casually asked Angelos if he still enjoyed owning the team, Angelos said, "I've never enjoyed this." Especially now. The Orioles are 29-40, they're in last place in the American League East, and they've lost eight games in a row, including three at home to the rival Nationals, which led to the firing of manager Sam Perlozzo. His departure soon will be followed by the naming of Andy MacPhail as chief operating officer of a team in desperate need of change. "We tried to make it work," said Orioles general manager Mike Flanagan. "It wasn't one game or one decision [by Perlozzo] that led to this. We felt it [the season] was slipping away." Baseball Today On Baseball Today, Peter Pascarelli and Tim Kurkjian discuss the managerial change in Baltimore and some of the names coming up in trade rumors. a href="#" onClick="window.open('http://sports.espn.go.com/espnradio/player?context=podcast&id=2908998','Popup','width=780,height=515,scrollbars=no,noresize'); return false;">Listen < Perlozzo was, at best, an average manager. In going 122-164 in parts of three seasons as Orioles manager, the complaint with Perlozzo was that he was organized to a fault. He would have his bullpen lined up with his sixth-inning guy, his seventh-inning guy and his eighth-inning guy. But if the game deviated from his plan, he didn't always adjust in-game. And it didn't help his cause that he didn't have the best working relationship with co-GM Jim Duquette. But Perlozzo is not the reason why the Orioles are in last place; their problems run deeper than this season. They're on their way to their 10th consecutive sub-.500 season as attendance continues to drop, and, inconceivably, apathy has set in. This year, the Orioles are second-to-last in the American League in runs scored. They are last in home runs. They spent an enormous amount of money in the offseason to upgrade what was a horrible bullpen in 2006, but the 'pen has been equally bad this season with an 8-18 record, the most bullpen losses in the major leagues. The Orioles haven't been the same since the 'pen gave up six runs in the ninth on Mother's Day in Boston, leading to a horrible 6-5 loss. "In my 30 years of baseball, these are the toughest five weeks I've ever experienced. I've never seen so many bad breaks or bad hops," Flanagan said. "I don't want to call it bad luck, but almost nightly, something bizarre has happened." So many difficult losses have exasperated everyone connected to the team. "We were worried about the morale of the club," Flanagan said. "Sammy was frustrated. It was time to loosen that spring." But it's more than the Orioles not having enough hitters and having a bad bullpen; they don't have a team leader. First baseman/DH Kevin Millar is the closest they have to one, but he said there were too many factions within the team last year and, he said, "I've having trouble pulling everyone together." That problem, he said, seemed to be solved early in the season with the addition of veteran relievers Danys Baez, Chad Bradford and Jamie Walker, but the Orioles haven't gotten the leadership they need from third baseman Melvin Mora (the Oriole with the longest tenure) or shortstop Miguel Tejada (who has the best track record). A change in leadership came Monday. Orioles coach Dave Trembley was named interim manager. He has managed 20 years in the minor leagues and has been a member of the Orioles' organization for the last five years. With the illness to Orioles bench coach Tom Trebelhorn's wife this year, Trembley has served as bench coach at times, and, from all accounts, has done well. He interviewed for the manager's job once before; Flanagan called it "one of the best interviews I've ever heard." He likely will be just an interim, but Flanagan said the team is proceeding as if Trembley will manage for an extended period. The Orioles are planning on contacting former Marlins manager Joe Girardi, the National League Manager of the Year in 2006, who was fired by the Marlins mainly because his authoritarian style clashed with the Marlins' front office, including ownership. But he might be precisely what the Orioles need. Angelos admires smart, stubborn, arrogant, confrontational, take-charge guys because that, basically, is what he is. But it's not as simple as Girardi being offered the job, then taking it. Is a non-contending team the right job for him? Is he going to wait to see if Yankees manager Joe Torre will return next season? The bigger move for the Orioles will be the naming of MacPhail as COO. MacPhail comes from a long line of baseball executives, including his father, Lee, a former American League president. No one knows how to run a baseball team better than Andy MacPhail, who has a good relationship with Angelos after the two worked together on the labor negotiations several years ago. MacPhail will replace the departed Joe Foss, who is a banker and was never a baseball guy. One of MacPhail's first jobs -- along with Flanagan's and Duquette's -- will be the decisions made at the July 31 trading deadline, specifically involving Tejada. Last year, the Orioles came close to trading Tejada to the Angels, but the Angels wouldn't give up a third player. The Orioles came close to trading Tejada to the Astros, but in that three-way deal, the Astros were unwilling to send a player to the Rangers. It might be best for all parties to deal Tejada to a contender for two young players, then continue to try to rebuild the organization with youth. The biggest move for the Orioles will come when Cal Ripken Jr. buys the team from Angelos. Ripken has the group -- and the desire -- to own the team someday, and from all indications, Angelos someday will sell to Ripken. But it's even more clear that Angelos is not ready to sell anytime soon. He wants to win in Baltimore. Then he would enjoy owning the team. Finally. .

attgig Jun 19 2007 11:45 AM

man. things are pretty bad here. hearing sports radio down here, every caller wants to see more done, particularly, somehow getting rid of Gibbons, and trading Tejada. my take: do everything you can to hire Gerardi. duke needs to go (obviously my met influence), baez perhaps traded (selling low, i know, but the dude was never good). Gibbons cut. I'm on the rope about Tejada. I think if pitching can get itself together (and tejada can back to his normal numbers), O's have a shot at being contenders for the playoffs next year. But that pitching is a big IF. so much talent.....

Frayed Knot Jun 19 2007 12:14 PM

Thing is, if you're Girardi and know you can pretty much have at least a shot at whatever other managerial jobs that open between now and next April, would you go to work for a meddler like Angelos and butt heads (and payrolls) with the Yanx & Sawx every year? He's already agreed to talk with them but I wouldn't be surprised if he takes a pass on this one. * Hey, I'm Joel Youngblood!

Iubitul Jun 19 2007 01:18 PM

Is it really a surprise that Tejada's numbers are down?

Centerfield Jun 19 2007 01:22 PM

He's only 31, am I missing something?

Frayed Knot Jun 19 2007 01:47 PM

I think the implication is, maybe HE is missing something.

iramets Jun 19 2007 01:47 PM

Yeah, you're missing a gigantic needle jammed in your buttocks every day. So does Miguel.

Edgy DC Jun 19 2007 02:29 PM

What the team is missing isn't a top manager, but an organziaitonal structure that makes it clear who is accountable. They remain, for now at least, the last non-Yankee team to win the AL East. Part of me wants Eddie Murray to be considered, but part not, because accepting it might would mean that he's kind of stupid. I guess I'd feel similarly about Davey Johnson, and, stupid or not, there're only 30 of these jobs to go around. Davey Johnson has said in the past that all ill will for Angelos and the organizaiton melted away when Angelos reached out after Johnson's daughter died, and I'd love to see him take that team back to prominence. I just don't see how it can happen with the topheavy structure.

cleonjones11 Jun 19 2007 02:57 PM

Wasn't there an episode of the Simpsons celebrating whacking day. Wax on Wax off

cleonjones11 Jun 19 2007 02:59 PM Re: Whacking Day

Johnny Dickshot wrote: O's have called a 1pm press conference so as to shitcan Sam Perlozzo. Andy MacPhail apparently moving from the Cubs to be new head of operations (another reduction of Jim Duquette's influence?) Bullpen coach Dave Trembley to be interim skipper. Speculation is the O's will look to Joe Girardi. I find it amusing Johnny Dickshot authors Whacking day......Zip up...

OlerudOwned Jun 19 2007 03:28 PM

Frayed Knot Jun 20 2007 04:56 PM

Reports have it that the Os & Girardi have an agreement - although there are still details to be worked out before it's all official. Coupla sidenotes: 1) Leo Mazzone left Atlanta for Baltimore almost entirely to work with his friend Perlozzo (also for a shitload more money than Atlanta was paying). He'll be an interesting coaching FA at the end of the year. 2) Andy McPhail - the guy brought in from the Cubs to be team Prez - has long been the leading candidate to replace Selig. Bud keeps claiming that he's getting out soon but this might extend his final exit until who knows when.

Frayed Knot Jun 21 2007 11:44 AM

O no! -- Girardi turns 'em down.

TransMonk Jun 21 2007 11:50 AM

Good for Joe, he deserves better.

metirish Jun 21 2007 11:52 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jun 21 2007 11:53 AM

DP.

metirish Jun 21 2007 11:53 AM

From the Daily News ] According to sources, Girardi has also been in contact with YES Network officials, who advised him against taking the Baltimore job, as more attractive positions should be open after the season. You know things are bad for your club when a one year manager turns you down... Jerry Manuel might have a shot with this.

Frayed Knot Jun 21 2007 11:55 AM

With a decent chance that the ChiSox job will be open at the end of this year (Girardi is from Chicago) plus maybe the Yanqui job (if he can fight off Mattingly as designated Prince) and who knows what else ... I can't say as how I blame him either.

Edgy DC Jun 21 2007 11:56 AM

I doubt Manuel is going to walk mid-season. I am surprisingly sympathetic to Baltimore and I don't want them to stink so.

Frayed Knot Jun 21 2007 01:35 PM

Edgy DC wrote: I doubt Manuel is going to walk mid-season. I don't. He's already said he'd be interested if they came calling and it's not like he's been overwhelmed with offers since his stint w/the ChiSox. It would depend on a number of factors, of course, but I don't think he turns it down just so he can remain bench coach for a half-season.

seawolf17 Jun 21 2007 01:44 PM

I have a lot of vacation time saved up, so I could definitely manage the rest of the year if the O's needed me.

Edgy DC Jun 21 2007 01:50 PM

Frayed Knot wrote: ="Edgy DC"]I doubt Manuel is going to walk mid-season. I don't. He's already said he'd be interested if they came calling and it's not like he's been overwhelmed with offers since his stint w/the ChiSox. It would depend on a number of factors, of course, but I don't think he turns it down just so he can remain bench coach for a half-season. I don't know that teams are too cool about letting coaches under contract interview for jobs mid-season. It's a big reason there are interim managers. The O's would have done well to line somebody up before the axing.

Frayed Knot Jun 21 2007 01:53 PM

Teams will rarely prevent a coach from steeping out to a job that's a clear promotion as opposed to just a lateral move. See Valentine, Bobby circa 1985

Edgy DC Jun 21 2007 01:59 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jun 21 2007 02:00 PM

You say it's rare, but that's a 22-year-old precedent, only 33 games into the season, to a team in the opposite league, not a potential rival in midseason. I'd want compensation.

metirish Jun 21 2007 02:00 PM

Willie talked up Manuel the other day for the job. ] Randolph endorses Manuel: Mets manager Willie Randolph hopes the Baltimore Orioles will contact bench coach Jerry Manuel for their vacant managerial opening created by yesterday's firing of Sam Perlozzo, a former Mets coach under Davey Johnson. "He deserves to manage in the major leagues," Randolph said. "Baltimore would be smart to call him." Manuel managed the Chicago White Sox from 1998-2003.

Frayed Knot Jun 21 2007 02:07 PM

Edgy DC wrote: You say it's rare, but that's a 22-year-old precedent, only 33 games into the season, to a team in the opposite league, not a potential rival in midseason. I'd want compensation. Well it's the first example which jumped into my head - and this would be to the opposite league and a non-contender too. Can we come up with any examples where a team took it upon themselves to premptively prevent a coach-to-manger move? I doubt compensation would occur.

sharpie Jun 21 2007 02:10 PM

If I recall, didn't Girardi refuse to interview for the Cubs' job last winter? He plays hard to get.

Edgy DC Jun 21 2007 02:14 PM

No, I don't. I just don't see a lot of mid-season moves from coaches on one team to the top spot on another, particularly to an intra-league rival, so I figured there's an institutional reason. Wally Backman's South Georgia Peanuts have jumped to a 19-8 start in South Coast League. Call Wally.

Frayed Knot Jun 21 2007 02:15 PM

]didn't Girardi refuse to interview for the Cubs' job last winter? I don't remember that (doesn't mean it's not true - but I think they had their eyes set on Lou all along). He did turn down the Nationals.

metirish Jun 21 2007 02:34 PM

For a one year manager Girardi sure is picky ,must be upsetting to others looking to get back in the game that he has turned down two jobs so far.

sharpie Jun 21 2007 02:51 PM

Yes, Nationals, not Cubs. Still, turning down 2 jobs. Maybe he doesn't want to live in the mid-Atlantic region.

cleonjones11 Jun 21 2007 07:40 PM

Neither do I