I just watched today’s 43 minute intro and press conference with Buck showalter and Andy MacPhail. For what it’s worth here were my impressions:
Challenges, back in the saddle, beat the best were all implied as reasons for Buck joining the O’s. But let’s be really clear–it’s about a multi-million salary that enticed Buck to return. He has his contract and now he must begin to appease the fan base and certainly the owner. He is walking into a situation devoid of success, teetering on the disastrous record, and with fans who are not showing up and have almost lost their interest in the team. Over the weekend there has been more talk about Foxworth’s injury and the Ravens problems at the corner. The difference is the there is a belief that Ozzie and Coach Harbaugh will figure out the solution whereas the Orioles and their GM are reeling in confusion.
Buck smiled very little, seemed like a no nonsense guy, said all the right things, but you could tell there was a weight on his mind. How will he stop this sink from sinking. At least he spoke of winning games in August not of just evaluating talent.
Here’s a couple of quotes I liked—“Because a club has struggled for so long, everyone thinks everything there is bad,” Showalter said. “That’s not the case here. There are a lot of good things, and I’ve done my homework.”
“They talk about the three leagues: the American League, the National League and the American League East,” Showalter said. “But I don’t think they handicap games. They don’t give you a run before it starts. And that’s not going to change.”
So tonight another new era begins. (picture is from the Sun)
freddy from boca
from last night’s norfolk game
Player IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
VandenHurk (W, 1-0) 7.0 4 1 1 1 4 0 1.29
Mata (H, 1) 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.51
Sarfate (S, 14) 1.0 1 0 0 1 3 0 3.29
· 11/12/2019