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Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis is adamant that he has had much tougher stretches in the major leagues, regardless of what the numbers suggest.
Markakis went 0-for-4 in Sunday's 9-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox and finished the second-to-last homestand of the season 2-for-26 with just one RBI, two walks and six strikeouts.
"I'm in a funk right now," said Markakis, whose average dropped to .293. "I think my timing is off a little bit and I'm missing a few pitches. It's baseball. I just got to get myself out of it and finish up strong. Every hitter goes through it. When you're going good, you're going good. You can lose it just like that. It just shows you how frustrating and tough this game is."
Markakis began this season, his fourth in the majors, as a .278 career hitter in September/October with 11 homers, the second most he has hit in any month. But after going hitless Sunday, he's batting .203 (13-for-64) this September with no homers and five RBIs. Overall, he has just one extra-base hit over his past 19 games, and he has gone 20 games since his most recent homer.
He has started 148 of the Orioles' 149 games, leading to some speculation that Markakis' struggles are a result of fatigue, though the 25-year-old said that's not the case.
"I don't think I'm to the point where I can't even swing the bat anymore," said Markakis, who picked up his 92nd and 93rd RBIs on Sept. 11 but has driven in only one run in nine games since. "Like I said, it's just my timing right now. I need to work on a few things."
"I definitely feel pretty comfortable at home plate," said Wieters, who raised his average to .282 with his three singles Sunday. "You're going to have streaks where you feel good and streaks where you don't feel good."
Wieters has been feeling good for a while. In his past 15 games, he's batting .340.
Jim Johnson has six saves in eight opportunities since taking over the closer's role, but the overall reshuffling of the back end of the bullpen since Sherrill's departure has led to some late-inning struggles. In the 48 games since Sherrill was traded, the Orioles have surrendered 87 runs in the seventh inning or later.
"Andy was honest about it, [and] I knew it was going to be that way for the most part," manager Dave Trembley said. "Since George got traded, we put guys in roles that they weren't used to being in."
"Well, he's 10-15, he's given up 31 home runs, [106] runs, 100 of them are earned. 200 hits in [178 1/3 ] innings," Trembley said. "How am I doing so far?"
Markakis went 0-for-4 in Sunday's 9-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox and finished the second-to-last homestand of the season 2-for-26 with just one RBI, two walks and six strikeouts.
"I'm in a funk right now," said Markakis, whose average dropped to .293. "I think my timing is off a little bit and I'm missing a few pitches. It's baseball. I just got to get myself out of it and finish up strong. Every hitter goes through it. When you're going good, you're going good. You can lose it just like that. It just shows you how frustrating and tough this game is."
Markakis began this season, his fourth in the majors, as a .278 career hitter in September/October with 11 homers, the second most he has hit in any month. But after going hitless Sunday, he's batting .203 (13-for-64) this September with no homers and five RBIs. Overall, he has just one extra-base hit over his past 19 games, and he has gone 20 games since his most recent homer.
He has started 148 of the Orioles' 149 games, leading to some speculation that Markakis' struggles are a result of fatigue, though the 25-year-old said that's not the case.
"I don't think I'm to the point where I can't even swing the bat anymore," said Markakis, who picked up his 92nd and 93rd RBIs on Sept. 11 but has driven in only one run in nine games since. "Like I said, it's just my timing right now. I need to work on a few things."
Wieters locked in
A 2-5 homestand and another sweep at the hands of the Red Sox marred what has been a highly productive stretch for Matt Wieters. The rookie catcher went 3-for-4 and scored two runs Sunday to finish the homestand 12-for-24 (.500) with two homers, 10 RBIs and six runs scored. Hitting third the past two days, Wieters went 6-for-9 with an RBI."I definitely feel pretty comfortable at home plate," said Wieters, who raised his average to .282 with his three singles Sunday. "You're going to have streaks where you feel good and streaks where you don't feel good."
Wieters has been feeling good for a while. In his past 15 games, he's batting .340.
Missing Sherrill
When Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail traded George Sherrill to the Los Angeles Dodgers for two prospects July 30, he acknowledged that the loss of the closer likely would result in short-term pain. The Orioles have felt that pain, and in more than just the ninth inning.Jim Johnson has six saves in eight opportunities since taking over the closer's role, but the overall reshuffling of the back end of the bullpen since Sherrill's departure has led to some late-inning struggles. In the 48 games since Sherrill was traded, the Orioles have surrendered 87 runs in the seventh inning or later.
"Andy was honest about it, [and] I knew it was going to be that way for the most part," manager Dave Trembley said. "Since George got traded, we put guys in roles that they weren't used to being in."
Not mincing words
Trembley had an interesting response when asked about Jeremy Guthrie's self-evaluation after Friday's game that he has pitched "terribly" this season."Well, he's 10-15, he's given up 31 home runs, [106] runs, 100 of them are earned. 200 hits in [178 1/3 ] innings," Trembley said. "How am I doing so far?"
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hey nick thats just the way it goes right ? that what you said last week when you struck out with the basesloaded bring in larry bowa and put these little babies on notice that if you say and act like that comment you be on the bench .this team has been losing so long it has got into these players blood system . even with these great young arms as long as you have trembly happy with winning one out of every three games four koufaxes would not win on this cancer of a team . i was at a game last week and roberts and markais would not even sighn a couple of autographs before and after the game for a group of kids maybe seven of them , there lucky anybody would want one . iam so sick of this team and its crybabies . i have been going to orioles games for over 45 years and i truely belive they will never make the playoffs again
AllhailEdReed (09/22/2009, 7:17 PM )