I don't think I've ever seen outfielder Nick Markakis as down and frustrated as he was last night after the Orioles' 5-1 defeat at the hands of the Tampa Bay Rays that extended the home team's losing streak to four games. Markakis was 0-for-3 to lower his batting average to .143. While he enters tonight's game tied for the major league lead with 10 walks, Markakis has zero home runs, zero RBIs and is hitless in his past nine at-bats. "I'm just trying to recognize pitches, put good swings on it," Markakis said. "I'm starting to hit the ball a little bit better than I have been. I just need to calm down and relax. It's a long season. Eight games, it's not going to make or break your season. A lot of people struggle early on. We just need to relax and play the game."
I wrote several times this spring that I thought Markakis was in line for a monster year. He reported to camp stronger and in great shape. He appeared very comfortable both on and off the field, and content with the perceived improvements the Orioles made this offseason.
In a story I wrote this spring, Markakis admitted that he wasn't in as good as shape as he needed to be in last season, and he had struggled somewhat with all the changes that occurred in his life over the past year. That included getting the $66.1 million contract, getting married, being a first-time father, starting a foundation and making Baltimore County his full-time home.
With all that stuff behind him, Markakis felt that this would be his year to put himself in the American League's elite. Perhaps, that's why he's taking both his and the team's poor start so hard.
Perhaps Markakis could be a little more aggressive and stop taking so many called third strikes. Perhaps he could focus more on pulling balls with authority rather than going the other way all the time. At times this season, he has been overpowered by a good fastball.
Manager Dave Trembley hinted at lineup changes after last night's game to try to jump-start a lineup that is letting the team down. Maybe, he'll move Markakis to second and put Adam Jones third. Markakis is clearly not getting much to hit in the No. 3 spot, so it couldn't hurt.
Wherever he hits, Markakis is going to be fine. After seven games last season, he was hitting .370 with one homer and nine RBIs. But the previous two seasons after seven games, he was batting .296 with no homers and 1 RBI, and .276 with one homer and three RBIs.
He'll get hot, but it better be sooner rather than later, especially with Brian Roberts on the disabled list.