Thanks for all the great responses to the questions below about whether it's too soon to write off the 2010 Orioles and what the club should do with manager Dave Trembley.
Many of you guys weighed on, either via e-mail or commenting on the blog, and had interesting things to say.
Because of space constraints, we couldn't use every response for print, but I thought you guys might be interested to see what your fellow fans had to say.
Here are some of the e-mail responses. I'll post more as I receive them:
Hi, i am an 11 year old boy named Edward Joseph Obrecht in Roland Park, Baltimore Maryland
1. No, it is not too late to consider the orioles season a lost cause. I agree with Dave Trembley that, yes, we are starting the pennant drive. It is possible that next month we could have maybe 20 wins and 10 losses, which could almost get us back to .500. So yes it is too early too start ditching the orioles because of the many possible scenarios that coud happen.
2. The orioles should fire Dave Trembly at the end of the month if the orioles continue the losing trend they are in. He had never had a season with the orioles with over 70 wins so if he continues this he should be fired soon. It is a little early but if they do continue this streak he should be gone.
Steve:
1. The O's season is not a lost cause--yet. It is still VERY early, and a turnaround
can happen very quickly. Plus, we did not expect a playoff hunt this year in any regard.
2. Trembley deserves a chance to make it to All-Star break, unless the next month
is truly dismal. I met Trebs at Fan Fest and he seemed as good a guy as i expected.
But we all know you can't fire all the players.
regards.
John C. Onyun, age 55
Kensington, MD
My name is Brendan Bailey. I am a 27-year old living in Towson, MD. I am a middle school teacher at Saint Ursula School in Parkville.
1. Is it too soon to consider the 2010 season a lost cause?
It's tough being a 27-year old who teaches middle-school students. You see, the students I teach were, for the most part, born in 1998 or later. They have literally never been alive to see the Orioles above .500, so for them, Baltimore Baseball is a joke, just a side-story before Ravens season begins. Yet, every year, I try to drum up enthusiasm, telling the kids it is their Baltimorish responsibility to cheer for the local team, that the Yankees are an evil empire (even if they do always win), and that the Orioles will get better.
In fact, this season, I just about guaranteed it. On promises of Wieters, Jones, Markakis, and Matusz, I nearly convinced my classes that the O's were worth caring about. I gave them a night off of homework on Opening Day. I organized a group outing to Camden Yards and sold nearly 600 tickets. I even saw a few of the guys wear Orioles ties to school instead of their regular school uniform ties. Hope abounded.
Well, until 2-12. Now, every day, it's like a joke. "So, Mr. Bailey, how many runs did they give up last night?" or, "So, Mr. Bailey, how many game behind the Yanks are we now?" The O's ties are gone. Kids want their money back on the group outing tickets. Their faith is lost, and they feel I misled them.
And you know what? My faith is gone too. After so many years of patience and hope, after thousands of dollars spent on season tickets each year, the best my team can field at the end of a "rebuilding" plan is no better than what they had before they even started.
Now, when I turn on MASN, I watch the Nationals. Their division is easier, their players play with hustle, their manager lights a fire under them, and their fledgling fan base is slowly growing. The contrast between their organization and the Orioles is so dramatic. I'd rather see a team on the rise than a team that is perpetually on the decline.
2) What should the Orioles do with Dave Trembley?
It is so painful to think that the only reason Trembley has this job is because Joe Girardi didn't want it. What a difference a winning manager would have made to instill a winning attitude into a group of young players. Trembley's very appearance speaks to his values. Overweight, sunburned, inarticulate, he only sets an example of how to settle into mediocrity. Fire him? They should have never hired him.
Hi Steve,
I'm 57 and been a lifelong Orioles fan. I currently live near Reno, NV.
As to your questions, I believe that its not too early to right off the season. Its still April for God's sake. Andy MacPhail is a good GM and has a good track record. He's taken a lot of heat and its understandable given the long steak of Orioles losing season. But MacPhail is doing what he's done best in the past and that is strengthening the Orioles farm system. The young pitching staff of the Orioles and at Norfolk is the envy of many other ballclubs. Its the Orioles hitting that has cost the Orioles a better record. Guys like Markakis and Jones need to step up and I believe that they will. The Orioles are not a .500 club yet but there is still time for them to become respectible.
Trembley might be in over his head, I'm afraid. He is responsible for the coaching staff and must motivate the players and I'm afraid that the team doesn't appear to be motivated at this point. Let's see if the O's can be respectable, say 6-6 over the next 12 games against big rivals the Yankees and Red Sox. If the team shows some sign of life, Trembey stays otherwise its time to make a change since you can't fire the whole team.
John Kilian
to answer the first one yes it is to late for the orioles in 2010 because in the american east there are one to many good teams and if you don't keep pace your done.
yes it is time to let trembly go but also crowley.when your offense can't score rns some time you need to manufacture runs and he doesn't do that .prime example the other night in seattle lead off with a double and don't bunt when your team can't score runs with no outs.and crowley is just not doing it he's been here to long can't get the offense going he's suppose to be an expert.
Bill Pierce
193 aston ln.
middletown ct. 06457