I really would like to empathize with Melvin Mora — or, as my friend Mr. Zapf calls him, Melvin Morose — but I just can’t.
Mel Miserable, in case you missed it, went off Sunday morning about manager Dave Trembley “disrespecting” him by not regulary putting him in the starting lineup, saying he wants out of an Orioles uniform yesterday in this the final season of his contract, which, of course, would be a lot easier to accomplish if he didn’t have a no-trade clause and another team was actually interested in trading for him.
Again, I would like to empathize with the guy, because he’s a veteran ballplayer, a good ballplayer — albeit a grumpy one and, too often, a not too bright one — and, with nine years under his belt in Baltimore, the longest-tenured Oriole on the roster, not to mention a guy who has been a huge civic and charitable asset to the city of Baltimore, a city he has always said would be his home, even after he retires from the game.
I watched Melvin’s whiny T.O.ian conniption on MASN Sunday afternoon, and, as I said, my inclination was to see his side of this story, because I’m no fan of Orioles manager Trembley. But I just can’t bring myself to do that because I know somewhere Lee Mazzilli and Sam Perlozzo must remember how Melvin alleged he didn’t get the respect he felt he deserved from either one of them as well.
So who died and made this guy Aretha Franklin?
No, this isn’t the first time Melvin has said he’s been disrespected by an O’s skipper, which makes it difficult for me to believe the last three Orioles managers made an effort to target him by not making their lineups up to his standards or satisfaction, although his surly nature certainly would have made it easier for them to. I won’t say Mad Mel was a ringleader in getting either man fired, but he did nothing to hide his disdain for Mazzilli’s managing (which, I won’t lie, I felt myself), or Perlozzo’s; and he certainly gave the impression he was none too sorry to see either one get ousted based on some of his read-between-the-lines comments about Perlozzo when he replaced Mazzilli, and Trembley when he replaced Perlozzo.
Bottom line, whether you like Trembley as the Orioles manager or not — and I don’t — he’s desperately trying to find ways for his overmatched team to win baseball games as they continue to sink out of sight in the unforgiving American League East, because a complete second-half collapse, such as the ones the Orioles experience every season, and seem to be dangerously close to being in the midst of now, will likely cost him his job.
Trembley is toeing a very fine line as he has to help this team somehow produce a promising second-half showing to build momentum for next season. Yet he also has to start preparing for next season, because the Orioles aren’t going anywhere — again — this season.
Both scenarios are bad draws for Melvin Mora, because, while he’s adequate defensively, his offensive strengths seem to be but a memory, with just 3 home runs and 27 RBIs through the club’s first 105 games. Enter Ty Wigginton, the free agent signee from last offseason, who not only is hitting and playing a good third base, but who is also signed to be paid by the Orioles next season. Melvin, of course, is not — hitting, or signed by the Orioles for next season. And at age 37 it’s unlikely either one is going to happen.
So, do the Orioles release Mora as he originally requested since he likely can’t be traded? Or do they keep him around for the remainder of the season? Again this presents another fine line for manager Trembley and general manager Andy MacPhail to walk. Even with the recent acquisition of third base prospect Josh Bell from the Dodgers, the Orioles have no organizational depth to speak of on either infield corner. Yet if they keep Melvin around for the remainder of the season, they run the risk of his foul mood infecting so many of the young players that now make up the big-league roster and represent the future of a franchise that desperately needs a future.
Releasing Mora would present a risk for the club because if Wigginton goes down there’s really nobody to step in for him. Plus, the Orioles would still owe Mora close to $3 million not to play for them.
Having said that, there are only 57 games remaining in the season, and Trembley has made it clear that Wigginton is now the starting third baseman, so it’s not as though the Orioles are getting much bang for the three-million bucks they still must pay Mora.
So then it must be goodbye, Melvin. Yes, you’ve contributed, but generally speaking, it’s all been just a little slice of hell, and even all miserable things come to an end.
Or so the Orioles hope.
Mike Burke is sports editor of the Cumberland Times-News. Contact Mike Burke at mburke@times-news.com.
Mike Burke - Sports
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