The Orioles are in the midst of a historic run, albeit one they would rather wish on the Yankees.
With eight straight losing seasons in the book and a ninth only a half-season away, the Orioles are more than halfway to the American League record for team futility ? 15 straight losing seasons by the Boston Red Sox from 1919 to 1933.
Consider this: from 1998 through 2005, the Orioles lost a whopping 711 games ? an average of almost 89 a season, which includes a three-season stretch in which they lost 98, 95 and 91 games. In that same span, the Yankees have averaged only 62 losses a season, the Red Sox 70. Fourteen of the Orioles? last 20 seasons have ended with losing records.
Consider also that the last time the Orioles made the World Series, actor-turned-president Ronald Reagan was still in his first term, Tom Selleck was the nation?s heartthrob as “Magnum, P.I.,” Jennifer Beals was heating up movie screens in the box-office smash “Flashdance,” and The Police had yet another hit with “Every Breath You Take.”
So, do long-suffering Oriole fans have reason to believe the pain of losing will soon end? The Orioles think so.
For the first time since Peter Angelos purchased the team in 1994, the Orioles are moving away from their reliance on free agents and are now making a concerted effort to develop and promote their minor-league prospects. This is a return to the formula that led the franchise to six World Series appearances between 1966 and 1983.
“It?s a temptation [to spend a lot on free agents]…,” said Mike Flanagan, the team?s executive vice president of baseball operations. “In the case with this franchise, you go back to Albert Belle [in 1999], who was an indestructible player at the time. You?d say it was money well spent, but he was out of ball within three years.
“We?d rather build from within, where possible, and then down the road, if there?s one specific guy we want to go out and target, then we?d be able to do that, too.”
Jim Duquette, the team?s vice president of baseball operations, said this doesn?t mean the Orioles won?t be in the market for big-name players. But free agents will only complement players coming out of the team?s farm system.
“Veterans bring experience, but young players bring excitement and energy,” Duquette said. “What we need to do is find the right mix. Our goal is to be competitive every year.”
Currently, 11 of the 25 players on the active roster are “homegrown” products. That?s significant, especially from a system that failed to produce an everyday impact player between 1981 (Cal Ripken) and 2001 (Brian Roberts).
“It?s been many years since we?ve had this many good players in our system,” said David Stockstill, the Orioles? director of minor league operations.
Baseball America magazine shares this assessment, ranking the Orioles? minor-league system 13th out of 30 teams in 2006 after ranking it 25th, 19th, 30th, 29th and 27th the previous five seasons. Draft picks like closer Chris Ray and outfielder Nick Markakis in 2003 have given this appraisal validity. Both are with the parent club this season.
Still, retooling the Orioles? system is a work in progress. While there are plenty of quality pitchers throughout, there is a dearth of infielders and power hitters. And Stockstill knows there is a lot of work to be done in restocking a farm system that has been plagued by poor draft picks, injuries and just plain bad luck.
“We?ve made a lot of progress, but I don?t think it has been as bad here as people have said,” Stockstill said. “The only way to change that [perception] is to develop major-league players, and that?s something we haven?t done.”
FALLING FROM GRACE
An examination of the Orioles? 15 drafts since the club moved into Camden Yards in 1992 reveals a franchise that consistently failed to make the right player-development decisions.
The biggest mistake?
In 1992, they took outfielder Jeffrey Hammonds with the fourth pick instead of Derek Jeter, the Yankees? future Hall of Famer. Then in 1995, the Orioles were quick to grab pitcher Alvie Shepherd, when future all-stars Carlos Beltran and Sean Casey were available.
In 1999, the Orioles owned seven of the draft?s top 50 picks, and only the last of those selections ? Roberts ? went on to make an impact in the majors. The following year, the team took can?t-miss pitching prospect Beau Hale out of the University of Texas. But shoulder problems sidetracked the righthander?s career, and he?s currently pitching for Double-A Bowie.
“When you lose a pitcher like Beau Hale to injuries, it is a huge blow to an organization,” Stockstill said. “A pitcher like that is someone you peg to be a No. 1 or No. 2 starter for 10 years. When it doesn?t work out, you?re forced to use another high draft pick on a position you didn?t expect to be an area of concern.”
The Orioles? poor luck on draft day was highlighted in 2001 when they used the seventh pick on Cumberland (Tenn.) University pitcher Chris Smith. The Orioles wanted Georgia Tech first baseman Mark Teixeira (Mount St. Joseph) but lost him, thanks to a three-game sweep of the Yankees to end the 2000 season. Those wins pushed the Orioles back in the draft order. They took Smith, who is no longer with the organization, while Teixeira is in his third season with the Texas Rangers, batting .274 as an everyday player.
“It?s amazing how a true impact player can be just a few draft picks out of your reach,” said Tony DeMacio, the Orioles? scouting director from 1999 to 2004.
TURNING THE CORNER?
The good news is the Orioles have been rebounding from those draft mishaps. In 2002, they selected pitchers Adam Loewen and Hayden Penn, followed the next year by Ray and Markakis. Hopes are high in the organization that it won?t take long for Loewen and Penn to move into the starting rotation.
In 2004, the Orioles drafted pitcher Wade Townsend, but was unable to sign him. Townsend signed with Tampa Bay before blowing out his elbow last year, and the Orioles used their compensation pick on current Bowie pitcher Garrett Olson, who went 4-4 with a 2.77 ERA, 77 strikeouts and 19 walks with Single-A Frederick before being promoted last month.
“The biggest problem was that for years the talent wasn?t [in the organization],” said former Orioles pitcher Scott McGregor, who is the Baysox?s pitching coach. “That?s not the case anymore.”
Frederick manager Bien Figueroa said he?s pleased to see the Orioles doing more to encourage the development of their own players.
“It wasn?t that long ago that if a kid struggled after a month in the majors he would be sent down and you?d never see him again,” said Figueroa, who has been in the organization since 1996. “Now, the big-league club is more patient.”
Many in the organization said that they expect things to only get better with Stockstill and Joe Jordan, the team?s director of scouting, working together.
Among the draft picks taken under Jordan and Stockstill are Frederick outfielder Nolan Reimold and Delmarva pitchers Chorye Spoone (CCBC-Catonsville/Northeast HS) and Brandon Erbe (McDonogh). Through Thursday, Reimold was batting .263 with 10 homers and 43 RBI, while Spoone was 5-4 with a 2.82 ERA and Erbe was 5-6 with a 2.76 ERA with 95 strikeouts and 24 walks.
“Our job is to identify talent,” Jordan said. “Then you have to have faith [in the organization] to develop those players.”
Bowie pitcher Richard Stahl, a 1999 first-round pick, said he?s seen a lot in his seven years in the Orioles organization ? some good, some bad. “But now,” he said, “the emphasis is on teaching ? and winning ? throughout the entire organization.”
And that?s good to know if you?re an Oriole fan.
Examiner Staff Writer Matt Palmer contributed to this story.
