It?s really all about timing.
In 1983, Joe Altobelli led the Orioles to their most recent world championship in his first season at the helm here. When Earl Weaver stepped down ? the first time ? after the 1982 season, most everyone agreed that the job should have gone to longtime organization man Cal Ripken Sr.
Senior, however, had never managed a big league club, and owner Edward Bennett Williams went with Altobelli, who had managed the Giants for three seasons, finishing as high as third. Altobelli also had experience managing in the Orioles? farm system, though not nearly as extensive as Cal Sr.?s.
You know the story. After 55 games in 1985, Williams determined that Altobelli had gotten stupid overnight and brought back Weaver at considerable expense. Weaver managed the club through 1986 and then retired for good, and at last, Cal Sr. got to manage the Orioles … at probably the worst time in club history.
Other than Cal Jr. and Eddie Murray, the club was a few stars shy of contending. They lost 95 games in 1987 and after dropping the first six games in 1988 ? en route to a 21-game losing streak ? Senior was relieved of his duties, in favor of Frank Robinson.
If only he?d gotten the job when he should have ? 1983 ? I think the history of this club wouldhave been much different. Senior was a deserving heir to the job four years before he got it and, in retrospect, would have had a greater impact on the club long-term than either Altobelli or a recycled Weaver.
Sam Perlozzo was a good soldier for the Orioles, coaching under Davey Johnson, Ray Miller, Mike Hargrove and Lee Mazzilli. He should have gotten the job when Miller left, or when Hargrove left, but, perhaps due to a low profile, finished out of the money both times. When he replaced Mazzilli in 2005, he was inheriting a club nowhere near contending, but big league managing jobs are few and far between, and he wasn?t going to say no.
Perlozzo?s support from the fans seems all but gone, and the lukewarm support he has received publicly from Oriole players is disappointing. If ownership is indeed contemplating a change, we have to wonder who?s on the short list. I suspect most fans would not be able to name many, if any, of the men currently managing Baltimore minor league affiliates. They are as follows:
» AAA Norfolk ? Gary Allenson
» AA Bowie ? Bien Figueroa
» A Frederick ? Tommy Thompson
» A Delmarva ? Gary Kendall
» A Aberdeen ? Andy Etchebarren
» Rookie Bluefield ? Alex Arias
» Gulf Coast Orioles ? Orlando Gomez
Any of those names turn you on? I didn?t think so.
Before Tuesday?s game, the Orioles were four games under .500 with nine games against three teams that are a combined 58-73. They could conceivably get back to around .500 after those games, and really, were your expectations much higher than that?
Every season has peaks and valleys. It would be different if the Orioles were 14-30, but they?re not. The way they?ve lost some games has been heartbreaking, which adds to the turmoil around Perlozzo.
With no obviously compelling replacement in sight, I?mnot convinced the timing is right for a change at the quarter-pole of the season.
Contact Phil Wood at [email protected].
