5 Future Members Of The Orioles Hall Of Fame

 

This past weekend The Oriole's inducted three new members into their Hall Of Fame. Long time O's broadcaster Tom Davis who hosted pre and post game shows on nearly every local broadcast from HTS (Home Team Sports), WJZ channel 13, WNUV channel 54, Comcast Sportsnet, and Masn.  

Joe Orsulak who was a bit before my time I was too young to really see him, but by all accounts he was an OK player. And finally the man himself, that exemplified the Oriole Way in the 2010's, embraced and became a part of this city. While giving so much back, and will always be synonymous with the Orioles, Adam Jones.

With these recent inductions I started thinking about former personnel that deserves to be in the O's Hall of fame. I've picked 5 people and I thought long and hard about 2 current players, Manny Machado and Cedric Mullins. Who I believe will end up there one day, but decided to focus on those removed from the game for a while. So let's get to it.

Jonathan Schoop

Jonathan Schoop joined the Oriole's organization in 2008, working his way through the minors and earning awards like The Brooks Robinson minor league player of the year award in 2011. As well as playing in the all stars future game that year.

He joined the roster full time in 2013 and alongside J.J. Hardy and Manny Machado was a dangerous infield trio. He was an integral part of their 2014 and 2016 playoff teams and made the all-star game in 2017. Traded in 2018 mid-season to the Milwaukee Brewers, his production fell off across stints with the Tigers and Twins. His time with the Orioles was a fun ride and he deserves his flowers.

Matt Weiters

Before Jackson Holliday, Matt Weiters was the blue chip prospect who would lead the Orioles to championships. He was the teams first round draft pick in 2007 with the fifth pick. A switch hitting catcher with power, the sky was the limit for him. He was called up to the majors in 2009 and bought a wave of potential and excitement with him.

While his power numbers never truly matched the hype. He was lights out when it came to throwing out baserunners, essentially daring them to run on him. During his time wearing the black and orange, he won two gold glove awards in 2011 and 2012. As well as an all-star in 2011, 2012, 2014, and 2016. He left the team after the 2016 season to join the Washington Nationals, then a brief stint with the Cardinals.

In the eyes of many, he will ways be an Oriole and deserves to enter the hall.

Scott Erickson

This one I was shocked isn't already in the hall of fame. Not sure if its politics, or I hear Erickson could be prickly so that may play a part in why he's not a member yet. If they had thought about it before 2020, his recent legal troubles is probably the main reason he hasn't been inducted so far this decade.

When he joined the team in 1995 via trade, he put up respectable numbers. He then became a solid number 2 pitcher behind Mike Mussina, and had his best year in 1997. Winning 16 games and having a 3.69 era. He also became known for completing games and throwing alot of pitches that turned into ground balls.

After the 2000 season, things began to nosedive for him. With Mussina leaving after that season, Erickson missed the entire 2001 season with an injury when he had the chance to become the ace. He returned in 2003 and pitched opening day that season, but that was the highlight of his remaining time with the O's.

When he gets his personal life together, he should be inducted into the hall.

Buck Showalter 

When Buck Showalter was hired to replace Juan Samuel during the 2010 season, he bought respectability back to the organization. He also bought hope to fans, for the O's to return to their winning ways. A steady hand as manager, he guided the team to the playoffs in 2012, 2014, and 2016. Winning the AL manager of the year award in 2014.

While leading and nurturing talent like Adam Jones, Nick Markakis, Manny Machado, Jonathan Schoop, Matt Weiters, Chris Tillman, and J.J. Hardy among others. His 669 wins as Orioles manager is second only to Mr. Earl Weaver. Had he been more time to lead the team past 2018 he may have surpassed that record.

Fans miss what Buck bought to Baltimore. Sooner rather than later he deserves to put on that green jacket.

Rafael Palmerio

It's been 20 years since Rafael Palmerio's hall of fame worthy career was shattered. When he was suspended for using performance enhancing drugs. A member of the 500 home run and 3,000 hits club, its a shame his accomplishments enhanced or not went down the drain.  

During his time with the O's especially in the mid-90's. He was a fearsome middle of the order batter, and could have been in the conversation as one of the best first basemen during his era. Playing alongside Cal Ripken, Brady Anderson, Bobby Bonilla, Eddie Murphy, and B.J. Surhoff. He was a key component of the Baltimore Bombers moniker given to the team, known for hitting home runs. A problem that still haunts the team to this day.

I think its time his past mistakes are acknowledged but not held against him. If others who have done far worse in other areas of life, can still be elected or allowed to run their businesses. Rafael Palmerio should be allowed to return to Camden Yards and get his flowers.

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O's Theory: The Mike Mussina Curse

 

After a few seasons of contention after a long rebuild, the Oriole's have regressed horribly this year. There's no way to put it other than they fucking suck right now, and it seems fundamentally across the board they have forgotten the basics. While timely hitting and manufacturing runs that don't rely on home runs has been the Achilles heel of the team for a while, pitching has been a thorn in the O's side for a long time. A long time as in 25 years and I started thinking, are the Orioles pitching woes the result of a curse?

Quite possibly the Mike Mussina curse? A team that at one time was known for their dominant pitching, when you think about it Mussina was the Oriole's last homegrown dominant pitcher. Hell honestly he is their last consistently dominant pitcher period. He left the Oriole's to join the dreaded Yankee's in the fall of 2000, and depending on who you ask he never really wanted to leave the O's, but they didn't make a serious offer to him. Ya know the same ol' song athletes often spew when they try to deflect the backlash from them leaving in free agency.

Since his departure, the Orioles no matter the era starting pitching just doesn't cut the mustard over the long haul. Scott Erickson who was a dynamic duo starting pitcher with Mussina, wasn't the same after Mussina left. He got hammered when he pitched, when he didnt pitch he spent long sometimes season long stretches injured.

 They've had decent pitchers who were very inconsistent like Sidney Ponson, Zack Britton, Chris Tillman and Erik Bedard. Guys who maybe weren't starting pitching material but was what they had at the time like Rodrigo Lopez and Jeremy Guthrie. 

Frustarting guys like Jake Arrieta and Kevin Gausman who you saw all the potential while they were here and then once they were no longer with the team it all came together.  Projects that didn't pan out like Brian Matsuz, Dylan Bundy, and Adam Loewen. Bad luck free agent signings like Alex Cobb, serviceable but not great like Pat Hentgen and head scratching one's like Ubaldo Jimenez. Not to mention the disaster of a signing this past off season in Charlie Morton.

Although 25 years have passed since Mussina left, and he and the team have mended fences. With Mussina entering the Oriole's hall of fame in 2012. He also entered the National Baseball Hall Of Fame in 2019, opting not to wear one team logo on the cap for his plaque as the only two teams he ever played for meant so much to his career. A nice gesture I guess, but nice to know he acknowledges how much he meant to the Oriole's and the Oriole's meant to him.

That doesn't mean, the Oriole's aren't still paying for the sins of how they let him leave. That can be the only logical explanation for why starting pitching continues to haunt the team to this day.

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The Plight Of Being A O's Fan

 It's only May and its been a long season for the O's, and truth be told its only going to get longer. Somewhere between their playoff exit last year and this season, they've forgotten how to play fundamental baseball. Brandon Hyde was fired to save Elias ass, Rubinstein suddenly had fallen back from the spotlight. And everything everyone knew was a problem for the team, had combusted all at once. Lack of quality starter pitchers, and lack of scoring if their not hitting Homer's.

Once again the franchise seems to be in a tailspin. And O's fan's are on edge about the competitive window of the team. Quite frankly it is tough, very TOUGH to be an Oriole's fan. The last time the Orioles won the world series was three years before I was born, which means there is an entire generation out there (Gen X) have not seen the O's win since they were Kid's. Millennials like myself and Gen Z'ers who have never even seen them in a world series. And at this rate Gen Alpha and possibly the newest name Gen Beta may not see them either.

I remember the '96 O's, and looking back even if Jeffrey Maier hadn't reached out and took the ball from Tony Tarasco. We still would have lost to the Yankees because it was their year. The '97 team was a different story, we should have beat the Indians and made the World Series. After that we did not sniff the playoffs again until 2012, a 15 year gap.

 Then came 2014 which I just knew was our year. I remember being at Game 2 of the division series against the Tigers, and the amazing atmosphere after we came back to win. Then we got swept by The Royal's with the same issues that plague the team now. Lack of timely hitting if there are no Homer's.

2016 was a dud. Then another seven years passed before we made the playoffs in 2023. And we all know how last years playoffs went, which gave us plenty of warning signs about this season.

Honestly we O's fan's are tired. From Baby Boomers on down, we all are exhausted of the teams inability to be competitive for long periods of time. We use to live on hope, with every proclaimnation that a new era was upon us. I don't know about you guys, but I'm pretty much out of hope.

I'm not throwing in the towel just yet. However, there definitely needs to be some changes in the warehouse, on how they scout, draft, and develop talent. Knowing when to actually pay for the missing pieces to bring a game changing talent here. And just what they want the culture of the O's to be in the long haul.

Truth be told, I just want to sit in a corner and cry tears of joy. Sooner rather than later when the Orioles finally win a World Series in my lifetime.

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Regression Is The O's Theme This Year

 

We interrupt our regularly scheduled program for this news brief, the Oriole's are crashing out! In fact they are crashing out HARD! A month into the 2025 season, and the O's are in last place in the division with a 10 and 17 record. 6 1/2 games back from first place, which if they get on a hot streak soon as in very soon, is not unattainable. However, it seems the theme for the Orioles this year has been regression.

Things started off hamstrung, with injuries to pitchers Grayson Rodriguez and Zach Eflin just as the season was kicking off. Kyle Bradish is still recovering from Tommy John Surgery slated to return near the end of the summer. Same goes for Tyler Wells who is recovering from UCL surgery and also slated to return late summer. Charlie Morton who was bought in on a one year deal to kind of off-set the pain from losing Corbin Burnes, has made that pain even worse. He is 0-6 this season and seems to get hammered every outing.

While pitching is bad, the hitting is even more depressing. Adley Rutschman has not recovered from his late season and playoff slump last year. Gunnar Henderson and Ryan Mountcastle seem to have taken a step back as well. Jackson Holliday seems to be improving, but still has yet to live up to the hype. Jorge Mateo has been looking lost out there for some reason. Heston Kjerstad has been consistent, and Cedric Mullins has been Mr. Reliable. Yet the Oriole's are still plagued by their inability to manufacture runs, if they not hitting homers their not scoring. That was their downfall in the playoffs last year and was supposed to be resolved with the hiring of new hitting coach Cody Asche.

It look's like Cody's philosophy hasn't changed much thus far. Speaking of coach's Brandon Hyde's Achilles heel continues to be lineup and bullpen management. However, I'm starting to wonder if his methods of communicating and his message is losing reverence with the team. If by miracle we turn thing's around and make the playoff's, I don't believe he is the guy to get us over the hump.

Hyde isn't alone in who's to blame. Mike Elias has escaped a great of deal wrath during his time here. First it was because everyone was aware it would take time to rebuild the organization from the ground up. Then it was well known when he wanted to make moves, the Angelos family overruled him when the money got too high. Now, I'm not sure how much wiggle room David Reubenstein and his fellow owners have given him now. But he definitely didn't really look to make a impact signing in the off-season, and he seems to be playing things cool when it's obvious the club needs some help.

I don't know what's going on in the warehouse, but it seems across the board the entire organization has regressed in various aspects. I'm hoping it was just a rough April and May brings brighter days for the organization. If not it's going to be a long summer for us fans, as we try to make sense of what has gone wrong with the O's. 

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Five Random Thoughts About The Orioles Sale

 

On a quiet Tuesday evening, a bombshell announcement quickly spread out amongst news source. The Angelos family after 30 plus years have agreed to sell the Oriole's. For now the way the deal stands is they are only selling 40%, but once family patriarch Peter Angelos who is 94 and reportedly very ill passes on. The new ownership group will take full control of the team, with the Angelos maintaining a small percentage of the team.

There's a lot of questions surrounding this deal, and a lot of happy dancing going on. As fans have grown dissatisfied with the ownership, despite our recent successfully season winning the AL East and being in the playoffs for the first time in 7 years. While we wait for the MLB to approve the deal and more clarity is provided. Here are a few random thoughts I have about this transaction.

What Kind Of Changes Will The New Owners Make?

It's customary in any business deal that new owners survey the scene and start making changes. Often a good portion of those changes involve personnel decisions. It is my biggest hope that Mike Elias and his team are left alone, he is a very methodical individual from what I can tell. So far his long-term goal of putting the Oriole's in a situation to be contenders for years to come, looks to be finally coming together. 

We had a surprise successful season in 2022 that shocked a lot of people. Then last season we ran away with the AL East, winning 101 games and the division. Hopefully the new owners leave things as they are from that perspective and keep the momentum rolling.

Will The New Owners Open The Checkbook?

Even with the top farm system in baseball and a ton of prospects who have the ability to be superstars one day. The Orioles still need some veteran help who has been to championships and knows what it takes to get there. Within the AL East you can do all the drafting and developing and rule 5 hidden gems you want, but to battle the big boys of the East consistently the checkbook has to open.

That's not to say just spend on anyone that is a "name". However, in order to make it to the World Series, you need solid hitting and defense and some good damn near great pitching. John Means is a good talent, but he is not a true "ace", for the Oriole's to get one. Some hefty figures will need to get involved.

Will MASN Improve?

Reportedly Ownership of Masn will be included in the deal, I wonder if there are any implications with the Nat's though. So what will become of Masn? during the off-season it is a pitiful channel honestly. During the season when it should be a showcase of the Oriole's legacy and what the Nat's have been able to do since moving to D.C. in 2005. Instead everything is very run of the mill, produce a few documentaries on the teams, show some classic games. I don't know how many times a older game has played on Masn during a rain delay, and it's the same rotation of games. Show younger generations the Oriole's Magic and create lifetime fans with archives. And I hope the commentators are allowed to speak a little bit more freely, and some thought and money are put into the content. 

Hopefully discussions are had about accessing Masn if you dont have a cable subscription and improving the apps.

What Was The Hold up Over The Stadium Deal?

The Orioles and the state of Maryland had fans sweating bullets over a new stadium deal. A deal was finally made in mid-December right before Christmas. While the two sides had been negotiating on a new deal for a couple years including with the previous Governor Larry Hogan, there were alot of twists and turns involved in the discussions. Including a false announcement the night the O's clinched the division, that a deal had been made when in reality it hadn't.

The biggest holdup in the deal was that Angelos wanted to develop the land around Camden Yards. With a vision of having Camden Yards similar to The Battery in Atlanta. Even though there was some logistical issues that needed to be sorted out with an idea like that, it wasn't necessarily a bad one. Now with Angelos agreeing to sell the team, what was the point of holding up negotiations to have that provision in? If selling the team was always in the back of his mind? Unless getting something close to that in the agreement with the state, helped bolster his asking price for the team.

What Will Become Of The Angelo's Legacy?

When Peter Angelos led a ownership group to buy the Oriole's in 1993, he was hailed a hero. Returning ownership of the team to local businessmen with ties to the areas. In the 30 years since, Angelos has grown to be a very complicated figure amongst Oriole's fans, never really loved but hated a good portion of the time. He'd make good decisions like hiring Pat Gillick who architected the Toronto Blue Jays teams that won back to back World Series Championships in '92 and '93. Along with hiring Davey Johnson as team manager and the two led the Orioles to back to back playoff appearances in '96 and '97. But then he wouldnt let them run the team, leading to Johnson leaving in '97 after being voted A.L. Manager of The Year. Gillick left the following season once his contract was up, and the Orioles wouldn't make the playoffs again until 2012.

He tried to compete with George Steinbrenner but wouldn't open his checkbook nearly as much. When he did there were cases of bad luck like Albert Belle, Chris Davis, and Mark Trumbo or talents signed who already seen better days like Vladimir Guerrero. Things like that aren't necessarily his fault, but occurred on his watch and at times his insistence. He refused to really invest in the farm systems leading to the Oriole's being way behind other clubs in that aspect.

When his son's took over, they made the shrewd decision to bring in Mike Elias who was in the front office when the Astros built their farm system, which led to them being playoff contenders every year. Winning the World Series in 2017, a year before Elias would be hired by the Orioles. To their credit they largely let Elias build the team how he see's fit.

Now things took a turn when Louis Angelos filed a lawsuit against John with a claim he wanted to move the team to Nashville, which sent shockwaves of fears up O's fans back's. Since that lawsuit it just seems John is never transparent with fans and the media, or outright caught in a lie. From the blunder of how stadium lease negotiations were held. To his continued promises and then resistances to "open the books", his lashing out at a reporter about asking a question on MLK day. He soon drew the ire of O's fans, who were rather tired of him always choosing the worst time to undermine the Oriole's when things were rolling in the right direction.

Once the Angelo's family no longer has complete control of the team, I think people will give them a little bit of a break. However, the family will never be considered ideal owners in the eye's of O's fans. Under their Ownership the Oriole's only made the playoffs six times in their 30 years of ownership, never appearing in the World Series. They aren't in the conversation as one of the worst ownership groups in sports history, but they never will be considered one of the best.

                                    

Honestly I don't care about rich people with rich people problems. As long as we see more fruitful years of the Orioles in the playoffs, and a World Series championship before I hit 40 (I just turned 38). I will be a happy man.

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Two "New Days" in Baltimore

This past week Baltimore aimed to proclaim a "New Day" in two ways. Baltimore's Mayor Catherine Pugh selected a new police commissioner Joel Fitzgerald, the fourth police commissioner in five years. Meanwhile in the sports world the Oriole's bought on a new general manager Mike Elias from the Houston Astros who played a great deal in their resurgence. Both men seem qualified in their respective positions and have a mountain of work ahead of them,

Joel Fitzgerald is coming from Fort. Worth, TX as the police chief there to take the position. He has already proclaimed he is coming to "help heal the city" and is very aware of the task in front of him. A disheartening stubborn murder rate, reported low morale among the men and women in blue. Trust issues between the police department and the community it serves, and a federal mandate to reform the department and some of it's practices. Hopefully he's the man to help change things.

Mike Elias who was an assistant GM in the Astros organization, is a man many are hoping will spearhead the effort to bring a World Series championship back to Baltimore. Coming off a horrible 115 lost season, he has to find a new manager and coaching staff, rebuild the farm system which has been in disarray for years. Take a look at the current roster which has a few valuable trade chips but not many, and expand the organizations footprint in Latin America which it is severely behind other clubs on. He has made the statement his goal is to build "an elite talent pipeline". The Orioles cant develop pitchers let alone many impact players for any position, hopefully he stays true to his word and is here to change that.

While both men have two completely different jobs that have different effects on peoples lives. They both have a steep hill to climb and both deserve a chance to turn things around. Along with being the man in charge there is something else they will need....help. These reforms won't be successful without a good support system around both gentlemen.

Baltimore did not get the crime rate it's known for overnight. It's an result of decades of neglect, systematic policies that hurt citizens as opposed to helping, carelessness, sense of hoplessness and a "not our problem" mentality. For Joel Fitzgerald and the police department to truly turn things around for the long haul, it's going to require a lot of help from the local government, state government, and community. A way to keep repeat offenders off the streets and mean it, reach out to troubled youth and steer them in the right direction before it's too late, bring more jobs to the city. Bring the school system up to date to engage kids who have more then enough distractions. Making sure the police department is well staffed and equipped for the job, and has the resources needed to get the job done.

The Orioles had a brief renaissance, but still did not address organization wide issues that plagued them for years and proved to be a culprit in their massive downfall. Elias has already began building his team by bringing analytics guru Sig Mejdal over as assistant GM with him from the Astros. One of the most important positions in my opinion is finding a qualified person who can finally develop some quality pitchers like the O's were known for back in the 60's and 70's. Taking nothing from Andy Macphail, Buck Showalter, or Dan Duquette but truly bringing back the Oriole Way throughout the entire organization. Bringing the organization into the 21st century is a career at this point. And Mike Elias will have to surround himself with the right people to make it happen in a time frame fans will accept.

Personally I hope both men are true agents of change. I also hope they are allowed to think outside the box and be innovative with how they approach change. Obviously what's going on in the police department and the Orioles isn't working, so new ideas need to be bought in. Let's give them a shot and hope the crime rate goes down to historic lows in a few years and stays that way, let's hope the Orioles finally bring that championship home. In both ways it'll heal the city. 

 a mountain of work ahead of them.
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Adam Said Naw

The Orioles have recently acknowledged the big “R" word and are in full rebuild mode. After trading a generational talent like Manny Machado and All-Star closer Zach Britton, The Orioles made last minute trades and sent Darren O’Day, Kevin Gausman, and Jonathan Schoop to other teams.

  Noticeably missing from that group was Adam Jones. He’s been reported he used his 10 years in the majors, 5 with the same team veto clause to block any potential trades. People have questioned was that the right move..not sure if it was but it’s complicated.

   Since being traded to the team in 2008 Adam has become the face of the team. He plays a very big role in the community and has embraced Baltimore as his home during the season and the off-season. When most people think of the Baltimore Orioles Adam Jones is the first name they think of.

   Adam Jones just turned 33, which by no means is old but in professional sports typically means a player is on the downside of their career. Maybe Adam felt at this point in his career and with his family rooted in Baltimore, there is no need to go anywhere else for a championship run.

   Maybe he felt no matter what else he does or if he joins another team, his legacy will be the Orioles and the city of Baltimore. Maybe he feels he can be a role model in a predominately black city and inspire black kids in the city to play baseball. He may feel that is more important than anything else at this time.

   Or maybe Adam recognizes even in this rebuild mode and “youth" movement, there is still a need for veteran leadership. Everyone knows Adam is the leader of that clubhouse, he may feel compelled to give back and mentor younger players coming on board the Oriole Way. There’s been reports he’s even willing to move to another outfield spot, one to play a less demanding outfield position and two make way for the new blood and mentor them.

   This rebuild will be painful for the next couple years. Maybe in Adam’s mind he can stay a Oriole, stick around for the rebuild and finally bring the World Series Championship to the city of Baltimore in the twilight of his career. He’ll be hailed as a hero and his legacy will forever be cemented as an Oriole.

   Maybe Adam Jones see’s the bigger picture past his personal accomplishments. He was here when things weren't so great, was a driving force in the resurgence from 2012-2016, is back in another downturn. He knows better times are coming and is prepared to dig deep, ride the roller coaster, and fight to get there.

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