Spencer Fordin of Orioles.com has an interesting story of Dave Trembley’s Post-game comments from last-night:
http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090624&content_id=5503974&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=bal
Fordin points out that Trembley typically employs a 24 hour-rule, where he allows himself to calm-down, before calling-out a player publically.
Last-night, Trembley wasted no-time in calling-out Felix Pie for two issues from the game.
I understand that Trembley was frustrated, and with microphones in his face probably said more than he would have liked.
However, I agree with that 24 hour strategy, as I think that has been part of Trembley’s strengths in maintaining a club-house, and dealing effectively with the media – and think it was a mistake to call-out Pie alone.
I like Trembley… and I agree that the OF play was an extremely poor mental decision from Pie, that is not really acceptable at any-level.
That said, I think Trembley has to hold himself accountable as well.
Pie went into last night, with 7 at-bats for June, and none since June 14th.
That is also not acceptable.
Pie had 2 hits last night, but while he should have been in the lineup, really did not belong in the 2 hole. There were multiple reasons for not having him batting 2nd…
1) His on-base % in conjunction with his recent complete lack of playing time
2) The lack of experience of batting behind Roberts…. It took Jones almost 1/2 a season to get comfortable batting behind Roberts, and being on the bases with him. I am not going to get on Pie for the base running issue in the 1st… Roberts made an aggressive play, and Pie attempted to do the same… he just got out.
If Trembley would have preferred Pie to be patient there, than he probably should not have had Pie batting 2nd to begin with.
Pie has 97 total at-bats in 2009… 357 for his ML career, and is just 24…. Those at-bats matter, but I am not sure why those sporadic at-bats at ages 22-24 carry more weight than his 1,100+ at-bats at AAA (PCL or not).
Reimold has had 112 at-bats… regular and consistent playing time is helping him produce. We should all remember that Reimold is making his Major League debut at a full year older than Pie is now. The can both have a future on this team.
People like to make the point that when Jones and Markakis were in their first years, in their worst slumps, that they showed something.
To me, both players had the benefit of knowing that for good and bad they were going to be in the lineup every-night, and have the ability to learn from failure.
At the end of the day, Trembley should not be crushed for having one off post-game news conference; and Pie should not be crucified for not producing in less than 100 scattered at-bats over the course of 3 months.
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Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.