Losers! 9 Games in a row!
According to The Baltimore Sun, this 1-9 stretch was the worst 10 game homestand in team history. I don't doubt it. In fact, it beat out a 2-8 run from 1955.
There were only 2 good things to come out of these past 10 games. Bedard beasting Mussina's strikeout record and the following quotes from Dave Trembley, found in one of Roch's blogs tonight:
Garrett Olson will have a familiar catcher on Saturday.
J.R. House will be behind the plate.
"I told him I hadn't done a real good job giving him as many opportunities as I feel I should have," manager Dave Trembley said, referring to House. "I'm going to try to do a better job with that."
It's clear that Trembley will give the younger guys a long look next month after rosters expand.
"I think you take yourself out of the equation and you do what's right for both the player and the team. And I've got to do that," he said. "There are going to be some kids called up in September. I'm not going to play every game like it's the seventh game of the World Series and not give those guys a chance. I've got to give them a chance. That's only fair. If you're just concerned with yourself and the record, I think you're missing the big picture. I won't miss the big picture."
Link: http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/roch/blog/2007/08/house_call_1.html
"Big picture".
This losing bender is awful. I don't want to see it, it makes me miserable, it's frickin depressing. But if it gets the attention of the brain trust and shows them just how much work they have cut out for them, good. No more hoping for the best and shooting for .500 with the overpaid and undertalented this season, let's look to the future and see what we really have here, warts and all. Let the kids play.
Another blurb in the same post makes a Traschel trade look somewhat promising. Sounds nice, but I'll believe it when I see it.
Putting aside all this big picture business for a second, we shouldn't overlook the fact that the goal of baseball is to win baseball games. So, when the hell do you think we'll start doing that again? Here's an updated version of my poll from the other day...