A couple of O's watch Rays celebrate, plenty of others don't
Knowing that the Tampa Bay Rays needed just one victory or a Boston Red Sox loss to clinch a playoff berth, Orioles manager Buck Showalter said on Monday that he hoped some of his players stuck around in the dugout long enough to watch some of the celebration if the Rays happened to get a playoff-clinching win..
That happened tonight, and a couple of Orioles, including infielders Robert Andino and Brandon Snyder and reliever MIchael Gonzalez, hung around the visiting dugout at Tropicana Field, but most just quietly trudged to the clubhouse oblivious to the mob of Rays that rushed the field.
That included Orioles center fielder Adam Jones, who was fanned by Rays closer Rafael Soriano for the final out.
"It’s not me celebrating so why the hell would I want to watch somebody else celebrate?,” Jones said. “Nobody wants to see nobody be clinched on. Let’s face it, nobody wants to see it, but it happens. A lot of respect to them. They deserve it.”
Asked about whether the Orioles could have gained some motivation going forward by taking in the Rays' celebration, Jones said, "“We all know what winning is like, probably not all at this level, but we all know what winning is like. We don’t want to have to watch somebody else win to know what it is like."
Orioles young starter Brad Bergesen, who was rocked for five runs in five innings in his worst start in two month, disagreed with Jones, saying it will "definitely" serve as motviation.
"I think [with] what we’ve done in the last couple months, we really started to believe in ourselves so hopefully we are going to turn this thing around and come in with some momentum for next year,” he said.
A Baltimore native, 
Comments
Great move by Buck this might be the only time these younger players will ever experience something like this. Including looking from afar.
And I can see AJ's point of view. Extremely competitive people can't be around a loss. Hopefully he has already received the message and will be ready for next season. If he can temper his discipline, he will really turn the corner. From hitting to defense.
Posted by: dyun1dyun1 | September 28, 2010 11:45 PM
Lugo is a cancer to this team. Keep him out of the line-up and the team wins. Add him to the line-up and the team loses. look at the statistics.
Posted by: Gtluck | September 29, 2010 2:45 AM
To each his own as I see it. If some players can look on it as motivation to improve this winter fine.. I hope Andy watched it closely.. There are things need doing only he can do for this club over the winter to help Buck.
Posted by: grant | September 29, 2010 5:40 AM
If players watch the celebration hopefully they say to themselves that they want to be there and motivate themselves in that direction. Thats not hard to understand, so Jones better wake up. The prima donna all star is supposed to be one of the leaders to get us to that celebration so doesn't he get it? A little less self absorption on his part might make him a little more aware in the outfield and better recognize pitches at the plate. Maybe he wants out?
Posted by: joe from jersey | September 29, 2010 10:41 AM
Jeff,
It's interesting how this story has gained a kind of life in the public that might not necessarily be as true inside the clubhouse. It obviously started with Showalter's initial comment about a month ago. On a YES broadcast Kenny SIngleton later affirmed his view by relaying his experience when he was on the Mets and saw another team clinch in front of him.
I wonder how much of this story is real (in terms of how Showalter expressed it) vs. some kind of vicariousness mixed with hope in the public. For instance, does not wanting to see another team clinch on you be indicative of something in the player? Perhaps even be part of the the argument for letting a player go in the offseason?
Posted by: Eddie in NYC | September 29, 2010 11:46 AM
Bergeson REALLY needed to stay and watch!! I am furious with his PATHETIC outing. He did NOT come to pitch AT ALL against the Rays. He tore apart the NYY in 1 hr & 55 mins, giving up hardly anything. He should be ashamed of himself. He is the main reason why the Rays were celebrating. What a PATHETIC performance from him. His punishment should be to sit there and watch the whole Rays celebration.
Posted by: USMCvet | October 1, 2010 7:06 PM