hey, pete. nothing to add to what you said. just want to check in and say thanks for the blogs. i always look forward to reading your take on things and almost always agree.

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Pete's reply: Thanks very much.

Thnaks for the reality check. Too many amateur psychologists hitting the Post button lately.

Pete it's been 4 day's since i told you to have a great day. But once again i beg to differ with you and again it's not so much to disagree about something it's because more then a majority of fans have noticed the same thing about brian that i have been posting for over 6 weeks now.It's like you go out of your way to protect any thing associated with regards to the orioles dave t, brian roberts, nick, or just the way you say that they look flat but it's really not because they aren't giving 100%. Look i will say this once again and it's not very hard to deny. Brian roberts has gotten his fill of losing on this ball club, he has never endured anything but losing and if he was very honest with everybody he would tell you that his preference would have been to be traded to a contender. The contract he signed was way to huge not to sign but like i said before all the money in the world can't undue the mental fatigue that comes with playing for a loser. Make no mistake pete Brian's game has suffered because of it. You asked me 2 weeks ago what i meant when i said that nobody would go out of there way to make critical remarks about him because he was the teams Favorite Son. You knew then what i meant by it and you truly know today what i mean.

Just because BRob wouldn't have been safe by not hustling doesn't make it ok. Sadly you only have to look back to last week when on ARod's pop up with two outs was dropped. Tex scored the winning run hustling all the way from first base on what was a routine pop up to the second baseman. The point is, you never know when it will matter and especially as a leader of a team full of up and coming young guys. Roberts should be held accountable for his actions and should be asked about it. Have you, Roch, or anyone else asked him about this issue?

Hey Pete,
I appreciate your tireless work, being stuck her in Boston I get nothing but Red Sux news, so your coverage of the O's is refreshing. That being said the hustle thing really gets to most fans because like last night Brob grounds to second and just jogs down there like its a company softball game. The whole point of hustling down the line is that you put pressure on the 1st and 2nd basman to make the routine play. I know it doesnt happen often but if the guy bobbles the ball or the 1st baseman drops it then you have a chance to be safe, but not if you are just jogging down there, they could drop it 10 times before he was even close last night!! And its not just Brob its the whole team. We need a manager that will be a manager not a babysitter. Trembles was a career minor league manager for a reason!

Hi Pete,

That was a compelling debate that you just had with yourself about the lack of hustle, or the appearance thereof. I believe that the lack of hustle on the part of several players is real, not an interpretation. I also believe that this will manifest itself sporadically with many of the veteren players until the team begins to play meaningful games in September, let alone June. Chronic losing in competetive team sports wears down the desire to extend one's self to the limit when the outcome of the team's fortunes has been decided.

A well written piece on the topic of hustle. But I still think that Roberts should be benched tonight for his play last night. Maybe his poor performance was not due entirely to lack of hustle, but he didn't appear to be totally focused either mentally or physically last night. Dave T needs to send a loud message that lack of effort OR lack of mental concentration will not be tolerated.

That was well said - you should think about a career as a writer. Seriously (folks), I am big BRob fan, but I wonder if part of the problem is that people think he is overpaid. I know I do, and I'm not talking overpaid in the real world, but baseball-overpaid. I like him, he certainly seems like a stand-up guy, and while he's a terrific leadoff hitter, he's only average to above average in the field, in my humble opinion. I mean, I just wouldn't put him in, say, Kinsler's class. Fans tend to be less forgiving when you're making the big bucks.

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Pete's reply: I think you're probably right about that.

Pete,

Speaking of hustle, I know I'm not the only person who has ever noticed this but there is one young guy who has to carry out the jackets for pictures that are called into a game and as soon as he hands off the jacket to the bat boy, he turns and runs back to the pen as fast as humanly possible. I dont think I've ever seen so much hustle from anyone, let alone a young kid who isn't even on the team.

Any insight on who this young guy is and whats with the sprinting?

Thanks!

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Pete's reply: Those are members of the grounds crew, and they do that to fire up the crowd.

So who sits to let Wiggy play tonight? Roberts or Mora?

I would go with Mora, I think BRob is going to have a great game tonight.

Brian Roberts didn't run the ball out before he signed his big contract. And he still doesn't.

Bobby Cox yanked his shortstop on Sunday after he botched the rundown on Brian Roberts and allowed the runner to steal home.

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Pete's reply: Yeah, but not everybody has the energy to catch eight games in seven days like you do.

Very well said, Peter. It is hard for us to question the motivation or preparation of a guy like Roberts, who is obviously excellent at his craft, and not purely through natural talent alone.

I think a distinction should be made between hustle and body language. I don't think hustle is the issue, since Roberts busts his ass on every play, but I do think that his body language (and a few of his comments the past few years) reveal a certain amount of frustration with the constant losing. As high as a standard as it might be to hold a guy to, I think Roberts would do better to work on his body language sometimes, because whether he likes it or not, he is a leader of this team, if not in the clubhouse than to his fans.

Pete... Seems to me that in your heart of hearts, you're still an L.A. kind of guy. Moonlanding? Whateva... name a sandwich for it. Tie game in the 7th? Mmmm, better leave now to beat the traffic. Lack of hustle? Hey, we were probably going to lose anyway.

The way I see it, this team doesn't have as much talent as many of the teams they play. If they are going to be competitive, they have to outwork the opposition. That happens when one guy hustles more than he needs to, which encourages the next guy to do the same. Pretty soon, it becomes a part of the team's character. The opposite is also true. "Might as well relax because we probably won't win" is a self-fulfilling prophecy. And if they are going to lose, I'd at least like to see them bust their asses doing it.

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Pete's reply: Moon landing?

For Pete's (?!) sake, no one is expecting players to run to first base on a walk a la Pete Rose. But there's no such thing as a sure out on a batted ball in play, so Brian Roberts and every other player should never dog it to first base. Plus if he repeatedly dogs it to first base, fielders may catch on to this and feel less pressured to get the ball to the first baseman in a hurry, reducing their chances of making a mistake. It's a self-fulfilling "certain" out.

Consider last night's game: Brian Roberts' error on what should have been a double play became a game-changer. If the batter dogged it to first base on the assumption that he was a sure out, or if the runner on first had assumed he was a sure out, then the error might not have proven as costly.

no reason why anyone shouldn't run hard everytime the ball is hit even if it's a ground ball back to the box or to 2nd base. you never know when an infielder is going to take his eye off the ball for a split second causing him fumble with the ball and rush the throw. it's only 90 feet not a mile. the manager is responsible for setting the right tone. if guys just jog down the line and the manager doesn't do anything it tells everyone it's o.k. to loaf.

I think the fans are sensitive to this "hustle"issue because we have witnessed the team mail it in for large chunks of the past eleven years. That's not just perception. A few past players and a coach have stated how dismal it was to play in Baltimore. It tore Miggy up. Millar was honest enough to admit the constant losing affected his ability to focus and in part caused his tail off last year.

The bottom line is, this team is going to be subject to this line of criticism because of past performance. Personally, I expected a losing season. I think I'm with the overwhelming majority in that regard. But I would like to see a team that battles come July and beyond, even if they are at the bottom of the standings. Each fan will make the determination as to whether they think the team is still engaged. Problem is, because of past performance, they don't get much leeway. Fair or not, I expect that's how it will be until the O's start winning.

14 posts and the only one you replied to was the guy that said thank you for the blogs. The other 13 posts are iin agreement that there is something wrong with brian's game, but yet you didn't have one thing to say. To many fans are starting to get tired of Dave t just letting things go. Mike scosia reemed his team out last week and i think they have won 6 or 7 straight games.Everybody that watches these games can't have a different view then you Pete.or is it just a different OPINION

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Pete's reply: Get your facts straight. I made long replies to Bill and Phil, and I put up every opinion. I wrote the entire Brian/Hustle post to reply to those. It was almost the length of a whole column. Jeez. Your welcome.

Pete,

I one hundred percent agree with this post. Over 162 games players are not going to hustle on everything, it is not possible. However, when the bases are loaded down 2 with 2 outs you better be busting to get to that foul ball whether you can catch it or not. Roberts was not busting on that play. On a different post I said i don't like how he runs out grounders and that was probably more anger over the loss than anything. Still, a play as big as that one he should be busting all the way.

The Orioles are so bad that a couple games ago DT used the word "darn."

Brian Roberts is a great player that has got used to losing. It is acceptable in the O's club house to lose because there is no one to call anyone out. Melvin Mora is where Brob future is looking like. A selfish player that wants to put up good numbers but really doesn't care if his team is in it day by day. It will soon poison Markasis and company if they don't put an end to it.

Pete, Nice piece on Sosa (and other users) on ESPN. One question...where is the festive flower shirt? Here's to no other O's on any doping lists.

Speaking of Mora, Kristian, he shouldn't be the starter anymore. Give Ty a shot to play every day? Mora's been great for the team and great for the community, but he's done. He makes bad baserunning decisions. His fielding is still mediocre. He has no power. (Really, the fifth hitter in the lineup has two home runs and 16 RBI? C'mon!) It's time to sit him down and be the back up.

Sorry Peter, gotta disagree with you on this one. No one expects false hustle a la Pete Rose. However, when Dave Trembley was hired, he made a point of emphasizing that he wanted his players to "respect the game". To me this includes running hard for 90 feet. Sooner or later, not running hard for 90 feet is going to cost the O's a game.

Roberts slacks off alot from where I sit. I have watched EVERY Orioles game and Roberts never runs out ground balls. He's also irresponsible on the basepaths at times. He also never EVER bunts. There are times when he could bunt to get a runner over. Bunt to start a rally late in a game when we're down just to get a runner on. Bunt for a base hit to get out of a slump etc. He NEVER does any on that. I used to be a Robersts fan but the more I see him the more I don't like what I see.

I have noticed Adam Jones slacking more then Roberts.

Shouldn't you have more then a few good months before you think you have earned the right to half-ass it to 1st?

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Pete's reply: In fairness to Adam, he's been playing with various leg issues all year.

How does bunting for a base hit get someone out of a slump? That makes no sense.

It doesn't get you out of a slump. but it gets you going. How does a bloop single down the line get you out of a slump? how does a tweener to the outfield get you out of a slump??? It's all psychological but it can help. A hit is a hit no matter how you get it and as a ballplayer that's all you see.

I didn't see the game last night, but I wasn't surprised to read that BRob was the target of criticism for a perceived lack of hustle. I don't think those of us who watch baseball really understand the talent that major league players possess, or how hard it is to play a sport where the best batters fail 7 out of every 10 attempts. Even though players make huge amounts of money, it doesn't make them any less human - it just means their ability and focus is greater than those of us who watch them work. There's way too much resentment of the salaries of baseball players - their talent, and the fact the public will pay to observe that talent, makes them worth it (strange how you don't hear nearly the same kind of resentment in public about the salaries of CEOs - I'm not sure what talent they're really displaying that most of the public doesn't have).

Having said that, there is a problem with BRob. I see it more in the field than running on the bases in his tendency to be very non-chalant in approaching routine plays, especially on slower ground balls. I can think of two instances last year when runners beat his throw to first, ironically because they were hustling down the line while BRob casually came in, fielded the ball, & tossed to 1st.

I certainly don't question his motives or desire on the field. But I do wonder about his focus at times. I'm not sure something like that changes at this point in his career, but it can be frustrating.

I have to disagree with you, Pete. In fact I was hoping to see you maybe light a fire under Brian's butt, instead of fluff the pillows down there.

In addition to the plays you talked about from last night's game, there was also the last out of the 7th inning. Orioles had already given up 2 runs when BRob wasn't in a position to call off Huff on the pop behind 1B. The very next play, with Wright at first, Church hit a tough chopper to Mora at 3B. Mora (who was playing with a hurt hand) looked to 2B to make the short, easy throw, but Roberts wasn't there! So Mora had to reload and throw to first in time to barely get the out. What's the excuse there?

I really started noticing Roberts's lack of hustle last Wed., when I was at the game they lost to Seattle, 4-1. In the bottom of the 5th with the score 2-1, Roberts was on 1B with two out. Markakis hit a shot right down the RF line. Instead of turning and dashing on contact (as he should with two out), Roberts literally turned and watched to see if the umpire would call the ball fair or not. It landed right on the line, and rolled into the corner for a double, but by waiting to start his run, Roberts had to hold up at third base. He was stranded, and instead of a tie tame, the O's still trailed. It looked for all the world to me like Roberts didn't want to waste his energy running on a ball that might end up being called foul.

I've just given two very specific examples of plays where I saw Roberts dog it -- not covering second on a grounder to third in a force situation, and not running on contact on a ball hit down the line with two outs. I encourage you to look into both of these plays and see if it changes your mind any.

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Pete's reply: I'm sorry, I was too busy fluffing the pillows for Brian to notice any of that.

When a player jogs the last 15 feet or so he gives the infielder extra time to set himself and throw the ball.
If you run it out, you may end up giving the fielder a sense of urgency and possibly force an errant throw.
Even if players were out by a mile when they jogged, makes you wonder what could have happened had they run it out. Maybe a few extra bases here and there.

My hunch is that the lack of hustle showed by Roberts and Jones (on more than one occasion) is going to cost trembley his job. I like DT - but lack of hustle spreads and if it is not nipped by the manager - he has to go. There is no way Mcphail puts up with this...and I am sure he sees the slacking better from where he sits. I think trembley is finished after this year. I don't think it's right - because I like him...but with pro athletes, he needs to be tougher - he's fine as far as i can tell on game situations.

One game dosen't make a season, but last night's loss was 100% Roberts. He sucked in every aspect of the game.

wow, Ravens, i remember that play and wondered at the time if Samuel was getting gun shy. Cameras didn't show it.
At risk of redundancy i'd like to point out that Trembley got Tejada to run hard on every ball for the last 3 months of 2007. It was noticeable. I've been perplexed since the beginning of '08 as to Roberts' effort level home to first, or at least my perception of it.

First time poster, long time reader. I too have been curious about Roberts play. I think he is a good player, but I have noticed at times he seems to "zone out" for lack of a better phrase. I think it does affect team moral and team attitude, but he's not the only one. There's something about team attitude that is related to winning. There is some team chemistry thing that lacks with the O's. The lineup is pretty decent and when we get halfway decent pitching it seems we should win more often. I don't think there should be so much emphasis on "numbers", the team needs to win. It seems like a lot of people, announcers, writers, players themselves, explain that at the end of the year player "x's" numbers will be there. But the team needs to win games not have players have decent numbers at the end of the year. Anyway, back to Roberts, he definitely should have caught the popup the Huff missed, if you watch the replay you will see him slowing down about a 1/3 of the way towards the ball. On that play, he had time the time to get to that popup.

Jogging to 1st on ground balls, like you were in warm-ups, is unnacceptable ESPECIALLY for a guy who is fast, and a left-handed hitter, and the LEADOFF hitter for goodness sakes. How many hits and runs would the Mariners lose in a year if Ichiro ran out ground balls like Roberts?
Having said that...I wonder if he's hurt. I remember he pulled up lame in the middle of a game (he was on 3rd base) a few weeks ago...

Hustling is more than a "principle" thing, Pete. We need to stop thinking it's purely a psychological and/or PR thing. There's sound baseball reasons to hustle too. It creates pressure on the defense to field the ball, load, and throw to the proper base.

Even last night we were on the receiving end of a hustle play. When Roberts was ready to receive a grounder to start a double play, he rushed the play because he knew a very fast runner was hustling to 1B, Beltran. It perhaps factored into his bobble, so instead of 2 or, at least, 1 out, the Os got no one out.

How many times could we have forced a similar bobble in a critical part of the game because of hustle? We will never know.

Funny you say that about Samuel being gunshy on the double last week where Roberts didn't run until the ball was called fair. You have to remember Ichiro was in RF, so after I got over my initial annoyance at Roberts not running on contact, I started thinking maybe it was for the best because it prevented Samuel from sending him and having him get gunned down at the plate.

But regardless of what would have happened, it's obvious your fastest runner should be running on contact with two outs on a ball hit down the line. Which clearly did not happen.

By the time this season is over the bottom-feeding Orioles will need the Hubble Telescope to see 4th place in their division.

I am going to disagree with you Pete. I'm not asking for anyone to run out a walk like Rose, but I seem to remember even you giving Miggy a hard time about not running out ground balls. I even wrote and tried to defend him a bit saying that playing for such a lousy team was hard on a motivated player and your response was along the lines of "then he could give back some of his money." You can't say for sure that of all the times Roberts failed to run out a grounder it wouldn't have made him safe anyway because you don't know if an infielder rushing his throw because he did run it out might have thrown one away. Of course it doesn't happen often, most fielders make most routine plays, but you just don't see players on the Yankees or Red Sox ever dog it on a routine ground ball. That once in while error forced by a player hustling on what seemed an automatic out gives those teams an extra few wins every season.
I do realize it's very hard to stay motivated on a crappy team, but the flip side is that this team has more talent then it has in quite a few years right now, and hustling all the routine plays is one way for them to start the winning we all want to see.
The differences between the good teams and the bad ones in the Major Leagues is pretty small when you come right down to it, and some added hustle and not phoning it in staring in June might help the O's stop being such a doormat.
When I do get to come to Camden Yards, I won't be paying any less money because my team sucks, and I want to know they are at least giving it a full effort. There is no excuse besides injury for not running hard to first on every batted ball, period.

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Pete's reply: I didn't say that it was all right for players to pull up. I just said that I've not seen Brian cost himself first base because of that. At least, I can't remember an instance like that.

All you gotta do is watch Ichiro run to first on routine grounder, EVERY GROUNDER, and you will KNOW, WHY, Roberts should be busitn his ass going to first EVERY time. Now THAT is a ballplayer who repsects the game AND his paycheck!! Haste Makes Waste - if Roberts makes the infielders perform in HASTE - he WILL get an occasional extra hit or on base by error AND he will look good doing it. Now he looks like a lazy overpaid crybaby!! I am 59 and weigh 350 lbs - I would have a heart attack trying but I WOULD run my ass off every grounder if I could be in the big leagues like every kid dreams of AND they were paying me 10 Million a year to run them out. NO excuses!!!!!!!!!!

And another thing about Roberts "he doesn't "LIKE" to bunt! Is the manager the manager or NOT? Give him the bunt sign once in awhile to help improve his game and if he don't "like it" sit his sorry ass on the bench and let him count his $ for awhile 'til he does as the MANAGER, tells him TO do!! It just ALL looks BAD and is a really poor example for the rookies to be watching! Jones liked to tore his hammy TRYING to beat out his groundout late last night! I applaud HIS effort and BOO Roberts, lack of effort.

A few yerars ago, I asked a former Oriole how Earl Weaver disciplined players. The response: "Earl didn't have to do a thing. Frank would take care of it."

Instead of filling that leadership role, Roberts is one of the people Frank Robinson would have spoken to about the Oriole Way.

I'm just curious Pete, does the team still take routine infield like he instituted a couple years ago?

Dave's big thing when he got up here was the attention to detail and I feel like that attention is what's missing this year. He seemed like the kind of guy to make you run laps if you dogged a play and that's what was so refreshing about him. It seems like he's gone from teaching this young team the old school ways and into just smiling and saying "we'll get after it" every night.

I'm not one to say he should be fired because we're 10 games under .500, but I'd like to see Old School Dave really get after these guys like he used to. It was just the 20th Anniversary of Major League and I keep thinking of DT and Lou Brown, and the drills he had for Dorn and pushups for Hayes. Too much to hope for since I don't think a picture of PA with pasties on would be very motivating to win out the rest of the season....

Does anyone know the O's rain-out policy? I'm going to the game tonight, but it's been raining all day and nothing on the website...

Pete, if my my grandmother was playing second base, last night, she could have caught that pop that Huff dropped...and my grandmother would be riding a scooter.

Roberts pulled up and let Huff take it, watched the replay a half dozen times.

Hey pete if you look at bill post It's very difficult to see if that is your reply or his posting because it didn't say Pete's REPLY. It seems like you get very short tempered with me. I admit sometimes i am overly critical of you being a homer and even a thick skin reporter of over 30 years can be affected. But i am hoping that a small part of it is because what i say is the truth. Bottom line Pete all this people can't be wrong and see something different then you.

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Pete's reply: I'm only short-tempered with you when you're rude to me. I am very easy going until somebody questions my integrity or accuses me of not telling the truth, which you have done several times.

Seems like the overwhelming majority of the posters disagree with you, Pete. I do. Anyone making a kabillion dollars should run hard for 90 feet three to four times a night, if the situation calls for it. I would run 90 feet and then get down on my knees and thank my lucky stars I was blessed to be making, say, only a gazillion dollars. What a bunch of prima donnas....

When you have ten million in the bank you don't run to first base or worry about anything unless you're a Yankee and I'm not a Y fan. I still believe in the Zeros and bleed black and orange. Trembley, Mora, Tejada and Roberts all deserve each other but not the Orioles fans. Trembley will be taken down by these millionaires. Why can't Trembley see he isn't one of them? Hopefully they will cost him his job. We will not succeed until T (the enabler) is gone. Roberts and Mora (I hurt my handie swinging at a ball) should both be benched tonight. If it is necessary for Mora to play he should bat no higher than 9th.

Look at a guy like Riemold who kills himself getting down the line or even when Bergy hit he busted it going down the line. Roberts is a defacto leader whether he llikes it or not, if he isn't happy here he shouldn't have signed the extension.

But still this whole team lacks inspiration and that goes back to Trembley. Stan the Fan was saying the other day that the Balto. media was too soft on the O's and i agree. Everybody's an apologist.

Not on person has asked if Wieters was rushed when clearly he was.

hey pete,
my theory on the o,s, and trembley,s lack of, let,s say, 'urgency'. look down to norfolk with their rotation of hernandez, tillman, arrieta, and patton. that ( along with bergeson) is what is coming. oh, and matusz will be in there too.
i think that everyone on the club does feel that they are playing the equivalent of saturday league softball right now. i believe that they think that the rest of the team hasn't shown up yet and that they are merely marking time until enough starting pitching comes up to give them a chance at a real run at the rest of the division.
if this is still the perception of the fans after the pitching comes up, then, it's going to be tough to continue to be an oriole fan, but i don't think that that will be the case.
i'm not saying that this is fair to the fans, i'm just saying that i think that may be what the team attitude may be.
this is all going to change and i'll continue to look for the positives in anticipation of the time when the o's go out on the field expecting to win each game. and the fans do,too.

No doubt this will anger O's fans (of which I am one), but perhaps Brian Roberts needs to watch Derek Jeter. Jeter never dogs it, regardless of the inning or the score. That's the difference between a champion and a fifth placer.

Peter

What concerns me more is that Guthrie isn't the pitcher he has been for the last couple of years. He use to be able to get out of the holes his teammates (see Roberts and Huff) would leave for him. Not this year!

Perception is reality. It's somewhat useless to argue over whether or not Roberts has been hustling. The perception among fans clearly is that he has not been, but does he know that? Perhaps he cares what the fans think and perhaps he does not, but the team should care. Maybe Andy McPhail (or Trembley) needs to mention to him that the team does not appreciate the perception that he has created in the fan base. He is being paid to bring fans to the park, not to drive them away with his perceived lack of effort.

Again, Trembley has to be held accountable for this mess and he should even agree based on his statements last year. He said the Orioles would always play "Winning Team Baseball" under him. Winning team baseball is hustle, effort, and strong fundamentals. He said the Orioles may lose a lot of games but they wouldn't be because of lack of effort or poor fundamental play. Well guess what? It seems like most nights they ARE losing from lack of effort and poor fundamental play. They make a ton of errors, run the bases like a little league team, and are generally poorly managed. How Mora continues to hit fifth boggles the mind as does Trembley's refusal to EVER bunt guys over. I can't understand how you can defend him. He is failing even by his own standards.

As Harrisburgh Bob points out PERCEPTION IS REALITY .Over 95% of the posters replying to your column is in disagreement with your opinion. Doesn't make you wrong and everybody else right but it does show that even the Kool Aid drinkers in this town can be honest when they see something wrong. ????

I have been an Oriole fan since 1941. (Yes that's right) When I went to Oriole minor league games on Greenmount Ave. I have seen some great Oriole teams and some not so great. This team is probably the worst when it comes to hustle. I agree with most of the posters that Roberts has not been the same player this year. I have noticed lackadaisical fielding on his part. He should have caught that popup behind first. He definately pulled up.

Dave Trembley got this job because the team looked lackadaisical. Now he may lose his job for the same reason. Maybe because he has a new bride he can't wait to get home.

Bench Roberts?

What about that crowd favorite Reimhold. Felix Pie was brought in because Scott had defensive liabilites. Pie doesn't cut it so they replace him with a big bat that has............defensive liabilities. Last night's game was the first where Reimhold showed this. Where is Montanez or Salazar?

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Pete's reply: Montanez had surgery on his thumb. Salazar is not going to play LF regularly.

Brian Roberts is a loser. He does not no how to win. It is the small things that win baseball games. Such as, running hard to first base. Playing in correct positions to who is hitting and pitching. He is not a smart baseball player. He has always been lackadasical.

Hey Pete - Just a brief comment about players hustling . When I was a kid I always admired Andy Etchebarren . Granted , certainly not a star but he was always hustling , chasing foul balls , running balls out . I remember how the great Chuck Thompson said "he just didn't know any other way to play . "
Almost 40 years later that always stuck with me as to how the game should be played .

Jesus - the guy booted a [key] double play, and then didn't call off his ham-handed 1st baseman on a pop-up. He's playing for the worst team in the AL.
What do you expect him to do, walk on water? He's part of a nucleus that just maybe will be able to compete in its Division by 2011, when a few more of its young starting pitchers have come around. Roberts' hustle is not what's killing the Orioles!

Enjoy your work Pete, Thanks
But dead wrong on this.
Went to a few games last year and was amazed at Roberts up and down hustle. He does not believe. He was bought off. Like folks go to play for Redskins "to get paid". Personally I hate him on first base as its 50/50 if the boy gets picked off. Hey Brian if youve slowed up just steal on a runners count or a weak armed catcher but its better to have a man on first than walking head down embarrassed to the pines. I also hate his hard headedness on laying down a bunt. Maybe too lazy to check out the 3rd baseman. I love the Orioles since 1957 or so. But 4 thingsa are need Pete.
1. better pitching and on the way
2. get rid of losers no matter how talented
3. a real major league manager(dave is good guy for now but a minor league brain/talent)
4. The Orioles became winners in 66 with one major addition
Frank, who defied anyone to be nice to opposing team and you damn well better hustle, kick butt and take names
See ya Brian.....

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Pete's reply: I suspect if there was another Frank Robinson around right now and the Orioles got him, they'd instantly be a much better team and nobody would have to worry about anybody not hustling.

OK did B-Rob get married over the off-season? maybe his wife is making him take the trash out to much and he's just plain tired!
I respect Brian Roberts for all he does on and off the field.. but no matter how much money you make doesn't give you the right not to put the effort into the game you get paid to do.. i have also noticed that he has been hitting alot more fly balls than he ever has.. my guess he's got an injury he's not telling anyone about! just looks that way to me!

I don’t understand why any major league ballplayer, making millions of dollars a year, simply can’t run hard to first base.

Poor B-rob.. what wonders me is whose going to be everyones scapgoat the next time. I believe in playing the game hard but this has gotten kinda ridiculios....

It's simple logic. BR re-signed with the O's; ergo, winning isn't high on his priority list. Wondering about NM as well - haven't these two let 4-5 catchable pop-ups fall between them?

"That was well said - you should think about a career as a writer. Seriously (folks), I am big BRob fan, but I wonder if part of the problem is that people think he is overpaid. I know I do, and I'm not talking overpaid in the real world, but baseball-overpaid. I like him, he certainly seems like a stand-up guy, and while he's a terrific leadoff hitter, he's only average to above average in the field, in my humble opinion. I mean, I just wouldn't put him in, say, Kinsler's class. Fans tend to be less forgiving when you're making the big bucks."

Cause it's all about jealousy with athletes. There is no such thing as overpaid. You are worth whatever somebody is willing to give you. Kinsler's class defensively? Seriously? Brian Roberts is a top 5 second basemen. He just makes fielding look so damn easy, when it really isn't. The guy makes one bad error and it's like he's a bad player all of a sudden. Get over the money aspect people.

I played a variety of sports for 30 years until 10 operations have denied me the oppurtunity to ever play any of them again.I would pay money to be able to run the 90 feet to first base.I wasn't the fastest guy in the world but I hustled every baseball game I played,I fought for every rebound,I tried to get every ball I could in my volleyball league,and my father once said to me why do you kill yourself out there,you're not making a penny for it,it will cost you later on in life,which it has.My answer then and still is.because that's the only way I know to play.Ichoro and Derek Jeter (as much as I hate the Yankees)would answer the same way.Bob Turley went into the financial field and I had the privilege of meeting him many times,I was part of his group,once said at age 75 right before he retired,at a meeting that he wasn't required to go too,he was making 3 mill a year every year for 20+ years,I'm not smart enough to know which meeting I could miss,just like I wasn't smart enough to know what play not to make.So I made all of them that I could.Adam Jones came back off a bad hamstring and if you watch him it's still obvious it bother's him to some degree,yet he busted his butt the other night and even grabbed his leg after he crossed first base.But if he watches Brian long enough,he'll start to think he doesn't have to run everything out also,and soon it becomes contagious.Never been a DaveTrembley fan,never will be.There's a reason you're a 20 year minor league coach or manager.He said when he came here that we would practice fundamentals and get back to the Orioles Way,funny,it seems to me that we are worse at fundamentals then when he got here.In every sense of the word.But he's a yes man,so I'm pretty sure is job is secure at least for another year.

Oh and by the way,I have never been rude to you,but I have questioned your judgement and felt the wrath or sarcasm because of it.So don't be so quick just because of your position to think you're right even when 99% of the people disagree with you.Most of them would love to have your job and get to do what you do too.Not saying you don't deserve it or haven't earned it,just remarking that there are some pretty literate people on here who could probably be sports journalists and do a better job then some who have departed over the last 40 years.As always just one man's opinion.

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Pete's reply: Your last comment reminds me of the scene in "Doc Hollywood" where Woody Harrelson tells Michael J. Fox, "I could have been a doctor, if it wasn't for that science stuff." I'm sure there are plenty of people talented enough to do my job better than me -- and I am humbled and grateful that I have been able to watch baseball for a living and get to interact with fans on this blog -- but there's a little more to it than that.

I have to agree with the majority of the posts. Running hard for 90 feet is not too much to ask. A team that is deficient in talent has to make up for that lack of talent with fundamental play and hustle. This team has neither.

When I watch Yankee games, I am always amazed at how most of their players run hard down the line. That starts with their leader, Derek Jeter, and most, if not all of their players, follow his lead. It is time for Brian to realize that he needs to lead by example and show the younger players the right way to play the game.

Pete as a life long Oriole fan I've enjoyed the forum provided here (if only for the last year or so), but I have to say that I've found your writing and replies more and more condescending in the past few weeks. Right or wrong, if the posters on here want to view you as an apologist for the players, coaches, and management, one would have to think that it's part of the job description. I would imagine that part of your appeal as the desheveled Hawaiian shirt wearing/down to earth guy, is that you don't get too worked up when people disagree with you. I believe your slogan implies something about the beauty of one being able to express his or her opions. RIght or wrong.

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Pete's reply: I've got no problem with the fact that the majority think I was too soft on Brian. I probably was. If you go back and look, you'll see that the times I get irritated are the times the poster is questioning my integrity or being extremely rude. That is not part of the job description and I don't have to let it slide.

Pete,

I usually like your blog but this one is nothing but a bunch of excuses. Everyone has bad days but there is never, ever an excuse for a lack of hustle or lack of effort. These guys get paid huge $, they are professionals and they need to give 110 percent effort, every time. Period.

Pete i am glad it's not me.Many fans have noticed that you are apologist and yes you have gotten very testy with many posters. It still amazes me how all these posters on here see something completley different then you do.

The Orioles overpaid for BRob. Money should have been reserved to help in locking up Jonsey for about the next ten years.

This is nothing new re: Brob . Over the years during broadcasts , Palmer has mentioned it time and time again . It just doesn't seem to phase him (Roberts) .

I bet you are sorry you posted the hustle issue. Never knew there were so many fans critical of brian roberts. I use to take all the heat from you and everybody else when i said the same then way back when.Guys like you and Roch are friends with the players and you can't be very objective. Stan the fan said it right the other nigh when he said there isn't one sportswriter left in this town that will say anything negative about the orioles. Once again we are david steele and rick maese when you really need them.

Hey, perception or not, what does it take to run hard down to 1st-a few seconds? These players are sitting around for most of their 3 hour 'shift' so why can't they run hard 4 times a game?
I'm guessing that even fan favourite Roberts is ticking off his fans by not hustling so for that reason alone he should step it up. He owes that fat contract in part to these same fans pushing for the O's to lock him up to a big deal.