If only the cheapskate Orioles had given Byrnes that contract...

It's a shame that Mora finished his career as an O on such a down note, but he seems like a great guy who did his best. I wish him success in Co.

Steve...you're kidding, right? Never mind that Byrnes has only been an average outfielder in Arizona, but now we've got four outfielders (Jones, Markakis, Reimold, and Pie) who are farther along and better than Byrnes is right now.

What possible reason would you have to sign Byrnes to the same contract Arizona gave out? And please tell me it's something more than "It proves the Orioles will spend money"

I will miss seeing Melvin at the hot corner: he had a great set of seasons here, for the most part.

I predict he will outplay Garrett Atkins this year. Not because he'll be great, but because I fear Atkins is toast.

Yep too bad the Orioles FO piss everyone off.. Mora, Brooks, the guy that caught wieters first homer, fans etc

Hopefully, Mora will get a chance to play for a winner before his career's over. It would be awful to look back and think that you only played for a team during one of the worst losing stretches in mlb history. Good luck Melvin!

Pete,
By "good soldier"are you referring to him complaining about various things (playing time, batting position), and calling out the manager in public?
I don't think we we need to many "good soldiers" like that (in the military or on a baseball team).

Matt,
I'm sensing that Steve's comment was pure sarcasm directed at all those who complained the Orioles were cheap idiots just becuase former O's like Byrnes and Gary Matthews were signing big deals with other clubs. Needless to say, the club was proven correct on both of those players.

Melvin Mora - Yes he was all the things you say Pete and was a really good player and representative of the O's while here - except for the times when he had the chance to step up and be a "TEAM" player! Then all he knew was ME,I, - team, hell with the TEAM!!! All about ME ME ME!! He was his own worst enemy for sure. Shot his mouth off, like to blew his foot off and got himself ran out of town on a rail. Trembly should have buried his loud moth self centered ass on the bench since Andy didn't have the guts to cut him!! He brought it all on himself with his incredibly SELFISH attitude! I think Miggy is the best signing we have had in several years and will be a great addition to the team. He will/has gotten away from the ME ME ME attitude he had and will now be a good influence on the team and maybe bring some LIFE & energy to it - along with a .300 average and 50+ doubles! His defense will be OK. Go O's.

Mora is a guy with integrity--something that this organization does not appreciate. I remember a 4th of July evening when he signed autographs for everyone waiting while others drove off. He treated the fans good when taking a picture with them. I also remember him as the only one who made the effort to go to Elrod's funeral. These nobodies they have hired will not touch his skill at 3rd base. I am sick over his leaving. McPhail has mirrored some of the practices of old.

Melvin Mora was all those things and a true class act. For those ripping him about his comments last year, perhaps you should look more closely at what happened. Melvin reacted emotionally - 1 time - when his manager, inappropriately commented to the media that Melvin wasn't playing because he could no longer hit certain pitchers. Melvin DID NOT complain about playing time - he said that afer all he had given the Orioles, he deserved more respect than that and he was absolutely right. Trembley's actions were bush league and he knew it. In that interview, Melvin acknowledged, several times that he was having a bad year and understood he had not earned the right to play everday. It's really not important that after that incident he played almost every day and had the best stretch of his season - in part because it became painfully obvious Wiggington was a huge liability at 3B.

Anyway, let's take years of dedication, loyalty, quality play and great community work and throw it out the window because of one 20 minute interview with a proud man coming to grips with his diminishing skill. I'll take a team full of Melvin Moras anyday and wish him the best in Colorado.

Matthew,

I'm sure there is some sarcasm in Steve's comment.

wayne,

It's only be a shame if he was forced at gunpoint to sign his contracts. Especially the last one. Just curious, but would you consider Colorado a winner?

I think he was a good enough guy, but he made getting money for his family a much larger priority than his work on the field. Can't blame him, but he did let his pride get the best of him last year briefly. Still wish him the best.

Jeff,
"dedication. loyalty" I don't know it seems like he was performing for millions of dollars and wasn't some sort of self sacrificing icon. I don't remember Trembley saying those things publicly about Mora. Even if he did, he's the manager, Mora was the player. He acted selfishly and he did it numerous times also against Mazilli because he wasn't "asked" first about sitting out a game. Sorry, not buying all that stuff. He can take his 8 home runs and selfish attitude to Colorado.

Ah, Eric Byrnes...what fond memories. I'll never forget how his acquisition at the trade deadline in 2005 led us to the pennant. True, we did have to give up Larry Bigbie in the process, but like they say in baseball, you have to give up nothing to get nothing.

The fact that somebody still has to write checks to Byrnes for a total of $11 million is kind of like CEOs of floundering companies receiving bonuses paid by federal bailout money. It may not be steailing, but it's damn close.

Godspeed, Melvin! We'll see you when it's time for your induction to the Orioles Hall of Fame.

Love that picture of Melvin & Trembley. Wouldn't you really like to know what Mora was thinking when Mr. Rah Rah came out to shake his hand all smiles? The look on Melvin's face tells a much different tale than ol' Dave's.
I think the Sun could offer a nice caption promo with that one.

Yeah Jack, telling photo
Mr. Rah Rah and Mr. "I don't care if we win as long as I play and bat 5th".

WOW. Mora was here what, 9 years, and had ONE ill-timed comment about playing time, and you guys won't let it go? And you guys say the players are selfish jerks...

Good Riddance Melvin,

Talk about moody, non-leader type to influence young players. He was a steal as a throw in to the Bordick trade and worth the value of his contract, but certainly no EXAMPLE for our younger players and his stunt with DT last year only exemplifies that because I'm certain there was MUCH more not made for public consumption.

Lets just hope his replacement, Miggy has improved his attitude, can live with his numbers, though no 4 hitter without the juice, just don't need another cancer in the clubhouse!

Mora was great. Quiz : Does Mike Rowe [ the Ford guy and " Dirty Jobs," sleep in that cap? speaking of hair. Transplants all from the master Dr. Weitig [ Retired ] Brooks, Me , Singelton, Roy Clark and Ron Shapiro etc. and TRUE. Go for it if you can. It's the only way to go. Biden did the best he had to work with. Tiger might start thinking about it soon. All 100% true.

Sorry Bill, but sometimes you need actually read or watch the interviews rather than some analyst's opinion of it, especially commentators like Dave Johnson, who love controversy. In any case, as I and many others have said it was one moment in nine years. As for Mazzilli, managers usually communicate with their top players about such things and maybe that's why he's back to being a first base coach. Yes loyalty and dedication, not just as a player but as a citizen. Last time I checked all players play for money, but most don't show his effort, day in day out. He played every day, including through multiple injuries, often playing hurt to the detrimant of his stats because there was no one else. He played wherever they asked him to play and never said a word. Maybe he felt he deserved better than the way he was being moved out of here and maybe he didn't handle it perfectly, but there is just no truth to your "numerous times" assertions.

not buying it Jeff
"numerous times" is at least 2 which are well documented
Great, he gave money and time to charities, I'm all for it. It's just he shouldn't be emulated by kids because "good soldiers" don't go after their superiors... period.
He did it to Mazilli and he did it to Trembley. he should have been dropped from 5th in the batting order long before he was but I'm sure it had to do with his me first attitude that he wasn't.
And he was coddled by the organization because they took the high road when releasing him is what should have been done in my opinion when he went after Trembley. Insubordination is a fireable offense in every job I've ever had...how bout you?
He took the low road and they took the high road. Not much more to say.

I have a hard time criticizing Mora for his occasional lapses in judgment. After all, I think this paragraph from the Sun's December 2005 coverage of the Elrod Hendricks memorial service speaks volumes about Melvin (and his teammates from that period - apparently that nobody from the bullpen could be bothered to attend):

"Owner Peter Angelos, former managers Miller, Mike Hargrove and Lee Mazzilli and present manager Sam Perlozzo attended, as did third baseman Melvin Mora, the only current Oriole at the service. Mora, who lives in Baltimore in the offseason, didn't comment on the absence of his teammates, saying only, 'I am here because I care about him.'"

The full story can be found here:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bal-sp.hendricks30dec30,0,1178782.story

My take, for whatever it's worth: Mora was here a long time, was a really nice guy most of the time, and had some pretty good years for a pretty poor club. Like a lot of aging stars, his last season or two here was unpleasant. We can forgive him for that, but no way were the Os going to re-sign him for 2010. Nothing can resurrect a batting average like Coors Field, so Melvin just might have another good year left him. Good luck to him.

I had an ex who gave me a baseball glove for my birthday in 2003 or so. She didn't know much about the game, but she liked that I liked it and wanted to share somehow. The glove was a Toys R Us special. It also had one of those faux autographs marking the model as a member of your favorite player's signature line. In this case, the signature was Derek Jeter's. After the discovery and ensuing hoopla, I took a permanent marker, traced a single line through the devil's name and made it my Melvin Mora issue classic. I've been out of market for years now and every time I've been able to catch a game on TV, I pull out the glove, punch the webbing repeatedly, and chant Melvin MorA! Melvin MorA! Melvin Mora! anytime he comes to bat. Of course, there hasn't been much to cheer about, so Mora has meant even more to me and the team. Best of luck, Melvin. I'm sure you'll be back. The girl's long gone, but I've still got that glove.

Good luck, Melvin. You played hard for the Baltimore Orioles and have given much to the Baltimore community.

You will always be welcomed back warmly at Camden Yards.

I wish you all the best Melvin!

2009 Mora 48 RBI
2009 Beltre 46 RBI

Glad we did not fall for that one year wonder stiff!

Sounds like Melvin was a decent enough guy but when I think of him I will always think of Marty Cordova, Brook Fordyce, Omar Daal, Sidney Ponson, losing year after year and calling out his manager in a season that was already lost. I am ready for the next chapter of Orioles baseball...

At least Melvin isn't Tiger Woods. He's a good family man in a day when they're in horribly short supply. If he was a prima donna in the clubhouse,guess what you just got another one in Tejada who didn't want to take infield with the rest of the team. It won't take long for people the remember why they were happy when they traded Tejada. Why would a guy who had almost 200 hits last year have such a hard tme getting a contract this year? The last thing Adam Jones needs is a veteran example to swing at bad pitches.

So we "traded" Melvin to the Rockies for Atkins.

I hope it turns out that both former clubs were wrong about these two guys being incapable of having any more good years.

Gee.... if he would have agreed to be a utility guy, he might've stayed here and eaten home cooking for half the season.

Oh well.

That's nice Mora immersed himself in the community and all that. Unfortunately, he was a good player on a bad team and how he was handled was emblematic of this stupid franchise ever since Peter the Grate vetoed Pat Gillick's trades.

He had some very good years although 116 (hits last year) isn't "almost 200." His best years surged between 2004 and 2005 at the ages of 32-33. (Insert drawn conclusion here.)

He batted .317 in an injury-plagued year (2003) when he saw action in only 96 games. Magically (cue: "Something Magic Happens"), he then batted .340 the next year (with 187 hits -- his closest to 200) while slugging 54 HRs the next two years.

Prior to '04, Mora had 49 HRs total in 571 games.

It would seem he would have had great trade value during this stretch unless other teams suspected something, too.

Whatever, Mora played and played until he had no value to a bad team so that bad team couldn't trade him for the time of day.

What the Orioles didn't do is no reflection on Mora directly. His longevity will nevertheless be more reflective of the Orioles in this period than what he provided.

By the way, I'm amused it is now tabbed by The Sun his Oriole days are over. Somehow, I thought not being on the roster and being without a contract would have constituted that. Then again, let's not rule out that he might return some day.

Quote of the Day: you have to give up nothing to get nothing - Chris Joseph ... laughed so hard, thought my pants would never dry

Too bad. Other than Tejeda, Mora was probably as good a stop-gap 3rd baseman as anybody and probably a cheaper option than anybody.

Pete, are you going to make any predictions for the 2010 Openning Day roster?

He;s old and in the way. Period. We have a third baseman in the minors. A darn good one. Atkins is a fill.
I know that Trembley referred to Mora as "an angry third baseman".. I believe there is more to it than we know.
I wish the Orioles would make more news, so ex-Orioles aren't the headlines everyday.
I don't care what ex-O's are doing when they put on another uniform. I could care less. Sure, wish him well and move ahead.

So, did the Orioles just flip-flop 3rd basemen with the Rockies?

Melvin Mora is emblematic of players who moved through the organization during this long period of Oriole impotence. He came here from the Mets as a utility player and over achieved for several years. It is easy to take out our frustration on players like Mora who just happened to play for one of the worst organizations in baseball during the prime of their careers.

I wish Melvin well. It was time to part ways though.

See Millar just signed a minor league deal with the Cubs. All the old O's signing here and there maybe we could have an all O's 00 allstar team.

There's sure enough guys that passed through here signing deals lately.

Mora had some of his best years on some very bad teams. Memories, all those kids in that giant stroller...

I wish Melvin the best. I always enjoyed watching him play and I hope a change of scenery serves him well.

Does anyone know who the O's hired to replace Buck or are they going to fill the spot by rotating Johnson, Dempsey and Wiggy's Dad?

I think during Fan Fest, Andy said he wanted two more lefties for the pen so Hendrickson is one, why not Beimel?

Pete -

Any news on relievers, another starter, or trade talks? Or status quo for now?

I'll bet, today at 60, DeCinces is STILL a better fielder!

Melvin is a fine third baseman, a solid citizen of Maryland, and a real good guy. His hypersensitivity last season is a small flaw in his overwhelmingly positive big picture. Adios, Melvin. Que le vaya bien en Colorado, y que regreses frecuentemente a tu casa aqui,

A rocky end -- headed to the rockies. Good one.

Great article on Mora! I remember he took a hometown discount for his last contract. My daughter ran into to him the night before that contract was signed. My daughter wanted an autograph and his wife said after he was off his phone. Her turned around. Ask the person to hold, and gave my daughter an autograph. A true class act that will be missed. Good luck with the Rockies!

To me, the saddest part of the Mora saga was the final day. I remember saying to my son that they had taken him out of the game early. When he got up and tipped his cap in the dugout we stood up to cheer him with a thanks for the memories and I was amazed at the lack of response from the Orioles "faithful". I hope when he comes back for the O's HOF induction he receives a better "thank youuuuuuu"