Is it any wonder Orioles manager Buck Showalter has been welcomed to Baltimore with open arms? As pointed out in a blogpost from NorthJersey.com, Showalter spoke rather candidly about the Yankees and Red Sox in the April issue of Men’s Journal.
The O’s skipper told a story about yelling at Derek Jeter from the dugout during his first trip to Yankee Stadium and questioned the intelligence of Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein.
“The first time we went to Yankee Stadium, I screamed at Derek Jeter from the dugout,” Showalter told the magazine. “Our guys are thinking, ‘Wow, he’s screaming at Derek Jeter.’ Well, he’s always jumping back from balls just off the plate. I know how many calls that team gets – and yes, he [ticks] me off.”
Of the Red Sox, Showalter was even more candid.
“I’d like to see how smart Theo Epstein is with the Tampa Bay payroll,” he said. “You got Carl Crawford ’cause you paid more than anyone else, and that’s what makes you smarter? That’s why I like whipping their butt. It’s great, knowing those guys with the $205 million payroll are saying, ‘How the hell are they beating us?’ ”
Bob Klapish, the author of the article on NorthJersey.com, spoke with Showalter on the phone last week and said that he owned up to the remarks, but said he could have tempered them. But then again, that’s why we love Buck.
Generally, I don’t like these kind of comments and bulletin board type stuff, but in this case, it may be needed. For far too long, the Orioles franchise has been intimidated and pushed around. It’s time to change the attitude at 333 Camden Street.
Win something first Buck
I hope you’re a Yankee fan, Joe. If not, winning a World Series every 80 something years certainly doesn’t qualify anyone in Red Sox Nation to cast stones.
I am a Red Sox fan. Not winning a World Series in 86 years is old news. Since Theo Epsteins arrival in 2003 the Sox have won two World Series and have only missed the postseason twice. Until Showalter actually wins something, he has no room to criticize anyone. Just because you’re a large market team doesn’t mean you’re going to win ( i.e. Cubs, Mets). The Seattle Mariners have a payroll of over 100 million dollars and look how awful they are. Payroll certainly helps, but you still have to spend wisely. Just because someone says you can spend a lot of money doesn’t mean an automatic world series ring. The Mets have certainly tried that method before. Carlos Beltran, Johan Santana, David Wright, Jason Bay…. Shall I go on? I actually was starting to feel bad for the Orioles. Now I can’t wait until they lose to the Sox and miss the playoffs for a fourteenth straight season.
@SoxOrGoHoMe –
14 seasons of missing the play-offs is old news. Buck Showalter was hired on July 29th 2010 since that time the Orioles had a better record than the Red Sox. He certainly has the right to criticize. Give the Orioles an additional $110 million in payroll and I like their chances to be as good if not better than the Sox.
And there are certainly examples of teams that win while not spending wisely.
@SoxOrGoHoMe – Gimme a break. You’re team’s recent success is built around two of the biggest steroid users in the game.
Pilson is right on with his comment. Showalter was pointing out that with money anyone could do what the Sox have done.
The Sox were one of the most underachieving teams in all of baseball last year. Don’t give me the excuses about injuries, either. A team with a payroll in the $200 mil area should have more than enough depth to overcome a few injuries.
…BTW, another guy boasting about “playoff appearances”. Give me a break.
MGW
You gotta be kidding me. The Orioles lose ONE player and look like the 62 Mets.
The Red Sox lost 3 studs and still won 89 games.
If the Orioles made the playoffs and were swept you and many on this board wouldn’t stop talking about it.
The Orioles have a TON of money and they’ve spent it like idiots. The trio of Baez/Bradford/Walker (all middle relief and setup guys) cost them 42 million awhile ago. Teams that don’t have cash don’t drop that coin on relievers.
Zach
The Orioles were the epicenter for much of the steroid use of the late 90s and 2000s.
And no, money doesn’t buy winning. Look at the Rays.
And would you like me to list the home grown Red Sox talent that contributed to their 2 World Series wins? It makes the Orioles home grown talent from the same era look like the bad news bears.
Look, it’s great that Buck is trying to fire up the fans and his team. He should’ve been hired before the 2010 season.
But all the talk in the world isn’t gonna help this team win.
Mark just complimented the Rays and Red Sox and bashed the Orioles. He’s not a true fan!
Thanks Mark…thought maybe we could unite to shout down the Red Sox and Yankee fans…shoulda known better.
Yeah the Red Sox already have enough places to massage their enormous Bostonian egos. Like ESPN.
True fan? That’s hilarious. If you’d like to debate my “fandom” vs ANYONE on this board, you let me know. But I’ll tell you one thing. Predicting foolish records doesn’t equal being a “true fan”
I’ll shout down fans of other teams when our team isn’t a laughingstock.
I noticed neither of you bothered to reply to the bulk of my post.
@Mark – Sorry I wasn’t posting a comment that was serious. It was making fun of Sadler who made fun of me for saying that the ACC was the best division in college basketball.
In hopes of running off Red Sox and Yankees fans, I’m not going to argue with you on this point. Not on this post at least.
Ah, I see.
Well, it’s pretty hard to argue against facts!
But I’m sure you will once again this year!
You going to opening day?
This Wilt kid looks young, so I’ll give him a pass for not knowing who Rafael “Perjury” Palmiero and Brady “50 Homers” Anderson were.
How’s Papi’s vision?
Ah, I hadn’t read Sadler’s post.
Either way, I’m sure you’ll try to argue the facts I presented at some point in the near future while continuing to ignore the enormous problems that still exist with the Orioles.
You going to Opening Day?
Maybe I can spend an hour or so laying it all out in person so that these needless debates can stop!
Mark, I absolutely 100% agree with you. If the Orioles were to SNIFF the playoff race this year, I would shut up about it for months.
Are u kidding me? The guy who writes this article then gets into a comment battle with readrs? When u get out of Jr High and have real sport reporting available u may be able to stay with Boston fans intelligently!! Wow.
The red sox had almost half there team out due to injuries, and yet they still managed to finish 7 games back! That’s impressive all things considered especially when your playing part time players everyday