Yesterday, Manager Dave Trembley sat Melvin Mora for the third time in four days. MelMo had seen enough.
“I don’t appreciate the disrespect, because I’ve been playing hurt for a guy who won’t respect you. I don’t deserve it,” Mora said.
Mora is the last of a dying breed in Baltimore. He’s a 37 year old third baseman who heated up in the second half of 2008, but can’t seem to get above .260 and is currently in his worst major league season of his career. The O’s have cleaned house under Andy MacPhail and hope to get back to their winning ways with quality pitching and defense from their young stars. Mora doesn’t fit the mold and on Sunday he went off.
“Whatever he wants to do, he can do it. But like I told you before, I need to have my respect. This is not a guy who just came to the Orioles. This is a guy who’s been here for nine years busting his butt for the organization.”
Like most managers would when they’re attacked by the media about a controversial statement from one of their players, Dave Trembley played it down.
“Melvin’s been a very good player for a long time. We don’t show disrespect toward anybody.” Trembley said.
Mora might have dug his own grave with his comments. He’s clearly on the way out of Baltimore and the only thing stopping him this season is his no trade clause. The Orioles hope that Josh Bell will be that future corner infield stud and Ty Wigginton will fill the role in the mean time since he has a two year deal.
But disrespect? Come on Melvin. Just about any other team would make MelMo a bench player and he wouldn’t see $8 million from anyone else. Mora has been highly respected for what he has brought to the club since 2000, but if he feels unappreciated then he needs to step up and perform or understand having less playing time.
Yeah this whole thing is ridiculous and I just got done writing about it.
He’s just not thinking clearly…as a veteran he should have stepped up and thanked Wiggy for having some good days.
It’s about the team. Not about MelMo-
puh-lease!
8 Mill doesn’t help his case.
Hey Molly, good to hear from you again!
That’s a really good way of putting it. I hope that Melvin got caught up in the moment and regrets his words. If he doesn’t it might be an early exit for him.
I think Melvin’s frustration with his lack of production is part of the cause for his rant of feeling disprespected. But the fact is, he isn’t producing the way he has in the past, and the manager has the right to find someone who will get the job done.
You’re totally right. Dave’s job is to win games and Melvin’s 2009 production isn’t doing that. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve played.