Back in 2009 when the Orioles handed Nick Markakis $66 million they probably expected him to put up solid power numbers as their franchise right fielder. Unfortunately, halfway through that deal he hasn’t shown that he can provide the 3-4 hitter pop that the O’s were looking for.
We’re just hours away from baseball’s trade deadline and Markakis has been one of the few guys who hasn’t been linked to any solid rumors. Part of that could be because he’s owed $10.25 million this season, $15 million in 2013 and 2014 and has a $17.5 million option in 2015.
The other part could be that he has no defined role as a hitter.
Until now…
I discussed Markakis finally finding his niche in the leadoff spot for the Orioles in my weekly guest column on MASNSports.com.
In his 18 games since returning from the DL and batting in the leadoff spot, Markakis is batting .363 (28-for-77) with six doubles, 13 runs scored and six walks. Astoundingly, Markakis has struck out just once while hitting at the top of the Orioles lineup.
Last night in the Bronx, he recorded three hits, two RBIs and crossed home once in the Orioles’ 5-4 win over the Yankees. Now that’s table setting.
Is it crazy to think that Markakis might be the answer for the Orioles at leadoff? What seemed to be a fun experiment by Showalter has turned into some consistency in a lineup that has proven to be unstable throughout their 2012 campaign.
I’ve long thought he was perfectly suited to hit 2nd. He’s not enough of a stolen base threat (plenty fast though) at leadoff permanently, but he’s perfect for 2.
Agree with Joshua, but that’s a hefty contract for a #2 hitter.
But wait, the Orioles don’t spend money, right?
In 2011 (per Forbes.com), O’s were 22nd in reported “Revenue” (which Ol’ Bruz believes does NOT include the MASN mega-millions for some reason)…In 2011, were 19th in Opening Day Payroll at just over $81 Million (per http://content.usatoday.com/sportsdata/baseball/mlb/salaries/team/). Highest O’s salary was Markakis at under $11 Million…Note: 25 guys made more than $15,950,000 in 2011…Wow, MGW, guess there you have it…O’s spending is through the roof!
Yes Bruz, I’m sure Forbes neglected to report one of the Orioles biggest sources of income when determining their net value. Makes perfect sense to me as Forbes is some “fly-by-night” rag that most economists just ignore.
LMAO
MGW…Have you put any thought and/or research in to the O’s revenue numbers reported by Forbes? The Washington Post has reported the Nationals received $29,000,000 in 2011 from their deal with MASN, which entitled them to just 13%. Start with the O’s 87% of the take, add in $30,000,000+ from their share of the National TV Revenue plus National Radio money, WBAL Radio, their cut from the MLB TV Network and MLB.com, plus OPACY Attendance, Luxury Suite income, $30 Tee Shirts sold on Site, plus their share of Four-Dollar-And-Fifty Cent Wooder Bottles and $8.50 Beers, etc, and I bet you can come up with a lot closer to $250,000,000+ than you can $179,00,000 (And, I haven’t even yet mentioned MLB’s Revenue Sharing yet, in which All Teams pitch in 31% of their “Local Revenue” which is then shared disproportionately with the Smaller Market teams getting more…I dunno what Forbes motivation to “under report” is, but they “under-reported” all the same. Perhaps if you, and others, stopped “LMAO” and put a little work in to your analysis, we might get closer to the truth….
Let’s see, Forbes Magazine – one of the most respected business financial publications- lists them in the bottom third of revenue producers…Major League Baseball recognizes them in the bottom third of the league…that’s enough research for me.
Is it not hard to “LMAO” with your head stuck so far in the sand? I’m just sayin’…
Perhaps I should ignore MLB’s findings and Forbes and get “unbiased” information from WNST.
Let’s see how long he stays healthy this time. He is hurt more than Spy is in the sandbox, which is quite often.
I love the sandbox even at my advanced age…………….better living through chemistry…………….
I love the sandbox , even at my advanched age,,,,,,,,,,,,,better living through chemistry……………
Sorry for the double post , I just got out of the sandbox and I’m a bit loopy…………………….by the way , isn’t Nick the highest paid underachiever in all of baseball? Talk about a terrible contract , yea you have to spend money but you also have to spend it wisely,,,,,,it’s all greek to me………………….
Go O’s!!!
Orioles have spent wisely on only two players in what? The past 10 years? That is Adam Jones and Hardy…
But they also spend wisely on bums like Ryan Adams, Mike Socolovich, Nick Johnson, Omar Quintanilla, Tolleson, Betemit, Andino, Teagarden, Matusz, etc because what, they only cost on average $150,000 each for non production?
Hell, if they spent anymore wisely they might have made the playoffs this year after 14 years of futility but nooooo, Angelos ain’t spending no money on this team… He wouldn’t pickup $1.5mil of Blantons contract to help out the starting pitching…
Put it this way… The Pittsburgh Pirates have at least tried, with trades and money, to make the playoffs this year. Ain’t that a pity? The Orioles are in the same class as the Pirates and Royals and even the Pirates out gunned them…
Well said Ravens28448288422! Very well said!
Out from under the bridge comes my two favorite trolls – 2488 and Ol Bruz.
Bothe claim to be Orioles “fans” yet even in the midst of their best season in 14 years and fresh off 4-2 road trip against New York and Tampa, they defray the attention to what they have not done right.
Keep rooting against your team fellas so you can tell us “you told us so”
We know it’s what you live for.
C’uz 8422844 and Ol’ Bruz ain’t buying this Dream Season non-sense…O’s said to have wanted Joe Don Blanton..Even having put in a Waiver Claim for him, that was bested by the Dodgers…Reports were O’s wanted Joe Don, but balked at paying his $3 Million salary for two months…Are we really supposed to be excited by a franchise that can’t throw $3,000,000 in to an alleged Playoff Race? With attendance up, ratings up, fan interest allegedly up? Wow!
The Dodgers “bested” the Orioles for “Sloppy Joe” Blanton (he of the near 6 ERA in the AL East) by virtue of the fact that they were a National League team and therefore higher in the waiver claim slot. That little tidbit seems to have been skipped over…
And again, not sure I’d pay $3 mil and trade ANY prospect for a guy with a near 6 ERA against the guys you are trying to beat. Seems like more money wasted to “make a move, ANY move”.
Seems as though the Orioles winning percentage is going up since Nick has been at leadoff. Does anybody have any stats about this? Please email me if you do. Thanks