There was some good that came out of last night’s 6-5 loss to the Cleveland Indians. Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis recorded his 1,000th career hit on a single off of Josh Tomlin in the third inning.
The Baltimore Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec talked to Buck Showalter following the game about Markakis feat.
“He’s what, 27? That’s pretty impressive. … I’m a big fan of consistency, especially from a manager’s seat, knowing what you are going to get from somebody, not wondering. He’s a guy that’s very easy to trust. Brings a certain element every day regardless of what’s going on in his life on or off the field and physically,” Showalter said.
“Nick’s dinged up. You see him after the game, some of the things that I see, he posts up. It’s very important to him to post up, be there for the organization and teammates. It’s just the way he was brought up. And that something that came with him when he was drafted. It wasn’t something he developed here. You don’t develop that in the big leagues, very seldom.”
Now if only the Orioles could turn this skid around.
When Markakis first came up I thought he was going to be a bigtime star… Hell, he ain’t even a star… There is too much made about Markakis… The guy is average at best… Nothing more…
His stats and others so far this year are:
Markakis – 373 AB’s, 7 Dingers, 38 Ribbies
Wieters – 283 AB’s, 9 Dingers, 35 Ribbies
Hardy – 247 AB’s, 13 Dingers, 33 Ribbies
Lee – 285 AB’s, 9 Dingers, 29 Ribbies
You got Wieters with 90 less at bats who plays a demanding position doing better. Hardy with 126 less AB’s doing better and Lee (who everyone is getting on) with 88 less AB’s and his numbers equate better than the great Markakis.
Markakis’ numbers ARE NOT good for an everyday RF hitting at the top of the order.
Look, I like Markakis but it’s time to mark him as what he is, a below average player with a good attitude.
Cut your losses and trade him for something. There are teams out there that think maybe a change of scenery might help him and would probably pay with a good player or two.
I was there and took a picture of him walking up to bat and again when he got to first. I didn’t know that it was 1,000. i took the picture because I was in the lower level for a change and wanted to take as many pictures as I could. It was great, really great. Nick I am so proud, good job!
Ravens2488, why do you say he is average? He plays the wall at Camden like no one else. He gets lots of hits, and is a team player. People just don’t see it because they don’t want to see anything good about the Orioles. I still say that Nick woild be an all-star if he played for someone else (I hope that never happens) With Brian Roberts out, I see Nick as the Orioles new leader. He will stay the leader if Brian has to leave baseball for good. (which I hope doesn’t happen anytime soon.)
We have a good line up, it’s pitching that pulls us down. Our line up has enough power to reach .500 if not better. it’s just that they can’t win if we give up 6 or 7 runs every night, no team can do that. How many teams do you see scoring nine or more runs every night?
@Justin – So playing the wall makes you a star player? Markakis plays the RF wall like no one else because he’s the regular there. Everyone else plays it once or twice a year when they come to Baltimore so Markakis better play that wall better than anyone else.
Being a team player makes you a star? If being likes is a prerequisite for being a superstar than alot of bums would be in the Hall of Fame.
He gets lots of hits? Where are the RBI’s? Dingers? Ok, so you say he gets lots of hits, so he’s basically Baltimore’s version of Brett Butler or Dave Concepcion or Billy North or Freddie Patek…
Look son, Markakis at best is an average ballplayer…
Markakis is an overpaid joke , Peter the Great had to overpay him just to stay here , this entire team is a joke , baseball is dead in Baltimore thanks to the Angelos trust fund…..wake up people….