Whilst masticating on , Ed Grinnell (1:170/1701)
wrote to Alan Hess:
AH>> which completely disappeared after the first two ALDS games in Seattle.
EG> I'm sorry, Alan, but if you expect 4 straight games of 9 or more runs 
then 
EG> you're really showing much you want to blame everything on Bordick.
I don't expect 9 or more runs a game four straight times, nor do I solely 
blame Bordick for the lack of Oriole punch.  Palmeiro was far more to blame 
for the Orioles' postseason offensive woes (averaging three runs per game 
against Indians' pitching was atrocious.)  Bordick, however, was the primary 
reason the Orioles scored 137 fewer runs in 1997 than 1996, and his .150 OBP 
in the ALCS rendered Anderson's strong series practically useless, as nobody 
was on base for Brady or Alomar to drive in with their hits.
EG> Todd Zeile, Todd Zeile. If you like him so much then move to LA.
I liked him HERE.  However, if the brass didn't want to pay him, then Surhoff 
could just as well have returned to third base.  Any of the options available 
to the Orioles was far superior to the Bordick-Ripken combo.  Offensively, 
Bordick is way below average (even for a shortstop), and Ripken is average 
for a third baseman.
AH>> for the O's.  Was Bordick the only Oriole goat in the ALCS?
EG> Goat? You better look long and hard at the others before you 
EG> blame him for everything. Since he's ONLY one person and the 9th 
EG> place hitter, I think it should be apparent to everyone that you 
EG> would blame him for everything. He didn't give up 6 earned runs 
EG> in a game like Erickson nor did he stink in relief like Myers did 
EG> several times.
Why didn't you quote ny answer to my question, where I said "Of course not?"  
Because it didn't fit your hypothesis?  Two stupid calls for sliders from 
Benitez, Erickson's bad start, Myers inability to pitch more than one 
consecutive scoreless inning in a game, total ineptitude w/ RISP, and more 
follies all combined to send the Orioles to defeat.  However, this doesn't 
change the fact that the swap of Bordick for Zeile (or Surhoff) dramatically 
weakened the team.  *adh*
--- Msged/2 4.10
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