Latest mess is Cabrera's
BALTIMORE - There's no way to describe what's happening with the Baltimore Orioles, except to say they are a bona fide mess.
They lost last night for the 15th time in 17 games. Manager Dave Trembley tried to deflect the blame for the 4-0 loss to the Red Sox away from his starting pitcher, Daniel Cabrera, being ejected for throwing behind Dustin Pedroia and then showing aggressive behavior as the benches emptied. But the fact is Trembley has some serious work ahead of him.
You can understand now why new team president Andy MacPhail barely says a word to the media. What's he going to say about this collection? Since MacPhail handed Trembley a contract for the 2008 season Aug. 22, the same day the Orioles lost to the Texas Rangers, 30-3, it's been all downhill. They were no-hit by Sox rookie Clay Buchholz, lost, 17-2, to the Devil Rays the game before this series began, and last night's incident was a sign of a team lacking discipline.
"I can tell you honestly it's going to be addressed," said Trembley. "I've never had to address it with [Cabrera], and he pitched for me in the minor leagues. He knew the boundaries when he pitched for me in the minor leagues and I'm just glad Pedroia didn't get hurt, to be honest with you. He didn't do anything, and I'm glad that no one on our team got hurt."
Cabrera was embarrassed when base runner Coco Crisp distracted him from third base in the fourth inning, after Crisp had singled and advanced on a pair of ground outs. Crisp was actually contemplating stealing home, feeling he could make it because of Cabrera's slow delivery.
"Not too many guys go to a full windup when I'm at third base," Crisp said. "I've never stolen home, but I was going to right there, if I'd had another step. But it wouldn't have happened because he stepped off. I was thinking about it because he wasn't looking at me. I don't know if he forgot about me over there or didn't think I was going to go."
Cabrera, seeing Crisp dancing down the line, stopped his motion, balking Crisp home. Cabrera then threw a pitch behind Pedroia, which understandably upset the Red Sox.
"Nothing happened," Cabrera said after the game. "The ball slipped out of my hand. There's nothing I can do about that."
As the benches and bullpens emptied, Cabrera lost it, attempting to tear himself away from first base umpire Bill Welke and asking some of the Sox if they'd like to fight. Orioles catcher Ramon Hernandez jawed at some of the Sox who were yelling back at his pitcher. Hernandez would not speak to reporters after the game.
"I didn't lose my temper," Cabrera said. "The ball just slipped out of my hand. Everybody knows that my game is to throw inside. The ball slipped out of my hand, so if they want to take it that way, there's nothing I can do. Whatever they think, I don't care. Pitching inside is my game."
This is a player with a world of talent who someday may be one of the most dominating pitchers in the game. He throws nearly 100 miles per hour with great movement. Much of the time, he doesn't know where the ball is going, but he knew what he was doing last night. He will likely be suspended.
"I didn't hear him say anything to me," Crisp said. "I was kind of looking at him like, 'What are you doing, man?' He's one of the hardest throwers in the league. Even though you lose your cool right there, you still can't try and hit somebody in the head. Right there you're not supposed to hit anybody, I believe. It's part of the game, but even if you decide for some reason that you are going to hit somebody, you can't hit him in the head because you could kill somebody, man."
It was a case of an undisciplined pitcher who saw a dancing Crisp out of the corner of his eye and dealt with it poorly, during and after the play.
"It's hard for any pitcher," said Cabrera. "Nobody wants to make a balk."
Trembley was in no way going to defend his pitcher. "I think he lost his cool," said the manager. He praised Crisp, however, saying, "Crisp did a heck of a job upsetting Cabrera's rhythm on the mound."
Trembley argued for his pitcher to be allowed to stay in the game, but lost the battle.
"I guess after the warning they thought Cabrera instigated or incited once the team got on the field and he had to be restrained," said Trembley. "He was warned by the umpire to stop and he didn't."
None of Cabrera's teammates charged to his defense. Shortstop Miguel Tejada came the closest when he said, "I hope the people of Boston don't think Daniel is a bad guy. He's a great kid."
Crisp thinks he's a good guy, too. He hangs out with Cabrera on occasion, including the last time the Orioles were in Boston.
"He's got an arm who can hurt somebody and change somebody's life," said Crisp. "You hit someone in the lower half. That's still not understandable but it is what it is; we'll see how it goes from here. Hopefully, it doesn't happen again. You don't penalize Pedroia. Hit me. But I don't want to get hit. I'm just playing a game. If I wanted to fight, I would have continued boxing. Know what I'm saying?"
Trouble is, nobody knew what Cabrera was doing. Nobody knows what the Orioles are doing, either. They are a once-prominent and proud franchise that has sunk to mind-boggling depths.
What a mess.
Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com.
