Godspeed, Melvin Mora
We knew it was coming and now it has. The Orioles today officially declined Melvin Mora‘s 2010 option, meaning he’ll become a free agent. His playing days in Baltimore have more than likely come to an end.
Bittersweet wouldn’t be the word here. It’s actually one of those things that happened at the right time and mostly under the right circumstances. And now that we have a chance to look at Mora’s time here in total, I think he goes down in history as a great Oriole.
We all had our issues with him over the years, but I don’t think it would have gone down like that had the team been winning. His individual achievements are overshadowed by the fact that his teams never once finished above .500. That’s natural, but not entirely fair. I doubt we’d look as fondly on Brady Anderson as we do if he hadn’t played on some winners. Mora, I think it’s safe to say, was at least as good as Brady.
It’ll be interesting to see if he latches on somewhere else, and to see if he can catch a little more lightning. It would be kind of cool to see him make the playoffs one last time before hanging up the spikes for good.
Now, though, we have to face in earnest the question of what happens at third base next year.
I have some preliminary thoughts in advance of the Hot Stove season that I’ll post up tomorrow (hint: this won’t be an easy winter), then a Ravens-Broncos preview either Saturday or early Sunday morning.
Finally, I’ll be guest hosting the Fighting Ungers show on Fox Sports 1370 Saturday morning from 9-12. My sense is that none of you care very much, but I have to at least mention it.
(photo via Keith Allison)
if mora was scott brosius he’d be brooks robinson.
if the ravens don’t win this weekend it’s over.
i just smoked a huge spliff.
Yeah, for a couple of years there Mora was my hands down favorite Oriole (heck, there wasn’t a lot to choose from for a while there. Was it going to be B.J. Ryan or Javy Lopez or Matt Riley? No. No it wasn’t.) and he was really one of the very best players on this team and only fell into serious decline this last year.
Yeah, he’s ugly and he was god awful this year and bunted too much and was a little bit of a diva towards the end, but damn it Melvin, you were pretty great. Salute.
Now bring on Josh Bell.
This weekend’s game is critical for both teams. While the Broncos could probably stand to lose this game, it’s their first trip to the East Coast, and it’s their first game against a team that should be contending that really has something serious to lose if they fail to win this game. A loss for the Ravens essentially ends their hopes of making the playoffs.
For the Broncos, this game is hugely symbolic. While the public now recognizes that they’re “for real,” this is the ego game, the “our heads got too big, and we played like it” game. A loss means they aren’t who the world currently thinks they are, while a win means they most definitely are.
The Broncos have never won a game in Baltimore against the Ravens, their last win here being in Sept. of 1983 against the soon to depart Coats.
While I think the Broncos CAN win, if they’re going to lose soon, it will be this weekend, not next Monday night against Pittsburgh at Mile High.
I would never have thought this three months ago.
If it’s one thing Melvin Mora is, it’s memorable. He was just a funny guy to watch play the game and I think that’s what I’ll remember most. And it might be a longer time than we would like before we see someone at 3B who could make the plays he could make. He’s still got it defensively, which is surprising at his age, so he should find work somewhere.
It’s going to feel different watching the O’s without old Melvin pouting and swinging at bubbles. But yeah, bring on Josh Bell already.
I really, really don’t want to start a thing here (really, I swear), but does anyone else think that we’re perhaps way overrating Melvin’s defense? I mean, he seemed alright but he’s hardly Adrian Beltre over there. I suspect that if Bell’s reputation is correct that he could easily replicate the defense Mora gave us at the hot corner.
@Andrew – Don’t get me wrong, I will never say that Melvin was a defensive genius over there. But the fact remains that was capable of making some stunning plays very late in his career at a position that he didn’t start out playing. Some of the plays he made this year were downright ridiculous. But I don’t doubt that Bell can be at least as consistent as Melvin. We haven’t seen the guy play though, so who really knows.