Even as late as Sunday afternoon, Buck Showalter could have surmised, just like the rest of us, that he was heading out, even though he would not acknowledge it. Thus, around a week ago, he gave a new generation of Orioles players a reminder of what’s possible when things go well at Camden Yards, which may turn out to be a parting present.
He showed the footage of Delmon Young’s unbelievable three-run double down the left field line against the Detroit Tigers in the playoffs four years ago in the team’s film room. For an instant, the city and the franchise seemed to be in harmony, as the wave of orange-clad supporters went crazy and the volume increased. TV cameras also trembled.
“He aimed to demonstrate to us the potential of this location,” first baseman Trey Mancini informed Baltimore on Sunday. “If you want to call it that, Baltimore’s recovery from the dark ages took some time. He intended to demonstrate to us our potential.
Showalter remarked, “I wanted them to know that’s why you’re doing certain things.” “Not just for them, but for me, too, I played it.”
I don’t know who will manage the Orioles next, but aside from Jim Palmer or Cal Ripken Jr., it’s difficult to think there will be someone who can instill confidence or leadership in the manager’s office of the lost club the way Showalter did when he took over in the summer of 2010.
The squad hadn’t made the playoffs since 1997 and had gone through six managers in the preceding twelve years, for whatever reason. Showalter is leaving after eight complete seasons, during which the O’s qualified for the postseason three times, he revealed to the Associated Press today.
After dissolving the core of players from previous great seasons, management—brothers John and Louis Angelos met with Showalter on Wednesday to officially announce the decision—clearly wants to move on into whatever this new era is with a fresh voice in charge. There was conjecture that Showalter may wind up working in the front office, but that is untrue.
Perhaps someone younger or more experienced will take over as manager. At sixty-two, Showalter has a renowned Southern drawl. Alternatively, Showalter hinted softly at a Sunday media session that perhaps it’s a player more in line with the statistical analytics movement that baseball teams have embraced over the past ten years.
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