Results tagged ‘ Nick Markakis ’
Day off for cleanup?
Baltimore manager Dave Trembley said Monday that he’ll probably give right fielder Nick Markakis a day off on Tuesday to rest and think about something other than his slump. Markakis, who singled on Monday, had gone into the game on a 2-for-26 skid.
Baltimore’s cleanup hitter has played in every game this season, and he’s started all but one. Trembley attempted to give Markakis a day off back in June but had to use him as a late replacement. Markakis played in 161 games in 2007 and 157 games last season.
No perfection for Pettitte
New York’s Andy Pettitte took a perfect game into the seventh inning Monday night and was undone by a two-bounce grounder to third baseman Jerry Hairston. Hairston got down on the ball but couldn’t glove it and was charged with an error. A few moments later, right fielder Nick Markakis singled up the left-field line to break up the no-hit bid.
– Spencer Fordin
http://spencerfordin.mlblogs.com/
Good deeds
Nick Markakis has been named Baltimore’s
nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award in recognition for his
work inside the community. Markakis started the Right Side
Foundation to help disadvantaged children right after signing
a six-year extension with the Orioles. The award is meant to
honor Clemente, a Hall of Famer who lost his life in a plane
crash while attempting to bring aid to Nicaraguan victims of
an earthquake in December of 1972.
Markakis heating up
Nick Markakis doubled in Monday’s game and
has now reached base in 31 consecutive games, which is the
longest streak in the Majors. Baltimore’s right fielder has
reached base safely in 96 of his 110 starts this
season.
Sherrill waiting on the word
A strange scene played out in Baltimore’s home clubhouse on Thursday, moments after the Orioles had completed a 7-3 win over Kansas City. Several writers began seeking comment from closer George Sherrill, who had reportedly been traded to the Dodgers.
Sherrill was unaware of any development, and he left the clubhouse without resolution. On his way out the door, the veteran southpaw was asked by teammate Nick Markakis if he’d see him tomorrow. “Let’s hope,” said Sherrill, who then continued walking out the door.
One Baltimore official said that the deal isn’t quite done yet, but prospects Josh Bell and Steve Johnson are being named as the principal return. The Orioles are known to covet Bell, and Johnson has a tie to the organization through his father Dave, a Baltimore broadcaster.
No Knute Rockne
Baltimore manager Dave Trembley was asked Sunday if he’d given his players a motivational talk after Saturday night’s loss, a game that featured several misplays by the Orioles and 11 unanswered runs by Los Angeles. Trembley said he didn’t give his team any special message, but he did say that Nick Markakis came in to talk to him about a botched popup.
“To be honest with you, I think last night’s game ought to be something that’s self-explanatory from a player’s standpoint, not from mine,” said Trembley. ”I know I talked to Markakis after the game, and Markakis basically apologized to me and said he should’ve got the ball. It’s a real tough lesson to learn. I know this: I’m real big on integrity and respect for the game, and I think that needs to be reciprocated by the guys that are playing the game. As soon as you let that get away from you, things like last night happen, unfortunately.”
The defense rests
Manager Dave Trembley was asked for his opinion Friday of some of the advanced defensive metrics, which have consistently pegged some of his key stalwarts — specifically center fielder Adam Jones and right fielder Nick Markakis — as below average defensively.
Trembley, who’s more of a traditionalist, said he wasn’t aware of those numbers.
“I’d have to really take a look at what goes into the formula for determining that,” he said. ”I know Markakis leads the American League in assists right now, and Jones can run them down as good as anybody in center field. He possesses as good a throwing arm as anybody. I don’t know what qualifies them to rank where they do, so I couldn’t answer that other than what I see. What I see is two guys that I think are as good as anybody.”
Huff hits too hard
Aubrey Huff contributed to a potential game-changing rally on Sunday, when he pegged a line drive off the Green Monster with no outs and decided to stay at first base. Huff, who moved Nick Markakis to third on the play, thought the ball was hit too hard to advance.
Baltimore ended up advancing to second on a run-scoring ground ball, but then the game ended on a fly ball to right field and a strikeout by pinch-hitter Gregg Zaun. And if he had to do it all over again, Huff said he would still have stayed put at first base.
“We had no outs. I don’t want to take a chance right there because if he does make a good throw, I’m dead meat,” said Huff. “[First-base coach John Shelby] held me up at first. I was probably not going to go anyway because I hit it so hard off the wall. Normally, those balls are singles anyway unless you really fly. And I don’t fly. In that situation, you don’t want to make the first out at second. I figured we’d take our chances there.”
Second thoughts
Baltimore manager Dave Trembley confirmed a long-standing hunch on Tuesday, when he stated that center fielder Adam Jones will likely bat out of the second spot in the order. Trembley likes Jones there to play as another speed threat behind leadoff man Brian Roberts and as a righty bat before the lefty tandem of Nick Markakis and Aubrey Huff.
And if Jones bats second, much of the rest of the order appears to be set. Melvin Mora will likely bat fifth, in between Huff and designated hitter Luke Scott. The bottom three slots will be filled by Gregg Zaun, Felix Pie and Cesar Izturis — likely in that order.
Page Turner
Justin Turner swatted two home runs on Saturday, impressing the club’s decision-makers with his surprising power. Turner, who was acquired in the offseason trade for Ramon Hernandez, will likely start the season at Triple-A Norfolk.
But if he hits there, he may cement himself a future as a big-league utilityman. Turner is currently behind Ryan Freel and Ty Wigginton on that part of the depth chart, but he’s young and likely has his best baseball still in front of him.
“I’m just going out there trying to play hard and make a good first impression on them. Hopefully, it sticks,” he said. “Maybe they’ll remember somewhere down the road this year.”
Baltimore had eight homers in the first 15 spring games before exploding for six Saturday. Felix Pie, Nick Markakis, Nolan Reimold and Donnie Murphy also went deep.
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