Miguel Tejada Drama Continues

[ACL BoSox]

Here's the followup: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/27/AR2006062701798.html

 

BALTIMORE, June 27 -- Miguel Tejada appeared briefly in the Baltimore Orioles clubhouse Tuesday afternoon at 3:45, but he did not stay there for long. He chatted with an attendant and left for the trainer's room, which served as a sanctuary from the throng of reporters, including an ESPN camera crew, who wanted to speak with him.

 

Tejada declined to react to a story in Monday's Washington Post about the possibility of the Orioles trading Tejada and about his behavior, including being fined for showing up late for games. The story provoked questions about Tejada's demeanor, his status with the Orioles and his relationship with the organization.

 

Though Tejada did not comment, Orioles Manager Sam Perlozzo defended his best player and claimed his shortstop is still both a productive player and a happy member of Baltimore's clubhouse.

 

"He said he's happy," Perlozzo said before Tuesday's game was postponed. "As far as I know, [Orioles Vice President] Jim Duquette talked to him just the other day and said that he did not want to go anywhere. He wanted to be here. I haven't heard Miggy say anything other than that, quite honestly.

 

"This stuff about trades and stuff, there isn't a team out there that hasn't gotten a call about all their players."

 

On the subject of whether Tejada had paid his fines for tardy arrivals at the ballpark, Perlozzo said he had indeed paid them. "I have them," he said. "Go in my desk, it's in there."

 

Tejada, who is hitting .312 this season with 16 home runs and 54 RBI, has endured plenty of controversy over the past year. When Major League Baseball suspended Rafael Palmeiro for steroid use last season, Tejada became embroiled in the saga when Palmeiro told the House Government Reform Committee in its ensuing perjury investigation that Tejada had given him shots of vitamin B-12 in the locker room. This offseason, Tejada said he wanted to play for a winner and entered a trade demand, which he later rescinded.

 

This season, the subject of performance-enhancing drugs hit close to home again when an affidavit of former Oriole Jason Grimsley became public fodder. The affidavit is said to name names (which have been redacted) of several former teammates of Grimsley's who allegedly used performance enhancers.

 

Since the Grimsley affidavit surfaced publicly June 7, Tejada is hitting .236.

 

"It would affect me," teammate and close friend Melvin Mora said of the seemingly constant clouds swirling around Tejada. "I don't know about him. That's something you would have to ask him. It affects me when somebody talks bad about me."

 

Personally, Mora also said he feels for his friend.

 

"It affects everybody," Mora said. "Miggy is one of the best guys we have in the clubhouse."

 

In general, the Orioles said the latest chapter in Tejada's rocky year won't be an on-field issue or distraction.

 

"I was in the training room, so I hadn't even heard about it," Orioles first baseman Jeff Conine said.

 

When a reporter asked Perlozzo about Tejada's apparent soured demeanor and his not running out all ground balls, Perlozzo insisted he's happy with Tejada's effort and pointed to sore knees as an explanation.

 

"He still gets work on his knee," Perlozzo said. "There's times when what people perceive as lack of hustle is protection of his knee. I doubt that it's 100 percent yet.

 

"You know, we got this guy here to be our RBI guy, and he's leading the team in RBI. He's done what he's supposed to be doing. When he comes in the dugout, there's nobody more disappointed when they make an out than him. What you perceive to see out on the field is not really going on.

 

"Miggy, he's a jovial kind of guy. You can't expect somebody to be jovial all the time. Especially when he expects to get a hit and doesn't get a hit, you can't expect the guy to be all rah-rah. Nobody does that. He's taken on a big responsibility on this ballclub, and I feel like he feels like he should do something good all the time."

 

He's not placating anyone that's for sure...

[CrespoBlows]

I love how everyone takes the deal I proposed as the deal I'm saying the Sox would offer. I said in my first post that it was extremely preliminary and really had just my first opinions of it. I told everyone to take it with a grain of salt and they're treating it like ultimatum. It's called brainstorming.

 

We're taking your proposed deal, and discussing it. Isn't that the point on why you posted it?

 

Anyway, I think you did a good job constructing a deal, but the Orioles would probably want a Micheal Bowden type prospect instead of Matt Clement.

 

My idea would be:

 

Bowden

Pedroia

Alvarez

 

FOR

 

Tejada.

 

Not that I'd advocate doing this.

[Cityofchampions33]

I would do that deal, but nothing more, and lest not forget the Os were asking fro lester ON TOP of Ramirez last time. So I doubt they would take anything less than eitehr Hansen or Lester in a deal. IMO, I wouln't try this deal, and if we go after anyone, let it be a pitcher.

[HeadOfSoxNation]

Does anyone else think it's funny that automatically domincan guys are good friends with one another? I'm not saying Tejada, Manny, and Ortiz aren't friends or whatever, but it just seems automatic that we think guys from the same country are automatically boys. And usually, it's the hispanic ballplayers. I remember it happened a couple of years ago with Vlad, too.

[Mr Crunchy]

im not sure that theyre all friends as much as theyve all know each other

dominica is the size of massachusetts if im not mistaken

maybe a little bit bigger in population,7 mill??

 

most of these guys have known each other by playing ball

all star teams,school,semi pro clubs etc..

if not them then their families for sure

 

think about it

how many mass guys are in the major leagues compared to the dominicans?

its mind boggling how many dominicans are in the progame and how many come from that 1town san pedro de macoris??

mind boggling

[Sox Fan on Cape]

im not sure that theyre all friends as much as theyve all know each other

dominica is the size of massachusetts if im not mistaken

maybe a little bit bigger in population,7 mill??

 

most of these guys have known each other by playing ball

all star teams,school,semi pro clubs etc..

if not them then their families for sure

 

think about it

how many mass guys are in the major leagues compared to the dominicans?

its mind boggling how many dominicans are in the progame and how many come from that 1town san pedro de macoris??

mind boggling

Just a couple of points, and you are aware of them. In MA the expectations for educational achievement are extremely higher, the playing season is a lot shorter, and the average income is much higher. As far as the amount of ballplayers from the DM now in MLB yes its amazing. But remember with the success of some of the first few athletes MLB began seriously scouting the DM and other sites, even setting up Academies ( like the Red Sox ). Once there is a general ( or specific ) area of success it almost becomes a self full filling prophecy. Meaning that talent will move to a place that they can gain the most exposure. If you're an actor you go to NY or LA. Hence the numbers tend to be skewed.

[CrespoBlows]

Does anyone else think it's funny that automatically domincan guys are good friends with one another? I'm not saying Tejada, Manny, and Ortiz aren't friends or whatever, but it just seems automatic that we think guys from the same country are automatically boys. And usually, it's the hispanic ballplayers. I remember it happened a couple of years ago with Vlad, too.

 

from boston.com

Ortiz, who began playing this week in the Dominican winter league playoffs, also acknowledged that he has spoken with good friend Miguel Tejada about a possible trade to Boston, after Tejada went public with his unhappiness with the floundering Orioles. And Ortiz reacted with some skepticism to the latest report that Manny Ramírez has decided he would prefer to remain with Boston.

[Mr Crunchy]

sure but why dont the haitians play baseball??

hispaniola is like nantucket only split between haiti and the d.r.

san pedro may indeed attract the dominicans there for their academys

old sox player mario guererro has an academy there

 

and the weather??

my kid plays little league and the last 3 seasons have been essentially wash outs

he sees most of his action at the camps he goes to and in this day and age kids dont play baseball amongst themselves because their parents dont let them out of the house

its sad

all these parks in th city are empty unless theres adults around

[Sox Fan on Cape]

Mr Crunchy;169524]sure but why dont the haitians play baseball??

hispaniola is like nantucket only split between haiti and the d.r.

san pedro may indeed attract the dominicans there for their academys

old sox player mario guererro has an academy there

 

Maybe cause, there's no crying or Voodoo in baseball.

 

and the weather??

my kid plays little league and the last 3 seasons have been essentially wash outs

he sees most of his action at the camps he goes to and in this day and age kids dont play baseball amongst themselves because their parents dont let them out of the house

its sad

all these parks in th city are empty unless theres adults around

 

I beleive that was my point.

[CrespoBlows]

sure but why dont the haitians play baseball??

hispaniola is like nantucket only split between haiti and the d.r.

san pedro may indeed attract the dominicans there for their academys

old sox player mario guererro has an academy there

 

Kind of hard to play baseball while you're trying to dodge bullets.

[Mr Crunchy]

Kind of hard to play baseball while you're trying to dodge bullets.

 

good point

however

werent eric davis and darryl strawberry from south central los angeles??

[TheKilo]

Kind of hard to play baseball while you're trying to dodge bullets.

 

good point

however

werent eric davis and darryl strawberry from south central los angeles??

 

 

Not really a valid comparison.

[CrespoBlows]

Plus, that side of Hispanola is more soccer orientated. They've got a soccer game going on every 100 yards.

[Papelbon58]

New Rumor:

MLBtraderumors.com reports that the Astros are in talks with the Os about acquiring Tejada