Something happened the other day that caught me off-guard and I needed a few days to gather my thoughts on the whole ordeal. And then I came to a realization. Pedro Strop needs to shut his mouth.
Strop came to the Orioles in a deal during the summer of 2011 that sent Michael Gonzalez to the Texas Rangers. And at first, the deal looked like an absolute steal for the Birds.
In his first 63 games for Baltimore, Strop pitched to the tune of a 1.31 ERA, giving up just eight earned runs in 55 innings. The man was nearly unhittable. Then the wheels fell off.
Over his last 44 games, Strop has been anything but unhittable. His ERA since August 18th, 2012 is a robust 7.32. A pitcher who for the first four months of 2012 was counted on to get the O’s to the ninth inning with a lead is now receiving Kevin Gregg treatment, only being trusted to enter a game that is out of reach for either the Orioles or their given opponent that evening.
But that’s okay, because he’s trying really, really hard. Or at least that’s how he feels the fans in Baltimore should view his lackluster performance.
After Strop’s latest breakdown on June 12th where he gave up four runs in 1/3 of an inning to cost the Orioles a sweep of the Angels, he left the mound to a chorus of boos. According to Eduardo Encina of The Baltimore Sun, Strop was displeased by the booing:
“I heard it when I was walking from the mound,” Strop said. “Booing somebody like that — I was giving everything I’ve got to help the team win and to give a good show. … They don’t care about players. They care about good results.”
You’re damn right the fans care about good results. You get paid to play baseball (very handsomely, I might add), and play it well.
Strop is making $502,500 in 2013 – pocket change for Major League Baseball. But in a world where most fans struggle to make even a tenth of that, it’s hard to feel sympathy for a guy who simply isn’t doing his job.
Day-in-and-day-out Petey-boy struts to the mound with his crooked hat (as an aside, he could wear a leather bustier and spiked collar for all I care, as long as he gets hitters out), walks a bunch of guys, gives up a bunch of runs and costs the Orioles games. And as fans we’re supposed to applaud him because he tried his best?
This isn’t little league where everybody gets a trophy. You put up, or you shut up. And if you can’t do either, then Buck will find somebody else who can. There are no gold stars in Major League Baseball, just the harsh reality that there is always somebody there to take your job if you can’t get it done.
Maybe Pedro Strop should think about the man who works two jobs to support his family and spends a quarter of his weekly income to take his kids to a ballgame before criticizing. His biggest problem is some booing fans. Most should only be so lucky.
10 Responses
Keeping with the little league themes mentioned, that type of reaction at MLB is akin to out of control, bombastic, rude and arrogant parents screaming at umps and coaches and even players, during their child’s game, just because a call or other decision doesn’t go their way.
for the most part the orioles fans do not boo any of the players unless they are really stinking it up! unfortunately he deserved to be booed for the job he did…I agree that it’s not little league and you are there to do a job and get paid very well for that job! So if the fans are booing you are not doing that job well! O’s fans are the best in baseball, if he really wants to get booed then go to New York and pitch one bad game and see what happens…he only got booed after many bad games. we give all of our players a chance, but stink it up and we will let you know we are not happy about it!
Mayb fix his hat n straighten it out instead of cock to the side. That might help..
Baltimore fans are so awesome that they almost beat a Yankees fan to death!!!They are the best fans in baseball and showed it by not showing up to Camden yards for more than 12 years.
As a non Baltimore fan and a non New York fan, I can honestly say that New York fans are far better than Baltimore’s. they don’t give opposing fans a hard time, they are loyal through lean years, and they a far more knowledgeable. Baltimore fans like to think New York fans are idiots, but truth is you all are far more idiotic and rude.
Absolutely the best fans. Look further into that story – all fans involved in the fight were Yankees fans.
Ha ha ha I almost fell in the floor laughing. At least we didn’t buy any championships. We are doing things the right way instead of waving money in the air like a magic wand. You all are spoiled and arrogant. Enough said.
Show up in the 3rd (if they show up) and leave after the 7th inning stretch. Such loyal fans.
Yankee fans can get off their high horse. It’s easy to be a Yankee fan when your team makes the playoffs 17 out of the last 18 years. Let’s see how full Yankee Stadium would be after 13 straight losing seasons.
Buck the Yankees!
Strop needs to go and the faster the better. He is horrible and I cringe everytime they bring in
this man. Buck needs to tell him to either wear that baseball cap the way it should be worn or
pack your bags and be on the next bus to nowhere. How many more games do we have to lose
because of him before they get rid of him?