Published: June 25, 2006 11:52 am         

The Marlin Way: Don’t be too fast to knock it

Thursday’s 8-5 10-inning loss to the Florida Marlins was easily the Baltimore Orioles’ most disappointing loss of the season for many reasons:

* The Birds had a 5-1 lead entering the ninth inning.

* Closer Chris Ray, who was 18-for-18 in save situations entering the game, left the game 18-for-19.

* Reliever Todd Williams served up an intentional-walk ball one too close to the plate in the 10th inning, which Florida’s Miguel Cabrera promptly belted into centerfield to score the go-ahead run.

* Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada continues to be a liability in the field.

There. Somebody said it. Tejada is a great hitter, one of the best and most exciting offensive players in the game, but as a defensive shortstop, well ... Miggy stinks.

As though the Orioles don’t have enough off-field things to make their heads spin, such as the latest banned substances mess triggered by former Orioles Jason (I Am A Moron) Grimsley and David (I Am A Moron As Well, A Self-Serving Moron At That, But I Had a Prescription For Human Growth Hormone, So How Can It Be Banned?) Segui, the club doesn’t need to have to hold its collective breath each and every time a ground ball is hit to its best player.

If Tejada doesn’t fall down and actually catches the ball, nobody knows where the throw is going to go (as evidenced twice Thursday night), and that’s provided he even gets to the ball. Two weeks ago against Toronto, a Blue Jays batter hit a ball that rolled — rolled! — through the infield, past second base and into centerfield for a hit.

As one highly agitated Oriole said the following night, “How in the (heck) is a groundball pitcher like Todd Williams going to have the confidence to throw his pitches when the only sure-fire place in this infield a ball won’t get through is when it’s hit to (Brian) Roberts?”

Maybe that’s why Toddeo grooved ball one on the intended intentional walk Thursday night ...

Mmmm ... No.

Look, we come here today not to bury Tejada. Actually, we come today to praise the Florida Marlins, an organization Orioles fans, who remember their own club’s glory days, can look at closely and see a lot of familiar things.

The Marlins, of course, are in their second state of rebuilding and purging in less than 10 years because the organization doesn’t have the money to pay the players it develops. Yet, while the Marlins entered Friday’s game at Yankee Stadium seven games under .500, 12 1/2 games behind the Mets, they have come from near abyss to be baseball’s hottest team, winning nine of their last 10 games.

Since 1997, the expansion Marlins have won two World Series and have stripped down both teams because their stadium in Miami stinks for baseball, which helps generate next to no interest in the game during the brutal South Florida summers.

Yet the Marlins likely have the most fertile farm system in the big leagues as they annually replace World Series heroes with young, talented players, who can pitch, run, field, throw and play situational baseball. The Marlins have built their organization on scouting and developing their own players.

Sound familiar baby boomer O’s fans?

The similarities between the Marlins and the Orioles of the late 1950s through 1983 is eerily similar, although there’s nothing eerie about practicing smart baseball unless it’s been 23 years since your organization has done it.

In fairness to the Orioles, however, they seem to be back on track for doing just that. The farm system is beginning to produce, particularly coveted young pitchers. Not only that, Brian Roberts is a star, Nick Markakis looks as though he has the chance to become one and Ray, despite his blown save the other night, appears on his way as well.

Not only that, the Orioles have returned to their roots and are benefiting from three shrewd acquisitions: Kris Benson (trade), Ramon Hernandez (free agent) and Corey Patterson (trade). What’s not to like about any of those players?

The Orioles’ future will be bright sooner than you might think if they are ever able to get their hands on a legitimate clean-up hitter and a front-end starter for the rotation. Bullpen help, in turn, will follow with a top-heavy rotation.

Don’t give up the ghost quite yet, O’s fans. No, there will be no pennant in Bawlmer this year, but the O’s are nowhere near as far away as they were just two years ago.

As for the Marlins, if they ever get a cushy new stadium and a cushy financial plan, whether it is the result of a new owner, Gov. Jeb Bush’s generosity, or relocation, who knows how good they can become with a little dough in their pocket?

But easy Marlin fans, whoever and wherever you are. For over 30 years, the Baltimore Orioles were tenants in a football stadium in a football-mad town just as the Marlins are in Dolphins Stadium and in Miami. Plus, the Orioles were about as low budget as low budget can be. Yet they were also the winningest and best organization in baseball.

All of that changed when the Daddy Warbucks fantasy-league owners, led off by the late Edward Bennett Williams, took over. A Freddy Lynn here, a Lee Lacy there, a Don Aase for the heck of it and a whole bunch of Chris Sabos, Sid Fernandezes, Robby Alomars and Albert Belles thrown in for good measure did nothing but stunt the progression and growth of the vaunted Oriole Way.

Sometimes having too much money in your pocket is a bad thing, so perhaps the Marlins should look at what’s happened in Baltimore the past 23 years and be careful what they wish for.

As Roy Hobbs once told Pop Fisher, “There’s nothing like a farm ... Fixing things, watching things grow ... There’s nothing like a farm.”

Mike Burke is sports editor of the Cumberland Times-News. Write to him at mburke@times-news.com