Being mired in the middle of a terrible season is hard. Being mired in the middle of a second straight terrible season? That’s almost unbearable, as the Baltimore Orioles are showing. For the second time this month, the Orioles erupted into a heated argument in their dugout in the middle of a game.
This time it was reliever Richard Bleier and third-base coach Jose David Flores getting into it during a loss to the Nationals. Flores is in charge of defensive positioning on the infield.
Richard Bleier and Orioles infield coach Jose Flores seemed to have some choice words for each other after Bleier was yanked when he allowed four hits and three runs while recording one out. One assumes defensive alignments were part of the conversation. pic.twitter.com/mdQLJDHaQR
— Zachary Silver (@zachsilver) August 29, 2019
Second time for tensions
It was just three weeks ago that the Orioles had another dugout dust-up, with Chris Davis getting into it with manager Brandon Hyde.
This altercation never got physical, at least not publicly. But Bleier, who clearly was frustrated after allowing three runs in one-third of an inning, said something to Flores. The coach barked back. Eventually the pair went down into the clubhouse tunnel, where the argument continued.
“I think I just let frustration kind of boil over,” Bleier said, according to The Baltimore Sun. “Some stuff about some balls that I thought maybe … defensive positioning, I guess. I probably could have done better for myself to keep my mouth shut, and unfortunately, I may have said something. You guys saw the rest.”
Richard Bleier & O’s infield coach Jose Flores go nose-to-nose after the reliever is pulled from the game & he apparently questioned the defensive positioning during his rough inning. Got heated. #Rebuild @masnOrioles pic.twitter.com/NgaR981Cph
— Mark Viviano (@MarkWJZ) August 29, 2019
Season can’t end soon enough?
The Orioles aren’t as bad as last year, when they finished 47-115 and threatened the worst record in MLB history. Still, they’re mired in their third consecutive last-place season without much relief in sight.
Dugout tensions are just the latest example of another lost season and an organization with deep-rooted problems.
“Right now, we’re not thrilled with each other maybe,” Bleier said. “But I’m sure we can move past this and get back to a healthy relationship.”
Richard Bleier and José David Flóres’ disagreement on defensive positioning last night meant another Orioles dugout dustup on display. https://t.co/Fn8nvTxKpL
— Jon Meoli (@JonMeoli) August 29, 2019
