Melvin Mora Gets No Respect

Melvin Mora. The name is synonymous with the terms All Star, Hall of Famer, and Most Valuable Player.

We’re talking about a guy who is a .278 lifetime hitter with 159 homeruns over the last ten years. Barry Bonds, step aside – I’m afraid the homerun throne can only be yours for so long with guys like this around. Another 40 years of this kind of consistency and Mora will be looking at you in the rear view. Which is why this guy demands respect.

So what that he is hitting .256 more than halfway through the year with just three homeruns. Stats don’t tell the whole story. The guy also has three stolen bases, which largely go unnoticed for some reason. Talk about a threat on the basepaths. So,  when Orioles manager Dave Trembley recently cut the future Hall of Famer’s time in favor of journeyman Ty Wiggington, the future Hall of Famer had this to say:

“I don’t appreciate the disrespect, because I’ve been playing hurt for a guy who won’t respect you. I don’t deserve it,” Mora said, according to The Sun. “Whatever he wants to do there, he can do it. But like I told you before, I need to have my respect. This is not a guy who just came to the Orioles. This is a guy who’s been here for nine years busting his butt for the organization.”

Don’t get me wrong, Melvin, we get it. You’ve been around, helping the Orioles to forgettable season after forgettable season while having a marginally good career and sometimes staying healthy. I’m with you – next time Trembley keeps you out of the lineup, you just do you thing and go all Scarface on the guy. And if it doesn’t work out, don’t worry – the Nationals will still let you bat cleanup for the next 5 years or so.