The Orioles Flashback Friday Player Profile is a series featuring obscure, mediocre and infamous Orioles players from their last "rebuild" era that spanned 14 years. An article will be released every Friday spotlighting a former Orioles from the disappointing days of our past.
The first flashback player holds a special place in my heart cause frankly...he was an Orioles icon and more importantly he was a cusp player that was on both the 2011 squad that went 69-93 and also the 2012 team that broke the playoff drought and made Baltimore fans love baseball again.
We're starting off the list with the man who made sports glasses sexy. Kevin Gregg.
Greg came to the Orioles by way of free agency before the O's 2011 season. When he was brought in Gregg was originally seen as a guy who could could compete for, if not split, closer duties with an aging Koji Uehara. Uehara, who was successful in his time in Baltimore, was later traded in 2011 to bring first baseman Chris Davis to Baltimore. However, for Gregg, he was never able to fill that void.
Gregg made his name as a iffy to below average reliever and set-up man for the Orioles bullpen. In his first year with the team he posted a 4.37 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and 22 saves out of 29 appearances. If you thought those numbers were disappointing he followed it up in 2012 with a 4.95 ERA, 1.69 WHIP and zero recorded saves as Buck quickly learned that Gregg wasn't the guy to put in if the game was on the line. In 2012, Gregg mainly served as an inning eater when the game was out of reach as important innings were ceded to Troy Patton, Pedro Strop, Darren O'Day and Jim Johnson.
What makes Gregg stand out isn't his play on the field but his part in one of the most iconic moments in the dark age of Oriole baseball.
Let me set the scene....
The year is 2011. It's a Summer evening in Boston, Mass. Orioles are down 10-3 in the bottom of the eighth.
Gregg, with the physique and appearance of a dad who would help you work on your science project, is on the mound pitching to Orioles public enemy number one, David Ortiz.
First pitch. Gregg delivers a fastball that moves inside and brushes Ortiz off the plate.
Second pitch is high and inside.
Gregg deals again. The pitch swings way inside almost grazing the gut on Ortiz.
Big Papi steps toward the mound and points at Gregg but the pitcher looks ready to square up. He's not phased. Because of mutually assured destruction, the players are separated before things can get physical. A warning is issued.
Tempers seem to have subsided.
Greg is set to deliver again. The very next pitch Gregg attacks the Red Sox slugger down the plate. Ortiz swings for the fences in hefty swing but it only results in a lazy pop-out to center field. Two steps down the base path and Gregg tells the big boy to come some.
And a fight ensues that cements Kevin Gregg's legacy in Baltimore.
To this day I don't think there has ever been a fight with so many missed punches. But look at the bob and weave from ya boy.
As we enter a new era of rebuild, I'm excited to for the team become a legitimate force in the division again and the characters we will meet along the way. Until then, we will be covering some of the Orioles we remember not-so-fondly from the long miserable years in the 2000's. What are your thoughts on Kevin Gregg or other former Orioles you want to see covered?
I will never forget that game. I hated every time Gregg came in to pitch, but I loved him that night!