Just when you thought things couldn't get any worse...

This just in...the Orioles are a franchise in disarray

All kidding aside, tonight's game could very well have been the turning point in another dismal season for a plummeting franchise. The day after one of the most devastating regular season losses in franchise history, Melvin Mora and Jay Payton had to be restrained from fighting each other tonight in Toronto.

They should be downright ashamed of themselves! That childish display after yet another bullpen blunder was the most atrocious incident that I have witnessed. What were they thinking? There is absolutely no reason for two teammates to nearly come to blows, and in front of the cameras no less! I can honestly say that was the first time I have ever been embarrassed to be an Orioles fan. Hard to believe, isn't it? Especially considering the O-birds track record over the past decade. But tonight, Mora and Payton embarrassed themselves, the franchise, the city, and the fans.

And kudos to Buck Martinez and Gary Thorne for dragging out this awful scenario after the game. They put Sam Perlozzo in the worst position possible...I'm sure Mr. Angelos was real happy with that occurrence. Bash the manager during the post game show! That'll put fans back in the seats! Now that's good marketing. But that incident epitomized MASN's horrendous display of broadcasting that has been occurring all season.

Sure, the O's are in third place, hovering around .500, and only a half game behind the hated Yankees. Mathematically, they are by no means eliminated from playoff contention. Then again, so is every other team in the league. But if you follow this team, you know that these guys have no shot at contending for a playoff spot...and the reason goes much deeper than the bullpen or the inconsistent hitting.

Where is the leadership on this team? I'm not talking about Perlozzo...his shortcomings are blatantly obvious, and it would be redundant to highlight all the mistakes he has made over the course of this short season, most notably pulling Guthrie last night. He put some inspirational pitching on display! But I digress...

I am pointing the finger at THE PLAYERS...that's right, not Angelos, nor Duquette, nor Flanagan. It's time for the players to become accountable for their actions. Everyone knows Perlozzo should not be managing this club and Peter Angelos' miscues are well documented.

But forget the coaching blunders and the front office for a moment. It's simple...you cannot be a successful team without proper on field leadership. So who is the leader? It's certainly not Miguel Tejada, the one-time MVP who no longer cares enough or respects the Hall of Famers who once donned the Orioles jersey to run out a freakin' ground ball. Could it be Kevin Millar? Maybe...he's personable, knowledgeable, respectable, works hard, and it's obvious that he loves the game of baseball. But he isn't in the line up everyday, so how much can the guy really do? Not to mention, most people will remember him for his role in the Red Sox 2004 World Series run, not as an Oriole.

Markakis or Roberts? These two are the future of our franchise. They are the young, homegrown, five-tool players with tons of potential that give O's fans hope for the future, but they are too young and too passive.

Can you imagine an incident like this happening when Cal was playing? Could you see Brooks Robinson and Paul Blair needing separation after a bad loss in '66? Certainly not...that is because those teams had something the current Orioles do not have: solid unwavering leadership ON THE FIELD. They had the character, the poise, and enough respect for the game not to turn it into an intrasquad WWE match. Leadership from the coaches and the owners box only go so far when it comes to altercations, especially when Peter Angelos is running the roost...thankfully, I'm pretty sure people aren't looking to him for leadership.

Of course I will continue to root for the Orioles for the remainder of the baseball season...or until they fall so far out of the race that the Ravens minicamps begin to garner most of my attention.