The Big Picture

Baltimore Oriole outfielder and notorious bad boy Albert Belle is up to his old tricks again. But this time Belle is in the doghouse with his manager rather than umpires or press members.

Belle's relationship with the media during his first 10 years in professional baseball was anything but friendly. Reporters who asked Belle for an interview were advised to wear full body armor.

But last week, Belle tarnished what may have been the only positive trait that he worked hard to build up in his career - hustle. In a game which the Orioles were winning, Belle got lazy.

Thinking a grounder he hit would go foul, Belle stood in the batter's box rather than hustling down the line. He was tagged out by the first baseman despite a poor throw for the third out of the inning.

When Belle got back to the dugout, he picked up his glove in preparation to play the outfield. But manager Ray Miller benched Belle due to his lack of hustle.

Miller benched Belle the next night as well, which put an end to a consecutive games played streak for Belle that lasted over two seasons. Miller, Belle, and the Orioles team have been struggling all season, but Miller's decision may be his best of the year.

The whole point of the situation is simple. Baseball fans pay to see talented players hit tape-measure home runs, but we also pay to see players try hard. If Cardinal second baseman Joe McEwing went 0- for-5 tomorrow and Albert Belle had four hits, McEwing would have been more entertaining.

No one really cares that Albert Belle had almost one hundred extra-base hits last year, because Belle wouldn't thank you for congratulating him for it. His accomplishment wasn't overshadowed by McGwire and Sosa. It was graciously ignored.