Losses - and silence - piling up

NORFOLK

Each time the Norfolk Tides spill into the Harbor Park clubhouse after a victory, they are greeted with a familiar sound: syncopated hip-hop beats spliced with the opening guitar riff to the classic rock song, "American Woman."

It's part of a mixed CD that has become their sound track to success.

"But we haven't heard it too much lately," manager Gary Allenson said with a smirk. "Have we?"

No, they haven't. On Monday, after falling 10-6 to Charlotte, they ate their postgame meals and gathered their belongings to the tune of silence.

Once again, they were left to ponder the details of another loss.

Since June 10, Norfolk has dropped 15 of 21 games.

As the All-Star break approaches, the Tides (31-54) have the worst record in the International League. Never in the franchise's 39-year history in Triple-A have the Tides finished with a lower winning percentage than .394. With a .365 mark, Norfolk is on pace to rewrite the record books.

"I can't speak for everyone," Tides outfielder Tike Redman said. "But we're not doing it right now."

On Monday, the Tides looked particularly woeful. They made five errors and, during a disastrous eighth inning, Charlotte scored three runs without a hit. Two walks, a hit batsman, a wild pitch, a passed ball and a botched attempt by Oscar Salazar to field a grounder sparked the rally that essentially finished off the Tides.

"Were we ready to play today?" Allenson wondered. "I don't know."

For much of the season, Allenson has been at a loss for answers. His starting rotation is a whittled-down shell of its former self, decimated by injuries and the promotion of one pitcher after another to the Baltimore Orioles.

His hitters, although fairly consistent, generally haven't hit for power. The Tides have fewer home runs (40) than any club in the International League. And the relievers? They're solid, but Norfolk is usually trailing by the time they enter the game.

T he few times the Tides have squeezed out a victory in recent weeks, they failed to build on the momentum. Norfolk earned consecutive wins only twice in June. Its longest winning streak this season has spanned just three games.

"Losing is not fun," pitcher Alberto Castillo said. "But you try to keep working hard and do your job. I know I try to do my best - and that's all I can control."

Baseball is often described as an individual sport in a team setting. At the Triple-A level, that idea is taken to its extreme. While the players admit they want to win, their primary goal to earn a call-up to the majors. But Allenson, who said he was thoroughly disappointed by his team's effort Monday, said the players' egos should be wounded by the recent setbacks.

"You have to have some pride," said Allenson, who said he plans to hold a team meeting in the next few days to address the Tides' performance. "We didn't look focused."

After the game, Allenson tried to digest the loss. As the players quickly changed out of their uniforms, the clubhouse resembled a mausoleum.

"We have had a lot of bad luck," Redman said. "We just have to stay positive. That's it."

As Redman turned toward his locker, not a peep could be heard. Once again, an uncomfortable silence filled the air as the stereo remained off.

Rainer Sabin, (757) 446-2367, rainer.sabin@pilotonline.com