The Orioles planned on having third baseman Melvin Mora, who was on the disabled list because of a strained left hamstring, play one or two minor-league games before being activated.Then a water main broke Tuesday in downtown Baltimore, the streets flooded and businesses shut down for the day.
The ensuing traffic snarl caused Mora to miss his flight from Baltimore to Norfolk, where the Orioles' Triple-A club is located, so Mora talked his way into coming off the DL without a rehabilitation assignment.
"I tried to go to the airport and there was traffic everywhere," he said. "I tried to catch the next [flight], and the next one goes to Dallas, and I had to be at the ballpark at 6 o'clock. That's why I went to [manager Dave] Trembley and said, 'I was ready to go over. I only go over there to take two at-bats, so I'm ready to take them here.' "Of course, Mora could have driven the four hours to Norfolk; isn't that why the Orioles moved their affiliate so close? Or is the lesson here that you can avoid the minors just by missing a flight?
Now ordinarily, it isn't wise to let a player declare himself ready to play without some sort of trial.
But Mora was right. He went 3-for-5 with two RBI in a loss to the Angels.
Next time, though, rent him a boat.
