No silver linings for Caleb Joseph as Orioles finish in MLB cellar

No silver linings for Caleb Joseph as Orioles finish in MLB cellar

BALTIMORE – Caleb Joseph has never been one for moral victories, and a historically-bad MLB season did nothing to change his mind. Joseph’s Baltimore Orioles were inept from the outset and finished the year with a 47-115 record. The former Lipscomb standout refused to sugarcoat the franchise’s worst season since its inception in 1901. “It’s been a disappointment to say the least,” he said. “We lost a historical amount of games. It’s quite a different atmosphere [from what] I’ve been used to in Baltimore.” Joseph drew national media attention in mid-September when he spoke his mind to The Athletic’s Dan Connolly. By that point, Joseph’s frustrations had nearly boiled over. “I’ve never seen sports teams survive seasons like this without people losing jobs, period,” Joseph told Connolly. “Players, you name it. It’s a privilege to be here, but you don’t lose a record number of games and not expect some retribution. Everybody. Every single locker in here should be thinking, ‘You know, I should be fired because I sucked. Period.’” The 32-year-old catcher did not back down from his previous statements, but he emphasized that he’d like to be part of the team’s solution following a fire sale that included trading top players like Jonathan Schoop, Manny Machado, Kevin Gausman, Zach Britton and Brad Brach. “There was a lot that was on my mind that day,” Joseph said of his candid September remarks. “I feel strongly about this organization. This is the only organization I’ve known. I want to fight for it. I had some things to say that were potentially controversial, but I’m a hard worker, and I...

Major League Baseball stars speak at First Pitch Dinner

Major League Baseball stars Rex Brothers and Caleb Joseph joined the Lipscomb baseball team at the First Pitch Dinner Saturday evening in Allen Arena. After attending Lipscomb, Brothers was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in 2009. He was the 34th overall pick in the first round of the 2009 MLB Draft. Joseph also attended Lipscomb, leading the Bisons with a .342 batting average during his junior year. Joseph spent six years in the minors before he was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 2014. The two major leaguers, along with members of the 2015 ballclub and coaches, signed autographs before the dinner began. With the 2015 baseball season just around the corner, head coach Jeff Forehand and the team are looking forward to defeating strong contenders such as Kennesaw State. The 2015 season will begin on Feb. 13 with a three-game set against Butler at Dugan Field. Carousel photo by Sam...

Former Bison Joseph speaks on MLB experience

Caleb Joseph, a former standout player for the Lipscomb baseball team, made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night. Lumination spoke with Joseph on his experience with the Orioles and his time at Lipscomb. Q: What was it like when you found out you were being called up to play for the Orioles? A: It was quite surprising. We didn’t know that Matt (Wieters) was even having some discomfort, so it was definitely a shock. The first 24 hours were pretty crazy. It went by really fast. We had a great time. It was a lot of fun. Only very few people get to achieve a dream that they had as a young child. Q: What was the actual game like? Was it different than other games you have played? A: Well, the atmosphere was obviously different with major league fans and a major league stadium. The game itself was no different because the same players were hitting the same pitches with the same counts and missing the same pitches with the same counts. The speed of the game was a little bit different, but it wasn’t anything that was overwhelming. My teammates were able to help kind of slow it down a few times. Q: How does it feel to join Rex Brothers and Bo McLaughlin as the only other former Lipscomb players to play in the MLB? A: Really good. And since I’ll be the first position player because Rex and Bo are both pitchers, that’s quite an honor. When I was young I use to go to [Lipscomb] games. I’m...

Former Bison Caleb Joseph makes MLB debut

Former Lipscomb Bison baseball player Caleb Joseph’s journey to the majors has seen stops in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and Arizona since he was selected in the seventh round of the 2008 Major League Baseball draft. On Wednesday night in Tampa, Joseph made his MLB debut for the Baltimore Orioles against the Tampa Bay Rays. Joseph, who replaced usual starter at catcher Matt Wieters, batted 0-3 on the night. Joseph has spent the last seven years playing baseball in various minor leagues with great success since his playing days at Lipscomb. Last season alone, Joseph was named to the mid-season and post-season Eastern League All Star Team and took home the honors of Eastern League MVP and Home Run Derby champion. Joseph finished the season with a batting average of .299 with 22 home runs and 97 RBIs. At Lipscomb, Joseph was a key contributor to Lipscomb’s first Atlantic Sun championship and subsequent NCAA Tournament appearance. In the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, he homered in the Bisons’ upset win over the Georgia Bulldogs. Joseph is the third Bison to have played in the MLB, joining current Colorado Rockies pitcher Rex Brothers and current Colorado Rockies assistant coach Bo McLaughlin. McLaughlin played for the Houston Astros, Atlanta Braves and Oakland Athletics in his MLB career. Joseph’s brother, Corban Joseph, also made a MLB appearance for the New York Yankees in 2013. Photo courtesy of Lipscomb...
Former towel boy, now minor leaguer, Caleb Joseph shows how Bisons athletics can change young lives

Former towel boy, now minor leaguer, Caleb Joseph shows how Bisons athletics can change young lives

Caleb Joseph started off as a towel boy for Lipscomb’s basketball games.  Then he played for Lipscomb’s baseball team.  Today, he is playing in minor league baseball, and it’s all due to the influence of his idols – Lipscomb athletes. Joseph had family who attended Lipscomb University, and was involved in Lipscomb athletics from a young age.  Even though a Jr. Bisons Club did not officially exist until 2009, Lipscomb has been getting kids involved with athletics since 1978. Joseph was part of that effort, and remembers looking up to athletes. “When you’re a kid, they seem so much older, they have that mega-star quality,” Joseph said. “You want to grow up and be just like them.” Joseph was drafted in 2008, his junior year in college at Lipscomb University, by the Baltimore Orioles.  He played last summer for the club’s AA  Bowie (Maryland)  Baysox and then began catching for the Scottsdale Scorpions in the Arizona fall league. Joseph said while he was playing catcher for the Bisons, there were many bat boys – mostly ages 5 and 6 – who spent time with players on the field.  He remembers a pair of twins who loved being bat boys so much they stayed on for the whole season. Joseph said Lipscomb athletics contributed greatly to who he is today. “I remember him when he was just a little towel boy,” Andy Lane, executive director of the National Bison Club at Lipscomb, said.  “Now he’s all grown up – we really feel like next year he may be in the big leagues.” Lane remembers Caleb Joseph as a youngster, but knows that kids...