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GameThread: Orioles (31-70) @ Royals (42-59), 8:10 PM
by Stacey on Jul 29, 2010 7:30 PM EDT
in Gamethreads
755 comments
It's been a big day here in Birdland. Big goings on! Buck Showalter, hired! Miguel Tejada, traded! It's all much more exciting than this actual baseball game is going to be.
It's no secret around these parts that I'm sometimes a Royals fan. And as a sometimes Royals fan, I feel that I have enough street cred that it's not insulting to the Royals for me to ask y'all if you can believe the Orioles have eleven less wins than the Royals. Obviously having watched the team all year and seeing how bad they are, it doesn't surprise you. But can you believe it? The Royals. Sad.
Also sad is Brian Matusz. His last outing wasn't terrible, it was simply mediocre. But in the two starts before that he pitched a combined total of four and one-third innings with six walks and only five strikeouts, all while giving up an awful ten runs.
Despite his troubles, Brian's xFIP of 4.76 and K/9 of 7.18 are both second among Orioles starters, and it's funny but I still feel just a little confident when he's on the mound. Hopefully tonight he'll put it together because, frankly, I could use it. I would like to order one replica of Brian's 4th of July start vs. the Red Sox, please!
Starting for the Royals is Kyle Davies, who earned the win against the Orioles on 17 May, allowing two runs on seven hits through six innings. I'm hesitant to say he's not a very good pitcher, because he'll probably shut down the Orioles offense. But he's not a very good pitcher. So we'll see what happens.
Confirmed: Miguel Tejada traded to the Padres
by Stacey on Jul 29, 2010 5:37 PM EDT
in News & Rumors
98 comments
It's been confirmed by the Padres and Ken Rosenthal, and really, who doesn't trust Ken Rosenthal? Per Dan Connolly it's for a starter and includes money going to the Padres, and it's just pending league approval.
That's all we know for now.
Update (5:45 PM): Dan Connolly now reports that 24 year old RHP Wynn Pelzer is the piece from the Orioles. Pelzer was drafted in the 9th round of the 2007 draft and is coming from AA San Antonio.
Seriously, it's days like these that I love Twitter. It's hysterical. I couldn't even keep up with everything that was being posted.
Showalter hired; Announcement Monday
Signed for the rest of the season and through 2013. The Windmill goes back to third; Kranitz and the Crow expected to remain through the 2010 season at least.
Feels weird to actually have a manager.
(Edit by Stacey) Quote from Buck Showalter on his new gig:
"My job with ESPN allowed me to follow this organization closely over the last several years, and although the current record may seem to indicate otherwise, I see enormous potential with this club. I look forward to the challenge of competing in the American League East. Baltimore is a tremendous baseball town with passion and pride in its club and my family and I look forward to making it our new home."
Thursday Bird Droppings
by duck on Jul 29, 2010 9:46 AM EDT
in Open Threads
374 comments
Recaps of yesterday's loss can be found at orioles.com, The Sun, MASNsports (with post-game Juan), and The Globe and Mail.
Struggling Pie gets mental break | orioles.com: News
Juan Samuel made the decision to give Felix Pie a day off Wednesday. "They know what we've been through and they are trying so hard. We think Felix needs a break here, mentally. I think he's swinging a little bit too hard -- probably pressing a little bit." At least someone's trying hard.
Orioles Insider: Orioles don't tip their caps this time
"We just beat ourselves," Luke Scott said. ""If he was painting [the corners], I’d understand. We just didn’t make the adjustment. We had pitches to hit. I can understand if we are getting carved up as far as not [getting] much out over the plate. We had some pitches to hit, we just missed them."
Orioles Insider: Bergy to make next start; nothing close on trades; Moore clears
Talk about the headline giving away the lead - Brad Bergesen will make his next start, the Orioles aren't close to a trade, and Scott Moore did clear waivers and accept an assignment to Norfolk.
Orioles Insider: Kranitz says pitchers need to step up
"It’s frustrating because these guys should be taking more steps forward and they’re not, they haven’t been," he said. "I’ve seen some little signs, but they have to go all the way through. They have to keep going forward. That’s a tough balancing act because you still have to stay positive, but the reality is you have to get the job done. They can’t control the wins and losses, but you can control where you throw the baseball and be competitive on a nightly basis. That shouldn’t be in doubt."
Orioles Insider: Jays coach thinks Showalter good fit for O's
Toronto coach Brian Butterfield: "He has so many redeeming qualities that it’s a little bit of a surprise to me why he hasn’t been in the league for a while. But you know what, speaking to him a couple of times recently, he says he feels good physically. The managing and the coaching sometimes can take a toll on you, but I think he’s in a way where he’s itching to get back. I think if it were to happen in Baltimore, I think he would be a tremendous fit."
Orioles Should Do Right by Jim Gentile - MLB FanHouse
Seems the O's owe Jim Gentile another $5,000 as he now has tied for the lead in the 1961 AL RBI race. An RBI was taken away from Mickey Mantle Roger Maris after a scoring error was confirmed yesterday, leaving him tied with Gentile. "We argued over the contract," Gentile said. "I remember [Lee} MacPhail, at the time I signed the contract, said that if I had led the league in RBIs, it would have been worth $5,000 more." Andy, your dad owes the man $5,000. Pay up.
Orioles unfold table and place players on it | The Daily Times
"In major league baseball's flea market, the Orioles seem to be that table of spare parts that some team, if they look hard enough, might be able get something useful at a bargain. "
Wishful Writing – 2010 Orioles Game Recap
What a recap of an O's game might have looked like this year.
BaseballAmerica.com: Prospects: Chat: Jim Callis Chat
Jim Callis basically endorses moving anyone on the Orioles who's 31 or older. And he's not picky about who.
Blue Jays 5, Orioles 0: 0-12
by Stacey on Jul 28, 2010 10:53 PM EDT
in Post-Game
14 comments
Jeremy Guthrie lost this game despite not allowing an earned run. That is what this team has come to. Thanks to an error by Corey Patterson, Guts gave up an unearned run in the bottom of the second inning, and that's all he gave up. He pitched 7 innings with 6 hits, 3 strikeouts, 1 intentional walk, and 1 unearned run. And he took the loss. It's a shame.
Koji and The O Man stank it up after Guts left the game for the other four runs, thus ensuring that Eat More Esskay's sad goal of making it a save situation didn't come true (although Kevin Gregg did make an appearance. He was probably getting rusty, what with the Blue Jays having played the Orioles in two recent series).
Brian Roberts led off the game with a single and that would be the last hit the Orioles would get until the top of the 7th, when Jake Fox singled. Ty Wigginton added a double in the 9th, and those three hits plus three walks (one by Wiggy, two by Nick Markakis) would be the only base runners for the O's.
So who shut them down, you ask? What ridiculously talented pitcher could hold the Orioles to just two hits and three walks over seven innings? That would be Brad Mills. Never heard of him? This was his first appearance with the Blue Jays in 2010. Last year he made two starts for the Jays, lasting a combined total of 7.2 innings while giving up 14 hits, 6 walks, 4 home runs and 12 earned runs. He's been in AAA this entire year, making 16 mediocre starts before the Jays called him up for this cake walk.
Tonight's Most Birdland Player is Jeremy Guthrie. Do you disagree?
GameThread: Orioles (31-69) @ Blue Jays (52-49), 7:07 PM EDT
by Eat More Esskay on Jul 28, 2010 6:32 PM EDT
in Gamethreads
219 comments
Coming into their twelfth game of the season against the Toronto Blue Jays, the Orioles are still looking for their first win against the team. In compiling an 0-11 run thus far the Orioles have been outscored by a margin of 65-23, which comes out to losing by an average of nearly four runs per game. So in addition to sucking, against these guys we inexplicably really suck.
Against that backdrop, Jeremy Guthrie takes the mound for the Orioles tonight. Guts commented on the official team website that he is "1-0 in the second half", so at least there's that. Countering for the Blue Jays will be Brad Mills, making his first major league appearance of 2010. He started two games last year and managed a 14.09 ERA in 7.2 IP, and this year has accumulated a WHIP of almost 1.4 for the Blue Jays AAA affiliate. Accordingly, we should all expect to get no-hit tonight.
ESPN.com's little Accuscore game predictor actually lists the Orioles as 52-48 favorites tonight, probably on the lack of strength of Mills. But home run-vulnerable Guthrie against this Blue Jays lineup could prove to be a bad combination for the Birds as they try to snap a four-game losing streak. Tonight's starters in the field...
On the bright side, it's highly unlikely that we can possibly watch anything more embarrassing than that Jake Fox at-bat a couple of games ago where he swung at the up-and-in fastball that hit him. That's my dose of optimism for the night. I'm reasonably sure we can't suck in an embarrassing fashion like the last two nights. Maybe we could manage to at least force Toronto's closer, Kevin Gregg, to record a save? That would be a moral victory if nothing else. At this point we have to take what we can get. Plus Gregg's WHIP is 1.40 and we are familiar with how great it is having a closer who gives up almost one-and-a-half baserunners per inning pitched.
Go O's!
Reviewing the Draft: Joe Jordan Year One - 2005
by James F on Jul 28, 2010 2:00 PM EDT
in Minors & Draft
33 comments
In order to better understand the current failures of the Orioles, as well as to see what the future will hold, it is useful to review the performance of our club officials. Let's begin with Joe Jordan, Director of Scouting, by taking a comprehensive look at the draft results of the Orioles during his tenure.
Jordan was hired by the Orioles as scouting director in November of 2004. Jordan had previously been a member of the scouting departments of the Montreal Expos and Florida Marlins. He began his scouting career in 1997 as an area scout for the Expos before being named Midwest Supervisor in 2001. He moved into the same capacity with Florida when most of Montreal's front office staff moved to the Florida organization in 2002, and he was named National Crosschecker a year later.
Before that, Jordan was drafted as a catcher in the 19th round of the 1985 draft by San Francisco. He batted .213 for Everett, the Giants' Class A team in the short-season Northwest League in 1985, but was injured the following spring and was released at the end of spring training. He returned to his alma mater, the University of Oklahoma, received his degree in 1987 and spent three years as an assistant baseball coach for the Sooners, 1988-90. He spent seven years in the financial investment business before returning to baseball as a scout for the Expos in 1997.
Jordan was hired by the Orioles by former Executive Vice President for Baseball Operations Jim Beattie.
33 comments | 1 recs |
Wednesday Bird Droppings
by duck on Jul 28, 2010 9:16 AM EDT
in Open Threads
109 comments
Recaps of last night's loss can be found at Toronto Sun, orioles.com, The Sun, and MASNsports (with post-game Juan).
Samuel wants direction with Bergesen | orioles.com: News
"We need to discuss what we are going to do," Samuel said. "Right now he is [scheduled to start Saturday], but it's something that we really need to discuss and figure out. Is it the best thing for him and our ballclub? Is he going to be the guy we're counting on? It's something that we really need to look into." Well, Andy MacPhail has ruled out Zach Britton, and I can't imagine it will be Chris Tillman, so does Mark Hendrickson get yet another chance?
School of Roch: A must-win tonight
"It has to happen tonight. The Orioles are 0-11 against the Blue Jays this season. They can't go 0-12." Oh, Roch, you don't have enough faith in this team. I fully expect them to get no-hit tonight.
Does Nick Even Fit? - 2131 And Beyond
"With high RBI and extra base hit numbers in the past, nobody ever questioned his ability to play the game, only his impact on his teammates and how he affected their personal game."
Gaston thinks Samuel will be good skipper | orioles.com: News
"I was kind of hoping he would get a chance to manage that team for a while," said Gaston. "When he was here with us, Sammy was always in the game. "Sammy was a good player, a good person and a great guy."
Steve Melewski: Another mismatch
"Opponent starting pitchers have an ERA of 2.90 vs. the Orioles this year and have pitched into the seventh inning in 50 of 99 games. Get into the other teams' bullpen? Not this O's club." Steve won't be winning WNST's Apologist of the Morning today!
Baltimore Orioles Accept Assignment to Minor League (Satire) | Bleacher Report
"Major League Baseball announced today that the Baltimore Orioles have agreed to an assignment to the AA Eastern League for the remainder of the 2010 season." I'm not so sure we'd be .500 there.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
Rangers seeking righty hitter to play first | MLB.com: News
"The Rangers continue their search for a right-handed-hitting first baseman. Many rumors are floated, but Jorge Cantu and Ty Wigginton appear to be their main targets."
MLB first: Coghlan put on DL by shaving-cream pie
The Marlins ban pie celebrations. -zk
IN THE MINORS
Top Chef Voltaggio Adds Twist to Ballpark Food | FanGraphs Baseball
"Inside the ballpark, the chef had taken over one of the standard concession stands and turned it into a “Volt” concession stand for the night." I read the menu, and didn't see a single thing I would actually try except chocolate covered bananas. I'll stick with Italian sausage and beer, thanks. H/T to PBR Me for finding this.
Michael Aubrey names IL Batter of the Week.
Aubrey had five home runs and 16 RBI last week, including a 4 RBI night on Tuesday.
Orioles notebook: Orioles scouting director Joe Jordan frustrated with slow progress in signing draft picks - baltimoresun.com
"It's just been a slow, slow process, and it's that way industrywide for the most part," Jordan said. "I'm out here [scouting in Cape Cod, Mass.] talking to the other directors, and the game is being played. What used to be the [process with the] first-rounder is now the same with the 10th-rounder. It's just been brutal."
Steve Melewski: Britton not being considered for this weekend
"In a brief e-mail exchange with O's president Andy MacPhail, he said Zach Britton is "not" being considered to join the Orioles to start this weekend. So we can rule out any talk of Britton starting in Brad Bergesen's spot on Saturday. But Britton is being considered to join the Orioles later in the season, MacPhail said."
Norfolk lost 4-2
despite seven of nine Tides batters collecting hits as Zach Britton went 5.2 IP and gave up 2 ER with three walks and three strike outs.
Bowie lost 4-0
The Aeros knocked Baysox starter Rick Zagone off balance right away with five consecutive hits to start the bottom of the first inning.
Frederick lost 9-3
For a fourth consecutive night, a Keys starting pitcher allowed six or more runs. Lynchburg scorched RHP Ryan Berry for eight runs, seven earned, on nine hits. Berry lasted just four innings in the Keys loss.
Delmarva lost 9-0
as starter Kenny Moreland gave up 10 hits in 6.0 IP and Delmarva had just five hits for the whole game.
Aberdeen was off
but good tickets still remain for Cartoon Night on Monday.
Bluefield lost 9-1
as the Orioles made three errors that lead to three unearned runs early in the game.
and the GCL Orioles won 5-3
as the team collected 11 hits, including 4 doubles.
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