Baltimore Orioles @ Tampa Bay Rays GameThread, Aug 31, 2008 1:40 PM EDT

	Today's Starting Pitchers	GS	IP	ERA	WHIP	BAA	HR	BB	K	W-L
	James Shields - RH	27	177.2	3.75	1.17	.257	20	33	139	11-8
	Brian Burres - LH	20	112	5.79	1.66	.315	17	40	54	7-8

Seriously, are there any Orioles pitcher now

capable of a one-two-three inning?
These hurlers make me hurl.
THough I am liking the more-potent-than-expected offense since about June.

by Lothar on Aug 31, 2008 12:03 PM EDT 0 recs

I believe his full name is Journeyman Brian Burres...

And I agree with you: No offense to JBB, who seems like a nice enough fella— you know, good to his mother, likes children and small animals, chairs the team United Way drive and so on — but he’s just a fill-in player at his position, and he’ll never be anything more. His greatest moments are when you start thinking Hey, this guy could have a Bruce Chen Anomaly Year. But then he doesn’t.

And that’s OK. It better be. From here on out, ’08 means Low-End Mediocrity is Birdland.

On the other hand, life offers new things to enjoy now. Pac 10 football is under way, kicking non-conference ass and taking names. OK, so Washington St. phoned theirs in, everybody else is off and whompin’. SC could’ve played their taxi squad for 3 quarters against their (or any) ACC opponent, but decided to pump the poll numbers.

Oh, and where’s Westie when you need him? Oregon St. got their lunch handed to them by the Mighty Snodfart Cardinal, hee-hee. Realistically, this was a terrific case of “catching them early.” OSU will be a bowl team again and beat some non-conf shmucks in Jan., while Stanford will probably watch them on TV.

Anyway, Mediocre Up, Brian! Go O’s!

"Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." Churchill,1942-- a rebuilding year.

by Titov on Aug 31, 2008 12:15 PM EDT 0 recs

im really

more of a PSU fan…….

by westcoastOfan2 on Aug 31, 2008 3:53 PM EDT up 0 recs

Welp, if they beat Washington State-- the only Pac 10 team they play-- they

might want to consider adding a payday game to their schedule. Playing the likes of Western Oregon and Eastern Washington just isn’t going to get them noticed, whereas a fluke upset of, say, LSU or even some Big Ten “powerhouse” (hey, if Appalachin St. can mug Michicgan…) might make all the difference in putting them on the map— assuming there’s a real desire to do that. Not all institutions that size want to get noticed that way…Anyway, they can beat WSU, who should still be reeling by then.

Meanwhile, a mediocre UCLA team throws 4 interceptions in the first half and still beats yet another SEC “powerhouse” , 18th ranked Tennessee, whose coach says “we will play better teams then UCLA this year.” Good call, coach. You may remember Powerhouse Tennessee from last year, when they were SEC champs, opening their season with a 14 pt. loss to Cal. Does that tell you something abotu conferences?

"Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." Churchill,1942-- a rebuilding year.

by Titov on Sep 2, 2008 9:14 AM EDT up 0 recs

I cried a bit yesterday

As Delaware could not beat Maryland and ended up losing 14-7.

At least they showed up and played hard I guess.

Bring Tex Home.

by dtuck81 on Aug 31, 2008 12:40 PM EDT 0 recs

Yeah, Terps rule

Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words—"mank" and "ind". What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
-Jack Handey

by jobe on Aug 31, 2008 12:43 PM EDT up 0 recs

If by

Rule you mean suck then I agree.

Bring Tex Home.

by dtuck81 on Aug 31, 2008 12:48 PM EDT up 0 recs

Who will be worse this year?

Terps or Ravens?

And when does the Washington Capitals season start?

"I wasn't here for the losing years. But it feels a little like the days with Earl in charge and John Lowenstein smashing birthday cakes in the middle of the clubhouse with a bat." - John "T-Bone" Shelby

by duck on Aug 31, 2008 2:03 PM EDT up 0 recs

Ravens.

They’re going to suck a lot.

The Terps will be solidly mediocre.

"You have to discipline yourself so you don't come out with something just to say you made a trade. You have to make sure you come out better than you were before." - Andy MacPhail, 7/31/08

by getxstoked on Aug 31, 2008 2:11 PM EDT up 0 recs

Are you kidding?

The terps are gonna win like 3 games. They looked like absolute garbage yesterday.

by pipkin on Aug 31, 2008 3:34 PM EDT up 0 recs

Well

Delaware isn’t exactly a bad team at all.

When you give up 0 sacks to this ‘great Maryland defense’ I can’t complain…

Bring Tex Home.

by dtuck81 on Aug 31, 2008 4:29 PM EDT up 0 recs

They are 1-AA !

If you can barely beat DELAWARE at home as an ACC team, you are decidedly bad.

"I wasn't here for the losing years. But it feels a little like the days with Earl in charge and John Lowenstein smashing birthday cakes in the middle of the clubhouse with a bat." - John "T-Bone" Shelby

by duck on Aug 31, 2008 6:39 PM EDT up 0 recs

i was thinking the exact same thing

well put

by pipkin on Aug 31, 2008 7:11 PM EDT up 0 recs

7-4 for the Terps.

3-13 for the Ravens.

"You have to discipline yourself so you don't come out with something just to say you made a trade. You have to make sure you come out better than you were before." - Andy MacPhail, 7/31/08

by getxstoked on Aug 31, 2008 4:55 PM EDT up 0 recs

Where in the bluest of blue hells

do you see 7 wins on the Terps schedule? And I say this as a proud alum.

"I wasn't here for the losing years. But it feels a little like the days with Earl in charge and John Lowenstein smashing birthday cakes in the middle of the clubhouse with a bat." - John "T-Bone" Shelby

by duck on Aug 31, 2008 6:40 PM EDT up 0 recs

well put on this too

the only question is whether the men’s bball team will be worse than the football team

by pipkin on Aug 31, 2008 7:12 PM EDT up 0 recs

Again I ask

When does the Caps season start?

"I wasn't here for the losing years. But it feels a little like the days with Earl in charge and John Lowenstein smashing birthday cakes in the middle of the clubhouse with a bat." - John "T-Bone" Shelby

by duck on Aug 31, 2008 9:33 PM EDT up 0 recs

Late october

I’m pretty excited about Karl Alzner. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s our best D-Man this season, even over Mike Green.

Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words—"mank" and "ind". What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
-Jack Handey

by jobe on Aug 31, 2008 9:37 PM EDT up 0 recs

Tell me more

I don’t know about Alzner.

And yeah, for the record, I kinda do know when teh NHL season starts. Just ventin’ frustration.

"I wasn't here for the losing years. But it feels a little like the days with Earl in charge and John Lowenstein smashing birthday cakes in the middle of the clubhouse with a bat." - John "T-Bone" Shelby

by duck on Sep 1, 2008 9:22 AM EDT up 0 recs

Alzner was pretty much the concensus

best player in the Western Hockey League for the Calgary Hitmen (Yes, the team Bret Hart owns) If we advanced last year against the Flyers, we could have even seen him in the playoffs. Either way, the guy is about as polished a young defenseman as you get in the NHL. He was the best player on the ice a couple months ago in the rookie camp. I’m pretty boosted about King Karl.

Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words—"mank" and "ind". What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
-Jack Handey

by jobe on Sep 1, 2008 10:31 PM EDT up 0 recs

How can a team with two future hall of famers go 3-13?

Yeah, the offense sucks, no Ogden, Mcgahee’s close to being done, but my god, that defense is scary. Ngata is just immovable, and they just added one of the fastest men in NFL history to be their nickel back.

Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words—"mank" and "ind". What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
-Jack Handey

by jobe on Aug 31, 2008 9:46 PM EDT up 0 recs

Ngata's got knee problems

and you may never see Ed Reed on the field again. He’s got a nerve impingement, same one that ended Glenn (DON’T SAY HIS NAME!) Davis’ career.

"I wasn't here for the losing years. But it feels a little like the days with Earl in charge and John Lowenstein smashing birthday cakes in the middle of the clubhouse with a bat." - John "T-Bone" Shelby

by duck on Sep 1, 2008 9:23 AM EDT up 0 recs

oh man

I hadn’t heard that. Too bad about him. I’m a skins fan, but I always kinda liked Ed Reed.

by pipkin on Sep 1, 2008 11:36 AM EDT up 0 recs

nice play, Aubrey.

"You have to discipline yourself so you don't come out with something just to say you made a trade. You have to make sure you come out better than you were before." - Andy MacPhail, 7/31/08

by getxstoked on Aug 31, 2008 1:50 PM EDT 0 recs

I tuned in for 4 minutes

and saw Burres screw up his responsibility on a play at 1st, which led to 2 more batters, which led to TB taking a lead.

4 minutes is all I’m giving this team today.

"I wasn't here for the losing years. But it feels a little like the days with Earl in charge and John Lowenstein smashing birthday cakes in the middle of the clubhouse with a bat." - John "T-Bone" Shelby

by duck on Aug 31, 2008 1:57 PM EDT 0 recs

Yeah!!!!

This is the August Orioles Baseball I’M used to!!! WTF is happening to this team??? Oh, yeah, nothing that shouldn’t have been happening ALL season.

Kevbo: [to George Sherrill] George, you look a lot like Vin Diesel...

Flatbill: Let's get somethin' straight... Vin Diesel looks like me.

-From "The Making of Orioles Magic"

by dayzd toe on Aug 31, 2008 2:38 PM EDT 0 recs

we got 3.5 good months out of them this year...

well, except for Sundays, but you know.

"You have to discipline yourself so you don't come out with something just to say you made a trade. You have to make sure you come out better than you were before." - Andy MacPhail, 7/31/08

by getxstoked on Aug 31, 2008 3:13 PM EDT up 0 recs

That clip they just showed of Dave was kinda funny

He sounded drunk.

by pipkin on Aug 31, 2008 3:35 PM EDT 0 recs

this game sucks.

Wolf, wolf, wolf.

by birdman on Aug 31, 2008 3:43 PM EDT 0 recs

good grief, this is going to be another blow out.

Wolf, wolf, wolf.

by birdman on Aug 31, 2008 3:46 PM EDT 0 recs

this team is a flat out embarrassment.

Wolf, wolf, wolf.

by birdman on Aug 31, 2008 3:53 PM EDT 0 recs

yes, bring in walker, that'll fix things!

Wolf, wolf, wolf.

by birdman on Aug 31, 2008 3:54 PM EDT 0 recs

it would not

be so bad if they could throw strikes. Dave Trembley must be crying inside

by westcoastOfan2 on Aug 31, 2008 3:54 PM EDT 0 recs

Kranitz went OFF yesterday

about the inability to throw strikes:

“The object of the game is to get them to hit the baseball. That’s what we need to do, not pitch around them hitting the baseball. If we’ve got to throw the ball down the middle and we get our [butt] beat, then we get our [butt] beat. But you have to throw the ball over the plate. We can’t continue to do this.”

"I wasn't here for the losing years. But it feels a little like the days with Earl in charge and John Lowenstein smashing birthday cakes in the middle of the clubhouse with a bat." - John "T-Bone" Shelby

by duck on Aug 31, 2008 6:42 PM EDT up 0 recs

3 runs on 1 hit.

Wolf, wolf, wolf.

by birdman on Aug 31, 2008 3:56 PM EDT 0 recs

I'm glad i switched to the football game when i did

by pipkin on Aug 31, 2008 3:56 PM EDT 0 recs

wtf

Oscar Salazar, thats a huuuge help right up there with Castro, Millar, WAters, cintron, Cabrera, Cabrera, Payton, Burress, CAstillo, Cormier, and Cherry.

by westcoastOfan2 on Aug 31, 2008 3:57 PM EDT 0 recs

the bottom of this lineup

is a sad, sad thing

by westcoastOfan2 on Aug 31, 2008 3:59 PM EDT 0 recs

yeah, jamie walker boy, i'm off to the grocery store.

Wolf, wolf, wolf.

by birdman on Aug 31, 2008 4:10 PM EDT 0 recs

Is anyone watching on DirecTV?

I’m not getting anything on channel 641. I’d just like to know if it’s me or if it’s DirecTV?

by IHeartMASN on Aug 31, 2008 4:15 PM EDT 0 recs

It's been weird

I had nothing until 1:35 or so, but after teh TB 1st, I shut the game off, so I don’t know what happened with the channel after that.

"I wasn't here for the losing years. But it feels a little like the days with Earl in charge and John Lowenstein smashing birthday cakes in the middle of the clubhouse with a bat." - John "T-Bone" Shelby

by duck on Aug 31, 2008 6:43 PM EDT up 0 recs

Seriously

Is this team even trying anymore?

Bring Tex Home.

by dtuck81 on Aug 31, 2008 4:25 PM EDT 0 recs

Sad part is...

I think they are. I think this really is as good as they are right now.

We have NO pitching aside from Guts right now, and he’s looking tired.

We just might pull off 4-32 again at this rate.

"I wasn't here for the losing years. But it feels a little like the days with Earl in charge and John Lowenstein smashing birthday cakes in the middle of the clubhouse with a bat." - John "T-Bone" Shelby

by duck on Aug 31, 2008 6:44 PM EDT up 0 recs

and somehow...

the fucking Nationals have won 6 games in a row, whatever they’re having right now, we need some of it.

"You have to discipline yourself so you don't come out with something just to say you made a trade. You have to make sure you come out better than you were before." - Andy MacPhail, 7/31/08

by getxstoked on Aug 31, 2008 4:58 PM EDT 0 recs

Pathetic

Unless they bring up Wieters and a bunch of other pitchers who can replace this crop, I think I may have watched my last Os game this year.

by Lothar on Aug 31, 2008 5:13 PM EDT 0 recs

why

did they send down Liz instead of one of the 30 year old shit heads on this team????
I would rather see him struggle and learn for next year, then have a bunch of bums that are tottaly worthless fill up the roster!

"It's just unexplainable," -Orioles manager Dave Trembley

by westcoastOfan2 on Aug 31, 2008 6:56 PM EDT 0 recs

Liz comes back up later in the week to start

It’s a procedural move, although, isn’t there a limit to the number of times a player can be optioned? Seems like they’re burning through his options pretty fast…

"I wasn't here for the losing years. But it feels a little like the days with Earl in charge and John Lowenstein smashing birthday cakes in the middle of the clubhouse with a bat." - John "T-Bone" Shelby

by duck on Aug 31, 2008 9:34 PM EDT up 0 recs

one option is good for a whole season

regardless of how many times the guy shuttles up and down. So only one has been used this year.

by pipkin on Aug 31, 2008 9:41 PM EDT up 0 recs

I did not know that

Thanks for the knowledge…

"I wasn't here for the losing years. But it feels a little like the days with Earl in charge and John Lowenstein smashing birthday cakes in the middle of the clubhouse with a bat." - John "T-Bone" Shelby

by duck on Sep 1, 2008 9:23 AM EDT up 0 recs