Rangers 19, Orioles 6: Yes, Virginia, 19

by SC on Apr 15, 2009 11:55 PM EDT in Post-Game Comment 30 comments

They didn't make it to 30 this time, but it wasn't for a lack of trying, both from the Rangers' bats and the Orioles' pitchers.

Mark Hendrickson was officially charged with just two of the nine runs surrendered in his second start of the season (3.2 IP), but then came Radhames Liz, Brian Bass and Matt Albers.

Liz and Albers were called up to replaced the DL'd Alfredo Simon and Melvin Mora, and both were lit up, as was Bass. Check out these sexy lines, ladies and gentlemen:

Name	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	Season ERA
R Liz	1.0	5	4	4	1	1	36.00
B Bass	2.0	3	2	2	1	2	14.73
M Albers	1.1	4	4	4	1	2	11.25

Yee-haw! Woo!

For the Rangers: Ian Kinsler was 6-for-6, hitting for the cycle. He hit two doubles, a triple, a homer, and two singles, scored five times, and drove in four. Nelson Cruz had a grand slam and six total RBIs, going 2-for-5. Marlon Byrd was 5-for-6 with 3 RBIs. DH Andruw Jones had my favorite line, though: 1-for-3, 2 BBs, 4 runs scored.

For the Orioles: Erm, Chad Moeller hit a homer, and so did Adam Jones. We did have a 2-0 lead after the top half of the first inning. Jones also hit his sixth double and had three RBIs.

The team's pattern is to win the first two and then get completely embarrassed in the third game. This "well we won two!" thing is nice and all, but it completely ignores the probability that the team is a lot closer to their 11-3 and 19-6 losses than they are the 6-0 wins. At 6-3, they've been outscored by opponents 69-56. Continued success like that is unlikely; the '07 Diamondbacks did something similar, but it's very rare.

Pretty freaking ugly game, to say the least. Tomorrow we kick off a four-game series with the Red Sox at Fenway.

Katie, bar the door.

One more note: Alfredo Simon is expected to be out a while and the doctor he met with feels the condition in his elbow is degenerative. That's a real shame and could threaten his career. Albert Belle retired with a degenerative hip condition, and Troy Percival has battled through one for years now, and hasn't been close to the pitcher he was in his prime. Mora will probably be back soon.

Poll

Most Birdland Player (MBP) for today's game was:

Adam Jones (2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI, 2B, 2 R)

99 votes

Chad Moeller (1-for-4, HR, RBI)

2 votes

Robby Andino (1-for-1, R, BB)

2 votes

Jamie Walker (yesterday he gave Koji boots)

72 votes

175 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Still

loving the boots. Until you take the option from me…I’ll keep picking it….

"When they get drafted by the Baltimore Ravens, we expect them to play like that. Are we surprised? No."

by UMBC Oriole fan on Apr 16, 2009 12:11 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

pitch Jeremy Guthrie is my choice 162 times

Odalis Perez isnt an upgrade over Simon, Henrickson or Eaton….every stat says yes and remember Eaton and Henrickson both pitched in the NL East last year, same division on much better teams? Perez is league avg and with the team playing this good that might be enough.

BB cant be any worse then those three…he might just have to be the chicken we sacrifice.

Pedro might be a little better…..

The problem already is neither Pedro or Perez have been in camp. So that is going to take time. I cant take Rich Hill seriously although I will hold out hope. I dont want to rush anyone but we cannot let this tear our bullpen apart.

Damn it, Andy make some calls. When you and Dave talk over dinner dont forget to mention pitching, you know the one thing we forgot to really address this winter.

by sanders833 on Apr 16, 2009 1:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wait — he isn’t? Yes he is. He’s better than all three of them and by a good amount.

Bad Left Hook
Camden Chat

"If they cut my bald head open, they will find one big boxing glove. That's all I am. I live it." -- Marvin Hagler

by SC on Apr 16, 2009 4:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes he is

I personally don’t want him because he’s reportedly a dick, and an oft-injured one at that, but he would undeniably be an upgrade. I just don’t think we should invite a clubhouse cancer into the fold for the possibility of an extra 3-4 wins, which is the best-case scenario if he’s healthy all year.

by punkrawka on Apr 16, 2009 7:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t really want him either. Like I said the other day (yesterday?) in one of the fanposts, yeah, he’s a marginal upgrade, but when pretty much everyone says you’re a total prick, you’re probably a total prick and not worth the time.

Bad Left Hook
Camden Chat

"If they cut my bald head open, they will find one big boxing glove. That's all I am. I live it." -- Marvin Hagler

by SC on Apr 16, 2009 9:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know he is

I was being sarcastic….

From Fangraphs…

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/calling-pedro

by sanders833 on Apr 16, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

wait...

are you accusing the o’s of being a bunch of lollygaggers?

"If they pitch to you, make them pay."

--Diamond Dave to the Phenom

by j.q. higgins on Apr 16, 2009 8:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lordy what a mess

They are entering into a great offensive era with the emergence of Wieters in may
or june & if thery trade or demote Freel & bring back Montanez.But the sad news
is if they dont get pitching help it wont matter a damn.

by hagers on Apr 16, 2009 12:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

why

do you think montanez is any more of an offensive threat than freel? just check out the stat lines.

"I’m sure glad he didn’t try to bunt." - DD on Melmo's game winning double, 6/17

by daveh873 on Apr 16, 2009 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Plus who would play shortstop when Izzy needs a day off? Ty WigginGton?

Bad Left Hook
Camden Chat

"If they cut my bald head open, they will find one big boxing glove. That's all I am. I live it." -- Marvin Hagler

by SC on Apr 16, 2009 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

the kid they got for Penn is a SS

"I think it’s shocking that the Baltimore Orioles are off to a 6-2 start this year, considering they are managed by TJ Hooker."

by Stacey on Apr 16, 2009 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

oh right

I keep forgetting Andino exists.

Well then fuck it, get rid of Freel and bring up Montanez. Big diff and then everyone can be like, “Lou doesn’t play enough!” instead of “Lou’s not on the team!”

Bad Left Hook
Camden Chat

"If they cut my bald head open, they will find one big boxing glove. That's all I am. I live it." -- Marvin Hagler

by SC on Apr 16, 2009 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ugh

let’s trade Lou and make him like the Royals problem. So I don’t have to hear about him.

by pipkin on Apr 16, 2009 10:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"7. Sacrifice not one but two chickens before third games"

It would please Jo-bu.

Also, glad I didn’t watch this. Love Adam Jones.

by pipkin on Apr 16, 2009 12:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No vote, man...

The stock market will never recover, our armies will never again be #1, and our children will drink filthy water for the rest of their lives - HST

by the fix is in on Apr 16, 2009 1:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

4/15/2099 - Rangers 19, O's 6

Even HD can’t make Mark Hendrickson look good.

Obviously it wasn’t JUST Hendrickson, but I don’t think anyone’s going to argue that he set the table particularly well.

On the plus side, ADAM JONES continues doing work.

Shame I tuned out around 10:30pm and missed Kinsler’s cycle. Watching this series, you’d think he’s the greatest lead off in the game today. Texas certainly has a potent line up, particularly early, so on some level I’m less upset with the loss.

…And then I remember that the O’s didn’t just lose, they got Emmitt Smith Debacle’d.

Counting the days until Matusz, Tillman, and Arrieta. Maybe I should add Wilfredo Perez to the list, too.

"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard

by Brett Jones on Apr 16, 2009 6:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Jones

For not mailing it in. The pitching may suck the life out of the fans and lesser players, but not Jonesy. Well at least for now, as a guy can last so long.

by drj on Apr 16, 2009 9:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Is Game Three the new Sunday?

I was all ready to blame Jimmy Boy Hunter for the blowout losses, but 3DG had the call last night. Also worth noting that Chad Moeller has caught all three debacles.

"The United States is the New York Yankees of countries...powerful and respected until the year 2000." - Homer J. Simpson

by Brotz13 on Apr 16, 2009 9:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Good points! And yes, Moeller Must Die. Seemed like a nice fella, too...

"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 Apr 16, 2009 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You know....

did Moeller call for that first pitch changeup from Liz? ‘Cox that was REALLY stupid following a junkballer like Hendo. Liz shoulda thrown a 97 mph FB in there. They hadn’t seen that speed all game. Why go changeup there?

Matt Wieters took batting practice this morning. There were no survivors.

by duck on Apr 16, 2009 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

CHAD. MOELLER. MUST. DIE.

Bad Left Hook
Camden Chat

"If they cut my bald head open, they will find one big boxing glove. That's all I am. I live it." -- Marvin Hagler

by SC on Apr 17, 2009 9:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

it seems sort of silly...

to talk about crucial turning point when you manage to put up 6 runs, but i feel like not making benson pay when the bases were loaded and his pitch count was getting high there (in the second?) seems to be where things started going south. we all know what happened when texas loaded the bases…oh, rad.

"If they pitch to you, make them pay."

--Diamond Dave to the Phenom

by j.q. higgins on Apr 16, 2009 9:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I sort of feel the same way

But they loaded the bases with two outs 9I think maybe Luke was on with less than two?) and Markakis was the one who made the last out. I’m not trying to give him a free pass or anything, but considering all that he’s done so far this year (slash in his career) it’s hard to blame him, you know? Plus it was dynamite seeing Adam take that bases loaded walk.

"I think it’s shocking that the Baltimore Orioles are off to a 6-2 start this year, considering they are managed by TJ Hooker."

by Stacey on Apr 16, 2009 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i know, i know...

add in roberts shit fielding, hendo’s impersonation of a butcher (seriously, how is it possible that a guy that big doesn’t have a decent heater?) and it was a recipe for disaster.

losing, i can take. it’s these ass whuppins that really leave me impatient and feeling generally not so good.

"If they pitch to you, make them pay."

--Diamond Dave to the Phenom

by j.q. higgins on Apr 16, 2009 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs