Off Day Random Stuff
by Stacey on May 18, 2009 8:34 AM EDT
in News & Rumors
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PrintMercifully the O's have an off day before heading to New York to face the Yankees who have won five in a row, including three walk offs, two in extra innings. They're probably feeling pretty good right about now.
The O's might not be feeling so good after blowing the game in Kansas City yesterday. A series split isn't awful on the road, but the end of that game was just ugly. At least, from what I hear. When I stopped watching the O's were up 3-1 and Koji was dealing. But I've seen enough O's meltdowns to imagine what happened.
Speaking of Koji, I might be crazy, and feel free to tell me that I am, but do you think he could be our closer? Not this year obviously, since there's no one to replace him in the rotation. It's early in the season still, but it's appearing that Koji just doesn't what it takes to get through the innings required to be a very successful starter. So how about closing? He hardly walks anyone, early in games before he tires he has excellent control. I don't know. Normally you think of closers being those guys who throw 95 miles an hour, but could it work? Or would Koji be more valuable in long relief? Just speculation, of course, as he will definitely be in the rotation for the foreseeable future.
In case you missed it, the Tampa Bay Rays played without a DH yesterday. Joe Maddon screwed up the lineup card and accidentally listed two 3B when Longoria was supposed to be the DH. Longoria ended up having to sit out and Andy Sonnanstine batted third in their lineup. It can be laughed off since the Rays won and Sonnanstine had an RBI double, but you can be sure Joe Maddon will be extra careful from now on.
If you don't read Roar from 34 regularly, shame on you. It's great. One of their current projects is The Eutaw Street Chronicles, which details the circumstances around each home run hit onto Eutaw Street. Today's entry is for a home run hit by Rafael Palmeiro on April 3, 1996. Check it out.
How long do you guys think the Blue Jays can hold on to first place? I thought it would have happened by now but they still have a three game lead over Boston. They just keep on winning. But it has to end, right? Aaron Hill cannot keep playing the way he has been. Dude has 11 home runs and an OPS of .954. He'll come back to earth soon.
That's all I've got. What do you guys have? More proof positive that John Gibbons is our savior, perhaps?
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Blue Jays have played THREE games against the AL East
and those three were the O’s. They’ll fall back down to earth when the schedule catches up with them.
Speaking of which, anyone else notice Boston is done with the West Coast already? No more trips to California et.al. for them – done by Memorial Day. That seems a bit unfair.
Koji was a reliever the last two years. Once the cavalry comes by the end of the year/ST next year, he’d make a great closer candidate.
Matt Wieters took batting practice this morning. There were no survivors.
If I recall
the Jays just played the MFY about a week ago. Remember Halladay shutting down the Yerks against Burnett? But I think MFY took 2 of 3…
That's true....
I know we were the first time they played the AL East, and that was lmost a month into the season.
But they’ve certainly played fewer games against the rest of the division than any other AL East team.
Matt Wieters took batting practice this morning. There were no survivors.
I'm telling you
George Mitchell has something or other on Selig. Also, you will never E-E-E-EVER see a story about a current PHNer and steroids.
You can't fix stupid. Stupid is forever.
Can you imagine....
Wieters AND John Gibbons? We’ll be unstoppable! Unless The Donald’s combover gets in the way.
Jioe Flaacco, Hon!!! "He’s like a live JUGS machine."
we need to hire Gibbons NOW
as in TODAY. first off, we lost a game, which is proof positive that Trembley sucks it hard. John Gibbons wouldn’t have let the O’s lose that game. he’d be all like “don’t give up runs or i’ll kick you and make fun of you in front of that girl you like!” and then we’d win. end of story.
more importantly, if we do NOT sign Gibbons right now, Tampa obviously will. after a gaff like that yesterday, the rays will surely see the light that is John Gibbons. John Gibbons wouldn’t have let that happen. even if he did fill out the lineup card improperly, he would have belittled the ump and made him run laps until he said it was ok. then again, John Gibbons’ pitchers would all be all-star caliber batters, because John Gibbons wouldn’t put up with their bitching and whining about “not being drafted to hit” and “wanting to focus on pitching”. You pitch for John Gibbons, you hit for John Gibbons or he’ll send you to your room! JOHN GIBBONS!
"I’m sure glad he didn’t try to bunt." - DD on Melmo's game winning double, 6/17
by daveh873 on May 18, 2009 9:06 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs
rec'd
for
"don’t give up runs or i’ll kick you and make fun of you in front of that girl you like!"
i almost spat out my coffee laughing
It's 4 in the morning. Too much to drink. All the girls look hot. So, the Nationals are Jennifer Lopez to me. —Julian Tavarez
Roch has a random stuff post up
http://masnsports.com/2009/05/because-you-asked—-freddys-re.html
The most interesting tidbit to me was that he went strongly on the record as predicting David Hernandez as the next callup – perhaps as a replacement for Adam Eaton.
Roch doesn’t tend to go on the record like that unless he has a pretty good source.
Hernandez is a guy that a lot of people think will end up in the bullpen, but I really like the idea of putting him in Eaton’s spot and seeing what he can do. He’s no sure bet to be better than Eaton, but he’ll be a lot more fun to watch.
I assume we’ll have to suffer through Eaton for at least one more start because they don’t want Hernandez making his debut in Yankee Stadium, but hopefully that will be the end of Eaton’s Orioles career.
I don't know that Hernandez has the stuff to stick in the rotation
But I’m all for giving him the chance. Can be be worse than Adam Eaton? Is that even possible?
I’m smart, not a dummy. ~Adam Jones
he could be
chen ming wang
"I’m sure glad he didn’t try to bunt." - DD on Melmo's game winning double, 6/17
I less worried about his stuff
I believe he has struck out more minor leaguers than anyone else over the last three years.
The question mark on Hernandez is whether he has the command and stamina to be a starter.
I don’t think he’ll be worse than Eaton, but based on how bad some recent Orioles pitching debuts have gone (Olson, Liz, Loewen, Maine, etc), I wouldn’t rule it out. Most young pitchers take their lumps as they adjust to Major League hitters.
Hernandez needs one more
pitch, preferably something off-speed (those who have never seen him pitch will see what I mean). I also worry about his control, which directly raises his pitch counts normally by the 5th or 6th inning to the point of being taken out. He likely won’t get hit very hard, but we all know that there are plenty of other ways to lose.
That said, he can’t be worse than Adam Eaton and his annoying fucking nose!
Mood about O's rotation: Depressed : (
I just got a call from some Harrisburg friends
They have an extra ticket in section 13 on the Baysox side. I have a ticket for the Fri, Sat, and Sun in section 12. If you have not purchased seats you can get mine so I can set with the Harrisburg guys (They like to heckle Brad Kominski and I like to heckle John Stern). What do you think?
"They are who we thought they were"-Dennis Green
I will have a friend with me
so I would need 2 tix unfortunately. My plan is to get there very early and hope that there is something left down in the visitor side 3rd base box. Should be, seeing as the Senators suck.
Hey you weren’t the Baysox fan that got into a verbal argument with Stern last year about a player that was hit by a ball were you? That guy was an embarrassing jackass and I pray that it was not you.
Mood about O's rotation: Depressed : (
I don't think he has the overpowering stuff to be a closer
But he’d be a great long-man relief pitcher if and when our young options work out. I don’t necessarily mean just to eat innings when a guy comes out in the second inning, I mean to keep it close it the 6th and 7th when I guy goes five innings and then runs out of gas, and the game is still close.
At the moment though, he’s clearly better than most options for the rotation.
Off Day?!? OFF DAY?!? (in a Jim Mora "Playoffs" Rant Style)
Under the JOHN GIBBONS regime, there ARE no off days.
Jioe Flaacco, Hon!!! "He’s like a live JUGS machine."
I don't know who coined it (George Carlin?), but I still enjoy the mock sports report that goes...
“And the Mets were idle today…losing 7-1 to the Phillies.” (I know Carlin came up with “And here’s a partial score just in: White Sox 3.”
And speaking of rants, I guess I shoulda put my fanpost (on the frickin’ Yerkee shaving creamers, etc.) in this thread, but…but…I panicked and tried to score from second on a ground ball to the catcher. No wait, that was Gardner. Jeez, I’m all confused. Must be the champagne.
"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.
LOL
You know? For commy, you really are funny.
Jioe Flaacco, Hon!!! "He’s like a live JUGS machine."
Great, now commys all offended, punching out Titov when getting back in Moscow, very certainly.
"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.
I have that on authority
of Boris & Natasha.
by fishoutawata on May 18, 2009 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions
An unbelievable, only-in-Russia saga of f*ck-ups. The wery, wery short version:
I was advised In Moscow on March 26 that the visa problem had been solved in-country. The next day I was told Just kidding! You have to leave to get your new one; so go to Ukraine or something, get it there and take the day train back. Then it became Actually, y’know, screw you— get in line for a different kind of visa, and get it in NY. Or not— you can come back on the old one (for another 90 days) when it “reactivates” on June 27. Your call. Oh, and have a nice day.
So yeah, it’s looking like June 27— and then try from inside to get a work visa (effectively a Greeen Card) to avoid another round of this sh*t three months after that.
Yakov Smirnoff wasn’t lying— “In Raasha, everything is FAAKED AHP.” Wait, that may not be the exact quote. But you get the idea.
"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.
let me try...
“een america, you pay w/ VISA; een rasha visa makes you pay…”
…or something.
WHAT A COUNTRY!
"If they pitch to you, make them pay."
--Diamond Dave to the Phenom
by j.q. higgins on May 19, 2009 9:25 AM EDT up reply actions
Good one, Yakov! I knew he'd have something on this!
"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.
Clearly the need
assuming the starter spot can be filled, is for long relief, since this team seems unable to field a starter for more than 5.2. That means many, many innings to be eaten, and a very tired Fish-man, which would be a Bad Thing.
BTW, didja see that 75% of Sun readers think Diamond Dave gets an “A” for the job he’s doing? Huh? I mean the lack of fundamentals on this team is stunning—baserunning gaffs, misplayed fly balls, and on and on…. WHO DOES THAT CRAP GO ON IF NOT THE MANAGER? I like DD, I really do, but his talents appear to be pretty limited.
I shoiuld add that a prick like Gibbons is NOT the answer
by fishoutawata on May 18, 2009 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Sacrilige, I tell you.
But in all honesty. Aren’t fundamentals learned at a very young age. Aside from the occasional “What the hell was that?!?” immediately following the play, or at least game, what is a ML manager going to do? After fundamentals, by definition, are the foundation of baseball play. The foundation was laid long before DD got there.
Jioe Flaacco, Hon!!! "He’s like a live JUGS machine."
I dunno about that
I think managers can do SOME things. I don’t know who else to blame for all the baserunning mistakes this team makes. For example, Huff’s CS the other night. The way I see it, either
A: Huff had a greenlight to steal (which might just mean EVERYBODY has a damn greenlight to steal)
B: there was a hit and run called
Either way, a bad idea that can be laid at the manager’s feet.
I really want to like DD, I do. But I don’t think he’s the answer. I know even the best strategic manager can only affect maybe 3-4 games a year, and DD ain’t that. Not sure if he’s the opposite end, but I suspect he’s getting there. How is he as a motivator and a psychologist? I have no idea.
"Might as well just win this game." - Adam Jones, 4/17/2008
Adam Jones is the tits.
by KenDixonFanClub on May 18, 2009 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree...
The DECISIONS can be blamed on the manager. But as for actually playing fundamentally sound… only one person I know can physically and mentally MAKE a player be fundamentally better on every play, and I think we all know who that person is…
Jioe Flaacco, Hon!!! "He’s like a live JUGS machine."
All these guys know the fundamentals at some level
But applying them takes a discipline that on-field management ought to provide. For example, diving to try to make a play on a ball hit to the outfield can be heroic if you make the play, but taking the risk of turning a single into a triple as the ball rolls to the wall while the outfielder peels his sorry ass off the turf is often unwise, especially as multiple runners scoot merrily around the diamond. That is the kind of “fundamentals” that physically talented kids learn in little league, but unlearn when the stakes get higher. Teaching players to play intelligently is the job of managers and coaches. JM2C, of course.
by fishoutawata on May 18, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Jose Reyes made some baserunning blunders
which cost the Mets critical outs at the wrong time. Manuel allegedly called him in to talk about a couple of the mistakes and discussed “smarting” baserunning. Has anyone heard Trembley doing this with his players?
"They are who we thought they were"-Dennis Green
Yeah, I'd say that the O's are already on top of "smarting baserunning"
:)
by fishoutawata on May 18, 2009 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Man this team has upset me since 2007 with this baserunning thing.
We have left more runs on the basepaths than I can count. Not sure how to fix it. This may be a Trembley (T.J. Hooker) achilles heel.
We should play our younger players. They are the future.
I think I know the solution
We need to exorcise the demonic essence of Stumblin’ Jack Cust. Clearly that play has laid a baserunning curse upon us that must be broken by powerful magic. Like a voodoo queen. Or Matt Wieters.
Cry havoc and unleash the Esskay hot dogs of war! - The Wayward Oriole, Opening Day 2008
by Eat More Esskay on May 18, 2009 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions
How about an hour of baserunning drills
3x a week or so, until these guys get their shit together. That might help.
Or can Samuel. One or t’other.
by fishoutawata on May 18, 2009 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Do you think Trembley is on the hot seat?
Hard to fire a guy during a “rebuilding” phase. Maybe I am wrong on this but Trembley was kept on because of his long history as a teacher in the minors. He would work well with younger players, set the standard, demand decipline, go about doing things the “Oriole Way”. Baserunning must not fall into that curriculm.
We should play our younger players. They are the future.
That's what's puzzling about all this
You’d think of all people…
by fishoutawata on May 18, 2009 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Dennis Sir Farty is on 105.7 Anita Marks
Scott’s off playing golf.
We should play our younger players. They are the future.
Maybe we should bring in
Ricky Henderson or someone different to work with baserunners. I don’t want to dump it on Samuel but it seems his message (whatever it is or was) is not getting through.
We should play our younger players. They are the future.
He may very
well be a good teacher but somehow I just can’t imagine Rickey helping out much.
“You see Brian, when Rickey is being Rickey, Rickey be stealin’ bases. Rickey watches Rickey’s back so the pitcher don’t pick Rickey off. If Rickey thinks Rickey might be picked off Rickey says to Rickey, “Hey Rickey! Get back!” If Rickey don’t tell Rickey to get back soon enough Rickey usually takes off and steals the bag for Rickey anyway. Brian, you need three things to successfully steal a base. 1. Rickey’s speed. 2. Rickey’s quick step. 3. Rickey watching Rickey’s back to tell Rickey when to “go” and when to “get back.” Any questions?"
Don't let the sunshine fool ya. - Townes Van Zandt
by BPinOK on May 18, 2009 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
yeah, dude...
spot on.
"If they pitch to you, make them pay."
--Diamond Dave to the Phenom
by j.q. higgins on May 18, 2009 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Wieters with another triple
Run, big man, run!
by Joltin Joe Orsulak on May 18, 2009 7:42 PM EDT reply actions
It's amazing: when Wieters runs, the basepaths part in front of him...
"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.
WHAT A COUNTRY!
oh, whoops…
"If they pitch to you, make them pay."
--Diamond Dave to the Phenom
by j.q. higgins on May 19, 2009 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions
'83 ALCS is on MLB Network right now.
Just a heads up for anyone interested.
Jioe Flaacco, Hon!!! "He’s like a live JUGS machine."
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