Blue Jays 5, Orioles 4 (11 innings): Georgie strikes again
by Stacey on May 3, 2009 12:29 AM EDT
in Post-Game
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PrintSC covered this the last time George Sherrill blew a save, so I won't waste my time outlining all the reasons George Sherrill doesn't belong on the closer's role. It's nothing we don't know. In fact, the only person who doesn't seem to realize Sherrill doesn't belong there is Dave Trembley.
Brad Bergesen pitched a pretty good game today. He started off well, needing only 10 pitches to get through the first inning. He couldn't seem to get the ball down in the 2nd, which is when the Blue Jays scored all three of the runs he allowed. Vernon Wells smoked a ball to center that Adam Jones decided to try and dive for; if he'd played it on a hop Wells would have only gotten a single. Nick Markakis was in good position to back Adam up, but dropped the ball allowing Wells to go to third. After a groundout that scored Wells, Bergesen gave up a couple more hits and walk that resulted in two more runs.
Bergesen got into more trouble in the third, allowing two singles (one erased on a double play) and walking one more. He wasn't looking good and in fact prompted me to stop what I was doing, head for my laptop, and proclaim in the game thread that he looked like crap. Perhaps Brad could feel my disappointment, because he then settled down. The Jays went three up three down in the fourth and fifth. He did walk one more in the sixth but thanks to a double play he only faced three in that inning as well. When it was all said and done he'd pitched 6 innings, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits and 3 walks. He struck out one.
Toronto countered Bergesen with a rookie making his major league debut. Robert Ray got into trouble in the first inning when Adam Jones launched a ball to left field for his fifth home run of the year. Then in the third, Ray walked Roberts. Adam Jones singled to left and Brian, trying to go first to third, got thrown out by a mile. Markakis followed Adam with another walk, and both scored on Aubrey Huff's double off the scoreboard that I thought was gone for sure. Robert Ray finished his major league debut with a line of: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 2 K.
Both teams bullpens picked up where the starters left off, pitching innings 7-9 without allowing a run. Then, in the 10th inning, the Orioles took the lead. Markakis led off the inning with a ground ball to 2nd base. Aaron Hill dropped the ball and Nick was safe at first. Huff then singled, putting runners on 1st and 2nd. Mora flew out to right and Nick tagged up. With runners on first and third with one out, Ty Wigginton (pinch hitting for Luke) bounced a grounder to short. Scutaro got the ball but thanks to Aubrey being on the move, he had no chance for a double play. Instead he threw home to get Markakis, but the throw was high and Nick slid in safely. One run was all they'd get.
We all know what happened next, right? George Sherrill did what he does best, he blew the save. On the second pitch of the inning, Aaron Hill just crushed a ball to left center field. It was the kind of home run where the outfielders don't even move, they just watch it sail out. It would have been easier on everyone if George had just finished the loss, and he tried, allowing a single to Adam Lind and a walk to Jose Bautista. Up to the plate stepped Kevin Millar, last night's runner up for MBP. I was convinced Kevin was going to end the game right there, but instead he flew out to left and the inning ended.
The loss came on Kevin Bass's watch, but I don't blame him. I blame Sherrill and, by extension, Dave Trembley. Rod Barajas singled to right and after a sac bunt, Aaron Hill singled to center to end the game. Another game lost.
Game notes:
- Nick Markakis' 17 game hitting streak came to an end, though he still managed to get on base three times. He walked twice and reached on an error, scoring two runs.
- Prior to the game Terry Crowley announced that Felix Pie's playing time will be reduced and that the Orioles will be going with the "hot bat." Today the hot bat seemed to be Lou Montanez,. He went 1-4 with a 2B. I guess Dave's patience finally wore out with Felix, although I think they should have given him more of a chance. What's it going to hurt?
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Geez
that was disappointing. Don’t they realize that Sherrill sucks when we are tied or winning.
The owner of...... www.birdswatcher.com
I can't remember being this depressed about the O's
this early in the season pretty much ever. It’s just depressing when you blow games to the team your supposedly closest to in the division. Unfortunately the Caps game ended before the O’s did and I had to see Sherrill’s piss poor attempt at trying to close a game.
Does anyone else have trouble getting into the rest of the baseball season when the O’s look this bad this early?
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
i feel like this will be an upside down season...
it will suck early on, then get better as wieters, reimold and some of the young pitchers come up. i could be totally wrong, though.
"If they pitch to you, make them pay."
--Diamond Dave to the Phenom
I'm ever the optimist, but...
I understand the frustration, but I’m actually loving this baseball season, and the Orioles are a big reason for that enthusiasm. I accepted outright that they would be bad, so any bright spots are just gravy. But my enthusiasm comes from feeling that they finally have a workable, working plan. This team doesn’t quite feel like the O’s of the past 12 years, and some of the players are a thrill to watch. Adam Jones is kicking serious butt, and there’s all kinds of help on the horizon. This feels like the start of something. The Caps flailed around for a few years as all their young pieces fell into place, too.
Of course, I have a tendency to be overly optimistic…
by Mountian Goats on May 3, 2009 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions
The hot bat is
Reimold
Also, 1 strikeout in 6 innings ain’t getting it done long-term, Bergie boy. We’ll see what happens…
The hot bat
Went 0-4 with 2 Ks yesterday.
It looks like Reimold is going to be called up very soon, and I just hope people don’t expect too much of him and turn on him if he doesn’t crush the ball right out of the gate.
Reimold definitely has a solid chance to be the long-term solution in LF, but he’s not much more likely than Pie to succeed, and he’s probably going to be a low-average, streaky hitter who gets injured a lot.
i don't expect him to be much more than competent
the kind of guy you keep around until he wants a long-term contract. kinda the same as luke, really.
I was going to write an enraged polemic about scoring, since the AP box didn't credit (er, debit) Sherrill with a blown save.
But I checked elsewhere and found the BS properly assigned, so no vitriol.
Let me just note instead that if a pitcher can be the subject of two game-deciding scoring actions — which he can, since you can be credited with both a BS and a W in a single game — then surely in yesterday’s contest Sherrill qualifies for both the BS and GF notations.
Correct, that’s Giant F*ckhead.
"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.
Just my thought
I would think Felix would get more of a chance if we could “carry” him for a while. It seems the bad start at the plate for Zaun and Wigginton placed the 7-8-9 position in a perilous state (worst in baseball). Thus Trembley needs production from that spot. At least 2 to 3 hits per game at the most.
Just like you have late bloomers Pie may be that type of player. It is clear he needs to play everyday. The question is where he gets that playing time and if he can mentally handle it at the Major League level.
Here is what I would do:
1. I would platoon Pie with Montanez until the all star break. If we are out of it by then I would continue this experiment. If Pie emerges as good enough then I would try to give Reimold some reps at first base. Montanez would be the 4th outfielder and DH on some occasions. Luke would DH and play some outfield also. Huff would be traded or would enter free agency. I love the manhorse and enjoyed his time in Baltimore.
2. We could try to get Pie through waivers and send him to Norfolk to be an everyday outfielder. If someone claims him we could pay the 20K and take him back. This kid has to play everyday to be effective at the plate. We could then bring up Reimold and make him the everyday LF with Montanez coming off the bench as a bat and 4th outfielder.
3. Ryan Freel. He is still not showing anything at the plate even at Bowie. Not sure if he will be with the team after his re-hab is done. I was please with Freel taking time to sign and talk with the kids last night. He has provided advice to the younger players and may have some coaching jobs in his future. Just my take on it.
"They are who we thought they were"-Dennis Green
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