Red Sox 4, Orioles 0: Like you're surprised?

by Stacey on Jun 29, 2009 11:04 PM EDT in Post-Game Comment 52 comments

I just got home from tonight's game, my first loss of the year. 7-1 is a pretty impressive record but I'm still bummed to have my streak broken.

Here's a secret: Jon Lester is one of my favorite current players. I just enjoy watching him pitch. He's had a few troubles this year, but don't be fooled: he's very good. For obvious reasons I don't often publicize my enjoyment of him, but when I saw he was the pitcher tonight I had a feeling I'd be seeing my first O's loss of the year. He continued his dominance of the Orioles and now his career record against the team is 8-0. Over 7 innings, Lester gave up 5 hits and 0 walks while striking out 8. He started getting hit hard a bit in the 6th and 7th, when Aubrey Huff, Ty Wigginton, and Melvin Mora each lined out to the outfield. All three balls were hit hard and on the nose, but held up just long enough to be caught. The O's made some additional noise in the 9th inning, getting runners on 1st and 2nd with two outs until Jonathan Papelbon came in and retired Matt Wieters to end the game.

For the O's, Jason Berken didn't have a great night. After giving up a lead off triple to JD Drew (did anyone else wonder why Adam Jones was playing so shallow?) and an RBI single to Dustin Pedroia, he was able to get out of the inning via a double play. He managed to get through the 2nd and 3rd innings without allowing any runs, but he wasn't sharp by any means. The 2nd inning featured two singles, a stolen base, and a HBP, but somehow the Red Sox didn't score. The 3rd inning included two walks, a stolen base, and a balk, and yet zero runs. Berken wouldn't be as lucky in the 4th. He plunked the leadoff batter, Jacoby Ellsbury, who immediately stole second and scored on Jason Varitek's single. Varitek then scored on a home run by JD Drew. That's all Berken would allow thanks to an amazing play by Adam Jones to steal a home run from Kevin Youkilis and end the inning.

With Berken out after 5, Brian Bass took over. He started off looking a bit shaky, allowing a single and a walk, but ultimately pitched 3 innings allowing just one more hit. Chris Ray pitched the 9th and looked pretty good despite a Youkilis double.

The O's will do it all again tomorrow as Rich Hill faces off against John Smoltz. Smoltz has pitched just one game this year, giving up 7 runs in 5 innings to the Washington Nationals. Hill is coming off a horrible game against the Marlins, giving up 6 ER in 4.1 innings. The O's are 0-5 against the Red Sox this year.

Poll

Who was tonight's Most Birdland Player (MBP)?

Brian Bass (3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 0 ER)

47 votes

Adam Jones (web gem)

90 votes

No One

85 votes

222 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Train a chimp to pitch left handed

And he would no-hit us in his first start. Forget for a minute that crapping on the field would probably count as a balk.

by glasgow on Jun 29, 2009 11:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Only

if he was in the set position

by NickMarkaces on Jun 30, 2009 3:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

mj's chimp bubbles needs employment these days....

oh and wieters had better stop diving into dugouts for foul bouls. great effort, but if he hurts himself trying that, i’ll probably have a heart attack

by twistedlogic on Jun 30, 2009 8:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hope you're not referring to Michael Jackson when you say "mj"

There’s only one “MJ.”

Jioe Flaacco, Hon!!! "He’s like a live JUGS machine."

by dayzd toe on Jun 30, 2009 8:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well how many "mj"s have a chimp named bubbles?

by twistedlogic on Jun 30, 2009 9:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

NONE

Michael Jackson has a chimp named bubbles. MJ is the greatest basketball player to ever live.

Jioe Flaacco, Hon!!! "He’s like a live JUGS machine."

by dayzd toe on Jun 30, 2009 9:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

fair enough

QUESTION!

which bear is best?

by twistedlogic on Jun 30, 2009 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Beets, Bears, Battlestar Galactica

"We're so bad right now that for us back-to-back home runs means one today and another one tomorrow." ~ Earl Weaver

by Graham71681 on Jun 30, 2009 9:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't get why...

People think Michael Jackson cannot be called MJ. I don’t honestly.

by Johnny_S on Jun 30, 2009 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I heard that johnny-s from OTM

sleeps in the same bed as children… that aren’t his… and he’s 45 years old.

Jioe Flaacco, Hon!!! "He’s like a live JUGS machine."

by dayzd toe on Jun 30, 2009 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Never said MJ wasn't crazy.

But its not like respectively, him and Jordan did not do equally the same for their professions, music and pro basketball. I don’t get how Jordan “earns” it over Jackson. Jackson was a big deal before Jordan was.

by Johnny_S on Jun 30, 2009 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

There's crazy...

and there’s sick. Sick denies him the ability to mentioned in the same sentence with Jordan… no matter how much he did for music or when he did it.

Jioe Flaacco, Hon!!! "He’s like a live JUGS machine."

by dayzd toe on Jun 30, 2009 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You need to let it go.

I never heard of him being convicted of anything.

by O'sFan21 on Jun 30, 2009 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He openly admitted to sleeping in the same bed with children

that weren’t his. That’s just sick… even if he didn’t actually do anything.

I’m not comfortable when my own 3 year old climbs into bed because she’s scared of a thunderstorm… but that’s usually because she’s kicking me or kneeing me or drooling on me.

Anyway. I’m just saying I think it’s disrespectful to Jordan to use that moniker for Jackson. Until now, I’d never heard anyone use MJ to refer to Jackson anyway. If that assertion is incorrect, please inform me, and I’ll retract the fact that I think Jordan was referred to MJ first.

Jioe Flaacco, Hon!!! "He’s like a live JUGS machine."

by dayzd toe on Jun 30, 2009 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yea hes a creeper

just sayin

by twistedlogic on Jun 30, 2009 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know who used it first

But I’ve heard Michael Jackson referred to as MJ for years.

I will lead these Peoples to the promised land, also known as "Slightly Ahead of the Blue Jays." ~WietersRunDry

by Stacey on Jun 30, 2009 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m not going to sit here and defend the guy, because there really is no need to. But Jackson was called MJ for as long as I can remember and I started listening to him before Jordan was a household name.

I don’t really understand how it is “disrespectful” to Jordan to use ‘MJ’ for Jackson either. It’s irrelevant. That is like complaining it is disrespectful to President Obama to call George Bush Mr. President. Actually, its even more absurd with the MJ thing since they have absolutely no link to each other. I guarantee Jordan is not losing any sleep over the term.

by Johnny_S on Jun 30, 2009 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree Jordan's not losing any sleep...

That’s why I said I think it’s disrespectful. It just rubs me the wrong way. To each his own.

Jioe Flaacco, Hon!!! "He’s like a live JUGS machine."

by dayzd toe on Jun 30, 2009 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Here's how old I am

I’ve NEVER heard Michael Jacson called MJ, and ONLY heard Michael Jordan referred to as MJ.

"We're not the other teams' farm system." - Andy MacPhail

by duck on Jun 30, 2009 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So did Gandhi.

Just sayin’

"We're not the other teams' farm system." - Andy MacPhail

by duck on Jun 30, 2009 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Creep too

Jioe Flaacco, Hon!!! "He’s like a live JUGS machine."

by dayzd toe on Jun 30, 2009 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Stacey its 'cause I didn't wear my lucky shirt today (8-0 when I do, I'll wear it tomorrow )

This was a strange game…Berken was pitching real good and real bad simultaneously and at the same time. Bad/ inconsistent umpire today. Adam Jones always plays shallow to increase the difficulty factor (makes him look bad ass when he robs homers (while blowing bubbles)). I know Wieters is purposely missing 2nd base on attempted steals to bait runners later on in the season, but he should maybe throw them out every once in a while. P.S. I HATE LESTER!!!!!

by Tetris on Jun 30, 2009 2:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Its funny....

I also didn’t wear my lucky shirt to the game today.

Also, the majority of Wieters’ throws have been spot-on. Most of the SB have been on the pitcher.

by NickMarkaces on Jun 30, 2009 3:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My streak is still alive

Sad to report last night was only my second trip to the Yards this year. I’m 0-2.

Berken was wearing a hole in my gut with the jams he kept pitching into. I was stunned to look at the board and remember it was still only 1-0 at the end of the 3rd, after sitting there growling under my breath for so long. GRRRRRRR

I’ve been looking for a lucky shirt since 2002. I don’t think I’ve attended 3 straight wins in that time.

Has there ever been a cooler Oriole than Eddie Murray? I mean, just straight up cool. Like a bad, suave dude. You know what I'm sayin'. COOL. SC 7/24/08

by 33 on Jun 30, 2009 7:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

We got beat by a superior pitcher last night

But I watched the game and he got every single close call by the ump. That called strike 3 on Roberts was awful. Tremblay should have been out there, Earl Weavering the hell out of that guy.

by Fred Sanford on Jun 30, 2009 9:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

From where I was sitting

I couldn’t see the strike zone well. I was in the upper deck, just to the third base side of home plate, so I was looking at the back of every right handed hitter. I could certainly see the frustration from the players, though. Trembley did spend the break between the top and bottom of one inning (can’t remember which) having a long discussion with the ump.

I will lead these Peoples to the promised land, also known as "Slightly Ahead of the Blue Jays." ~WietersRunDry

by Stacey on Jun 30, 2009 9:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It was bad

The strike 3 he is talking about, that Roberts was visibly sick about was outside. That was not even the worst strike of the AB though. The 2nd strike was a good foot to foot and a half outside. It was terrible.

Then Berken threw a couple almost in the center the next inning and was called for balls.

by Johnny_S on Jun 30, 2009 9:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Trembley complained about the strike zone after the game

From the portions of the game I (unfortunately) watched, I would agree that Lester was getting calls that Berken wasn’t.

But it’s not like the result would’ve been any different if the strike zones were switched. The O’s were completely dominated and they just as easily could have lost by double digits.

I said this on the game thread, and I’ll say it again: Jon Lester is a very good major league pitcher, but he’s no Sandy Koufax. It’s inexcusable to let this guy beat you over and over again.

In his career, Lester has a 2.18 ERA against the Orioles, and a 4.20 ERA against everyone else.

by dkdc on Jun 30, 2009 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's not THAT good.

He came in with a 4.7 ERA and a 266 average against, so SOMEBODY is getting hits against him. Just not the O’s. Ever.

by O'sFan21 on Jun 30, 2009 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Had to give it to Jones

As much as I wanted to vote for no one, that catch was great. Any robbed HR is Birdland for me.

I still feel like that last Wieter’s pop out of the ground appeared to bounce into his glove. I watched it over and over again on DVR and I thought it did. Oh well. Shitty game none-the-less.

by Johnny_S on Jun 30, 2009 9:52 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

They didn't even show the replay on TV, but I thought it shorthopped his glove too. Icing on the cake for a horseshit game for the umpires.

by O'sFan21 on Jun 30, 2009 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

by SidewinderX on Jun 30, 2009 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Stacey, I agree, why was AJ that shallow?

If you look through the gamethead, there was a pretty sizable argument when I was saying that AJ is a good, but not great, defensive player because of things like playing too shallow. There was a whole legion of folks who disagreed.

by SidewinderX on Jun 30, 2009 10:21 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

nope

i agree with you Sidewinder. I think that whole “well he makes more plays on bloop singles yada yada yada” argument is weak. i’d much rather give up a shallow single than a double/triple to the gap that an OF playing at a normal depth might have had a play on.

by twistedlogic on Jun 30, 2009 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You guys say that now, but you'd be bitching and moaning if he let all the bloopers and line drives fall in front of him.

There are way more of those in the course of a game than balls that he can’t get to over his head. He goes back on the ball really well so he can afford to play shallow.

by O'sFan21 on Jun 30, 2009 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

naw no bitching and moaning here

unless he’s playing deep on a guy that doesnt have much in the way of power. a guy like pedroia i can see playing a little bit more shallow, but drew def has pop. what happened to playing a normal depth? the guy’s got speed. jones was playing so shallow that a bloop single prolly woulda gotten over his head too (but i jest of course :-) )

by twistedlogic on Jun 30, 2009 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

right...

but it’s a lot easier to come in on a ball than to go back, no?

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

--Diamond Dave to the Phenom

by j.q. higgins on Jun 30, 2009 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

absolutely

like i said, i dunno why OFs dont play at a normal depth. especially speed guys like jones. from a standard depth, i like his chances of making a play on a blooper. plus, he comes up in a much better throwing position if hes already moving foward

by twistedlogic on Jun 30, 2009 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

depends on the fielder - some guys go back better than they go in

obviously Jones prefers going back on the ball

by O'sFan21 on Jun 30, 2009 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Someone posted defensive #s for Jones

Baltimo, maybe? And his numbers for balls hit deep to center were way worse than any of his other ratings. I’ll try to find it. I know Jones is fast and likes to play shallow, but sometimes it just seems counterproductive.

I will lead these Peoples to the promised land, also known as "Slightly Ahead of the Blue Jays." ~WietersRunDry

by Stacey on Jun 30, 2009 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That may be.

But I’d also be curious if there were numbers indicating how often balls get over his head as opposed to balls that might drop in front of a deeper CFer that he catches. Seems to me like there’s a lot more bloopers and shallow liners than there are missiles over the CFers head in general. That’s purely anecdotal obviously.

by O'sFan21 on Jun 30, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree O'sFan21

Exactly just how many balls do you recall flying beyond Jones? Not many from what I remember…I think you should just give Jones and T-Bone the benefit of the doubt seeing how they’re in the major leagues…and you’re not.

by Tetris on Jun 30, 2009 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

he does go back well

I’ll grant that, but like twisted says a couple of comments below here, when you come in you’re in a much better throwing position. I know CF don’t usually have the opportunities for OF assists like RF/LF do, but I can think of plenty of times when I thought AJ would at least have a shot at throwing a guy out except for him running backwards to get to the ball. And I can’t think of too many throws he does make.

but honestly, I’m more concerned with his hitting right now than his fielding. He needs to get his confidence back, take a few pitches, and get back into it.

by SidewinderX on Jun 30, 2009 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well I would hope that when he needs to make a throw he's not playing super shallow

Because you’re surely right about it being better to throw when you’re coming in.

And I DEFINITELY agree that I’m much more concerned about his hitting.

by O'sFan21 on Jun 30, 2009 9:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

embarrasing

I get so embarressed watching these games. Were not only get taken over on the field but also get taken over in the stands. It has to be terrible for oriole players. I feel bad for them. I can’t deal with it. I am frustrated as you can tell and just needed an outlet to get this out haha. I can’t wait till we become good again so we can kick thoughs A-Holes out of there. I mean red sox fans have become worse than yankee fans!!!

by Oriolebird88 on Jun 30, 2009 10:21 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

You feel bad for them?? maybe they should play better!

These guys are not bad hitters – they just absolutely go to sleep for a lot of games.

by O'sFan21 on Jun 30, 2009 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Red Sox fans

God, yes, that was discouraging last night. Even on the Light Rail down from Nursery Road a third of the hats and shirts were for the Sux. We were looking down on the 3rd base line lowers from the Dugout Club seats and started to count red vs. orange. It got too upsetting fast.

And every YOOOUUUUKK made me want to YAK.

Thanks for opening this vent. I know it’s been said 1000s of boring times, but you’re right — can’t keep it in.

Has there ever been a cooler Oriole than Eddie Murray? I mean, just straight up cool. Like a bad, suave dude. You know what I'm sayin'. COOL. SC 7/24/08

by 33 on Jun 30, 2009 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think we can pull it off tonight

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 Jun 30, 2009 10:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

and we have Bergesen on Wednesday

I’m going to the Wednesday day game. I’d say something about our record at games I attend, but needless to say I don’t want to jinx it. (It really isn’t that impressive, but there’s a nice winning streak right now)

I am 2-0 this year, for games against MFY/PHN. I saw OPening Day and the 12-2 shellacking we gave to the Yanks.

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 Jun 30, 2009 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs