Orioles 6, Red Sox 2: 1 out of 3 ain't great, but it's better than being swept.

by zknower on Jul 26, 2009 6:17 PM EDT in Post-Game Comment 31 comments

The Orioles FINALLY win in Fenway!

Didn't get to watch this game, so I will crib from the Sports Network Recap:

Nick Markakis went 2-for-4 with a homer and finished with three RBI and scored twice to help the Baltimore Orioles salvage the finale of a three-game set and beat the Boston Red Sox, 6-2, to snap an 11-game slide at at Fenway Park.

Nolan Reimold also went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored for the Orioles, who snapped a five-game slide and won in Boston for the first time since July 11, 2008. Felix Pie and Ty Wigginton each had an RBI for the visitors.

David Hernandez (3-2) was solid on the hill, going seven innings and yielding a run on five hits with two strikeouts to get the win.

The O's host KC at OPACY for a 4-game series starting tomorrow night. We'll likely get a chance to see former Orioles "aces" Sidney Ponson and Bruce Chen. Oh, JOY!

Poll

Most Birdland Player for July 26 is:

Nick Markakis (2 for 4, 2 R, 3 RBI)

37 votes

David Hernandez (1 ER, 5 H in 7 innings)

168 votes

Felix Pie (2 for 4, 1R, 1 RBI, unexpected contribution!)

12 votes

217 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 31 comments

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Comments

First? haha

I did watch this game, and it’s ridiculous how Hernandez got something like 19 popouts / flyouts? Glad to have him in the rotation.

Also, this game kind of proved that we need to trade Huff and Scott (unfortunately), as they were both on the bench today but we still pwned…

"Going over the hitters it was decided that we should pitch Frank Robinson underground." - Jim Bouton

by neptunerav on Jul 26, 2009 6:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Would have voted for Nicky

but he lost me with that awful throwing error. You’re better than that Nicky! Nice game at the plate though.

Really liked Hernandez out there today. Fastball was popping and best of all 0 BBs.

by O'sFan21 on Jul 26, 2009 6:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

ha!

O’sFan21 and yours truly agree on mbp. break out the fancy dinnerware.

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

--Diamond Dave to the Phenom

by j.q. higgins on Jul 26, 2009 10:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

lol first for everything!

by O'sFan21 on Jul 26, 2009 11:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

this might be just what we needed

a decisive win over one of the best teams on baseball, and a dominant performance by one of our young pitchers, and we have the Royals next.

But then again like I’ve seen so often lately, losers find a way to lose

by sc os fan on Jul 26, 2009 7:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Pie

Has been quite solid since his awful start to the season. He’s been a pleasant surprise lately.

"I have seen the future and his name is Matt Wieters." Keith Law

by Reddrummer9187 on Jul 26, 2009 7:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

I’m happy with how he’s responded to a more limited role. Hopefully he can continue to develop as a fourth OF playing a couple of days a week.

by Joltin Joe Orsulak on Jul 26, 2009 8:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hernandez you are so Birdland you don't even know how Birdland you are.

by Johnny_S on Jul 26, 2009 8:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

he’s fairly quietly putting together a very nice rookie season of his own. Just think, guys like Arrieta might have to earn their way into the rotation instead of being forced into it. Awesome. Keep it up Davey boy!

Matt Wieters can get to the tootsie roll center of a tootsie pop in under one lick.

by daveh873 on Jul 26, 2009 8:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

To be fair

They have to earn their way anyways. AM would sooner keep a stopgap in the majors than promote a player who has not proven themselves at their current level. Although we are hopefully developing a surplus of pitching since we practically ignored hitting prospects not named Jones or Wieters since AM got here (and AM wasn’t even here when we drafted Wieters).

"I have seen the future and his name is Matt Wieters." Keith Law

by Reddrummer9187 on Jul 26, 2009 9:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

I meant more along the lines of they’ll have to be good when they get to the majors or there will be guys just waiting to unseat them. Then again, its just refreshing to not have to see Cabrera/Loewen/Olson-like situations again.

Matt Wieters can get to the tootsie roll center of a tootsie pop in under one lick.

by daveh873 on Jul 26, 2009 9:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shop those old dudes

for the youngin’s are playing well. future future future,

by Timmy L. on Jul 26, 2009 8:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No Pontoon for us

he pitched today. We get to see Chen, Bannister, Greinke, and Hochevar against Hill, Berken, TILLMAN, and Berg. Bannister is not bad at all and Greinke is ridiculous. We may be looking at a 2-2. Thats not what I want to see against KC. Then again, they’d have to hit some to beat us as well.

Matt Wieters can get to the tootsie roll center of a tootsie pop in under one lick.

by daveh873 on Jul 26, 2009 9:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Grienke and Bannister

I was going to say that they have not been dominate lately, but Grienke has just turned it on and Bannister as been darn good lately. Bummer that we have to face them both.

"I have seen the future and his name is Matt Wieters." Keith Law

by Reddrummer9187 on Jul 26, 2009 9:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

and...

hochevar k’d 13 today!

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

--Diamond Dave to the Phenom

by j.q. higgins on Jul 26, 2009 10:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Unexpected contribution?

You’re a doll, z, but speak for yourself.

It’s pretty cool how you can tell that Felix has been putting in extensive work despite the fact that Trembley completely and totally phases this guy out of the lineup at any and every opportunity.

Besides expectantly struggling in his embarrassingly limited playing time to start the year off, what has this guy done wrong?

"There's only one cure for what's wrong with all of us pitchers, and that's to take a year off. Then, after you've gone a year without throwing, quit altogether." -Jim Palmer

by Baltimo on Jul 26, 2009 10:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

ummm...okay.

I had no real reason to include Pie—his line was the same as Reimold’s, pretty much. But the original intent of Birdland was kind of an “Oriole Magic” happening when you least expect it sorta thing. And I wanted to explain why he was on the list.

Felix Pie is batting .223 AFTER going 2-for-4 today. His OBP is .287! Prior to today’s game, he had had one hit in his last 10 at-bats. So yeah, I’d say it raises my eyebrows a bit when he produces, as opposed to someone like Reimold, who is a viable ROY candidate.

June 30, 2009 — Birdland Day

by zknower on Jul 26, 2009 10:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wasn't actually attacking your post

More so I just like to make the point that Felix Pie shouldn’t have been cut out of the lineup for Lou Montanez, or anyone for that matter.

His overall batting average and OBP are almost irrelevant to me as he has transformed as a baseball player going .260/.308/.444 in May, and .467/.500/.667 in June after being abandoned so early in the season. Although these numbers are quite impressive, his total PA’s in May/June only just surpassed his AB’s in March/April, where Felix went a measly .157/.246/.216, thus bringing down his overall line.

I have been out of the country for the past three weeks and have only caught the games on gameday, but even by just watching balls and strikes, his approach has clearly improved.

Regarding those last 10 at-bats, I think it’s important to note that they were spread over nearly a span of nearly one month, meaning that he was constantly inserted into games, often lost causes, as a pinch hitter in the very late stages.

"There's only one cure for what's wrong with all of us pitchers, and that's to take a year off. Then, after you've gone a year without throwing, quit altogether." -Jim Palmer

by Baltimo on Jul 26, 2009 11:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

all excellent points.

but i don’t imagine you’re saying he should be splitting time with Riemold, are you?

June 30, 2009 — Birdland Day

by zknower on Jul 27, 2009 12:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nah

I think that Felix most definitely needs to start at least a few times per week, but in no way should his AB’s cause Nolan to hug the bench. That being said, it’ll obviously be difficult to implement Pie.

The O’s did themselves in by not giving Pie his full chance as they should have known that the roster would be pretty crowded.

"There's only one cure for what's wrong with all of us pitchers, and that's to take a year off. Then, after you've gone a year without throwing, quit altogether." -Jim Palmer

by Baltimo on Jul 27, 2009 7:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd like to see a little more of what they did yesterday

DH Nolan and let Pie play LF a couple of days a week. This would only really work if we can find a taker for Scott, but I think doing so would be the best thing for the team in the long run.

by Joltin Joe Orsulak on Jul 27, 2009 9:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not to mention that

Felix has had an atrocious BABIP in the sense that he has been cheated.

"There's only one cure for what's wrong with all of us pitchers, and that's to take a year off. Then, after you've gone a year without throwing, quit altogether." -Jim Palmer

by Baltimo on Jul 26, 2009 11:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Old "aces"

I feel the way this season has been going Sir Sidney will most likely pitch a no no

by capsfan8704 on Jul 26, 2009 10:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

not sidney

if sidney pitches a no hitter i will probably shoot myself…….but anyways, whos ready for Mr Tillman to make his debut? I will be there. Whos going?

by bergstheword on Jul 26, 2009 11:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I wish

I see Bergesen on Thursday, thank god I saw HIS first start at least. And I welcome home the team tomorrow.

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 Jul 27, 2009 1:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well not personally of course.

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 Jul 27, 2009 1:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

one of the things I found most exciting about watching Hernandez today

is that he has so much room to improve. He basically dominated one of the best (although slumping until we came to town) teams in baseball with one pitch. He mixed in some OK curves now and then (a couple nasty ones, but a lot of bad flat high ones nowhere near the zone), but he mostly relied on fastball. If he can get his curve ball under control and consistent and develop a little bit of a changeup or splitter (something that moves away from lefties) he could be really good. His fastball is obviously something special – I just have visions of what he could look like if he had some good-to-plus other pitches. It could be something…

by O'sFan21 on Jul 26, 2009 11:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hernandez has been really good...

…at first me…and others questioned David’s ability to be a long-term starter at the major league level. Especially since he hasn’t been able to be able to strike-out batters in the majors at the same level he did in the minors. Instead he has morphed from a strike-out pitcher into a remarkably consistent fly-ball pitcher. It seems that batters can’t square up on his fastball at all…and when it looks like they do, it turns into a lazy fly-out.
So I’ll take the advice we learned from ‘3E’ Brad Bergesen…There is more to pitching the the Ks…

Interesting note: this was the third Sunday win in a row : ) Tillman on Wends, Yeah!

by Tetris on Jul 27, 2009 2:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think the K's will come

Once he establishes a good 2nd and 3rd pitch to go with his fastball that people can’t square up.

by O'sFan21 on Jul 27, 2009 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My own personal rule

When given the chance to vote for Felix, I will.

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

by Stacey on Jul 27, 2009 8:59 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Me too

I love the guy, and I hurt for him when he gets made fun of, or when he does something that looks stupid. I’ve said it before, but it’s seriously like making fun of a special ed kid.

How many times did he clap that one time at third base? Six-freaking-times.

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 Jul 27, 2009 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs