Orioles 4, Rays 2: Matt Wieters rewards his faithful disciples

by Stacey on Sep 16, 2009 11:51 PM EDT in Post-Game

Do you know what September 16, 2009 and April 10, 2007 have in common? They are the only two games in Carl Crawford's career in which he was thrown out stealing twice. Twice tonight Crawford got on base, twice he tried to steal second, and twice Matt Wieters gunned him down. In fact, neither of the plays were particularly close as both times Crawford slid right into Brian Roberts' glove. In a game where the offense was dead for both teams, those plays were huge.

I was checking Crawford's game logs tonight after he got thrown out twice and saw that before tonight he's been thrown out twice in a span of 24 games. And do you know who threw him out one of those times as well? That's right, our savior.

Chris Tillman pitched a very good game today, going 6.2 innings and allowing 1 run on a solo HR by ZAUN. He didn't strike anyone out, which was weird, but he was effective all the same. He retired the first 10 batters he faced and ended up giving up just 5 hits. I suppose now we sit around and wait to hear if Tillman will be joining Matusz in being shut down for the year.

The Orioles scored their first run of the game in the 2nd inning. Melvin Mora led off the inning with a double, moved to third on a fly ball by Luke Scott, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Wieters. Their second run came in the 4th. Brian Roberts hit a sharp ground ball to first that Willy Aybar couldn't handle. Two outs later, Luke knocked Brian in with a shot off the top of the scoreboard. That was all the offense the Orioles would muster until the bottom of the 9th.

Of course, it's a shame the O's even had to go to the bottom of the 9th. They took a 2-1 lead into the top of the 9th (after a rain delay of over an hour) and Jim Johnson continued to look like garbage. Ben Zobrist took him deep to center field to tie the game at 2. Thanks for nothing, Jim.

While I may have a hard time forgiving Jim's transgressions, Matt Wieters is compassionate and loves unconditionally. Matt Wieters doesn't blame Jim Johnson for his faults because he's just a human. Matt Wieters saved Jim Johnson from doom when, in the bottom of the 9th, he hit his first career walk off HR. It wasn't as beautiful as his home run last night, but ten times as important.

Thank you, Matt Wieters, for the blessings you have bestowed upon us.

Poll

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

Matt Wieters (Sacrifice fly, threw out Crawford twice, walk off HR)

223 votes

Chris Tillman (6.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R)

17 votes

240 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

GO O's .......!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is how you’re supposed to play baseball in September………(all except the blown save part….) It’s gonna be an off season with an entirely different feel……

by O'sFan_ on Sep 17, 2009 12:14 AM EDT reply actions

Couple thoughts

1. The 2nd caught stealing by Wieters was especially impressive because it was on a big slow curve ball.

2. I hope they shut Tillman down now – let him end the season on a high not with a good taste in his mouth and a lot of confidence going into next season.

by O'sFan21 on Sep 17, 2009 12:24 AM EDT reply actions

Harrumph, another loaded MBP write-up/poll by Stacey Weiters! I'm surprised there was an alternative choice...

Actually, I’m surprised Tillman’s gotten 3 votes. After miraculous WeitersDeeds like these, voting against him for MBP approaches not vot voting for Cal on the first ballot for HoF (which one dimbulb writer actually did). Oh well.

In other news, I finally found a Phillies fan you can like: the toddler who threw back the foul ball caught by her dad last night. And I assume she said, after heaving it, “Get a life, Dad, it’s the frickin’ PHILLIES!”

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/ModernTube-Young-Phillies-fan-rejects-dad-s-fou?urn=mlb,189941

"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 Sep 17, 2009 2:22 AM EDT reply actions

Titov

i before e!

I cannot help it that my post game write ups are so Wieters-centric. I have been put on this earth to spread the word.

Earl Weaver would’ve kissed Adam Dunn on the mouth in public. - SC 08/11/08

by Stacey on Sep 17, 2009 8:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Yikes, my SpellCheck needs to be Wietersjusted...And I dig that you're the Thomassina Cruise of Wieterscientology

"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 Sep 17, 2009 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions

walk off homer video

is here.

"I think my motivation is to see the other guys in the clubhouse. They’re contending for the playoffs, and when I see that it gets into my body. I play like it’s the playoffs too" —Memlo

by zknower on Sep 17, 2009 2:24 AM EDT reply actions

Seems you can hear the individual claps and hollers of all 18 fans remaining in the stadium at that point.

by drj on Sep 17, 2009 8:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Oh man Pie is just adorable

I know that is Stacey’s word for him, but what other word would be better?

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 Sep 17, 2009 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions

There's no other word

It’s like the word adorable was created with Felix Pie in mind.

Earl Weaver would’ve kissed Adam Dunn on the mouth in public. - SC 08/11/08

by Stacey on Sep 17, 2009 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions

I can't believe I fell asleep and missed the Wieters walk-off

FML.

"I hate making excuses. If I suck, then I suck. And I suck. That's the way I'm playing. If you suck, you suck. You have to take responsibility in this game. Right now, that's the way I feel. Yes, I suck." - Jose Guillen/quote of the year

by getxstoked on Sep 17, 2009 3:04 AM EDT reply actions

Ditto

" I’m glad we play Pitt twice, and not Tenn this year." - Salty Browns Fan.

by John Stephens on Sep 17, 2009 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions

But Jim Johnson got the WIN

WINS are the most important pitching stat, like, ever. Clearly Jim Johnson KNOWS HOW TO WIN. It is not possible to pitch like garbage and earn a WIN.

by punkrawka on Sep 17, 2009 8:59 AM EDT reply actions

He was pitching to the score

Y’know, he knew that Wieters had a 2-run HR in him and that it would be irresponsible to deny him that opportunity. Plus, think of all the excitement that those two dozen fans experienced when they got to see a walk-off HR!

Why, JJ could be the next Jack Morris. His ERA is certainly comparable.

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

by Brotz13 on Sep 17, 2009 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions

What About Luke?

Tillman did well (lot of line drives, but I can’t believe he didn’t get the win after giving up just 1 run) ; but Luke Scott was involved in all the scoring last night… He advanced Mora on a sac fly so he could score, he doubled in B-Rob from first (wow that was close to a HR), then walked in front of Wieters in the 9th to score. Good game all around: good D, manufacturing runs, clutch hitting… and Matt W was OK too.

by Jonahsdive on Sep 17, 2009 9:40 AM EDT reply actions

Luke sucks.

by O'sFan21 on Sep 17, 2009 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Luke had a good night

but his suckitude over the last few months requires a lot more than last night to redeem himself, in my opinion.

by O Nina on Sep 17, 2009 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions

If not for a walk off

Luke and Mora both probably would have been on the MBP list. I know the other responses say that Luke sucks, but that has no bearing on MBP. Adam Eaton won an MBP once.

I only included Chris Tillman in the poll because Matt Wieters has given us all the free will to choose. Of course, those of you that chose Tillman are going straight to hell.

Earl Weaver would’ve kissed Adam Dunn on the mouth in public. - SC 08/11/08

by Stacey on Sep 17, 2009 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions

Adam Eaton sucks.

by O'sFan21 on Sep 17, 2009 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Scoring 3 of the 4 Baltimore runs, throwing out Crawford twice.. Birdland. Sorry Tillman.

Team Relish

by kramertoneman on Sep 17, 2009 10:15 AM EDT reply actions

I love this!!!!

The worst part is that I can’t view streaming media over here, so I have to just hope that I catchthe walk off on sportscenter. I think this will propel Wieters into having a great stretch in these last couple of weeks.

When you're born into the human race you're given a ticket to the freak show. When you're born in America, you're given a front row seat. And some of us have notepads.-George Carlin

by Afghanistan Steve on Sep 17, 2009 10:27 AM EDT reply actions

Agreed

I think he’s going to end the season on a very high note (knock on wood)… it may be that the pressure has worn off, people (including O’s fans) are paying less attention to the O’s and he can relax and we’ll really start to see him shine (knock on wood again).

by O Nina on Sep 17, 2009 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions