Friday Bird Droppings
by 2632 on Aug 12, 2011 7:20 AM EDT
in Open Threads
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PrintMatusz tosses shutout for Tides - Carroll County Times
"If Brian Matusz's recent run of starts is any indication, it won't be long before the left-hander is able to return to the Orioles. On Thursday, Matusz had his best performance of 2011, tossing a complete-game, five-hit shutout for Class AAA Norfolk. He fanned eight, walked one and threw 105 pitches. The 24-year-old has pitched to a 1.57 ERA over his last three starts, allowing just four runs in 23 innings."
Does Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr. own a white horse? - baltimoresun.com
"There is speculation that manager Buck Showalter would be interested in moving to the front office, but the Orioles are best-served with him in the dugout. They’re not going to get a manager better than him. This is where Cal comes riding in on a white horse -- or at least he does in the daydreams of fed-up fans."
Buck Showalter: Looking back on the first year as Orioles' skipper- MASN
"The O's skipper also touched on whether there was any acclimation process when he first came aboard in Baltimore, and how he plans on balancing the goal of winning games and finishing the season strong with wanting to see what his younger players can do in the major leagues."
Heath Bintliff: Losing is Birdland - MASN
"The Orioles are likely not to reach the 70 win plateau for the fifth straight season. That's really bad and it's pretty hard to do."
Adam Jones: the second best defensive outfielder in the AL or the second worst? - Camden Depot
"Even though Adam Jones was ranked the second best defensive outfielder by skilled professionals, the probably are not the best professionals to ask."
Last in AL East, first in gouging | The Daily Times | delmarvanow.com
What can be done to help attendance? "Lower ticket prices. According to the website SeatGeek.com, which calculates ticket prices of professional teams over a seven-day period, Orioles seats were the fourth-most expressive in the majors as of Aug. 1, with only the Red Sox, the Cubs and the Phillies costing more." And get TicketMaster to be reasonable. I bougth 2 $17 tickets to last nights game. By the time TicketMaster got done, they cost me $46. 2 X $17 doesn't equal $46. Not even close. -duck
Orioles Work As Southwest Employees for a Day - Severn, MD Patch
"In an effort to reach out to the community and show support of their official airline, two Baltimore Orioles veteran pitchers, starter Jeremy Guthrie and reliever Jim Johnson, acted as Southwest Airlines "Sub-Ins" for a day at BWI Thursday afternoon. Guthrie, Johnson and even the Oriole Bird checked in customers at the main terminal, greeted passengers, conducted the boarding procedure and even helped unload baggage from airplanes." Wow. There are just so many jokes to be made here. I'll leave that to you, readers. Have at it.
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This morning Roch has an entry up about second base targets over the winter
and he says a member of the Orioles specifically mentioned Mark Ellis and Aaron Hill.
I am just dumbfounded at that. Completely dumbfounded. There’s nothing like going out on the free agent market looking to somehow downgrade from Robert Andino.
Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the Orioles' season?
The worst part is
it’s so stupid that you absolutely know it’s true.
"things like locig and prrofreading are actually valued here" - zknower
What, is B-Rob retiring then?
Remember him?
Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless - like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.
by Astronaut Mike Dexter on Aug 12, 2011 8:48 AM EDT up reply actions
AMD, I want you to sit down while I tell you this
B-Rob ain’t coming back.
Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the Orioles' season?
W-w-what????
Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless - like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.
by Astronaut Mike Dexter on Aug 12, 2011 9:00 AM EDT up reply actions
has roberts been elevated to the honorary
david segui disabled list status yet?
by col_debugger on Aug 12, 2011 8:58 AM EDT up reply actions
Maybe they hate Andino as much as they hate Nolan.
"That ball is gone. We'll pause ten seconds to commit suicide ... I mean, for a station identification." - Joe Angel, 6/17/11
by Eat More Esskay on Aug 12, 2011 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions
How can you hate that which does not exist?
"That ball is gone. We'll pause ten seconds to commit suicide ... I mean, for a station identification." - Joe Angel, 6/17/11
by Eat More Esskay on Aug 12, 2011 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions
Tell that to an extremist atheist
Watch their heads explode.
by Holymittens on Aug 12, 2011 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions
Where did that fish come from?
His legless mother’s c***!!
"Human beings make life so interesting. Do you know, that in a universe so full of wonders, they have managed to invent boredom?" ~ Death
i want to believe!
"the secret to a happy ending is knowing when to roll the credits"
by j.q. higgins on Aug 12, 2011 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Trust no one
"things like locig and prrofreading are actually valued here" - zknower
by daveh873 on Aug 12, 2011 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
not reaching 70 wins for five straight seasons?
not as hard a task as you might think. pretty easy really.
So Tillman is going back down
4 man rotation or filler guy every fifth day? That is to go with our other filler guys.
what did the velocity look like yesterday?
obviously the line looked good, but if he’s throwing 88 it’s not going to be pretty
team says he was sitting 89 and touched 91
but who the heck really knows. And it’s too bad, I’m going to see the Iron Pigs tonight…just missed Matusz (and the rest of the Tides)
Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the Orioles' season?
Speaking of Matusz
My dad got his bobblehead the other night when Tillman actually pitched a decent game.
Buck said in the post game last night he was just going down for ten days to get a fresh bullpen arm up.
Maybe days off works out so they can work with four starters?
Giraffes have absurdly strong necks.
there is an off day next Thursday
maybe a couple guys go on short rest next week
Heh...
Join Guthrie and the gang as the Orioles and Southwest airlines head south for the summer.
The 5 years in a row of
not reaching 70 wins is just Damn Depressing. Historic levels of sucking and there is some language and an overall attitude from the Warehouse that they are on the right track. This sucks.
Sharon Marsh "Stan, what did I tell you about being a smart ass?" Stan Marsh "Don't be a smart ass"
John S West Jr
by Adam double bubble on Aug 12, 2011 10:00 AM EDT reply actions
If you wanted to learn the ropes of running a MLB team...
Where would you go? If you are truly objective, the Orioles would be near the bottom of your list. I understand that Baltimore is in Cal’s DNA, but it’s long odds he gains much by going to work in that front office. Expectations will be high and the odds are the system (whatever that means for the Orioles franchise – I guess chaos and unaccountability is a system of some sort) there will swallow him rather than he’ll be able to make any changes.
This team is increasingly looking like Buck’s baby, and by all accounts he’s angling for greater control. It’s just not clear that it makes sense for Cal to get involved in the ongoing mess.
There's really no reason for Cal to manage the O's`
I don’t see what he gains by doing it.
Plus, I don’t think Cal’s seen the inside of a gym in a long time. I can’t imagine he’d want to put on a uniform.
I don't see what the Orioles gain
Other than a short PR boost. There’s nothing to indicate that Cal will be a competent major league manager, GM, or owner.
by Holymittens on Aug 12, 2011 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
He has both a gym and a full length basketball court in his home.
It would not surprise me to find Cal in better shape than anyone here.
"The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people; it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government - lest it come to dominate our lives and interests".
- Patrick Henry –
Ummmm...... no
That gym and bball court is dust-ridden.
I don’t have the metrics but the eyeball test tells me they aren’t getting a lot of use.
by Wieters Wieners on Aug 12, 2011 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions
the court is for his kid who happens to be a really good hoops player.
Damn it feels good to be a contributor, Music City Miracles.
"We’re not backing down, we’re not scared of them...them and their 180 million dollar payroll"
- Kevin Gregg
by danielreese05 on Aug 12, 2011 9:28 PM EDT up reply actions
well he's obviously no Kruk or Gwynn
But you gotta admit it’d be a bit humbling to go to work every day wearing a form-fitting baseball uniform.
He could go the Mike Scioscia method and just wear a tarp all the time.
"That ball is gone. We'll pause ten seconds to commit suicide ... I mean, for a station identification." - Joe Angel, 6/17/11
by Eat More Esskay on Aug 12, 2011 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
If Cal were to go into a FO position (with anyone really)
would he have to sell off his minor league teams? I mean, maybe he could own the Ironbirds and work with the O’s, but wh owns a Giants M.L. team as well (the Green Jackets)
"things like locig and prrofreading are actually valued here" - zknower
Can we talk about this carousel of pitchers for a second.
In some ways I get it – the young pitchers are struggling and the pool of veteran filler is even shittier.
AM sold us this shit sandwich about growing arms, and being patient, and yada yada yada. For the most part, I feel like we were. We have seen bright spots from each of the pitchers over the last 2 years.
This year, the wheels have fallen off and nobody left on the staff has approached something looking “good”. Our team sucks, we probably won’t win 70.
That being said – what is being achieved by jerking these guys around for 1-2 starts up and then 1-3 starts down? If you want someone to work on getting better, why not either let them work it out over extended starts in AAA or if you really think they should be ready, let them take lumps in MLB? What can truly be accomplished with the current way the rotation is handled?
If the FO truly thinks the guys are not ready, signing FA filler off the wire while the kids try to get their shit together for the rest of the year in AAA cannot be any less effective than the current strategy (can it?).
Speaking from a mental health practitioner’s viewpoint – I don’t see how any of these pitchers psyche is not completely broken. Nobody gets settled anywhere, every start seems like a “if you fuck this up, you’re spot is gone…until someone else fucks up then we might bring you back for a start” type of situation. There is no opportunity to establish routine or put in extended work with one coach. There is no chance for focusing on subtle adjustments because the environment changes every other day.
Physical health issues have been the problem for some (Arrieta) and it sounds like mental issues are at work for Matusz and/or Tillman (Tillman might just suck). At this point is a rotation of Guthrie, Simon, Hendo, O’Boskie, and Hunter any less offensive then Guthrie and four fill-in-the-blanks?
Sorry for the rant, I think I’ve been a pretty good fan, but I am struggling (even more so than usual) to find reasons to turn on games – it’s not fun anymore. I felt bad for mostly feeling indifference toward Moldy’s walk off. It seems silly to use my free time being frustrated and jaded. Talk me off the ledge?
by Nafer on Aug 12, 2011 10:52 AM EDT reply actions 3 recs
I agree somewhat
I think Tillman has the best case for being jerked around. Matusz was clearly struggling and needed to go down, Britton had been struggling for a while before they sent him down and he was probably hurt. Tillman is a tough case though. His stuff is good enough at AAA for the most part, but his fastball is way too flat to pitch in the majors at this point. If he’s really on, he can throw a good game like his last time out, but if guys sit on that fastball and he’s not throwing his breaking stuff, it’s not going to be pretty.
I not sure they’ve handled him perfectly and I don’t think one bad start should get you sent down (and it could be they do need a bullpen arm like Stacy mentioned above) but he hasn’t exactly earned the right to stay. He is still young so hopefully somebody can help him develop some movement.
I hear you, and I'm probably just having an oversensitive reaction to an issue I'm perceiving to be more significant than what it is.
But when MASN sent the text shortly after the game about Tillman going back down, I felt particularly exasperated. And for some reason, angry, after successfully being numb to the team for most of the year. It sucks that it doesn’t even seem fun to laugh at the team today.
There's an easy fix for that.
Scroll to the top and check out Felix and his cat-like fielding.
By the way, that ball bounced out of the heel of his mit.
by Wieters Wieners on Aug 12, 2011 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions
Ha, it did make me smirk.
And that play potentially contributed to my temper tantrum – I tuned into that game at that EXACT moment.
It looks so much worse when you see the freeze frame where it's like, "There's no way he didn't catch that ball."
And then you know he didn’t catch the ball.
"That ball is gone. We'll pause ten seconds to commit suicide ... I mean, for a station identification." - Joe Angel, 6/17/11
by Eat More Esskay on Aug 12, 2011 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions
I dont know anything about the thing they call UZR
But he has to be the worst defender on the Orioles… and probably even the majors.
He takes such HORRIFIC routes to almost every single fly ball, it’s become comical watching him sprint backwards only to find him diving on his face and making a snowcone grab.
by Wieters Wieners on Aug 12, 2011 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions
The Fangraphs metric (whatever it is) says Reynolds is the worst and Felix is 2nd-worst.
Of course, Felix’s negative contribution is so notable because he has been a part-time player, so he hasn’t had as much time to rack up the negative value with the glove.
"That ball is gone. We'll pause ten seconds to commit suicide ... I mean, for a station identification." - Joe Angel, 6/17/11
by Eat More Esskay on Aug 12, 2011 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions
Of course FanGraphs lists UZR/150
Which is an extrapolated stat, so it doesn’t matter how much he’s played. It takes the small sample size and says “if he played exactly this poorly over 150 games, this is how shitty he’d be.”
by Holymittens on Aug 12, 2011 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions
The eyeball test (if it exists) tell me that Reynolds has really picked up his D lately.
The past 25-30 games he seems to be real comfortable. Honestly, he was so servicably at first I’d love to have him over there fulltime next year. I guess it’ll be awkward when we get Prince, but we can cross that bridge when we come to it.
But Pie… man, that guy’s hilarious. I actually kind of like him around for comedic relief. He needs a p.i.c. though. Luke and him made such a funny duo… it’s just not the same without him.
by Wieters Wieners on Aug 12, 2011 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions
Reynolds has made a few spectacular plays at 3rd lately, it's true
But he’s been doing those all year. He’s also made a lot of terrible plays and has showed the lack of range that is what really pulls down his defensive value.
by Holymittens on Aug 12, 2011 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions
But lately, I haven't seen many of those bonehead plays.
I’ll have to look it up and it’s not even like it matters, but I feel like his error rate has significantly decreased.
by Wieters Wieners on Aug 12, 2011 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Error rate
I don’t even pay attention to them.
Didn’t one of the first inning doubles last night deflect off his glove? Balls he just doesn’t get to where it seems like a good fielder would.
by Holymittens on Aug 12, 2011 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions
but hey
do they figure helmet-catching into the stats? Because he takes good routes to them, and rarely drops them. Maybe we need a helmet-shaped ball…..
Youth may come and go, but immaturity can last a lifetime.
Fly Southwest: the Airline That Knows How to Win
— Here’s your ticket, sir!
— Say, aren’t you Jeremy Guthrie, the smart, talented but hard-luck Orioles pitcher who’s been shtupped by his teammates for years and told he “doesn’t know how to win” by a moranic press?
— Yep [shrugs shoulders, smiles good-naturedly]. And judging by your wife’s, um, stylish pink baseball cap and your oversized foam-rubber “We’re No. 1!” hand, I’d say you’re a couple of those “colorful” Sox fans visiting from Bahs-tin, eh?
— Sure are! We love Fenway South, ahaha, don’t we honey? Y’know, I just don’t get how a loser like you on that egg-sucking team can keep showing such self-restrai…
— $#@ $#%@ $&@^!& $% *##$ @%)$#!! and the horse you rode in on!!! Oh, and [un-z-i-i-i-ip] fly THESE!
— Cover your eyes and keep moving, Prunella. Wait, give his damn shorts to the man in the bird suit.
— [waves, smiles good-naturedly] Enjoy your flight!
Welcome to the Suck: Narrating the Oriole Fan's Experience 1998-2011
by Titov on Aug 12, 2011 10:57 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Sounds like something Huff would do
Guts would turn the other cheek and turn the water in their water bottle into wine for them
Oh, he'll explode one day. But like this-- very politely!
Welcome to the Suck: Narrating the Oriole Fan's Experience 1998-2011
Uh thank-yuh, thank yuh veruh much
Guts is great, and I hope he stays glued. But at this rate, you never know…
Welcome to the Suck: Narrating the Oriole Fan's Experience 1998-2011
Anyone going to the game Saturday?
I’ll be there. I’m glad the Orioles won’t have to go through the humiliation of facing Verlander this weekend.
Giraffes have absurdly strong necks.
So yesterday turned into a VERY expensive
Night. Gas plus ticket plus bar plus matt wieters jersey plus beer plus food plus back to the bar equals waaaaay too much money. Absolutely dig the jersey though.
Say no to Prince Fielder in 2012.
by Knubles and Bits on Aug 12, 2011 11:58 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Oh and hotel and parking.
Geez. No wonder no one goes to the games.
Say no to Prince Fielder in 2012.
by Knubles and Bits on Aug 12, 2011 12:02 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
i love parking for free with bikes in the back of the van and riding to the game.
*also sit in section 35, it has no ushers or something.
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 Aug 12, 2011 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions
So...
You park somewhere in the city where it’s free, then bike across downtown to get there? I like it.
I have recently been finding free parking in Little Italy/Fells and taking the free Charm City Circulator to the game,
Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless - like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.
by Astronaut Mike Dexter on Aug 12, 2011 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions
yeah little italy is great. get a sandwich at isabellia's beforehand.
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 Aug 12, 2011 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Light Rail is the only way to OPACY
Like a bad, suave dude. You know what I'm sayin'. COOL. SC 7/24/08
by 33 on Aug 12, 2011 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions
blech, I dunno
If I take the light rail south to the game from Timonium or Falls Road, I always hate how long it takes the train to make its way down Howard Street. It takes for ev er.
Main reason I put up with the longer ride
is that way I can drink more and no have to worry about driving for awhile. And I hate the Bmore traffic.
"Grow nothing, buy the 'Pen" (Wieters Weiners)
yeah but you gotta drive once you get back to your car :(
unless you’re rich uncle pennybags and live somewhere like The Fitzgerald
Nice article about Guthrie from Toronto
At spacingtoronto.ca
"The key to winning baseball games is pitching, fundamentals, and three-run homers."
I noticed this in one of the other stories
Vladimir Guerrero Placed On Disabled List With Old
"Grow nothing, buy the 'Pen" (Wieters Weiners)
Because I am not above such things
http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/14803/page/cleanup/who-delivers-from-the-cleanup-spot
Notice that Vlad ranks 200th in percentage of runners driven in – out of 243 total hitters in baseball! That’s…that’s…
unconventional
Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the Orioles' season?
The spammer has been banned.
blows smoke off fingertips
"That ball is gone. We'll pause ten seconds to commit suicide ... I mean, for a station identification." - Joe Angel, 6/17/11
by Eat More Esskay on Aug 12, 2011 3:45 PM EDT reply actions
Git 'em!
Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless - like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.
by Astronaut Mike Dexter on Aug 12, 2011 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Looks like he signed up for every MLB SBnation site yesterday
And is working his way through, 1-2 comments on 9 sites and counting
Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless - like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.
by Astronaut Mike Dexter on Aug 12, 2011 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions
He'll probably have a long list of bans soon.
South Side Sox got him first. That’s the Chicago way.
"That ball is gone. We'll pause ten seconds to commit suicide ... I mean, for a station identification." - Joe Angel, 6/17/11
by Eat More Esskay on Aug 12, 2011 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Tonight's lineup
1. Nolan Reimold® LF
2. J.J. Hardy® SS
3. Nick Markakis (L) RF
4. Adam Jones® CF
5. Vladimir Guerrero® DH
6. Mark Reynolds® 3B
7. Matt Wieters (S) C
8. Chris Davis (L) 1B
9. Robert Andino® 2B
Am I in an alternate universe? We’re not suddenly living under President Jeb Bush, are we?
"That ball is gone. We'll pause ten seconds to commit suicide ... I mean, for a station identification." - Joe Angel, 6/17/11
by Eat More Esskay on Aug 12, 2011 3:52 PM EDT reply actions
Moldy batting 1st!?
i wish Vlad and Reynolds were flip flopped.
Vlad does have that epic HR off Brad Penny from the ASG a few years ago.
"Grow nothing, buy the 'Pen" (Wieters Weiners)
all the way down to fifth! how will he ever overcome this disrespect?!
Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the Orioles' season?
Yikes -- Strange Disease is right!
Welcome to the Suck: Narrating the Oriole Fan's Experience 1998-2011
Weird
Just weird. I don’t know what to say
Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless - like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.
by Astronaut Mike Dexter on Aug 12, 2011 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions
except for the mere presence of vlad...
i really like this lineup.
"the secret to a happy ending is knowing when to roll the credits"
by j.q. higgins on Aug 12, 2011 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions
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