Garrett Olson pitched a quality start in his return to Baltimore, and the O's got rid of Rays starter Jason Hammel in short order to pound out a 7-4 win at home and stay tied with the Red Sox for first place in the AL East.

I watched the game but didn't talk, and here were my impressions of Olson last night, in numbered form!

1. Five walks in six and two thirds is still just not good. At all.
2. I won't, however, go so far as to say he was "the same guy" as last year. He dealt better with falling behind and even losing batters, and those that pointed out the small strike zone last night (probably a more correct strike zone than most pitchers are used to anymore) are correct. He never lost his head and threw fat pitches just to get them over. He trusted that his stuff and his defense would bail him out. It's a dangerous way to live if you're going to walk that many, but it's the right mindset, I'd say.
3. I was glad to see him wearing No. 18 instead of 57. Last year, Alberto Castillo had 18, and 18 has been worn by the likes of Pat Kelly, Javy Lopez, Jeff Conine, Bob Milacki, Damon Buford, and, of course, Larry Sheets.
4. I'd rather see Olson struggle and learn than watch Steve Trachsel simply struggle.

	Today's Starting Pitchers	GS	IP	ERA	WHIP	BAA	BB	K	W-L
	Jason Hammel - RH	4	25.0	4.32	1.24	.240	8	15	2-1
	Garrett Olson - LH (2007 Stats)	7	32.1	7.79	2.16	.326	28	28	1-3

THE BATTLE FOR FIRST PLACE BEGINS! 7:05 on MASN2. BE THERE.

Garrett Olson is up from Norfolk to make today's start with Adam Loewen on the DL, and I'm pretty OK with that. I don't want Loewen to be on the DL, but I will say that I think Olson at this point is probably a better pitcher. Which doesn't mean he'll be any good. He was rocked pretty hard last season when he got called up, but his strikeout rate was encouraging if nothing else. And really, there was nothing else.

Olson was dominating at Norfolk (1.85/1.36, 25 K in five starts), so hopefully he'll just come in and throw strikes and not be overwhelmed by what is sure to be a rollicking crowd at the Yard tonight. This three-game series with Tampa Bay is the last time the O's will play at home until May 13.

Hammel is a big guy (6'6", 220) and went to Treasure Valley Community College, and the fine numbers he's putting up this season are the first time he's done so in the majors. He was socked around much like Olson was last season in both 2006 (7.77/1.86) and 2007 (6.14/1.65). He's always done well at Triple-A, but so have a lot of guys. He's not a big strikeout pitcher despite his size and decent stuff.

Note below that the D-Rays are pretty strong 3-through-8 tonight. Hinske has raked when he's been in this year, and they're hitting him eighth while Iwamura and Crawford fail to get on for Upton, Pena, Longoria and lefty-killer Gomes.