Brian Burres, LH (1-0, 1.29/1.43) v. Jeff Niemann, RH (0-0, -.--/-.--)
TO BRIAN
KEEP CURVIN YOUR BALLS ;-)
LOVE, JIM
Game time is 1:40 on MASN2, although it looks like I'll have to endure the hideous FSN Florida telecast. It's not even entirely those guys' fault. Joe Magrane is a nice dude, if a little, erm, "off," but that stadium, plus FSN production values...yeesh.
Y'all that don't put up with FSNs don't know how good you have it with MASN sometimes. MASN's production is head-and-shoulders above any FSN.
Weeeeell! Well it's The Big Show! Jeff Niemann is a got-damned monster, at 6'9", 280 pounds. It's a shame we didn't get a Cabrera-Niemann matchup, but them's the breaks. This is his Major League debut. He was the fourth pick in the 2004 draft out of Rice, but Niemann has had troubles in pro ball, stemming from injuries as well as just not pitching so geat when he was healthy last year. But if he pans out, add another quality arm to the Tampa Bay stables.
FUN STATS, ETC.
-
Akinori Iwamura hits .306/.377 at home, as compared to .261/.341 on the road. -
I don't feel like fun stats today.
ORIOLES STARTING LINEUP
B Roberts, 2B .300/.404 1 5
M Mora, 3B .225/.279 2 5
N Markakis, RF .333/.489 0 2
K Millar, 1B .225/.326 1 4
A Huff, DH .268/.348 2 11
L Scott, LF .375/.459 1 6
A Jones, CF .235/.250 0 2
G Quiroz, C .200/.200 0 0
B Fahey, SS .000/.000 0 0
RAYS STARTING LINEUP
A Iwamura, 2B .250/.346 0 1
C Crawford, LF .204/.235 0 2
C Pena, 1B .225/.380 6 13
B Upton, CF .300/.417 0 8
J Gomes, DH .286/.407 2 5
E Longoria, 3B .333/.500 0 1
J Ruggiano, RF .333/.500 0 1
M DiFelice, C .429/.429 0 3
J Bartlett, SS .171/.216 0 3