The Orioles just have to finish the season 26-0 to avoid another losing season. Get on it, boys!
Jeremy Guthrie will attempt to continue along the path back to respectability today but if any team will be his kryptonite, the Rangers are a safe bet. Only the Yankees have hit more home runs in the majors than the Rangers, and only Braden Looper has allowed more home runs than Jeremy Guthrie. Guthrie did pitch well against the Yankees last time out, so maybe there's hope today as well. Guthrie has faced the Rangers once this year, on 27 April. He allowed 3 runs in 5 innings, giving up a HR to Michael Young.
Rangers rookie starter Derek Holland has split time between the bullpen and rotation this year, but has been starting consistenly since 19 July. Holland has mixed success, with good games like a complete game shutout vs the Angels about a month ago, but he hasn't been sharp of late. In his last start he allowed 10 runs in 3 innings, and 6 runs in 6 innings the time before that. Holland has pitched against the Orioles once in his career, a 3 inning relief appearance on 25 April. He allowed just one hit, a HR to Ty Wigginton.
It's a beautiful day on a holiday weekend so I'm guessing not many of you will be inside watching the game on TV, but if you don't have plans and you're in the area, you should try to go to the game. I went yesterday after not getting to Camden Yards in over a month and I didn't realize how much I missed it until I was there. Even when things are going so badly for the team, we still have a beautiful place to watch baseball and less than a month to do so in 2009.
Let's Go O's!