Birds Up, O's Down

Birds Up, O's Down for April 25

By Bad Pseudonym Apr 25, 2010, 8:00pm EDT

Rhyne Hughes convinces Garrett Atkins it's time to talk to a Realtor. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

Here’s a weekly look at players making an impact, for good and bad, for the Orioles this week:

Birds Up

	Rhyne Hughes (1B) - Called up Friday to help an ineffective lineup, Hughes paid immediate dividends with multi-hit games Saturday and Sunday. A certain starting first baseman may find himself on the bench for a few more days.
	Brian Matusz (LHP) - Matusz again went 6.0 strong innings, but left his fate with the bullpen after a walk and a hit allowed. And we all know what happened next. If I'm Matt Albers, I'm hiring a food tester if Matusz is near my locker.
	Ty Wigginton (2B) - Wigginton, at one point this week, was involved in 1/3 of the team's total runs produced. Ladies and Gentlemen, your 2010 Baltimore Orioles.
	Kevin Millwood (RHP) - I feel like I could just repeat last week's entry. Millwood completes a game, gives up 3 runs, and still takes the loss. What does this guy have to do to buy a win in an O's uniform?
	Brad Bergesen (RHP) - Let me explain - Brad pitched his way off the big club with a third consecutive bad start. He's pitched a total of 10.1 IP in 3 starts. But on Sunday, he went 7.0 and gave up just 2 ER and had 14 groundball outs and just 2 flyball outs. He should have May 1 circled on his calendar as his return to the Orioles as a starter and a bus ticket to Baltimore in hand.

O's down

	Cesar Izturis - Iztruis was acquired for his glove before last season, and that's about all he brings to the stadium each night. He's gone stone cold at the plate, with just three hits since last Sunday. Sure, two of them were today, but he's batting .235. Not good enough, Cesar, not good enough.
	Matt Albers (RHP) - Two losses in two days, and a complete inability to get outs when needed. And any runners on when he enters are more than even money to score. He seriously needs a bus ticket out of town.
	Lou Montanez (LF) - Given every opportunity to take over the LF job with the injury to Felix Pie and Nolan Reimold's supposedly limited range due to his Achilles' injury, Montanez is (not) hitting his way back to Norfolk. He's sporting a OBP of less than .200 and a OPS of under .370. You're not really giving O's fans much reason to Deal With It, Lou.
	Garrett Atkins (1B) - Given every opportunity to be the team's starting 1B out of Spring Training, he's been so ineffective at the plate (.224 AVG/.250 OBP/.293 SLG/.543 OPS) he was replaced by a AAA player Saturday. He's only started 3 games since last Sunday. Writing's on the wall, Atkins. Start hitting or be DFA'd.
	Julio Lugo (2B) - Given every opportunity to be the starting 2B with Brian Roberts out, Lugo has sucked more than most of his detractors thought he was capable of sucking. His AVG is .111, his OBP is .172, and his OPS is below .300. And he jogs to first base. And he can't bunt. There's no justifiable reason why he's still on this team at this point.
	Kam Mickolio (RHP) - Is he still on this team? Oh, that's right - he walked two and gave up 3 runs on Monday and then helped blow yesterday's game, getting just two outs and giving up as home run. He's only made three appearances over the first 19 games. And with his last two performances, he may not see the light of day again for a week. Might as well have his name on a milk carton...