/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/803144/GYI0060739027.jpg)
Here's a weekly look at players making an impact, for good and bad, for the Orioles this week:
Birds Up
|
Ty Wigginton (1B) - A .316/.333/.316/.649 slash line isn't the best week ever by a first baseman, but for this team this year, it's All-Star material. |
|
Adam Jones (CF) - I feel like I've been saying it for a month, but maybe, just maybe, Adam Jones is starting to hit. He carried a .316/.381/.526/.907 slash line for the week, and is riding a eight game hitting streak. Couple it with a Gold Glove-worthy catch earlier in the week, and the club's patience just may be finally paying off. |
|
Nick Markakis (RF) - In case you haven't noticed, Nick is hot right now. And I don't mean in a clean shaved, smokey eyes kind of way, but a 1.120 OPS for the week kind of way. Nick had five doubles on the week among his nine hits in 21 AB. That's one more than Cesar Izturis has all season. |
|
Miguel Tejada (3B) - Yes, I know the defense can be hard to stomach, but he's one of the few on this team hitting right now. He's not hitting the ball hard, but he did bat 318/.348/.364/.711 for the week. |
|
Jake Arrieta (RHP) - Sportin' a new 'do and a brash attitude, Jake Arrieta stared down the best lineup in the AL and did enough to get the win. Six innings, three runs, and plenty of stories to tell the grandkids. |
O's down
|
Cesar Izturis (SS) - Another week, another sub-.400 OPS for Izzy. Yes, I know he's here for his glove, but Ozzie Smith's defense wouldn't make up for the lack of offense he's providing. |
|
Brad Bergesen (RHP) - Brad stunk out loud on Friday, going 1.1 IP and allowing six runs on seven hits and hitting a batter while walking two others with just one strikeout. He may have been effective Sunday, but his bus ticket was already printed with Alfredo Simon due to come off the DL. |
|
Kevin Millwood (RHP) - That was a truly ugly mess on Sunday. Eight runs on 11 hits in 5.1 IP, following a start where he gave up six runs on 10 hits in 5.2 IP. I guess the kids are supposed to learn what not to do as a starter from Kevin's week. |
|
Mark Hendrickson (LHP) - And Mark Hendrickson showed relievers what not to do this week. He appeared in two games for 1.2 IP, and allowed seven runs on seven hits. I don't even have a good sarcastic comment for a week that bad. |
|
Garrett Atkins (1B/bench) - So, let's check the internet for how bad Garrett's week was. Wait a minute, having a problem with my browser... Oh, well, that explains it. |
I tried showing restraint this week. I could list just about the rest of the 25-man roster with the exception of David Hernandez, Brian Matusz and Will Ohman, but most of us watched at least part of these games. We know how bad the rest of the team is. After a while, it just feels like piling on.