Do you ever feel like someone is playing a trick on us? Like we're all the victims of some crazy, elaborate practical joke? That's how I feel some nights, and tonight is one of them. The Orioles put together a legitimate good inning in the bottom of the third, with back-to-back HR from Luke Scott and Adam Jones, and hits by Matt Wieters, Cesar Izturis, and Corey Patterson, resulting in four runs. Just when we start to feel like something might go our way for ONE night, Brian Matusz gave up two 2-run home runs in the top of the 4th to tie the game.
I spent the gamethread praising and saying how wonderful Brian Matusz is. I do still think he's wonderful, but it's like the mastermind behind the practical joke read that and thought, ah ha! Perfect! And then Brian Matusz gives up 6 runs.
Naturally the Orioles didn't get any more hits until the 7th inning. That's how they roll.
But wait, it gets better! Er, worse! So we all know Corey Patterson can't hit. But at least he can play defense, right? WRONG! He misplayed a ball by Chris Coghlan into a RBI double. And how about Adam Jones, the centerpiece of the Erik Bedard trade, who we all thought was a good defensive centerfielder before he got here? HE KICKED A BALL ACROSS THE OUTFIELD. I can't make this stuff up.
And for the final atrocity of this game, in the 8th inning with the Orioles down by two and runners on first and second with no outs, the Orioles fearless leader, Juan Samuel, called on Matt Wieters to bunt. BUNT! To move the runners up for Scott Moore and Cesar Izturis! That's not a lie! When do you guys think is the last time Matt Wieters was asked to bunt? Little league? Ever? Of course it didn't work and the runner got thrown out at third.
Oh, and finally, just in case anyone from the Orioles is reading this, ALFREDO SIMON IS NOT GOOD AT PITCHING. Consider that.
Sometimes I wonder how this team can be 19-52. I mean, not just this team. Any team. It's a little incomprehensible. Then I watch this team running around like a bunch of tee ball players and I find it hard to believe they won 19 in the first place.