Deliver Us From Evil
For anyone who missed it in last night’s comments, the announcement to which I alluded earlier is this:
Starting next week I’ll be writing for Examiner.com as their “Baltimore Sports Examiner.” I’ll be doing three short posts a week there on just about any topic of Baltimore Sports interest I can think of.
I want to stress, though, that it is not a replacement for The Loss Column. I look at it as an extension of what we’ve built here, and I hope you’ll help me make it successful. Or, you know, at least read the stuff I put up there.
Moving on…
In their past three games, the Orioles have allowed 33 earned runs on 45 hits, 10 walks, six wild pitches, and three hit batsmen. Even worse, they allowed four runs in the first inning of each of those games. That would be — you guessed it — the first time in franchise history that the Birds have allowed four runs in the first inning of three consecutive games.
It’s not exactly a coincidence that those were the three games that didn’t involve either the DC Cab or tonight’s starter, Jeremy Guthrie.
In other words, we’ve reached a point where we’re basically forfeiting two out of every five games, placing enormous and completely unfair pressure on our two most established starters and our increasingly fragile bullpen, and wondering what will become of Garrett Olson from start to start.
It’s a damn miracle that we’re still within striking distance of .500. It’s also proof positive that — with our stud young pitchers all likely to need time at Norfolk for at least part of next year — we must pick up a veteran or two this offseason.
Tonight the Indians send out Anthony Reyes. We can still realistically split this series. Somehow.
I don’t always get a hit…but when I do, I prefer home runs.
1st and 2nd and no outs and nobody scores…if we lose we’ll know why…
Guthrie is a freak of nature. He’s not only performing at a Cy Young level right now, he’s doing it knowing that he’s our only reliable option. He’s as good as anyone there is right now, and it’s a glorious thing indeed.
It’ll be a damn shame if they don’t get him this win.
You mean…it’ll be a damn shame if the Orioles don’t win.
The Stick delievers again.
Meanwhile, back a headquarters…I learn a troubling secret about Joe the Guy…is this the end of our friendship? Stay tuned next week – same bat-time, same bat-channel!
I’m embarrassed to admit that I’m real, real glad we got FlatBrim some insurance runs.
Speaking of Joe the Guy…where has everybody been?
Ahh, yes.
“Back…in the WIN column!”
Joe told me he hasn’t heard from Dan in a while…so I dunno. It’s just you and me, Neal. Holdin’ down the fort. I assumed it’s August, the team is spinning its wheels, vacations are happening…maybe the loss column isn’t what you’re thinking about when you’re doing keg stands in ocean city. Or whatever city joe prefers.
Good win tonight. Ride it into tomorrow, and the Detroit series (which should be a lot of hitting and not a lot of non-hitting, honestly) and we’ll be okay. I feel pretty good about the state of the Orioles, all things considered.
I’m heading down to see the Nats tomorrow for the first time ever…Neal, any advice on getting a meal before the game in D.C.?
This is definitely the normal downtime, but I guess I wasn’t paying enough attention because it seemed to come up fast. It’s not just us, though. Everyone else is still basically around, I think, it’s just weird to not see Dan because he’s such a great part of all this. I hope everything’s OK.
August is August and then there’s a transition where football and baseball overlap, and then football becomes The Thing. I’m going to try to make sure we have a decent amount of Terps/Capitals/Wizards coverage, as well. I’m actually looking forward to a great fall and winter here.
I’m with you on tonight’s win and the general state of things. I’ll be even more with you if we get the finely tuned DC Cab tomorrow and not the one that needs new tires and a fresh set of plugs.
As far as a meal before the game in DC, you’ve got me. That stadium is in a really weird spot and there’s not much else (yet) in the area. Plus you’ve basically got to take the Metro and that means adding a lot of time if you want to go to a different part of the city for food.
The good news, though, is that there are a lot of food options in the stadium itself. The service is terrible but you’ll probably find something good. Then you’ll wait in a long line for it.
AooR, if you’re taking Metro stop at Union Station at the Circle Cafe, a circular 2-story building within the train station. I had a really great Greek Chicken Caesar Salad there awhile ago that was tasty and filling for a reasonable price. I think I paid $10 total for it and a tall microbrew a couple years back. May want to check it out if you’re going by and unsure of where to stop.
Still can’t buy a Guthrie jersey in the Orioles store.
What’s a guy gotta do?
As of 11:15 a.m. MLBTR reported that Matusz is in town for a physical (turn your head and cough, please son…)
Everyone and Adam Loewen’s Mother agree that giving him a big league deal isn’t a good idea…
but as the deadline approaches do we still feel the same?…I’m hovering near the edge myself…
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glad to see Markakis extension talks are already happening, even if the progress isn’t tangible yet.
If The Stick was upset all year (alledgedly yet understandably) I’m glad to see him taking out his frustration with his bat, rather than his mouth.
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I love Guthrie and will buy a shirt the day it is available. It’s a horrible sin against Joseph Smith that it is not.
Guts is My Favorite Mormon, hands down, with regrets to Danny Ainge.
BTW, recently watched a cheesy Jordan “documentary” which was basically a montague of him scoring on Danny Ainge, swear to god Danny getting lit up in a Celtics, Kings, Suns, and even Trail Blazers uniform.
I’m okay with giving matusz a big league deal. The same reason why I would’ve been okay with giving wieters a big league deal. Are we really thinking these guys might need 3 years playing at Bowie and Norfolk before they’re ready? I doubt it. Everyone mentions Loewen – but Loewen was (basically) a high school pitcher who would need at least 3 years (obviously) but Matusz is a college senior – he’ll probably be up by 2010 either way. So what’s the difference?
I never thought about that, but you are very right Andy. Loewen was high school, Matusz is college. We should be looking at this like Loewen shouldn’t have been given a MLB deal because of his age, not Matusz shouldn’t be given an MLB deal because of Loewen.
The two pitchers are completely irrelevant to one another in terms of experience, ceiling and other intangibles.