Erik’s Gone Fishing
Greg mentioned it in the comments and I had to post the whole quote:
“You have to ask him and I know that’s no fun. And he’s going to have a stupid answer for you can count on it. He’s going to have some dumb-ass answer. He’s either gassed because he’s laboring. He’s protecting himself because he knows even he sticks around and is mediocre he gets another 2 million bucks lopped onto his salary. Why doesn’t he go longer? It’s a real pointed question. But you need to ask him. And good luck with that.”
Bill Bavasi, the ex-GM of the Seattle Mariners, does not mince words about our old buddy Erik Bedard. It’s the kind of thing where you just shake your head. The Mariners organization and the Seattle fans are learning the hard way about all of Bedard’s poorest qualities. Because this year, with his ace-like dominance suddenly failing him, there’s nothing to hide those poor qualities. It’s a damn shame, really, and I hope one day Erik gets his attitude and his pitching together because it’d be a waste of talent otherwise.
In the world of Baltimore baseball – it’s Dave Trembley‘s one year anniversary today. He’s been a joy to see manage this team from where they stood last year (expecting to lose) to where they stand this year (expecting to win). He could be a flash in the pan or a Baltimore legend in the making – only time will tell – but it’s been a fun ride so far.
It’s the good ship Q.S. Guts going against Brian Moehler (3-3, 4.73). Go get ‘em.
Thank you, Neal, for the consistent recognition for my posts in the comments. No where else can I go and post inane Oriole bullcrap and get recognized for it, and I think that’s why I like your site.
I feel really bad for the Mariners. They are an American league team I’ve never harbored any ill will towards, and had they breached the playoffs last year, I would have wanted them to go the distance. At the same time, Bavasi made some really boner moves, including the Erik Bedard trade.
As a fan of baseball, I can look at that trade before it happened and tell you that there was no way that Seattle comes out ahead on this one. Bedard just had a poor attitude, cares about these things in order of importance 1) himself 2) money 3) winning 4) baseball… and Bavasi made the trade anyway.
Honestly, I really liked Bedard when he was here in Baltimore. I was on the fence about him leaving. But now, with Erik put into perspective with us looking in on another struggling team, I’m not sure I’d take him back. He’s got a gift for pitching that he really doesn’t deserve, because the game of baseball seems like the last thing on his priority list.
BTW, I’m watching this Orioles game and I’m thinking… what in the world does Guthrie have to do to get some run support?
I think Bedard is a little misunderstood, I don’t think he doesn’t care about baseball, I think he loves it actually, but is just introverted and doesn’t really care about making baseball a career. I think he’s just stoked that he gets a paycheck to play a kid’s game half the year while he fishes his butt off apparently the other half, and doesn’t want it to get to his head and lose his roots; he did after all practice pitching in a friggin’ barn.
And dammit….Berkman just tattooed Eutaw Street. Oh well, if any Astro is gonna do it tonight I want that guy to do it, that guy is en fuego this year.
But wait! Luuuuuke won’t take a walk unless he can walk to all the bases.
Also, Sir Ponson is back! ….in New York! …to replace Chien-Ming Wang. Stay tuned for some fun Hank Steinbrenner quotes.
Greg, that was actually me that posted the blog since Neal’s out of town. But you’re welcome all the same! And I’ll take it as a compliment.
How about this game right now? What a duel.
Dagger..
Oh yes, another GREAT game. Win or lose, we’ve been very entertaining more often than not, haven’t we?
That said, we need a hit here. I was sure Nick would at least hit the damn ball against the Rule V guy. Com’on Mora. Argh. Damn it. At least tell me Guthrie’s not coming back out…he looks done.
Anybody have any thoughts about who leaves the team when Bierd and Loewen come back in a few weeks? There’s Olson, Liz, Cormier, Burres that seem to be the candidates to head out. Guthrie, Sherrill, Walker, Sarfate, Albers, Chadford, and Johnson are all obviously not moving, and I’d guess Cabs is sticking around for better or worse. I’m guessing Burres and Cormier, unfortunately, are out of town and Albers goes into the rotation.
I swear to Christ if Guthrie gives up a run here someone MUST tell Trembley that this sort of crap is exactly why Guts has 8 losses (and counting).
Can’t believe Ponson has a job again already. Have fun, NY. Hope it’s money well spent for you.
8 K’s for Guts…
Nice quick inning, now let’s earn him the win right here…
You’ve been through the batting order 3 times already, you’re at 95 pitches, you got hit around last inning, you should take him out. I’m willing to look foolish, though. The bottom and top of Houston’s lineup is pretty lame, after all.
But still, it’s a valid criticism that DT seems to leave pitchers in too long, and I feel like it’s because he really wants Guts to get that win. So he’ll leave him in there until he can’t…and that’s been disasterous at least once this year…it’s just playing with fire in the effort to get a meaningless stat. It’s really the only thing about Trembley that bugs me – and I don’t feel like he does it except with Guthrie, at least.
Saw this last week when Sir Sid was released, from my new online addiction (whoever first linked to this place on here, I hate you, I can’t get anything done now. lol) …
http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/06/08/the-dugout-sidney-ponsons-next-move/
Whatever Guts did between now and his last start, it’s working! The dude’s pitches have been stellar.
…and Millar just totally came up to bat to Vanilla Ice. That guy is so lame in so many ways I *ALMOST* like him. Damn you Kevin, just hit the damn ball.
Oh, Kevin doesn’t hit the ball anymore, silly.
AooR, you’re right, it’s a gamble to leave Guthrie in to try and get him the win. I totally do that in MLB ’08 The Show all the time.
…and Bradford comes on to Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues”.
+ infinity points
…too bad that mustache comb he’s been looking at in the Orioles Store is infinity and 1 points. Stupid store.
We really need a shortstop. And a first baseman who can touch the ball with a bat.
Aoor, agreed. My love affair for Freddie has been over for awhile now. Get him and his gay-ass intro music out of here, honestly it’s the least intimidating intro music in the majors. Trembs should force him to have “Good Ship Lollipop” ala Shirley Temple until he raises his BA to something resembling competent.
If his intro music was “Shine, Lolly-pops, and Rainbows” I would demand he sign a 10 year 100 million dollar contract extension yesterday.
Erhm, “Sunshine, Lollipops, and Rainbows”.
Goooood job Quiroz, now Brocail’s probably done after this work you put him through. Pitches per at-bat people! That was great!
Freeeeeeeeeeeeeeee baseball!
We’re lucky in that the Astros bullpen is more used than ours, thanks to Guthrie and Albers yesterday, and that the middle of their lineup (Tejada-Berkman-Lee) is easily waaaaaaaaaaay stronger than the rest of their lineup, and we just got past those three in the 9th. Of course, our lineup kind of stinks, too, so I guess it’s anybody’s game!
Freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee baseball!
I gotcha, the accidental Chief Wiggum “chase music”. lol
Anyone care to call how this game ends?
I say Millar wins it with an unlikely opposite way single. He’s fucking due, that’s for sure.
I still hate Ty Wigginton from his Tampa days.
Cintron: “Freddie, I’ve got an idea! Let’s both stop sucking and start hitting at least once a game!”
Bynum: “Did you have the same backwards-talking dream with the flaming cards? ”
Cintron: “…I’ll drive.”
I’m saying Luke Scott’s second bomb to Eutaw.
Okay that sounds a little unlikely, but I think I would scream out loud if it happened.
Nah, he’ll [Millar] hit it into the opposite corner and score on an inside the park home run when their RF spontaneously combusts into flames.
It’s as likely as anything else, right? I mean, shit, sometimes it seems like when all else fails, you gotta hope that Luke takes one deep.
This game is CRAZY.
Damnit Nick, on the first pitch?
Valverde is clearly afraid of Mora. I don’t blame him. Maybe Tejada should go tell him something again.
MelmO!
Dan, Thats nothing. Freddie struck out on 3 STRAIGHT PITCHES OUTSIDE OF THE STRIKE ZONE last night. The guy must miss Norfolk or wherever the hell he actually hits the ball; maybe Fireball Island, but even that’s being generous.
Cmon Aubrey, take one out.
I’m changing my prediction.
Bynum hits an opposite field walk-off grand slam that actually hits the Bromo Tower, going around the hotel.
Yes! Who’s up next???
….oh God why….
Kona, I hear you man.. it’s like, is it that hard to find a defense-oriented shortstop that can hit, like, .240 even? Melvin isn’t even hitting .240, but he gets clutch hits and plays good D.
Cintron hasn’t really been given an opportunity to start every day and he did hit .300 in AAA – I think with some consistent at-bats, he could be halfway decent. But maybe not.
Let’s see if I’m psychic…
I’m going to update my prediction, when Millar comes sliding home off of his inside the parker, he slides so hard that his Os uni comes off to show his Red Sox pjs with the feets.
All you need is a ground out to the right side or a sac fly… Melvin getting to third was HUGE
OhmyGod Kevin Millar actually made Hunter Pence catch on fire!!!!
YES!
oh my god his hair is ugly. Oh well, at least I can change his nickname from Corn Flakes to Frosted Flakes now.
HAhaha oh man, a little to the right and I would have had to start playing the Lotto. Atta boy Kevin!
If Millar had just walked, and then Scott coulda struck out, then it woulda been al Bynum all the time.
Still, good to see Millar’s not letting his mid-life crisis get to him.
And another successful series win, and Tejada continues to suck against pitchers he hasn’t seen before.
You think you’re psychic, dan? Rick Dempsey predicted that winning the game would be the “Key”to the game, the guy’s a genius!
Oh, Rick…
Dear Miggy,
I’m sorry you haven’t gotten the reception you probably think you should have gotten. You were a great Oriole for a while, then a pretty good Oriole who obviously hated being an Oriole, and everyone knew it. That’s why you get booed now. That, and you turned out to be one of the shadiest players in the bigs. But oh well, I always liked you Miggy. Now, can you do me a favor and grab me a broom?
Your President and First Tiger,
Andrew
its just our luck that we keep winning games, but so do the sox and rays. we havent gained any ground in the standings in a week.
if this season isnt orioles magic at its peak, i dont know what is. granite, it was one run, but another come from behind win. DT is a genius by the way. Calling the hit and run with Huff at the plate and mora on first there at the end. He knew being a lefty that the SS would have to cover the bag on account of mora running. And where did huff poke it… right in the vacant spot. It looked so fundementally textbook, executed to perfection.
Quote of the night… Karl Ravich on baseball tonight during the highlight of luke scotts HR… “Seattle is ready to dump Bedard, and heres one of the guys they gave up to get him, Scott, homering off…” I guess he’s not really a baseball enthusiast, he just plays one on tv.
Speaking of Bedard, I dont think I really want him back, seeing as how he is likely to be on the block. Andy Mac did some house cleaning, and its paying off. god knows what we would have to give up to get him back. plus i think his drama, and attitude would not fit the teams chemistry well. and face it, thats whats winning us games lately. chemistry and heart.
I’m gonna check out craigslist and see if they are still hiring for that GM spot in Seattle.
It’s really ashame how good the AL East is. The wild card standings are like:
Angels – AL West Division leaders
ChiSox – AL Central Division leaders
BoSox – AL East Division leaders
Rays – AL East Wild Card
Yankees – AL East
Athletics – AL West
Orioles – AL East
4 AL East teams in the top seven American League teams. Can’t catch a break. In any other division we’d be in second place, and probably better with the not-as-good rivals.
Yeah Greg, I’ve been especially frustrated with the Yankees winning 5 straight with their crumbling roster, I can understand the Sawks and Rays running away with the top 2 slots, but the Yankees? They’re so desperate they just signed Ponson! Ugh. Cannot wait for them to play someone harder than the poor Padres.