Independence Weekend
Posted July 4th, 2008 by Neal ShafferCategories: Baseball, Orioles, by Neal
Someone in the MLB scheduling department loves Baltimore. What could be better than having the Texas Rangers in town for the Fourth of July? It’s great symbolism.
I’m trying hard to not rise and fall too hard with the ups and downs of the Lost Season. Last night was one of those things that’ll happen — like your closer blowing a couple of games in a row. We’re still, overall, in better-than-expected shape.
Since this is a holiday weekend and all, I figure I’ll make this your catch-all Independence Weekend Baltimore Sports Open Thread (IWBSOT). Unless some kind of major news breaks we can just handle everything in the comments. Sound fair?
Here are the pitching matchups as currently planned:
“Quality Start” Guthrie vs. Vicente Padilla
Brian Burres vs. Eric Hurley
Rad Hams vs. Kevin Millwood
Two of three is always the goal at home, but the Rangers are mashing. More than anything I want to see tight games and a continuation of the attitude on which our surprising season has been built so far. And at least one win.
Have a good holiday weekend everyone. Practice fireworks safety, limit your alcoholic beverage intake to two drinks per hour, drink lots of water, etc. And when you have some free time, chime in below…
Explore posts in the same categories: Baseball, Orioles, by Neal
July 4th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Cheer up O’s fans… Nolan Reimold has 6 dingers in 5 games batting in front of Wieters. Despite the crushing defeat the Royals laid on us, there’s a lot to be hopeful for!
July 4th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
I agree. I mean, the Sox just coughed up a 7 run inning the other day to the Rays, so it’s not like good teams don’t have games like last night’s. That said, I’m not sure Adam Loewen was the right choice out of the ‘pen. I think Cormier should have come in, followed by F-Cab or even Bukvich, depending on the situation. Bierd is close, though, so Bukvich’s days are numbered.
Right now, there’s simply more positives than there are negatives when it comes to the Orioles.
I really don’t like having to face Texas right now, though. Especially with Burres going in one of the games, even though he shut them down earlier this year. That said, maybe it’s a good test.
July 4th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
I’m getting a little frustrated with Garrett Olson, though. On one hand, he’s done his job pretty well, sort of keeping us in games and going 5 or 6. But when is he going to have a break out game where everything comes together for him? He keeps getting yanked before he ever reaches 100 pitches because he just gets knocked around. He gives up a lot of home runs and isn’t showing his strikeout numbers from AAA. It’s good that he’s healthy and hasn’t really been completely hammered by major league hitters, though. I’m just dying for a 7-inning, 6 K, 3 hit shutout gem from him. Too much to ask from a guy like Olson? I dunno… he was never considered a top prospect until the last couple of years.
July 4th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
The Stormin Mormon!
Rockin ass so far top 3 I’m on gamecast so that can be deceiving but it seems like NM and Huff are giving Guts the support he needs and deserves.
America, America, this is you.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Not to mention Brandon Fahey AKA Skeeter get in 2 doubles! He was the one that initiated that first run.
There definitely are more positives than negatives with these Os; I’m so looking forward to Randor coming back.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
I celebrated my independence with red bull and cuervo and I shouldn’t drunkpost you cats but fuckin ESPN.com the supermarket rag tabloid gossip shitpan couldn’t even go 2 paragraphs, even after a win like tonight, without mentioning the thirty run game last year and that sucks.
Fireworks are violent and unnessecary and decadent and basically the epitome of america. I love them. Crazy colors all drippy like tripping, only more drunk….
July 5th, 2008 at 1:19 am
Watched the Harbor ‘works from my back window.
Drunk and nice indeed. But Red Bull and Curevo? That sounds like arrest in a cup.
July 5th, 2008 at 2:15 am
DT does it again. We score 10 runs when you have a lineup including both Bynum and Fahey, and when Guthrie pitches. Sarfate looked good too. showed some good command. i sure hope someone takes bukvichs spot quick. if we can get one of the next two id be happy. that’d make for a 4-3 homestand.
What about david eckstien. He’s a much bigger name than say felipe lopez, but he also doesnt have the bat. 1 HR and 18RBI in 198AB. so hes gotten to the plate plenty. I just dont see much upside here. the only upside is veteran, and postseason/championship experience (Kevin Millar like) I think we should just deal with what we got right now. besides, fahey hitting the ball well, granite, its been 2 games, but we’ll see how long it lasts.
Sunday morning headline..Trembley bats Fahey cleanup, hits walk off homerun.
Maybe not cleanup, but im gonna call it, fahey hits a bomb, and Huff goes deep again too. O’s win 8-5.
July 5th, 2008 at 2:35 am
I honestly don’t see a reason to trade for any retreads to fill the SS position at this point. What MacPhale done has been amazing, but I don’t think he should change the “blueprint” just because we’re still having a winning season. Let’s go as far as we can with these young guys and be (presumably) even better next year.
Now if we can get a prospect at SS in a package for Sherrill or Huff, maybe, but the type of player we’d get isn’t going to make an immediate impact this season.
July 5th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Yeah, as I see it there’s no reason at all to go altering the chemistry this team has.
If we can get some young prospects out of our older veteran players come off-season time, sure go for it, but this thing this year is held in a delicate balance. With us sitting around .500 ball this time of year I don’t know if we can even come close to being real contenders for a wild card slot, but post All Star break collapses aren’t unknown to other teams, except the Wankees. It’d be silly to do away with the goodwill this team is generating here at home. The 10th man, i.e. the proverbial US, is somebody the organization can’t draft or trade for (see Sosa, etc.), and it seems O’s fans are finally back into the team. Sherrill, Millar and Huff are a big part of that goodwill, so trading them now is kind of a slap in the face of a fanbase that’s finally regaining interest in the organization.
I think we develop an offensively passable SS in the farm system from the ‘08 draft class — if possible — and see about improving Bynum and Fahey and using them as the utility guys they are until the young dudes are ready for the Show.
My two cents, anyway.