Trachsel Out, Salazar Up…On to Boston
Farewell, Steve Trachsel. Thanks for trying hard and for the Cubs trade.
Also: the O’s are at Boston tonight with the DC Cab taking on Josh “Check Out My Necklace, Brah” Beckett.
Also Also: don’t forget to tune in to AM 1570 WNST (or click on “listen live” at the website) from 6:30-8, where I’ll be guesting again with the Fighting Ungers.
Greg approves.
Hopefully Salazar can be more than a AAAA player and stick around for awhile. When’s Randor coming back?
Randor just started throwing, I think.
Salazar! Where did this guy actually come from – draft or minor league free agent? He seems like he hits for average, which is something missing from this team, and a good stat for a guy coming off the bench. Hey, if he falls flat on his face, at least we can always try Terrero again, who is still ripping it up down there. Salazar, though, can play third and first, I think.
So long, Steve! Ya did good, guy.
But not that good.
And what is the deal with the necklace?
This is a good matchup – two righty fireballers with equally fiery ‘tudes. Sox are fresh off a brawl in which 3 of their guys got suspended. This could be interesting. Or ugly. Or maybe DC Cab just gets hammered and walks 10 guys with 4 wild pitches and we can all start crying and screaming “TRADE NOW TRADE NOW”.
I’m obviously part of Red Sox Nation but I see Cabrera putting up a big effort tonight. He’s been good against Boston this year for some reason.l
I was at Oriole Park two Fridays back when he and Beckett threw and those two really had it going that night. Love to see these kinds of pitchers duels.
It’s weird, Baseball-Reference has Salazar as this:
July 2, 1994: Signed by the Oakland Athletics as an amateur free agent.
His first game was in 1998 with the Oakland Rookie League squad, the AZL Athletics.
January 24, 2002: Selected off waivers by the Detroit Tigers from the Oakland Athletics.
He played in his first 8 MLB games with the Tigers in 2002, batting .190 (4-for-21; a walk, 2 singles, a double and a homerun) and never since.
July 31, 2002: Selected off waivers by the New York Mets from the Detroit Tigers.
October 15, 2002: Granted Free Agency.
February 17, 2003: Signed as a Free Agent with the Anaheim Angels.
May 24, 2003: Released by the Anaheim Angels.
May 31, 2003: Signed as a Free Agent with the Kansas City Royals.
October 15, 2003: Granted Free Agency.
January 26, 2004: Signed as a Free Agent with the Cleveland Indians.
June 18, 2004: Released by the Cleveland Indians.
Can’t find anything else on him right now.
Greg with the research again! Nice.
It’s been quite a journey back to the bigs for him, eh? The O’s seem to find these type of guys quite a bit. I fully expect a one page article about his “great story” in the Sun in less than a week. But seriously, this guy’s been tossed around a hell of a lot. I’m making it my mission to find out more about him. Maybe he’s another Luke Scott or Carlos Pena type. You never know. One thing he definitely isn’t is 37 year old pitcher with zero stuff eating up a roster spot, so that’s a plus.
@2ring: I hope you’re right about Cabrera tonight. Everytime the guy has a bad start (there’s only been about 4 this season), it makes O’s Nation nervous that he’s slipped back to his old self again. I’m not sure that O’s fans will ever give him the benefit of the doubt, even if he pitches well the entire season. But you certainly have to like your chances when he takes the mound this year.
Well.. DCab in the first inning: Single, Double, Walk, RBI GIDP, Walk, Groundout.
/sigh
Are we back to square 1 with the big guy? When’s the last time he’s walked two guys in a game much less in an inning?
Huff is quietly sinking towards the Mendoza Line at .238. Luke, Millar, Mora, Roberts, and Markakis have masked Aubrey’s recent slump. Maybe he’s having his April slump in June?
…I forgot Eddie was teamates with Manny for a bit. I was getting nauseous listening to how buddy-buddy they were for a minute there.
Wow…he sure is talkative these days isn’t he? xD
How about Ellsbury? JtG sent me a text from the game saying he doesn’t know how to play the Green Monster. This is true, and it’s an art that Manny has mastered, despite his apparent lack of defensive skills. And it’s Millar’s best friend, or worst enemy, depending on how you look at it.
It’s 4-1 O’s, but D-Cab has loaded the bases with 0 outs for the second time in the game. He has 4 walks and a wild pitch.
Beckett isn’t his best either and you have to believe both pitchers are struggling due to the excessive heat.
Guys at O’s Hangout are saying Murray is “openly rooting for the Red Sox” on RSN.
NESN, rather. Heh.
4-3 O’s. Also seems to be a tight strikezone. I’d like to give the Cab a pass on this one already, but two bad starts in a row? C’mon big guy you were goin so good…
You can’t give Cabs a break tonight…he’s just been Terrible. With him, it happens. What’s it mean? Nothing; you just hope that he gets back on track next time. We just can’t talk about how great he is anymore, becuase he isn’t slumping (and honestly, he was getting real lucky with an extreme BABIP in his favor, though some of that was due to his sinker working really well…)
But, coming back after Crisp’s sensational catch and setting the Hats down 1-2-3 was a big step in the right way.
Dcab does not look good.
But its still 4-3 and beckett doesn’t look good either
Outpitch isn’t the right word though
Its hot as balls. Most empty seats I’ve ever seen and the crowd isn’t in it. They are fliming sox appeal the red sox dating show right near me and that’s what everyones talking about. Surrounded by pink hats. Some broad just asked what’s the score.
Cocos catch was sensational and cabs luck ran out. Nancy Drew is having some 10 game stretch batting like five hundy with a bunch of jacks. Sorry cabs. Now manny homered too and the crowd is awake now jesus cabs
Sure I’m longwinded but it was 4-3 when I started that post and 6-4 now
And he’s lucky he’s only given up 6 runs!
Joe, that’s the Red Sox Nation we all know and love.
What inning is it, she says.
She’s actually wearing a pink hat. I wish I could make this shit up.
But its a wonderful ball park and the breeze is great now that the sun has set.
The legit fans are very legit and saavy, respectful of our bottom dwelling birds and complimenting the macphail trades with a word that starts with R. Classic. I bet his name is sully.
but those pink hats drop the Nation’s overall average into the depths of fairweatherdom.
Lets go home she just said. How soon can we go home? Her boyfriend is beyond pissed and my phones dying so I’m leavin y’all in the good hands of AiR
JtG live from Big Pink
I’m AooR now. It’s almost like what Nixon says on Futurama. I left Rochester for College Park all summer. Thank God, that’s a one horse town.
I once got mistaken for a Red Sox fan because I was wearing the ’63 Balmer home hat, which a big boxy B. I did a double take at this elderly couple (!) who had yelled at me for the transgression, and when I alerted them to the fact that a) we were at an Orioles-Yankees game, and b) it was not a Boston hat, they were very apologetic and stopped asking me who had won The Bachelor.
Another good memory was a Red Sox-Orioles game in early ’06 when a fan caught a foul ball in our section on the fly with his bare hands. Everyone starts clapping for him and then he takes off his jacket, and holds it up for all to see “26 time World Champion New York Yankees”. Everyone I can see (and its mostly RSN) starts chanting “Yankees Suck”, myself included.
Lastly, straight from my best friend, now living near Fenway despite his lack of knowledge or desire for any sports (except maybe NASCAR, and nobody cares about that): Anytime a cheer starts for anything in Boston, it turns into a Let’s Go Red Sox chant. Seriously, these people (mostly drunk college kids from what my friend told me) only know one cheer, whether its for calling for an encore at a concert or celebrating someone’s birthday in a restaurant (!).
Oh, hey, I got too caught up there. What’s the score and inning and is there someone famous looking at me?
Does anyone know exactly when Pedroia sold his soul to the devil? I mean, COME ON, he’s not this good.
JtG, Awesome play-by-play texts.
Dan, That’s just messed up and wrong. Eddie never even played for the Sawks…just no respect. EVER.
bases chucked for HR HuffnStuff…come on Os…
Maybe Ed-die thought that’s how Oriole first basemen are supposed to act?
That was Hufftastic and Okajimic at the same time!!!!
Okajima, Baltimore loves you forever and a day. Don’t ever change.
Dear Kevin Millar,
You have given the Orioles the lead against the hated Red Sox. We’ll be friends again, though you remain on notice. I mean, you didn’t hit the 3 run dong like you should’ve, but still.
Love,
Andrew
Oki & The O’s:
1. Jay Payton grand slam.
2. Adam Jones 3-run double.
3. Aubrey Huff 2-run single.
He just needs a triple to complete the Oki Cycle. He’s still got like a 1.95 ERA – for some reason he just can’t pitch to the O’s.
Huge sac fly from Millar to take the lead. Wow.
The grand slam only gave up 1 run charged to Oki.
Hey.. we still got his number. And it was still a home run, thus keeping the Oki Cycle in tact.
Whew – anybody else think Jamie Walker was a bad idea there against the Sox’ hottest hitter? But Drew looked overmatched. Good thing he fits in a skillet, because, you know, if it fits in a skillet Jamie Walker will kill it and eat it.
How bout using 3 different pitchers for each of the three outs? Hell, it worked. Warm up the Boat!
Heh. “Warm up the Boat, hon.” Sounds like something from my childhood. LOL.
Buck Martinez is a dumbass. Did he just say “I know Palmeiro didn’t [have 3000 hits]“? Seriously? Wasn’t that like a huge deal about a week before that other thing happened?
Also, no Yankee has 3000 hits. Captain Clutch will probably be the first to do it, because he bats Ichiro style, foregoing home runs as much as possible in favor of more singles (which is likely the smart play for a leadoff or number 2 hitter without that much power like Jeter or Suzuki). Dumb dumb dumb.
Man I’m not able to watch or listen for awhile and then I come back and what’s this I see? These guys never quit and it is a beautiful thing. This one’s far from over, but still.
Boat: Walk, strikeout, DP. Blaow.
I’m calling a Markakis home run off of Hansen right now.
Also, @ Andrew (from the Amber thread): on the map? There’s plenty of room to grow for sure but I think we’re on a solid track. Mostly due to all of you who participate, I might add.
Alright, so it was a single..
Also again, I gotta give public props to the Ungers. Those guys are huge supporters of the site and it’s a blast doing that show.
We touched on an interesting subject tonight: what’s the biggest surprise so far? The refurbished, fuel-injected DC Cab? ‘Ol Flatbrim? My vote goes to Sherril, but it’s a fun question.
An insurance run or three would feel pretty damn good right now…
checkin’ the Gameday while working on an article. C’mon O’s
hahahahahaha eff yoo Pedroia
I think the biggest surprise is Jim Johnson. No one expected Sherrill to be THIS good, but we all knew he’d be decent because of his track record.
But Jim Johnson turning into a shutdown setup man? Kidding me? Dude couldn’t get anybody out in his prior major league stints and he was a mediocre starter in the minors, too. He was completely lost in the depth chart of pitching prospects. Credit Kranitz on that one. Amazing revelation in JJ.
Yeah I’ve got the Gameday, too. I loathe Pedroia.
And I love how I called out Aubrey on his recent slump and he’s 4 for 5 with 2 RBI. HA
Like I said, three insurance runs.
Ramon finally a clutch hit!
Don’t forget, Dan, that The Boat was the organization’s minor league Pitcher of the Year a few years back. He had some struggles since then but the promise was always there. Nobody saw this kind of performance in this role, but it was always clear he could pitch.
Thanks, by the way, for helping out while I’m away next week. Much respect.
Not at all.
That’s true, I guess he wasn’t as bad as I remember him being. There were some scouting reports that apparently said he hadn’t changed as a pitcher from AA to AAA, but hell… he’s realized his potential so far. Sometimes it’s easy to forget it’s normal for a dude to e 24, 25, 26, 27 before something clicks. I just think he maybe always meant to be a reliever.. it allows him to increase his velocity and protects him from guys catching on to him the third time around the order.
I like this. Flatbrim is out to close it even though it’s not a save. Let’s just end this one right here. No fucking around.
Jimmy Johnson is easily the biggest surprise of the year.
In order, my top five surprises with justification (off the top of my head):
1. The Boat: Dude sucked as a starter, was mediocre in AAA, and is one of the top rookie pitchers suddenly for absolutely no reason. And he’s doing it with really good stuff. That bases loaded no out stranding against Manny and the gang was proof enough.
2. The DC Cab: Who knew that he still had something in that tank? He’ll probably always be inconsistent and lucky when he does well, but it was a hell of a ride there that nobody saw coming.
3. Matt Albers: Nothing was written about him except that he’d be a passable fifth starter and kind of forgettable, but he was a big part of the bullpen’s excellence (even more impressive given Walker’s suckfest so far).
4. Randor Bierd: Forgotten for the moment, perhaps, but he was pretty great until he got hurt. Great rule V pick by Andy Mac and perhaps his second best move of the off-season after the Bedard fleecing (and I saw that knowing full well how great the Tejada thing has worked out for us)
5. Luke Scott: He’s played at least as well as Tejada did last year, hasn’t he? (Answer: Yes and then some, like 128 OPS+ compared to 109) Did anyone expect that from Scott, not to mention his awesomeness with his name, a name to rally around, and his gun carrying ways?