Two Chances to Win the Series
Interesting tidbit: the Orioles are a staggering 19-7 in the first games of a series this year. This might seem like a small thing, but I actually think it goes a long way to explaining the surprising start. By getting out ahead of their opponents so often, they create momentum and lessen the need to go on streaks. These are the kinds of things that happen when you focus — as Trembley and the team do — on fundamental principles of success. It bodes very, very well for the future.
That all said, I’m not terribly optimistic about these next two. Brian Burres goes tonight against Ted Lilly, while Radhames Liz throws tomorrow against Jason Marquis (2:20 pm start).
Burres has gone off the rails, and Liz might never get there in the first place. Both clearly have talent, but they are huge question marks every time. Not the guys you want out there against the best team in the majors.
That said, I’ll repeat what I said with the Ungers last night: the Cubs have never seen these dudes before, and odds are one of them will surprise. Whether that’s enough to steal a game remains to be seen, but I expect a rebound of some kind.
Also, for those that missed it in the comments: George Sherrill as Hellboy, courtesy of Tomas/Kona. Awesome.
Yeah neal, that is in and of itself a miracle. At least we’re not the Marlins tonight, they’re being PWND by the Rays. 15-2 Tampa, 10-run 5th inning. YIKES.
How many of you have seen Rounders? Time after time the Orioles this year have reminded me of this scene (go to the 1:45 mark).
“Enough is enough, Teddy, finish the fuckin’ kid off”
“Hanging around…hanging around…kid’s got alligator blood. Can’t get rid of him.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
I think if you’re Drew, you kind of have to think it’s not a given that everyone reading his blog remembers the story about the guy emailing him and the previous blog where he sarcastically mentions fixing the O’s. He knows that not everyone knows that and yet he doesn’t explain himself so that just makes me think that he does in fact think NST is responsible, in part at least, for fixing the Orioles and he’s sort of safely bragging about it by joking about it.
If we lose 7-4, I will consider that a smashing success.
No doubt — avoiding a blowout tonight is actually huge. Alligator blood indeed.
Manfra on Lilly’s name: “It doesn’t sound masculine, does it?”
Angel: “It sounds…weak.”
Followed by a brief discourse on how much better it would be to lose to a guy named “Bukvich” than a guy named “Lilly”.
“Talk about Ted Lilly…named after a flower. Who are some of the other big-leaguers named after a flower? Pete Rose is the obvious one.”
And on and on…man do I love me some Joe Angel.
10 walks tonight. No wonder we’re a loser. Although if the offense had been able to do anything against Lilly, this would be a totally different game…but hey, it’s The Cubs. We won one, and that’s all I wanted. Plus we still have a decent shot tomorrow if Liz can go 6….Marquis is not a very good pitcher.
All things considered, these are pretty much as lovely as not-so-lovely totals can get. This game could have easily gone much worse than it did. The first order of business now has to be getting fresh arms from wherever we can find them. Unless, of course, Albers and Burres can come back fast.
One good thing about that: previous front office administrations would have been tempted to rush an Arrieta or an Erbe in a situation like this (a la Matt Riley and countless others). I think MacPhail is smarter than that, which is a very good thing.
Arrieta won pitcher of the game for throwing a scoreless first and Wieters went 1 for 2 with an RBI as the Carolina League triumphed over the California League, in case anyone missed it.
They’ll be in Bowie reeeeeal soon I think. Between Tillman and Arrieta, Bowie could have the dual aces things going in the second half – exciting stuff if you’re into AA baseball (once I saw the B-Mets “play” for 4 innings and then got drenched…fucking Binghamton)
Wieters also had the embarrassing total of 0 in the Home Run Derby. D’oh! Can’t win’em all kid…even if it seems like it so far.
Crazy. Didn’t get to watch the game. But reading this is better than any box score.
Tough loss, but they hung in there. Amazing considering.
I’m anxious to find out what that shoulder discomfort is with Albers. He’s been so key to this bullpen with versatility and effectiveness. I was starting to wonder when someone would get hurt, though, Loewen and Bierd aside. This squad has managed to stay healthy but it seems like those late summer swoons are always compounded by injuries. Hopefully we’ve got some depth this time, and a little more fight.
Loewen could be back on the homestand, which is good news. He seems to be doing well in relief in the minors. F-Cabrera has an ERA under 1, which is a big bonus. If he can be even close to what Sarfate has been, basically being wild but not all the time, then that’s an improvement. That’s two guys that are ready to step in right now if called upon. Bierd isn’t too far behind. Then you can sort of factor in emergency guys that could be called upon to take a hit like Bukvich was: Leicester, Yan, Novoa, oh yeah… and Aquino, who is doing really well, actually. Whew.. actually, that’s all pretty encouraging.
I wonder if Freddie will clear waivers because we could use him defense. Cintron botched a big play last night – it might have been a lot closer. I’m excited to see if Andy can pull off a trade for someone, though. Khaleel Green anyone? Make it happen, Andy.
We start to have some problems if Liz gets knocked out early tonight. That would mean… Burres? Cormier and Bukvich again? The young man needs to go 5. Keep that fastball down.
I hope Burres is feeling good today, because we need him after Liz (especially if Liz is done shortly) otherwise we might have to basically forfeit and throw a pitcher out there to suck it up after 3 innings or so. Ugh.
Bierd just starting pitching again, I think he threw an inning for the Gulf Coast League Orioles (where are they? Sarasota?) whose season just started with all those new draftees, including my favorite of the group (Professor) Xavier Avery. Remember, kids, it’s only a little dorky to give comic book nicknames to new minor leaguers. (I’m a big fan of the hellboy sherrill stuff, because I love both those guys. Also, Sherrill makes me yell at the tv kinda the same way hellboy does when he’s frustrated).
There are a couple decent shortstops that we can pick up in the offseason if we’re willing to pay for them…but none of them are under 30, but then again we won’t be bidding against the Rays, Red Sox, or Yankees for Furcal, Cabrera, etc….just food for thought.
Radhames Prime is the autobot hotrod in Transformers.
F-Cab up, Matt-Alb down (to the DL). I’m curious to see if Cabrera’s success in AAA can carry over, he was pretty dreadful last year when we had him, but who knows how bad his injury was?
Brandon Tripp struck out 3 times in his ASG appearance. Gross.
Yeah that’s poor.
Still no official word on Albers’ shoulder, but that’s a safe move to put him on the DL.
Word on the Hangout is that the O’s might be pursuing a starter by way of Walker or Bradford. I’m not sure what teams would take an old reliever for a starting pitcher, but that’s the Hangout for you, folks.
Wieters to AA Bowie! I like that they kept him down there long enough to get in an All Star game. Good for his confidence.
I also don’t know what team is trading for expensive, ineffective Jamie Walker.
anybody see the new view options on Gameday? Cool, but I don’t know if they’re totally necessary.
Glad to have Gameday for free and available at work, though.
Yeah it’s sweet!
Huff!
Nice walk by Quiroz to start it all.
Yes yes yes yes
Dig this hit parade…if Huff and Payton keep contributing we are in fine shape indeed.
What the hell is going on? Too early to count chickens but I’m happy so far.
At 5-0 I feel like the game is now basically tied. Which is a good thing.
That’s what I was thinking, considering the Cubs’ average 6.5 runs per game.
ka-POW
Guillermo RBI!
Liz reaches on an error!
This is awesome.
11-0. Last year, the game yesterday would have been the beginning of the wheels falling off. This year, they say fuck it and score 11 runs in 6 innings against the Cubs in Wrigley Field.
It’s like bizarro world or something.
Burres is starting to annoy me. Come on, you can’t NOT let up runs? Just once?
Nice 0-5 for Alex Cintron.
Joe Angel and Fred Manfra are awesome.
“This infield’s got more holes than OJ’s alibi” – one of many heckles that Angel is rattling off out of boredom
I’m pretty sure that Payton hitting 2 HRs last night tore a hole in the space-time continuum.
Gentleman, Welcome to Bizarro World.
I come home from work, turn on the TV and actually considered for a full minute if I was drunk in the middle of the day just because of the score.
Orioles Fuckin’ Magic
ka-POW…now if we can take 2 from Washington (not unheard of, but one of those games is on a Sunday…) we’ll be looking real good. We could be in third place on Monday!
So Lou Piniella, what did you think of the interleague matchups this year? You got the AL East but not Boston or New York.
‘I thought maybe we caught a break,’’ Piniella said. ’’But this was before we played Tampa Bay and Baltimore.’‘
I forgot to tell you guys that I got off the plane Wednesday in Chicago and was walking down the Magnificent Mile to my friends apartment and I literally bumped into Jeremy Guthrie. He was wearing jeans, a tshirt and a plaid shirt over top. Nothing but an extreme Orioles fan couldve pegged him on the street as being the guy who just got the first ever Orioles win against the Cubs, but I went right up to him and said “Hey man, great game last night”. He noticed my 1966 throwback O’s cap and just said “Right on, thanks man”. And we went our separate ways. I nearly soiled my panties.
Greg, that’s awesome dude! Guts is the man.
Couple of things:
1. Dave Trembley is doing a great job balancing Luke Scott and Jay Payton. He’s playing Luke enough to make it seem like he’s the starting left fielder (as promised) and he’s playing Payton just enough to make him focus and keep him hungry and wanting to prove that he should be the starting left fielder. DT is getting every ounce of production out these guys.
2. Dave Trembley is not going to get out-managed by anyone in the big leagues. He’s faced Francona, Piniella, Ozzie, Torre last year… he’s never fallen on his face as a manager yet this year and he’s earning respect by winning against these guys.
3. Taking 2 of 3 at Wrigley Field, being only the 2nd team to do so this year, after a 14-game Cubs home winning streak, with your starters being Guthrie, then basically Cormier/Bukvich, then Liz is a HUGE statement. Granted, Soriano and Zambrano are injured and we missed their real good starters. But still.
That’s so damn cool, Greg.
Couple things.
1) Most importantly, this is where I come to check the “box score” if you will. Every day, before I check my email at work. Thought I would reiterate that, because someone is always rocking out here when I can’t catch the game, and I sure do appreciate it.
2) Amazing Pinella quote
3) Amazing Guthrie story
4) Time to dig into the newfangled TRADE post! Yee haw.
Neal–with this many comments coming in pretty consistently you might be wise to add a ‘back to top’ or ‘home’ button at the bottom of the page.
Always a good problem to have. Your site, the group of regulars here and the Orioles all rule.