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.
Roch just put up a blog saying Burres may be scratched tonight because he’s not feeling well. You have to figure that means Albers would start, with Cormier and Bukvich backing him up. Yikes… bullpen could be blown up if Albers doesn’t go at least 5.
I think this is a boon for us. I think Albers can go five better and quicker than Burres can. Plus, groundball pitcher in the tiny Wrigley Field is a good idea. Albers, by the way, has pitched in Wrigley twice (if I’m not mistaken) before: 2.1 IP 2 H 2 ER 3 BB 2 K 0 HR
He had one terrible outting and then one pretty good one, in July ’07. That tells us…fuck all. I still think we have a much better chance with him than Burres.
Go O’s!
Yeah that’s probably the truth, although we’ll see if Albers coughs up some home runs as he’s been known to do a little bit. But not nearly as much as Burres.
I don’t like Ted Lilly’s face.
crap…Albers out already before the end of the 1st? UGH.
/sigh
Trainer out on the mound with 1 out, bases loaded in the 1st inning and Albers is done. It’s up to Lance now. This is the worst possible scenario – no explanation on Albers yet..
Ruh-roh. 2 pitchers gone for aliments in the first? God must hate us. So now, we’re at the backup’s backup, Lance Cormier. 6 pitchers in the bullpen still: Walker, Bradford, Sherrill, Johnson, Bukvich, and Sarfate. Sounds like trouble. Actually, Burres might have to suck it up and go in anyway eventually.
If we’re going to have any chance of winning this series (which looks poor right now), Cormier has to go into the fifth.
Maaan… that Bukvich call up looks like pure genius right now.
This shit is gonna get really fucking ugly.
I kid you not, Jim Hunter just mentioned that Adam Jones once used to pitch before coming a SS/OF. So that leaves him and Nick the potential “pitchers” if all hell breaks loose.
THIS JUST IN
Hell is broken loose.
Christ, Burres really just screwed everything. None of these guys are ready to pitch. All these runs are being charged to Albers, 4 runs in 1/3 inning. Goodbye ERA. Cormier picks a fine time to finally be the guy we all thought he was from the start, that is to say… bad.
Well, we got our work cut out for us. This seems like a good game to bail out on only to come back for the exciting ninth ala last night. Not that we showed off a good, patient offense in the first. D’oh. At least theres no sense going up there hacking now.
Alright, alright…
Man.
I mean, what the hell? Cintron was as bad as the pitching that inning. Ted Lilly certainly isn’t impossible – he’s let up a bunch of home runs this year. But… this might be one of those insurmountable comebacks for the O’s.
So I take a phone call before calling up the soothing tones of Joe Angel and…what the hell??
I’ve watched my share of baseball and I don’t remember anything like this. I mean, screw this game — we figured we’d probably lose anyway — but what about the next ten? The ripple effects are terrifying. Some nefarious entity is cashing in a favor from last night’s win. Bad, bad, bad.
You just gotta burn out Cormier and Bukvich, basically. Then we have to ship them out for F-Cab and someone else if need be. I dont think anyone else should even pitch if at all possible.
Payton!
Chip, chip, chippin away. Let’s not give it away if we can help it. Make em earn that shit.
Bukvich is due to leave for …..fahey…after the series anyway. I expect Cabrera’s coming back, though, yes.
Well, we got a start. Walk and home run. Now if the bullpen can find its footing and take one for the team we might have a shot (though we really don’t….and with Liz going tomorrow, we’re in a lot of trouble).
Wow…Jay Payton is having none of it. Huge.
One swing of the bat cuts the lead in half.
Not saying that this is a good option, but…so as not to blow up our bullpen we could use AJ and Nick to pitch because we have Payton already in center and could put Salazar in right.
Just saying…
I’d prefer to pitch Salazar and not risk injuring two of our most prized young players.
Bukvich was a starter at Norfolk, so he could concievably be the fall guy here, giving us 4 or 5 innings
Pinella did in fact hit 2 home runs off Palmer. 16 for 67. Well done MASN. Well done.
Yeah that’s what I’m sayin. If Cormier just settles down a bit, he’ll be ok.
Stop with the hit parade!
Whoever takes the hit today, it’s clear that we’ll need immediate help. Unless, I suppose, the Albers and Burres situations end up being insignificant and both guys are available tomorrow or Friday. No matter how you slice it up this is a very delicate situation.
Joe Angel just said “this has catastrophe written all over it.” Yep.
Back to 4-0 again.
I like Joe’s comment about the Orioles just not being ready to play today.
Good AB nick
Jesus Payton. Jesus. Keep it up, boy.
Well we all know who sold their soul to Sherrill earlier today.
Good grief!
hahahahaha fucking jay payton
Tomas, that might be the perfect fan comment right there. It really made me laugh long and hard. You should be the featured comment of the month.
I just love that George Sherrill is now Flat Brim and also Satan.
Can anyone pitch out there? No? Okay.
It’s pretty clear this game is a lost cause…although all hope is not yet lost. It never is with these guys, which is a great feeling.
While we wait for the comeback, though (GO JAY PAYTON), I have an itch I need to scratch. It’s going to open up a can of worms.
To wit: what do you guys think of the way a certain WNST personality and former LC community participant is taking credit for “fixing” the Orioles? I bring this up because I find it ridiculous and borderline obnoxious. If the changes we’ve seen with Orioles PR can be traced anywhere, it’s to the fan community as a whole. To claim otherwise is to marginalize every outlet but his own, and that won’t fly.
I realize that just by bringing this up I’m legitimizing the claims, but here’s why I do it anyway: because it’s worthwhile to acknowledge the many other places where the O’s front office might have found their inspiration. I’m talking about the commenters on Roch’s blog, the callers to 1300, the folks at Camden Chat, the folks at the Hangout, our community here at the LC, and the many — many — other outlets for fan opinion.
If the O’s were listening, they were listening to all of us. I can’t stomach one man claiming credit for the shifting tides, even if he does it with tongue in cheek. Not cool.
Bukvich not that good, huh?
Thanks, AooR!
Dan, Someone needs to be the Devil to balance out Goody-Goody God Boy Luke Scott.
Shoot, if Payton hits another home run tonight he gets to be the Holy Ghost.
“I’ll tell you what, when Bukvich misses he makes some real bad pitches.” — Joe Angel
Also, I second the +1 to Tomas. Nice work.
“Right Shoulder Discomfort” is the official reason for the Albers exit. He’ll be “reevaluated”. Ugh.
Here’s what I heard on Drew’s show – someone had emailed him and wrote him a long, heartfelt email saying “thank you, nst, for fixing the Orioles” etc etc. Drew has stated on his show several times that he doesn’t take any credit for fixing the O’s and in fact credits only Andy MacPhail. He went on to say that he wrote a blog sarcastically saying, “now that we’ve fixed the Orioles, what should NST do next”, and got some flak from people who didn’t catch the sarcasm.
NOW – that being said, I think by mentioning the topic so many times, the guy probably fancies that he did have some effect. And I havent ready any of his recent blogs so I dont know if his stance has changed.
Anyway, that’s my impression of the situation.
Neal, I’ve been trying to ignore that aspect of Drew’s game. I dunno, it seems like he’ll get just find something else to complain about sooner or later, anyway. But he’s basically a guy who gets paid to make bold proclamations that don’t have a ton of sense behind (sometimes) and that certainly fits the bill. He’s a brash guy, I think that’s his charm.
On the other hand, if I have to hear Jimmy Jim Jim mention that Fontenot came up through the Orioles system one more time (to make it 50 on the night) I’m gonna punch someone. Probably Joe.
Fair enough analysis, Dan and AooR. I’m certainly not out to get the guy, but it’s within his personality to actually believe he had some kind of influence. But if he was simply kidding then I’m wrong and that’s that.
Neal, what are you going off of, his blog or something he said on the air? Because on the air, it got annoying when he kept mentioning the story and I have no doubt that the guy really truly believe he has some small part in it. But what’s worse is the lack of mention of other fan outlets, media sources, etc.
Mora is in some kind of month-long slump, man.
Nah, that’s just Mora being Mora
I’m going primarily off of his latest blog post, in which it appeared to me that he took the idea fairly seriously. That and a few comments I’ve heard tossed off on his show but which I can’t remember well enough to cite specifically.
I’m totally willing, though, to give him the benefit of the doubt and admit my error if he really is just joking.
The point that the O’s were probably listening to all of the various fan outlets, though, remains the same.
Bukvich is getting us innings and settling down. If we can get some unanswered runs (Jay?) this might come down to the wire again.
Meanwhile, the fact that we’re only down 7-4 is kind of amazing.