“The Advantage of Facing the Orioles”
Listen here, unsigned “staff” writer from bostonherald.com: I demand satisfaction!
Smoltz, of course, has the advantage of facing the Orioles, a team the Sox have dominated of late. The Sox have held the O’s to just two runs over the last three games and are 5-0 against them this season. In fact, the Sox have won their last seven games against the Orioles and 11 of their last 12.
Facing the O’s is an “advantage”? Those are fightin’ words, right? Right…?
We’ll see what Rich Hill has to say about it.
Also, you may have noticed via Camden Chat that Matt Wieters likes country and Nickelback.
I still love the kid but did he just publicly admit to liking Nickelback? That’s like giving an interview where they ask your favorite foods and you say “a lot of spaghetti and a lot of moldy fish.” I mean, have at it but probably better to keep the info in house.
But, seriously, I love the kid. It’s just…Nickelback. Damn.
I’m feeling light-hearted today. Better than light-headed.
Nickelback…
That’s worse than watching him gun balls into the outfield while runners steal at will.
I don’t get the “advantage”…most of that advantage has been the Red Sox pitching has been outstanding, which doesn’t affect Smoltz. Poor baseball analysis!
Rich Hill – 8 first inning runs (so far) in 9 starts.
Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley just said O’s should be looking elsewhere by this point.
Julio freakin Lugo stealing off the lefty pitcher is the Ultimate Shame for young Matt behind the plate.
Haha, as if there was an elsewhere right now. Maybe we should bring back David Pauley or Radhames Liz?
I’m thinking the O’s should start planting bouncing betties on the basepaths, the Red Sox make stealing bases look SO GODDAMN EASY.
AUGH! /charlie brown
@Joe the Guy – Did Ecks give the “call me” hand signal after saying that? If he didn’t, I have no friggin’ clue where else the O’s could “look to” for new pitching that they haven’t tried/trotted out already.
I can’t watch this game…
Must… resist… urge… bash… head… television…
Wieters is from the the south, right? Nickelback sounds about right. I don’t expect my favored athletes to share a good taste in music.
Just to throw out baserunners.
@Miles – Can’t throw ‘em out when the pitchers are giving them that much running room on the basepaths.
@Andrew – There is that. Simultaneously, the pitcher failing to hold the runner to the bag does not excuse him throwing the ball into center field.
Shouldn’t the catcher be part of reminding the pitcher to hold the runner? What with him being the field general and all.
God bless Extra Innings and DirecTV. I’d be batty tonight without it.
Hey! Signs of life!
I’m actually looking forward to tomorrow’s game quite a bit. If it turns into a laugher, it turns into a laugher, but I think it will at least be the most important game in terms of seeing what a young pitcher can do against the mighty Red Sox.
You know what I’m not going to do? Allow myself to get excited about this comeback.
I was out until about 10 (at Outlet Baltimore — you guys should come out next time) so I missed most of the ugliness. Got the game on the radio now and despite Fred Manfra’s laudable excitement in the face of futility, this one is just as depressing as they come.
It’s getting to the point where keeping Tillman and Matusz down just doesn’t make sense. You all know I’m as big an advocate of patience as there is. I understand all the arguments against promotion. But, they’re getting less cogent by the night.
Nice to see Salazar with the homer, though. That’s something.
Wow how about huffs stache. Maybe someone already mentioned it but I was at the game yesterday so didn’t notice it.
Odds trembley mentions the umps again tonight? 3-2
Hrmmm. This is getting interesting
By the way, if anyone was having trouble commenting via Blackberry, Ryan97ou pointed out that it wasn’t working. As his comments above attest, it should be OK now. Let me know if you have any problems.
Meanwhile, it is indeed getting interesting. Still forcing myself to not get excited though.
Neal, the only thing I can urge you all to do is not let one bad game, or one bad series, or even one bad month get you into the frame of mind to start calling up guys when it isn’t their time yet.
Tillman is going through an adjustment period in Norfolk right now. Patton and Arrieta are struggling with their promotions for the time being. Matusz has pitched twice at Bowie.
These guys aren’t ready just yet. Soon. No reason to freak out because the major league pitching staff is horrendous.
Wow palmer is laying into the ump on that pie ‘strike’
Holy. Crap.
DId the O’s really just storm back from down 10-1 against the Red Sox? Seriously, did this happen?
NO FUCKKKKKKKKKKKING WAY
HOLE-EE SHITE. This is amazing
This did not fucking happen.
I’m still not allowing myself to get excited, though. Until I see these developments confirmed by outside sources I refuse to believe they’re real.
Don’t blow it sherrill. Knocking on every piece of wood within 50 ft
I don’t think ‘Ol FlatBrim has ever faced anything like this before. Hell, most closers never face anything like this.
Come on, big fella. You. Are. Birdland.
@neal s – Not sure what you mean.
About to live blog the ninth…full comment with all the developments coming after it’s done.
He’s looking wild. Fook
SHERRILL SHERRILL SHERRILL!! LET’S. GO. O’S.
I don’t think wieters would have blocked that ball
Haha. I love how the sox players about pitches that are much closer than their guys got called all night
*are bitching about rather
Pahleeeeeeeeeeeeeease.
well sure, of course they are. This umpire needs to be fined or suspended or something tomorrow. He has been just horrifying. C.B. Bucknor bad.
Hey I agree. But those are actrually strikes
Live commenting the ninth with Sherrill (via Fred Manfra):
High fastball to Jeff Bailey, ball one. Pitch two is a pop foul out of play for strike one.
Looking for save #17. Pitch three is high and out, 2-1.
Another foul ball and we’re at 2-2. Ball three, then a single. Not a good start. Pinch runner Nick Green comes in.
Julio Lugo up. Pressure is huge. A couple of throws to first to keep the runner close and, probably, to keep things calm.
Lugo pops up a bunt, strike one.
Swing and a miss, Sherrill’s in control of the AB. Lugo hasn’t hit into a DP yet this year. Dave Johnson is worried that Sherrill lacks control of his fastball. Lugo’s rocking the foul balls.
Ball in the dirt.. Not a terrible idea in theory. 2-2.
Called strike three at the knees! Lugo’s not happy, naturally enough.
Dustin “yeah, brah” Pedroia is up. Come to think of it, every Sox player says “yeah, brah.” Strike one — for real and in a metaphysical sense.
Swing and a miss, 0-2. FlatBrim is handling business for the moment. What’s going through his head?
Another pitch in the dirt, again not a bad idea in theory. Gotta love Zaun’s ability to block those. It helps keep the curveball as a weapon.
Fly ball to right, Nick has it. TWO DOWN.
Kevin “I brew the beer at Sam Adams” Youkilis coming up. This won’t be an easy out by any means.
Strike one. Is the Brim in the Zone? Cautious optimism.
Swing and a miss for strike two. Next pitch is a ball, as it should be. Keep him honest.
Next pitch hits him. Not the worst case scenario by any means, but a big letdown. The tenor of this inning just changed in a big way, and not for the best.
Jason Bay is up. Dude is dangerous. Pitch one is a strike.
Swing and a foul, Sox down to their last strike. The Brim is kicking dirt, apparently. He’s feisty. He’s a bull.
Up and in, 1-2.
Swing and a miss – STRIKEOUT!
ORIOLES. WIN.
Good lord, what the hell just happened???
Mercy.
Hold on, I’ll come up with something to say in a second…
…
…Mercy.
Wow. Just wow. Mothers day massacre what?
Salazar will go down in orioles lore for that rocket ship.
This is one of those wins you come back to again and again. One of those wins that remind you why you stuck around.
My god, did we need this or what? Did those players deserve this or what?
That’s as epic a performance as you’ll ever see. Or, in my case, listen to.
I don’t even know what to say about it. I really don’t.
Just saw the replay of jones’ play on youk’s HOUR. Nailed the wall with his hand over and behind the wall and his glove flew off his hand. Replay shows he actually had the ball in the glove. Wow
The best part is that I turned it back on after the rain delay just as the 7th was starting up and figured, why the heck not?
Why the heck not indeed.
I mean home run. Stupid auto text
I did the same thing and instantly texted my friends they must turn it on
I still can’t believe that just happened. Zaun blocking those balls should not be overlooked. Everyone contributed. How about peeeeaayyy. How about roberts getting a hit right when we needed it. How bout shutting up all those sux fans. Jesus
2nd biggest blown lead in sox history. Biggest comeback from a last place team against a first place team in history.
Source: baseball tonight
This game is for the lapsed O’s fans who stopped paying attention during the losing streak. Not the whiners — they don’t deserve a game like this, and I hope they’re all fast asleep. But the ones who just couldn’t stomach the losing and drifted away but still held out hope…
Change is coming, and every now and then it’s actually here. We need those on-the-fence fans back at the Yard, back on the blogs, and back on the train.
Brian Roberts broke an 0-18 slump to keep the rally going, Markakis came through in the clutch with the game winning RBI. Two of the many stories from tonight.
I’m thinking I have to put up some kind of post tomorrow wrapping this up, but right now all I can think of is all these comments. We (and all of those who have been reading but not chiming in) bear witness.
Greatest comeback in O’s history, per Steve Melewski. And Ryan97′s note about the biggest of a last place-first place matchup is even more incredible.
Still doesn’t feel real.
This is the exact opposite of that 30-3 loss to Texas.
Big ups to the rain, too.
Glad I spent this one on here with u guys
*getting all sentimental and stuff*
Haha
Neal’s spot on, we’re going to be talking about this single game for a long, long time. But unless the Orioles finish with more than 80 wins this season, it means jack shit. And that’s the real crime.
Also: we’re now 7-2 in Rich Hill games. This stat is brought to you by Bad Stats, Inc. “where nonsense goes to stud”.
Excuse me andrew for not quite wanting to enter back into reality-ville quite yet. Just give me till tomorrow at least
@Ryan97ou – hahahahaha
Sorry…I put that up and immediately thought “Wow…way to bring the guys down”. So savor this and then let’s see what Bergesen can bring to the table tomorrow.