The Blue Jays, Then the Break
At some point during or near the upcoming All-Star break I plan on releasing the first annual Loss Column Diet Soda Awards, a midseason celebration of the people, places, and things that help make watching the Orioles great — even during a losing streak.
For example, Dave Trembley getting ejected, then managing anyway, then getting suspended for it would probably get 4 out of 5 Diet Sodas. Feel free to post nominations in the comments — all will be considered, and if I use one of yours credit will naturally be given.
Before then, though, there’s business to tend on the field. Specifically, there’s a three-game set at Camden Yards against the Blue Jays. I’ve got a busy weekend ahead of me so I’m not sure if I’ll do new posts for each game — kind of tempted to just let the comments blaze on this one. That’s subject to change, but in the meantime here are your starting pitchers:
Brett Cecil (2-1. 6.23, 1.79 WHIP, born in Dunkirk MD) vs. Jason Berken tonight
Ricky Romero (7-3, 2.96, 1.27 WHIP, 6 feet tall) vs. Brad Bergesen Rich Hill Saturday
Marc Rzepczynski (0-0, 1.50, 1.00 WHIP, has sideburns) vs. Jeremy Guthrie Brad Bergesen Sunday
Also: lots of questions about the roster that will hopefully be answered soon. Like, what happens when Izturis comes up today, both with a roster move and with Andino‘s playing time? And how long do Rich Hill and Jason Berken stay in the rotation, and who takes their place if they head out?
Going to be a busy couple of weeks in Birdland.
The overwhelming impression I’m getting is that Mickolio is out, Hill to the pen, MacPhail gets the AllStar break to figure stuff out. At that point it’s anyone’s guess as to what happens.
The thing that bugs me about Hill is that he’d be awful in the pen. He has never come out during a start and had good stuff, he always surrenders runs and then finds his curve later in the game. With any luck he won’t relieve in the next three games– it’s a paper move for sure– but we all know he’s not in any future Orioles rotation plans other than hoping we can trade him for magic beans sometime this season.
I really want Berken to do well. He would make such a good story– a guy who has flown under the radar his entire career, has played second fiddle to Brad Bergesen and David Hernandez, who in their own right have played second fiddle to the big three… was not even invited to Spring Training despite above average numbers in AA… the classic underdog. I think eight games is too soon to give up on him.
It wouldn’t surprise me to find Berken back in AAA after the break though. Hill will probably come back to the rotation, and something will have to be done about the bench. We have five bench players right now. Perhaps Huff to the DL? Trades are needed soon, I think that’s fairly apparent.
If anyone should be out, it’s Hernandez. That way you aren’t short staffed, you don’t waste options, and you have 10 days to figure out who really goes.
Diet Soda awards: Pies, Mustaches, Rocketships
Palmer saying whatever he wants about the umps:2 diet sodas
Hernandez it is. Nothing to read into here – he’ll make one start in AA and be back for his turn following that. Delay, delay, delay until either you get a trade offer you like or something happens to make your decision for you like an injury.
Plus – Zaun, Andino, Oscar, Ty, AND Pie on the bench for a 3 game series.
Well, young teams are streaky by definition. Twelve runs on Tuesday, five runs on Wednesday, none today. So it goes.
Berken pitched OK though, which is nice. He went 5.2 innings giving up five hits, two earned runs, two walks, and one strikeout. Not by any means dominant but he did enough. It’s a shame the bats let him down.
As far as Hernandez, this move definitely doesn’t mean anything. He’s only going down to buy some time, which is as it should be. He’s pitched well enough so far to stay.
Just edited the main post because the radio guys said the rotation has been adjusted. Bergesen pushed back to Sunday, Hill in tomorrow, Guthrie skipped (I hear he’s sick).
Also, I can’t believe I forgot to mention that I’ll be on with the Fighting Ungers again tomorrow morning from 10-12 on Fox Sports 1370. Tune in or go here to listen live online.
First person to call in and mention TLC wins a prize of some kind. Don’t know what, but I will come up with something.
Luke Scott’s mullet = diet soda
Comeback against the Red Sox = diet soda
Comeback against the Blue Jays last month = diet soda
WOAH
LUUUKE Scott with his best Adam Jones impression stealing a certain HR.
Umm, yeah. That was not a third strike to The Great Andino. Just because the catcher catches the ball without moving their glove does not make it a strike. Maybe, I don’t know, see where the catcher is SETTING UP?? Nah.
At least got thru 5.. I would go to the bullpen now tho. He goes sour like milk on a stove.
at least Hill that is ^. I swear i typed that word.
O’s just caught a break.. I know the ump was out of position to see it. but there was a good 6 inches between Roberts swipe tag and Wells elbow. He had a right to be stunned he was called out.
@Dan H – Yeah, that was a pretty ridiculous break.
I would love to have a job where I could watch baseball and keep it regardless of performance.
Nice work if you can get it…
@Tomás – lol yea that’s a pretty tight little union they got there. it’s untouchable. its kinda the government.
Oh man…come on JJ Boat!
What is going on with him? He used to be a non-arrogant knockoff version of Papelbon for us last year.
that fastball is running all over the place on him.
Good for Melvin! Let’s go get a series win…
Sliding into home on a walkoff = 2 diet sodas
I didn’t realize until frostking mentioned it that Huff is having one of the worse seasons of his career. Hard to make an argument for extending him now. He could pick it up in the second half, I suppose…but it’s been a rough ride so far for the Huffster. Not sure what kind of trade value he would have now.
Nice to see Mora get off the schneid. I don’t think that it will lead to him relaxing and hitting more home runs, because that one just…barely…cleared, but it was still nice to see. I don’t think he’s anywhere near the Orioles next year.
Disappointing first half, I guess, but there’s still lots of time to get into fourth place (we’re just 4 games behind Toronto…) and maybe we’ll see Chris Tillman soon.
Well, I’ll see him soon, because the Futures Game is on ESPN 2 today at 2pm. WATCH IT.
Yeah, I’m moving into “trade Huff” territory these days. I say he hits a pretty torrid hot streak sometime soon (he usually does), but his at bats are reminding me a lot of his first year as an Oriole.
I want to see Adam Jones improve in the second half. I honestly do not remember his last extra base hit. He looks like Miguel Tejada out there hitting singles and grounding out to third base. He’s swinging at pitches low in the zone and taking or missing pitches high in the zone. Not dogging on the kid, but I just don’t buy his .300 average right now. Just make some adjustments, Jonesey. Same with Nick – where’s the power?
Jones had 5 extra base hits in June and 12 in May. 0 so far in July. I guess the positive is that he’s only like 4 doubles less than he had all of last year.
Good win today (although I did not watch it) to go into the break 8 under, 3 out of fourth, and hopefully with the best yet to come. Which is good, since the schedule is going to kick our asses the rest of the season.
Chris Tillman did not pitch well before the rain delay in St. Louis. Nothing else to say about it but that.
I live at 2110 Eutaw Street
Yeah, I’m pretty pleased that they were able to beat two tough lefties in a row there to close out the first half. I’ll take 8 under .500. If the pitching turns around and the offense hits like it’s capable of, there’s no reason this team can’t make a run at .500.
Bergesen has to be the O’s MVP so far, right? Or Luke Scott. Nobody else is carrying the team offensively.
Enjoy the break, gentlemen. Hopefully Maddon actually gets Jones an AB. Now that Pedroia is out, Pena is in and there are 4 Rays in the infield. Man o man.
@dan the man – Mmmm…I love nepotism in the morning.