Two Down (Literally), One to Go
On my way out the door to handle some on-site duties for Ignite Baltimore tonight, so here’s the quick and dirty: Rich Hill vs. Sean West (2-2. 3.97, 1.26 WHIP).
Must win? Not really, but dropping three to the Fish would pretty much erase what we accomplished in Philly. I’d rather not see that.
I’ll be checking in after the game.
So…yeeeeaaaah. The O’s totally need to crush the Gnats this weekend to make up for this sloppy sloppy series.
Ugly. It will be telling of the team’s character (I guess) to see how they fare against the Nats in Camden Yards after this up and down road trip.
Good meeting you tonight at Ignite, Neal. Looks like we lucked out that it wasn’t a sports bar. Yikes.
My offer still stands, by the way: Adam Jones bobblehead, in the box, for one Nick Markakis BP jersey.
Adam Jones is 0-Life right now. Crowley, you’re up old man. Let’s at least hear that you’re working with the kid.
Rich Hill is the definition of “no such thing as momentum”. Dude could throw a no-hitter and come out the next time and give up 6 runs. You just don’t know.
Inconsistency is what this team is all about right now. Pitching, offense, sweeping Philly in their house, getting swept by Florida in their house. Defense and baserunning that comes and goes. Trembley looking like a genius managing the bench one night, but then leaving Chris Ray out there to throw over 40 pitches.
I just don’t know right now. It seems like this team really lacks mental toughness and tenacity. We always say things like “this time would be contending if it was in another division”, but then we get swept by a mediocre Marlins team and let their star hit two grand slams off of us. Christ’s sake.
Ok, sure Rich Hill gave it up early and often tonight, but our offense is like a damn narcoleptic. One minute we’re alright, the next we’re passed out in the middle of the fucking street.
I really, really, REALLY don’t want to pin any of this on Dave Trembley. It angers me to no end reading posts on the OH and on Roch’s blog with people blaming the manager. Generally, the manager doesn’t do a damn thing in baseball and we all know it. But when you look at our team and what it should be capable of doing, and the utter randomness at which is reaches that potential, you have to wonder if the guy is on the hot seat. There is no shred of consistency with this team, and I’m not sold that we shouldn’t expect consistency until next year. We have the players to be a consistent .500 team. For once, I’m blaming a lot of it on our offense just completely shutting down, rather than our pitching.
Sure maybe tonight you can’t expect them to come back when Hill gives up 6 runs, and I get that. But last night? 1 hit over 7 innings against some fucking kid who, God forbid, is left-handed? No one hit left-handers in the minor leagues?
Frustrated as hell right now. You can’t sweep a team and then get swept, completely nullifying your amazing sweep. That’s shitty, shitty baseball and it’s time to expect better from this squad.
Rant typo:
“This TEAM* would be contending if it was in another division”
@Brendan – Agreed all around. It’s never fun to say that I’m glad I didn’t watch or listen to an O’s game, but that’s definitely the case tonight.
What an odd turn of events. Sweeping Philly in their house, getting swept by the Fish in theirs. Add it up and you have .500, which we would have taken in advance. Yet the feeling still isn’t right.
Time to take at least 2 of 3 from the Nats.
@dan the man – I don’t know that you can blame anyone for stuff like this. It’s just what happens with a team in rebuilding mode. Ups and downs, you know? If we had lost two of three in Philly but won two of three in Miami it’d probably feel a lot better. And yet, the record wouldn’t change.
Don’t get me wrong — the results in Florida are unacceptable. But remember that we gave them three pitchers who are total question marks. Ultimately, I think Koji is ticketed for the bullpen while Hill and Berken need to work to become 4 or 5 guys (at best) on the Team of the Future. We’re in the midst of them doing that work, and sometimes it gets ugly.
All too ugly.
And the Marlins threw three pretty good pitchers at us who were all on their game. I just can’t get too upset about losing to Florida on the road, because they are a very under-appreciated team.
RIP MJ – KING OF POP
Thanks for all the music and dance moves! I will forever have them in my repertoire. When all else fails, Moonwalk – that’s my motto.
You will be missed…
@George – I’m pretty sure George Sherrill moonwalking off the mound after every save would hands down make up for the recent sweep by the Marlins.