Great Scott and the Tiger

Once again Luke Scott carried the bat to the plate and made it look easy against Tiger’s pitching. For the second night he hit two Home Runs against the Tigers, only this time he upped his RBIs to 5. After his Grand Slam in the third, a lot of pressure was lifted off of rookie pitcher Bergesen.

Bergesen pitched into the 9th. It may have been the first time this season that an Oriole pitcher has pitched this deep. Since it’s been awhile since there’s been a off day, and the pen having to pitch a lot of innings, it was needed.

There was a lot of pressure placed on Matt Weiters, but Scott cleared the bases in front of him twice. At least most of the times when he batted it wasn’t with men on bases. His first out, which was a double play, really was a good out. It was a fly ball that Mora tried to advance to third. Wasn’t Weiters fault that he was thrown out.

Five wins in a row.

When was the last time that happened? Especially to teams that at the time were leading their division. Yes, Toronto was leading the East when they came to town in the midst of their 9 game losing streak that took them from first to third.

I really think that this team is starting to make that turn around and they will be an exciting team to watch.

Long Home Run to Center Field

It may not have been a real long home run, but whenever a homer is hit to Center Field through the heavy humid beginning of summer air, it can be called a Long Home Run to Center Field.

When Luke Scott came to bat in the bottom of the eighth with two on and a one run lead, a hit was all that was needed to give some margin for error for the closer. A few minutes later when he crossed the plate with his second home run of the night, many breathed a sigh of relief that the Orioles would win their fourth straight game.

Heroes of the night fall right into place when thinking about the youth movement for the Orioles. David Hernandez pitched 5 2/3 innings in his major league debut allowing just one run on a solo homer. Rookie Nolan Reinmold continues to display that it’ll be hard not to keep him in the majors with his 5th home run since being called up. Even 30 year old Luke Scott can be call part of the youth movement even at 30.

For the first time since 1961 four starters on the same team has won their major league debut. The other three are Koji Uehara, Brad Bergesen and Jason Berken.

And tonight the real youth movement arrives with Matt Wieters, that is if you buy into that hype. As I said yesterday, one player can’t carry a team from bad to great. But the future does look a lot brighter than it did on May 1st.

What’s That Buzz, Tell Me What’s Happening

If as some have prophesied, the new age of Baltimore Orioles baseball will soon begin. Tuesday it was announced that the new savior, Matt Wieters, is being called up to the big club beginning on Friday.

While I have seen that one ball player can move a team in a positive direction, Frank Robinson helped to take a good 1960s Oriole Ball club into a great one, I don’t know if there’s ever been a single player to take a bad club to a great one.

But the Orioles are on the right track and Wiethers very well could and probably will make a difference. But there are plenty of young talented ball players on the teams as well as waiting in the wings.

The Oriole lineup already is good. They score plenty of runs most games to win, but it’s hard to constantly win when the pitching staff is giving up nearly 6 runs a ballgame.

The outfield is looking set, although there is still some questions on what’s going to happen in left field. Adam Jones is having a great year at the plate and playing a good center field. Markakis is still looking like the All-Star which he will soon become.

Left is a question since there are a couple of players on the team, or in the minors, who could come out as the player in left. Right now my vote is toward Nolan Reimold. Pie is not an option and should be traded, let go or sent to the minors, whichever one is best for the team.

Then there’s Montanez and Scott. Both of these players will be team players. Although after he comes off the DL Montanez may be sent to the minors, but he did play well while he was out there.

The only spots I question are 1st and 3rd. Two older ball players which contacts ending soon. Both of which may want more than they are worth. Are there players to replaced them in the minors? I don’t know, since I really haven’t followed what’s happening on the farm. Other than it looks as if the farm system may be coming back. Are in seeing the old Oriole Way becoming the new Oriole Way. From all appearances, yep.

But as usual the team will only go as far as the pitching. Right now there is only one starter in the rotation that was in the rotation on opening day. And to be honest Guthrie has not looked good.

As long as everyone is improving with each passing day, watching this team will be fun. And if I’m right look out for the Orioles in 2011 and maybe even as soon as 2010.

GO BIRDS

Life At Times Get in The Way

This may has been a strange month for me. And although I haven’t had much time to follow what the Orioles have been doing, it seems as if it’s been a strange month for them as well.

Over the course of the month i have been busy with many things that have kept me away from following the game.

I am a TV junkie and during this month I have been watching the season ending episodes of series such as Heroes, Lost, Amazing Race and Survivor. During some of these shows the Orioles have played as well. So my attention during these times were elsewhere.

Now that May is near an end, as well as some of the other life commitments that I have had, I am going to try to spend more time following the Orioles. And with the changes that have happened during the past couple of weeks and what seems to be on the horizon, it does seem to be an exciting time to be an Orioles fan.

The future is on the horizon and even if they only just play well this year, it’s exciting to to think what may happen in a year or two.

Sorry for the Absence

Over the past week I have not entered any posts on the games by the Orioles. I’m am greatly sorry that this has happened, but with ‘life getting in the way’ I have not had a chance to write anything let alone watch what has been happening with the Orioles, other that a quick review of the games.

Hopefully things will quickly change so that I can continue these postings as well as for things to change for the Orioles.

It look as if the pitching has settled down and working in a better groove, although it does seem as if at least once a game they are still grooving one.

If only they could get some production from the back end of the lineup.

Wonder if the Pie experiment has run its course? He sure doesn’t look as if he’s ready for the Major League.

Huff is looking much better at 1st as the season turns a month old.

Now if we can only figure out what’s going on that we have a pitcher with an injury every week or so.

One Pitch

Lat night it came down to one pitch. Sherrill was one pitch away from closing the game with a win. Instead of that one pitch being a pop fly it turned out to be a long fly ball that made it into the seats. A two run Home Run when the Orioles were only ahead by one.

It was a lost instead of a needed win.

Games are changed with one pitch.

It was a shame too, since for the third game in a row the Starter had a good game. Koji Uehara pitched into the 7th giving up just two runs. It was the Bull Pen that could hold it giving up runs in each of the last three innings.

Home Runs have been a problem with the Orioles’ pitching this season. Last night’s was one of the worst.

Game Totals:
Rangers 5 12 0
Orioles 4 8 0
WP: C. Wilson (1-2)
LP: G. Sherrill (0-1)
S: F. Francisco (3)
HR: Rangers – M.Young (5), H.Blalock (4); Orioles – B.Roberts (1)

Putting it All Together

It was the best game that the Orioles have played this season. For the first time they put it all together.

After two rocky starts, ok you might term them as bad starts, Adam Eaton became the first Oriole starter to make past the 7th inning. He left in the 8th with the shutout intact. Johnson did give up a hit to allow his two stranded base runners to score, but it was a great performance. Especially when considering he didn’t make it out od the 4th either of his earlier games.

It was also a series that the Orioles won. So far they’ve played 4 series and have won all but one. Serieswise the only bad one was Boston’s. And we just won’t talk about that sweep.

Game Totals:
White Sox 2 7 2
Orioles 6 10 0
WP: A. Eaton (1-2)
LP: B. Colon (1-1)
HR: None

Record: 8 – 8
4th place in the East – 3 1/2 games out of first.

Split So Far

I haven’t had a chance to watch the Orioles against the White Sox so the best i can do is to post the Game Totals.

Game Totals:
Tuesday
White Sox 3 5 1
Orioles 10 12 1
WP: B. Bergesen (1-0)
LP: J. Contreras (0-3)
HR: White Sox – None; Orioles A Huff 2 (3)

Wednesday
White Sox 8 12 0
Orioles 2 8 2
WP: J.Danks (2-0)
LP: J.Guthrie(2-1)
HR: White Sox- J.Thome (4), J.Fields (1); Orioles- L.Scott (3)

Roster Moves

I imagine that nothing that said here comes as news to anyone, but here are the latest moves as I understand them.

Radhames Liz has been sent to Norfolk
Ryan Freel who remained in a Boston hospital on Monday after getting hit in the head during a pickup attempt has been placed on the Disabled List.

Taking their places are:
Lou Montanez – This pleases many since it’s felt that he deserved to make the team with his play in Spring Training.
Brad Bergesen – Moving into the Starting rotation.

It also appears that Adam Jones will return to the lineup and Center Field when the series starts against the Whire Sox. This moves Pie back to left. It is being reported that Pie has been taking fly balls in left. Good move he needs some work on his defense.

Current 25 man roster:
Pitchers B/T
34 Matt Albers L/R
28 Danys Baez R/R
25 Brian Bass R/R
64 Brad Bergesen L/R
56 Adam Eaton R/R
46 Jeremy Guthrie R/R
27 Mark Hendrickson L/L
43 Jim Johnson R/R
37 Chris Ray R/R
45 Dennis Sarfate R/R
52 George Sherrill L/L
19 Koji Uehara R/R
32 Jamie Walker L/L

Catchers B/T
16 Chad Moeller R/R
9 Gregg Zaun S/R
Infielders B/T
12 Robert Andino R/R
17 Aubrey Huff L/R
3 Cesar Izturis S/R
1 Brian Roberts S/R
23 Ty Wigginton R/R

Outfielders B/T
10 Adam Jones R/R
21 Nick Markakis L/L
12 Lou Montanez R/R
18 Felix Pie L/L
30 Luke Scott

Morning’s OK – Afternoon Not So

I missed the beginning of the game, but when I turned it on just before the start of the 5th inning, the Orioles while losing were only behind 3-1.

Then the change. The Bull Pen came in and in a nutshell they got Rocked. Three runs in the 6th. And then 6 in the 7th.

Not to mention that the defense wasn’t look all that good either. It was reported that one of the strength of the Orioles was in the field. Pie needs work. He looked as bad in Center Field today as he had earlier in the series in Left. I’m not sure what’s seen in him, but from my view I can understand why the Cubs gave up on him. He doesn’t look like he’s going to make a good Major League outfielder.

A move needs to me mad before the beginning of Tuesday game so that they can bring up a Starter for that game. I suspect that Liz will be the one demoted. He’s starting to remind me of Cabrera, rough talent that never matures. Hopefully in the Minors he can mature.

There were a couple of good things that came out of this game as well as yesterday’s. The Starting Pitcher did well. It wasn’t a quality start as defined by going into the six, but Henrickson left the game giving up just 3 runs and the Orioles were in the game.

I missed the play in which Freel was hit in the face with the pickoff throw to second. I sure hope that it’s not serious. I also hope that Adam Jones is capable to play soon, but not to rush. His defense is needed.

Game Total:
Orioles 1 5 1
Red Sox 12 15 2
WP: J. Masterson (1-0)
LP: M. Hendrickson (1-2)
HR: Orioles – None; Red Sox – J.Varitek (3)

Record: 6 – 7

It Must Be Sunday

Everything fell in place today for the Orioles pitching. The starter Koji Uehara pitched late into the game giving up just two runs. He gave away to the closer George Sherrill who got three quick outs.

The only problem was it was a Sunday afternoon. The baseball gods are still against the Orioles on Sundays. They failed to score a run until the top of the 9th. Even though they made the game interesting by getting the tie run to second they lost the game.

So far this series the Red Sox has shown why they will be a contender for the Eastern Division, while the Orioles will be looking at just an improvement over last year’s poor record.

Koji Uehara record dropped to 2-1, but it could 1 and 2 since neither of his first two were good pitching performances and could have ended with a lost. Now his best pitched game is a lost. Let’s hope that this is the beginning of a series of good starts.

Game Totals:
Orioles 1 6 0
Red Sox 2 6 0
WP: J. Lester (1-2)
LP: K. Uehara (2-1)
S: T. Saito (1)
HR: None

Record: 6 – 6

Not This Series

Two games into their series with the Boston Red Sox, it’s obvious that they won’t win this series. And unless they win the next two, it will end up as their first series lost in the season.

I’m sure that many have been wondering how long ot would be until this team began to disappoint. For me that came in the second half of opening day. Over the last two weeks they have worked hard, and going into they had won three series with a record of 6-3.

I have been critical of this team since the first game. Pitchers have been giving up too many Home Runs and runs in general. If it hadn’t been the production of the top 4 to 5 hitters in their line up, this team could easily be 0-11 and not 6-5.

Team defense was suppose to be a plus. I watched Feliz Pie make not one but two bad defensive moves on the same fly ball. Yes, I know that Righ Field in Fenway is hard to play, but Pie just plain looked bad.

Then there’s the 10 unearned runs. Friday’s game turned on the one error and three unearned runs that followed.

Looking at this team in the first 11 games of the year, I will stay with my opinion that they will win between 70 and 75 games. But right now this team is not exciting to watch.

Game Totals:
Orioles 4 8 1
Red Sox 6 12 1
WP: J. Beckett (2-1)
LP: A. Eaton (0-2)
S: J. Papelbon (4)
HR; Orioles – None; Red Sox -K Youkilis (3)