Baltimore Orioles Thread: Orioles Magic

[Guest]

Two losses to the Yankees, both equally tough, but I would hate to be the Nationals after the Orioles lost the 15 inning game and then the blowout yesterday. As always, should be a good series between the two teams this weekend.

Oh, and is it too much to ask for the Orioles to get Britton some kind of run support?

[Guest]

Rubber game of the series starting in just a couple minutes.

Of course, I was disappointed in the loss Friday, but it was great to see the bats respond last night. Nolan Reimold hit a home run, and both he and Brandon Snyder are hitting fairly well. Also, it finally looks like Adam Jones and Nick Markakis have started hitting, raising their averages over the past week up to .296 and .260 respectively.

Guthrie pitched very well in the win yesterday as well. Seven innings, five hits, one walk and two unearned runs. Jim Johnson pitched a shutout inning, and Uehara allowed one run in the ninth. Those two are probably the best in the bullpen right now.

[Guest]

Exciting game today against the Nats to win the series with a 2-1 victory. First of all, both starters pitched pretty well. Tillman ran his pitchcount up early, but always seemed to find a way out of his jams. He's improving from where he was last year. Meanwhile, Jordan Zimmerman also had a high pitch count to start the game and pitched six shutout innings before losing it in the 7th, with a hanging curveball that Vladimir Guerrero sent into the stands for a two-run homer.

The bullpen pitched very well in relief of Tillman. Accardo, Johnson (who got the win,) Uehara and Gregg all pitched scoreless innings, which is always nice to see.

The Oriole offense only had four hits on the day, but they made them count. Also, great job by Matt Wieters throwing out two baserunners and keeping the Nats speedsters honest in a tight game.

[Leftwich]

Exciting game today against the Nats to win the series with a 2-1 victory. First of all, both starters pitched pretty well. Tillman ran his pitchcount up early, but always seemed to find a way out of his jams. He's improving from where he was last year. Meanwhile, Jordan Zimmerman also had a high pitch count to start the game and pitched six shutout innings before losing it in the 7th, with a hanging curveball that Vladimir Guerrero sent into the stands for a two-run homer.

The bullpen pitched very well in relief of Tillman. Accardo, Johnson (who got the win,) Uehara and Gregg all pitched scoreless innings, which is always nice to see.

The Oriole offense only had four hits on the day, but they made them count. Also, great job by Matt Wieters throwing out two baserunners and keeping the Nats speedsters honest in a tight game.

He's making a case for being the best catcher in baseball right now.

[Blick]

Nice matchup of young lefties tonight with Britton vs. Duffy. I haven't seen Britton this year. Looking forward to it.

[Guest]

He's making a case for being the best catcher in baseball right now.

Besides the measurables, like his arm, or blocked pitches, Wieters can also call a game very well. A lot of people dont know that Showalter gave him almost free reign when he came on board, and the pitchers responded well.

Nice matchup of young lefties tonight with Britton vs. Duffy. I haven't seen Britton this year. Looking forward to it.

Should be a good game, and I am happy I am off work tonight to catch some of it. Britton has a great selection of pitches, but will rely heavily on his mid 90s sinker- keep an eye out for it. Duffy, meanwhile, is having his trial by fire, facing the Rangers first, and now the bipolar Oriole offense.

[Blick]

A sinker in the mid 90's is filthy. I definitely expect the Royals to struggle tonight.

[BazookaJoe5]

The O's offense tonight includes such luminaries as Nolan Reimold, Brandon Snyder, Mr. .196 Mark Reynolds and no Brian Roberts.

I'd say it would be a good game to watch if you like pitching but I'm not sure that is the case...lol.

[Blick]

I love pitching more than anything. Duffy walked 6 in his debut so hopefully he settles in a little better tonight and makes it a good game to watch.

[Guest]

Good game tonight- I was only able to catch about half of it.

Zach Britton struggled a bit, giving up a two run homer and three runs, but in his last inning, it could have been worse. He pitched out of a bases loaded situation. Accardo pitched 1 2/3 of scoreless relief, and Alfredo Simon pitched the ninth and received the win in his first appearance of the year.

The offense was sporadic, with two runs coming in the sixth off a Matt Wieters double and a Luke Scott single. Vladimir Guerrero also extended his hitting streak to nine games with a single.

In the ninth, the Orioles finally solved Joakim Soria, who had not allowed a run to the Orioles until tonight. JJ Hardy kept himself alive in a great at bat to get on with a double. Felix Pie pinch-hit for Brandon Snyder and hit a double that Wilson Betemit did not try to block (its the ninth inning, don't just lean back and throw your glove up) that scored Hardy.

Adam Jones capped the game off with a walk-off homer, taking an 0-2 pitch to straight center to end it.

[strahanfan92]

Just got back from the O's game, sunny and hot as shit but what a game. Reimold was an absolute beast. After the failed bottom of the 11th for the Orioles I thought they were done for. In the twelth, the Royals get Vlad to do exactly what they wanted him to do but he just found the right hole.

[Guest]

Story of the Orioles for the past couple seasons. We watch them go on the longest winning streak in a few seasons, only to be swept by the Athletics and then lose our fourth straight to the Mariners this afternoon.

Just a couple roster moves- both Chris Tillman and Brad Bergeson were sent down today. Bergeson lost his third game in his past four, and I can see that, but I am not sure why Tillman was sent down- he was up and down but overall solid. Brian Matusz is ready to return from the DL, but that still leaves the team with a four man rotation. I guess someone else will come up from AAA very soon.

[BazookaJoe5]

I went to the O's game tonight.

I swear to god they haven't won a game I've gone to since I was in high school, and I graduated in 04. It seems like every single game I go to they are down 7-0 after the first couple innings...

I thought tonight, with Britton going, it was a good chance I'd see a good game...not so much.

[BazookaJoe5]

In other news I think the O's need to have a serious line up change...this is what I would do right now.

1) Andino
2) Reimold
3) Jones
4) Vlad
5) Wieters
6) Lee (when he's back, which will be soon as he's rehabbing in Bowie)
7) Markakis
8) Reynolds
9) Hardy

Markakis can't be slotted 3rd any more until he breaks out of this funk that he's in. Moving him down in the order will take some pressure off him, let him relax and hopefully find his way.

Pie sucks, as does Scott, no reason for Reimold not to get consistent playing time to figure out if he can or can't play at this level. Two years ago he looked like he could. Last year he didn't get much of a chance. Time to find out yes or no.

[Guest]

In other news I think the O's need to have a serious line up change...this is what I would do right now.

1) Andino
2) Reimold
3) Jones
4) Vlad
5) Wieters
6) Lee (when he's back, which will be soon as he's rehabbing in Bowie)
7) Markakis
8) Reynolds
9) Hardy

Markakis can't be slotted 3rd any more until he breaks out of this funk that he's in. Moving him down in the order will take some pressure off him, let him relax and hopefully find his way.

Pie sucks, as does Scott, no reason for Reimold not to get consistent playing time to figure out if he can or can't play at this level. Two years ago he looked like he could. Last year he didn't get much of a chance. Time to find out yes or no.

Agree on all counts. Scott can get some consistent at-bats, but only spelling various players for days off. Reimold has performed very well this season so far and there is no reason he should not be starting on a consistant basis.

The thing with Scott is that I don't think anyone saw this kind of regression coming. It is his free agent year and last season, he was sixth in MLB in OPS. Maybe it is because he is playing the field, but I don't think that is the entire reason.