Baltimore With A Huge Close Win

One day after an extremely controversial loss and some heated statements from 1st baseman Mark Reynolds, the Orioles got a huge win yesterday. Baltimore won behind a spectacular pitching performance from Zach Britton. That's right, Britton recalled before the game because Steve Johnson had to be used in relief a few nights back, was dominant. Britton threw 7 strong scoreless innings on 103 pitches. We all know Britton has this in him, but it is impressive considering it was against the Detroit Tigers. It was also impressive because Britton has been dreadful this year. Even after last night, his ERA sits at 6.23. Opponents are hitting .301 against him. His numbers have been poor and pitches straight. Last night he had movement and picked up 5 strikeouts. He also improved to (2-1). Most important, he helped the Orioles beat a wild card contender.

The last two innings were handled by the usual suspects. However, the Orioles won 3-2 and not 3-0. It did not go over as smooth as usual. Pedro Strop's scoreless inning streak ended as he gave up 2 in the 8th. Strop though was able to recover and get the hold. His 21st on the season. After last night's mishap, Strop's ERA is now 1.51. After Strop came the great Jim Johnson. Johnson pitched a scoreless ninth for save #36! Johnson is moving awfully close to that club record.

All of the RBIs came from Chris Davis. Davis hit a 3 run homer in the 7th inning off of Rick Porcello. It was his 19th on the season. It also could not have come at a better time. The Orioles needed this win to keep pace, and they got it. Taking the series against Detroit tomorrow would be huge.

-Noland

More Comparisons Between This Team & '89

The Orioles continue to do well and exceed expectations. You cannot count them out. There was another year they were expected to compete and they did that until the very last day. When that happened it was 1989 and it looks like it is happening again. Behind another amazing extra inning victory in which the Orioles won in 14 innings they shrunk the division lead to 4 1/2 games. Baltimore is now tied with Oakland for a wild card spot as well. However, nothing matches up to the 1989 team like a familiar face. One of the faces of that team, was Dave Johnson the pitcher. Yesterday, the Orioles called up Dave's son Steve to make his 1st major league start tomorrow! Now this team is really looking like 1989.

I have long been saying that Steve Johnson should join the rotation as the 5th starter. Showalter and Duquette finally agreed with me. This is very exciting to a lot of Orioles fans. Steve Johnson was not the most hyped prospect. However, he was most deserving of the opportunity, he is on normal rest, and he is a good local kid. The Orioles faithful loves Steve Johnson. I expect a hug crowd @ Camden Yards tonight.

How did Johnson finally join the rotation? Zach Britton got shelled. Britton has not been effective since his return other than the one start. Tonight, he gave up 7 runs in 5 innings to really put the Orioles in a hole. Britton's loss is Johnson's game. Because of the fact that he had to warm in the bullpen to go in, Tommy Hunter is unavailable to start tomorrow night now. Hunter looks like he would have entered in the 15th if the game had continued. Showalter said they were getting close to Chris Davis time though so maybe he was coming not far behind.

Let's start with the craziest news first and go from there. The Orioles have played in the most games this season lasting 13 innings or more. This is their 5th game past 13 and they are 5-0 in those games! Amazing. After Britton left the game, the score was 7-2. The bullpen pitched 9 scoreless innings to lead the comeback effort. 6 pitchers led to that scoreless performance. Surprisingly, Kevin Gregg was the 1st pitcher in that unit and he pitched 2 scoreless. Patton, Ayala, Strop, Lindstrom, and O'Day also pitched in the game. With O'Day picking up the win. The win moved O'Day to 6-0 on the season. Everyone besides Gregg in that groups has a sub 3 ERA. Obviously, the best one in that group is Pedro Strop @ 1.27. Strop was huge once again.

The comeback started in the 6th inning. The Orioles scored 1 in the 6th and 4 in the 7th to help push it to extras. They won the game on an Adam Jones single with the bases loaded in the 14th. The Mariners intentionally walked Davis to get to Jones. I don't know why anyone would want to pitch to Jones in a walkoff situation, but Go Mariners. I will gladly take it. Guess which Oriole scored the winning run? Omar Quintanilla.

Making the decision to walk Davis more strange was the fact that he was the only Oriole not hitting last night. Davis was 0-6 for the game. Adam Jones and Omar Quintanilla each had 2 hits in the game. Btw, if you need more reason to love Robert Andino, look at that smile in the picture above. I absolutely love the passion and fun he plays the game with.

Other key contributors last night were Markakis and Hardy. Nick Markakis was 4-7 from his leadoff spot. He is now hitting .294. JJ Hardy was 1-4, but hit a very crucial 3 run homer. It was Hardy's 16th homer of the season. Great job by JJ!

There was only one guy more impressive than Markakis, Hardy, and Jones. That man is Matt Wieters. Not only did Wieters catch 14 innings like a boss, but he played it amazingly defensively. Oh, and he hit 2 home runs! Now Wieters is up to 15 on the season. Terrific job last night by Wieters. There is a strong chance that he gets a night off or is the DH tonight.

Ok, now the other ugly part of the game. Wilson Betemit made his 15th error last night. The guy is horrible at 3rd. Just play Andino!

All that being said, WHY NOT?!?!

-Noland

Did I Say 4? Well Now It's 5

So these Orioles guys must have some heart, eh? Make that 5 in a row after most people started writing off the Baltimore Orioles. 5 straight quality starts leading to 5 straight wins.

This particular brilliant pitching performance was delivered by Zach Britton. Today showed why Zach Britton is my favorite Oriole starter in quite some time. Hopefully, this start signified that Zach is finally healthy from all his injury issues. Britton picked up his 1st win of the season and moved to (1-0) in his second start of the year. He was rather effective for the birds giving them 6 strong innings. When he left the game, Cleveland still had a 0 on the board. Britton also recorded 5 strikeouts in his performance. His ERA now sits @ 3.60.

Luis Ayala entered the game for Britton and was also very good for 2 innings. Unfortunately for him, Buck left him in for a 3rd. In the bottom of the 9th inning, Ayala gave up a 2 run homer that made the game 4-2. Then he exited...

Who was there to clean up the mess? Well, Jim Johnson of course. Johnson did give up another run, but picked up a save in the 4-3 victory. That save gives Johnson 30 on the year! 30 saves for an Oriole pitcher in July! Amazing!

The offense didn't do too much, but it did enough. Nick Markakis continues to excel hitting from the leadoff spot. Markakis was 2-5 and is now hitting .276. He has brought life to a punchless offense since his return. I hope no Orioles fan sells Nick short again. This guy is the heart and soul of this team.

Markakis wasn't the only one to excel with the bat. Two Orioles hit huge home runs in this game. JJ Hardy was 2-5 tonight with his 14th HR. Hardy also had 3 huge RBIs. This was a great day for a struggling athlete. Hardy is still one of the best in the game. The other big HR was hit by Wilson Betemit. Betemit was 2-4 and raised his average to .255. The home run was Wilson's 11th on the season.

Let's keep the Oriole Magic going!

-Noland

Orioles in Big Trouble

The Baltimore Orioles have been struggling lately, they are still contending, but everyday looking more and more like pretenders. If you had told me before the year, that the Orioles would start like this, I would not have believed you. This team came out guns blazing and actually looked like a playoff team for the first time in a long time. However, now we are in trouble. Unless something is done we will fall off now just like every year since 1997, it will just be later this time.

So how bad is it?

The Orioles lost to the Twins last night 19-7. Chris Tillman (who pitched 8+ in his last outing and looked brilliant) gave up 7 runs in 2/3 of an inning. He didn't even get out of the 1st. Just when you think Tillman put it together, he didn't. Same old Tillman, I mean the guy still hasn't won back to back big league start. That fact alone is utterly insane. It gets worse...

We all know we have been without our leadoff hitter Nolan Reimold for the majority of the year. Reimold was actually our second leadoff hitter after Brian Roberts was hurt. Brian Roberts makes an amazing comeback and then...he gets hurt again. Roberts appears done, in all fairness though Roberts wasn't doing much since he came back other than the 1st game. This is where it gets really ugly though, Roberts backup at 2nd base, Robert Andino, also got hurt recently and is on the DL. So we are now left with Tolleson and Flaherty at 2nd. It still hasn't reached the worst part, Jason Hammel is on the DL and we don't know for how long. Hammel has been our most reliable starter and has been lights out. His injury now marks us having 4 guys from our opening day starting rotation now out of that rotation.

How do we fix it?
The X-Man commeth
Xavier Avery needs to be back in Baltimore. For whatever reason he gives the team a spark. They play with more energy when he is on the team. He should be here. If you are worried about their splits, have no fear. I have another solution. Bring up LJ Hoes. Hoes and Avery should platoon in left for Baltimore for the rest of the year. It is by far our best option and the two are rather close.

Trade the calvary

I am not saying trade the farm, I am saying trade the "calvary" guys. I most often hear the calvary referred to as Tillman, Matusz, and Arrieta. These are the 3 guys to trade. Their value has soured over time, but I am done with this group. The only one I have any hope that he will regain his former self is Arrieta. Even with him I say get rid of him.

Make the Grienke trade and bring Rickie Weeks with Him

Sure Weeks is struggling, but he is a heck of a lot better than what we have at 2nd base. Grienke is sorely needed at this time, we need an ace. Trade for him and extend him. He already said he doesn't want to play in a major market, so maybe just maybe that gives us the edge. We are said to have the inside track at least.

Trade for Jason Vargas and Offer to take Chone Figgins

It can't be said enough that we need pitching. One way to get pitching is to offer to take bad other teams bad contract. Figgins is a bad contract, and he can help us. He is a solid glove at 3b and a decent leadoff hitter. I know he has underperformed, but he can help. Offering to take back Figgins will also limit what we have to give up. There is a chance that by offering to take Figgins and offering to give up a prospect, that we can actually get King Felix. Imagine that guy in Baltimore.

Who do we trade?

Try to limit the prospects. In 1997 in order to make a playoff run, we gutted our farm system. Due to that and extremely poor drafting/development since then we have struggled to recover. We don't want to get into that situation again to try to make a run. So trade the guys we deem losers that we think failed.

Trade Matusz

Trade Tillman

Trade Arrieta

Trade Gregg

Trade Chavez

Trade Pearce

Trade Reynolds

Trade Adams

Trade Mahoney

Trade Flaherty

Trade Betemit

Trade Exposito

Trade Bergessen

Start with that group and see what we can get. If they want Davis in a deal and it nets us a part of our future then go for it. No matter what though, I say trade all of that group either now or in the offseason and see what we can get. They offer us little at the moment. Those three arms hold a lot of value in Milwaukee if we want to offer some up for Grienke. Kranitz actually had some success with the calvary back in 2010. All I know is I want pitchers and guys that want to win. Mark Reynolds doesn't say I want to win to me. The best move we have internally though is Hoes/Avery. Don't forget either that Zach Britton pitches tonight. Britton is the 2nd best pitcher in the organization behind Bundy. So it may be alright for one night.

-Noland

The Recent News From Birdland

Sorry I have been gone for a few days. I had a long drive back from VA and didn't really post when I was there, except about the Orioles game. Then, as soon as we got back, we had to finish packing everything up and move. We finally got internet in our new place, so here I am.

Anyways, a lot has happened since my last post with the Orioles.

Before we get to the other news, I want to congratulate Jim Johnson, Adam Jones and Matt Wieters on making the all-star team. This is the first time since 2005 that the Orioles will have multiple all-stars. 3 all-stars is great, but 4 is better, so vote Hammel for that final spot. Personally, I voted for the BeltwaysBallot.

First, we start with the new addition to birdland. Jim Thome, 41, has joined the Orioles via trade. For a team in desperate need of offense that is barely clinging to a playoff spot, Thome is a welcome addition. Thome provides punch to an offense that has little right now. Unfortunately he does not upgrade the defense or the starting pitching, which may be bigger issues at this point. I am ok with the prospects given up to obtain Thome so we will wait and see what happens here. Hopefully, this shifts Mark Reynolds out the door quick.

Unfortunately, to add Thome to the 25 man roster, the Orioles for some strange reason demoted Xavier Avery again. That demotion gives the Orioles one true OF on the 25 man roster. The decision was insane. Avery was providing good defense with a solid bat. He is not the problem. Leave him up at least until Cakes gets back unless a better player is acquired. Avery is the 2nd best OF we have available right now. This thing boggles my mind. He hit his 1st home run in the last week as well. At this blog, we are big supporters of Xavier. He is Jenna's 2nd favorite player. Thome does look good in orange and black though. Too bad its about 10 years later than everybody wanted it.

Once again Mark Reynolds has got to go.

The offense is stone cold right now and needs to bust out. They have had one good game lately and it was when Avery hit the bomb. Have been horrible on offense of late.

Once again Mark Reynolds has got to go.

Matusz and Hunter were demoted recently. Eveland took Hunter's turn and Matusz's turn doesn't come up again until Friday. Chris Tillman is expected to come up and pitch in Hunter's spot on Thursday. About time! Tillman was scratched tonight from his start in Norfolk. Tillman has allowed 2 runs or fewer in 8 of his last 11 Norfolk starts. Given how horrible Hunter, Matusz, and Arrieta have been, it is just time for Tillman.

The Orioles best pitcher last year, Zach Britton, appears ready now and will likely take the ball Friday for the Orioles. With Britton and Tillman likely joining the rotation, the Orioles hope to have at least four good starters in the rotation. Chen and Hammel have been carrying the rotation thus far.

Dontrelle Willis has retired.

Taylor Teagarden started his rehab assignment today!

Wilson Betemit has an 11 game hit streak.

The Orioles have made 10 moves to the 25 man roster in 6 days and more appear to be coming. The trade deadline is upon us. This should be an interesting one for the O's. oh and...

Mark Reynolds has got to go.

-Noland

Markakis Has Broken Bone in Wrist

The most dependable of Orioles is headed to the disabled list for the first time in his career. Right fielder Nick Markakis has a broken bone in his wrist and will have surgery to repair it tomorrow. He is expected to miss 3-4 weeks. Markakis started all 50 games prior to last night (48 in RF, 2 @ DH). This is a big blow to the Orioles' playoff chances having Markakis out for 3+ weeks. It is also one that I am not sure the Orioles can overcome. Yes, he was having a down year by his standards, but he is a hitter pitchers fear. Without him in the lineup, it will be much more difficult for Adam Jones to get quality pitches to hit. Losing your #1 hitter and your #3 hitter kills any lineup. The new lineup will have to somehow account for the loses of Reimold and Markakis.

There is good news though because Brian Roberts should be back soon. He is scheduled to finish his rehab stint June 11. Zach Britton is scheduled to be back after his rehab start in the next day. Britton's return will help fortify a struggling rotation while Roberts return will help a weak lineup. We just better hope Roberts is something close to his old self with Markakis and Reimold out still.
Here is my proposed lineup until Roberts gets back.
2B Robert Andino
SS JJ Hardy
C Matt Wieters
CF Adam Jones
1B Chris Davis
DH Wilson Betemit
RF Markakis' replacement
3B Ryan Flaherty
LF Endy Chavez


Once Roberts is back
2B Brian Roberts
SS JJ Hardy
C Matt Wieters
CF Adam Jones
1B Chris Davis
DH Wilson Betemit
RF Replacement
LF Endy Chavez
3B Robert Andino

Wieters is the only guy that makes sense @ #3 in my opinion. Unless we are trying to have a good hitter behind Jones. If that is the case then we need to swap Davis and Wieters. However, I would have my best hitter hit 3rd and Wieters is a better hitter than Davis.

You will notice that Mark Reynolds is not in either lineup. I am not a fan. I would try to trade him asap and eat some salary. I'd do the same thing with Gregg. We have to get another OF with Cakes and Reimold out. We need to do it asap.

What are the internal options?
Xavier Avery could come back up. The only problem with that is many in the organization think he is getting into bad habits. He may be getting into bad habits, but he is better than Chavez. He's certainly better than no options. If we want to compete for the playoffs, we might have to call Avery back up.

Jai Miller is still in the organization, but he is not playing well. He strikes out about every other time to the plate. That can't cut it in the big leagues.

Lew Ford is also an option for the Orioles. Ford is hitting .370 with 2 homers this season in Norfolk. This is in only 12 games, but perhaps Ford is the best option. We don't have much OF depth in the minor leagues.

Sure would have been good to still have Matt Angle on the 40 man at this point huh? Good thing we kept Josh Bell and Jai Miller when we let Angle go. That to me was the worst move of the offseason. Letting Matt Angle go was a really poor decision. We need to get someone to the Orioles that will hit. If we pay a price it is ok, but we can't give up our first good season in years without a fight. It should be interesting.

-Noland