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***Official 2018 Baltimore Orioles Thread*** Pitching Can’t Get Any Worse (3 Viewers)
- Thread starter avoiding injuries
- Start date
Koya
Footballguy
Hunter Harvey is out for the rest of the year with an elbow strain.
http://www.camdenchat.com/2014/7/30/5953145/hunter-harvey-injury-elbow-strain-out-for-year
Wonder if that may have scuttled the Jon Lester trade talks.
http://www.camdenchat.com/2014/7/30/5953145/hunter-harvey-injury-elbow-strain-out-for-year
Wonder if that may have scuttled the Jon Lester trade talks.
The_Man
Footballguy
At this point, Gausman isn't going anywhere. He is probably already their best pitcher and the future is so bright - love his attitude, and that nice easy motion that he uses to fire it at 95 consistently, and up to 98 when he really tries for some extra.
He really did have no-hit stuff last night (coupled with some defensive help), he just got a little out of sorts when he got squeezed in the 5th inning. Loved the way he came back to shut them down in the next two innings.
O'Day and Britton at the back end is Game Over. Yes, they slip up every now and then, but the O's right now are essentially playing 7-inning games - if they get to the 8th with a lead, it's a win. A far cry from Hunter and JJohnson as the 8th & 9th inning guys last year.
Play by Manny last night goes on his career highlight reel. The funny thing is, with Pujols running, he could have gotten set and made a more accurate throw. But the way he did it made it look so much more awesome.
Why anyone ever throws Adam Jones a strike is a mystery to me. I think that must be why so many of his HRs come in the first inning. Pitchers are trying to get ahead and establish their command, so they throw strikes and he hits them. Then in later at-bats they just throw him sliders away and in the dirt and watch him strike himself out. My 11-year-old daughter was laughing at him during his last at-bat. 0-2 count, he actually let one slider in the dirt go by and she said, "Here comes another one." Sure enough, exact same pitch and he waved at it. If he could just make pitchers throw him strikes, the sky is the limit for him.
Hey Red Sox, thanks for going 1-8 in your last 9 games vs. Toronto and Tampa. Nice effort. Thankfully, after a weekend series with the Yankees, this bunch of clowns doesn't play another AL East game for 3 weeks. I like the gap we're opening up on the Yankees - Toronto has to be frustrated to play so well and not make up any ground. We play 6 of our final 16 games against them, including the last 3 of the season at Toronto. Wonder if we are looking at another 1989 scenario.
He really did have no-hit stuff last night (coupled with some defensive help), he just got a little out of sorts when he got squeezed in the 5th inning. Loved the way he came back to shut them down in the next two innings.
O'Day and Britton at the back end is Game Over. Yes, they slip up every now and then, but the O's right now are essentially playing 7-inning games - if they get to the 8th with a lead, it's a win. A far cry from Hunter and JJohnson as the 8th & 9th inning guys last year.
Play by Manny last night goes on his career highlight reel. The funny thing is, with Pujols running, he could have gotten set and made a more accurate throw. But the way he did it made it look so much more awesome.
Why anyone ever throws Adam Jones a strike is a mystery to me. I think that must be why so many of his HRs come in the first inning. Pitchers are trying to get ahead and establish their command, so they throw strikes and he hits them. Then in later at-bats they just throw him sliders away and in the dirt and watch him strike himself out. My 11-year-old daughter was laughing at him during his last at-bat. 0-2 count, he actually let one slider in the dirt go by and she said, "Here comes another one." Sure enough, exact same pitch and he waved at it. If he could just make pitchers throw him strikes, the sky is the limit for him.
Hey Red Sox, thanks for going 1-8 in your last 9 games vs. Toronto and Tampa. Nice effort. Thankfully, after a weekend series with the Yankees, this bunch of clowns doesn't play another AL East game for 3 weeks. I like the gap we're opening up on the Yankees - Toronto has to be frustrated to play so well and not make up any ground. We play 6 of our final 16 games against them, including the last 3 of the season at Toronto. Wonder if we are looking at another 1989 scenario.
The Orioles schedule sure looks odd. Right now they are in the middle of playing 26 straight games against winning teams (and they are 8-4 so far). Then they get 20 straight against losing teams, including the White Sox, Cubs, and Twins (although the Reds are near 0.500).
They finish the season with 22 straight games against the AL East, including 6 against the Blue Jays and 7 against the Yankees. That will certainly decide the division.
They finish the season with 22 straight games against the AL East, including 6 against the Blue Jays and 7 against the Yankees. That will certainly decide the division.
Uruk-Hai
Footballguy
If Baltimore traded Gausman, I think Orioles fans would burn down the Warehouse. As T_M said, he's their best pitcher NOW and - with Bundy & Harvey's injury fun - he's the one young guy who they know can deliver.
I think the Orioles are just gonna ride the starters they have. Who are they realistically going to get that's pitching better than the five they're sending out every day?
They could really use an offensive upgrade at either C or 2B, but I don't know if they can get a difference-maker for their price.
Why doesn't Delmon Young play more? Is it just that Buck only uses him when he's pretty sure he'll succeed?
I think the Orioles are just gonna ride the starters they have. Who are they realistically going to get that's pitching better than the five they're sending out every day?
They could really use an offensive upgrade at either C or 2B, but I don't know if they can get a difference-maker for their price.
Why doesn't Delmon Young play more? Is it just that Buck only uses him when he's pretty sure he'll succeed?
Delmon Young has been a really nice find for the Orioles. If he was on last year's Orioles, he would be playing a lot.
Young essentially plays the same position as Steve Pearce and Nelson Cruz, primarily playing LF and DH.
Cruz plays every day. And with his history and performance, he should.
Pearce has been playing nearly every day since he was the hottest hitter in the planet. Now that he is cooling off, he may get more off days. That could give Young some more opportunities.
Also, Lough may get some playing time against righties.
Unless the Orioles start sitting Davis some against left handed pitchers, it looks like Young's opportunities will be limited.
Young essentially plays the same position as Steve Pearce and Nelson Cruz, primarily playing LF and DH.
Cruz plays every day. And with his history and performance, he should.
Pearce has been playing nearly every day since he was the hottest hitter in the planet. Now that he is cooling off, he may get more off days. That could give Young some more opportunities.
Also, Lough may get some playing time against righties.
Unless the Orioles start sitting Davis some against left handed pitchers, it looks like Young's opportunities will be limited.
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Koya
Footballguy
Agreed. Disappointing with some good chips that we could cash in. Now, let's hope the dreaded "P" word results in Great Players, not just Great Potential.
Uruk-Hai
Footballguy
I'd already have platooned Davis, but there's a reason Buck has that job and not me.
I think the Orioles are good enough as they are to win the division and avoid the one-game crap shoot. But I also don't think they have anything worth parting with to get someone who would make a big difference.
Anyway, how much fun is it to (realistically) speculate about this stuff 3rd year in a row after 30 of mostly nothing?
I think the Orioles are good enough as they are to win the division and avoid the one-game crap shoot. But I also don't think they have anything worth parting with to get someone who would make a big difference.
Anyway, how much fun is it to (realistically) speculate about this stuff 3rd year in a row after 30 of mostly nothing?
The_Man
Footballguy
Orioles just dealt Double-A pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez to the Bosox for LH reliever Andrew Miller.
Love this deal. Now Matusz can be a one-hitter LH specialist, and Miller can pitch longer stretches vs. righty and lefty hitters. Makes the bullpen much stronger and gives Buck lots of options.
Speaking of which, can a manager get on a hot streak? Because I feel like Buck is on fire right now. 3 hits from Delmon one night, then put in Lough last night and he doubles and scores the eventual winning run from second on a fairly shallow single. Feel like he's making all the right moves with the bullpen too.
Wonder who gets sent down.
Love this deal. Now Matusz can be a one-hitter LH specialist, and Miller can pitch longer stretches vs. righty and lefty hitters. Makes the bullpen much stronger and gives Buck lots of options.
Speaking of which, can a manager get on a hot streak? Because I feel like Buck is on fire right now. 3 hits from Delmon one night, then put in Lough last night and he doubles and scores the eventual winning run from second on a fairly shallow single. Feel like he's making all the right moves with the bullpen too.
Wonder who gets sent down.
I am not sure they really needed another reliever, although the rumors were that they may go after one.
Matusz has been pretty used as the left handed one out guy. The only time he does more if the bullpen has been taxed and they are trying to rest the other relievers.
Maybe Brad Bach is optioned? Or maybe Matusz is optioned to the minors? Not many bullpens have four lefties.
Edited to add that I think the Orioles gave up a lot for Miller. Rodriguez is projected as a left handed starter. Of course, in AA, he probably still has less than a 50% chance of making it to the majors in any substantial role.
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The_Man
Footballguy
Seems like Brach is the guy to go down, but he's just been so damn good lately - if it can't be Webb (due to contract/no minor league options) then I hope it's McFarland and not Brach.
What in the world is going to happen when Ubaldo comes back? Gonzalez to the pen? Or sent down? A 6-man rotation? Going to be a real logjam.
I'm not that upset about Rodriguez - ceiling is as a middle to back of the rotation guy. By the time he's ready - 2016 at the soonest - we could be looking at a rotation of Gausman, Bundy, Tillman and Hunter Harvey (not to mention Ubaldo, who will still have another year to go on his contract!). I like the move. But I am a little worried about facing a Tigers rotation in the ALDS of Price, Scherzer, Verlander and Anibal Sanchez. That is nasty.
The more I think about it, Matusz is going to get optioned to the minors (he has one option remaining according to one website I found). Matusz primary role is to get one lefty handed batter out at this point. Miller can do that plus get righties out too.
From what I hear, Jimenez has the stuff to be a top flight pitcher, which Chen, Gonzalez, and Norris do not. So they will give him chances.
Of the future rotation, I think half of the high touted pitching prospects never have a meaningful impact in the majors, primarily due to injuries. Gausman looks like he has made it. So between Bundy and Harvey, expect only one of them to make it. That is exactly why teams need lots of pitching prospects in the minors.
Doctor Detroit
Please remove your headgear
Credit to the Orioles for not panicking and dealing Bundy, Gausman, or Harvey. As much as this team has played over expectation, you still have to look out over the horizon and see a run of good seasons. Doubtful that all three of those guys work out as planned, but Bundy might be an ace and Gausman looks no worse than a #4 type with a #2 ceiling. Harvey has all the tools.
Orioles have been pitching poor for a long time, having three young arms like this must be exciting.
Orioles have been pitching poor for a long time, having three young arms like this must be exciting.
The_Man
Footballguy
Thanks for the kind words but I think you are underestimating Gausman. On the other hand I need to see a little more from post surgery Bundy before I'm fully on board.
Such a fun team to watch though they are bad for my blood pressure. Have now played 7 straight 1-run games to tie a franchise record. Nice that they are 5-2 during that stretch
Such a fun team to watch though they are bad for my blood pressure. Have now played 7 straight 1-run games to tie a franchise record. Nice that they are 5-2 during that stretch
The Orioles are in a massive hitting slump. Cruz, Davis, and Pearce are all ice cold right now. Jones isn't doing much either. That is the heart of the batting line up.
I realize that hitters are streaky and they will come around. But they haven't been score many runs since the all star break.
I realize that hitters are streaky and they will come around. But they haven't been score many runs since the all star break.
Uruk-Hai
Footballguy
No and thank goodness the pitching has held them up.
For some reason, this doesn't bother me that much. I like Buck in a low-scoring game more than I like sweating out a high-scoring affair (if that makes any sense).
Uruk-Hai
Footballguy
This is the best roll I can recall Orioles starters being on since the 70s. I'm sure there have been better/others since, but hyperbole feels good right about now.
avoiding injuries
Footballguy
Someone convince me I'm crazy for thinking Davis may have been on something. I know he had the flu last week, but he looked considerably smaller today. First time I've really noticed. Maybe I'm just searching for a reason why he's been playing so bad.
avoiding injuries
Footballguy
The Orioles era in July was the lowest in any month since 1981 and the lowest era in July since the 1960's.
The Orioles hitting will come around. Hitters are streaky and they have all gone cold at once, which is not supposed to happen.
The pitching has been fantastic, to an unbelievable level. Like the hitting but in the opposite direction, the starting pitching will likely revert somewhat to the mean. But I hope this is a sign that the starting pitchers can pitch significantly better than they have in the past.
The pitching has been fantastic, to an unbelievable level. Like the hitting but in the opposite direction, the starting pitching will likely revert somewhat to the mean. But I hope this is a sign that the starting pitchers can pitch significantly better than they have in the past.
Nice win with a good all around performance. I was surprised Buck pulled Norris when he did but as usual it worked out so who am I to question. Getting those late runs to tax the Jays bullpen was great since it also keeps O'Day and Britton in the chamber for the rest of the series.
Current streak:
Baltimore- Won 3
Toronto- Lost 4
NY- Lost 1
TB- Lost 3
Boston- Lost 3
That's the stuff
Current streak:
Baltimore- Won 3
Toronto- Lost 4
NY- Lost 1
TB- Lost 3
Boston- Lost 3
That's the stuff
I am predicting a bizzarro rotation where Buck tries to move people around to get them better matchups, especially for Chen and Gonzalez. And when someone is left out, they will be pitching in relief, but hopefully not needed.
At the end of 2012, Buck did a lot of this, as he was trying to give Chen and Gonzalez extra days between starts.
Well that was a dud. The good: Davis making a good swing and smacking the ball into the seats in left and McFarland going three strong to save the bullpen for another day. Unfortunately that's about the only bright spots for the game.
The bad: Chen. Not a sharp start although he did make it through five before being pulled. Hopefully this is a one off and not a revert to earlier in the season.
The ugly: The hideous offensive output. :X All credit to Hutchinson but that sucked for the O's.
On to tomorrow...
The bad: Chen. Not a sharp start although he did make it through five before being pulled. Hopefully this is a one off and not a revert to earlier in the season.
The ugly: The hideous offensive output. :X All credit to Hutchinson but that sucked for the O's.
On to tomorrow...
It did suck, but this happens in baseball. If the Orioles win today, they get 2 out of three from the Blue Jays and it is a very successful series. They have won 5 series in a row against good teams (I counted the Nats game as a sweep) and that has help them build their lead in their division.
Not sure if people are following the MASN rights fees fight with the Nationals, but here is a detailed article telling the Orioles position:
http://www.camdenchat.com/2014/8/8/5981507/orioles-nationals-masn-dispute-rights-fees-arbitration-court
The high level summary:
1. Despite the contract the Orioles have with MLB, Selig was telling prospective buyers that it was short term. So MLB never planned to live by the contract after the adjustment period.
2. MLB has been loaning the Nats money (heard elsewhere it was $25M per year for the past two years). The Nats were to pay it back from the windfall they receive once this dispute is settled. So MLB had already predetermined the outcome of the dispute.
3. The arbitration panel members also had conflict of interest issues. Two of the representatives were from teams that benefited greatly from revenue sharing. And the rights fees paid to the Nats and O's from MASN would be subject to 34% revenue sharing tax. MASN profits are not subject to revenue sharing, so the O's keep most of it, and a slice goes to the Nats.
http://www.camdenchat.com/2014/8/8/5981507/orioles-nationals-masn-dispute-rights-fees-arbitration-court
The high level summary:
1. Despite the contract the Orioles have with MLB, Selig was telling prospective buyers that it was short term. So MLB never planned to live by the contract after the adjustment period.
2. MLB has been loaning the Nats money (heard elsewhere it was $25M per year for the past two years). The Nats were to pay it back from the windfall they receive once this dispute is settled. So MLB had already predetermined the outcome of the dispute.
3. The arbitration panel members also had conflict of interest issues. Two of the representatives were from teams that benefited greatly from revenue sharing. And the rights fees paid to the Nats and O's from MASN would be subject to 34% revenue sharing tax. MASN profits are not subject to revenue sharing, so the O's keep most of it, and a slice goes to the Nats.
Here is an article in the Washington Post by Adam Kilgore, who is the Post's Nats beat writer.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/ny-court-enjoins-nationals-mlb-in-dispute-over-tv-rights-and-masn/2014/08/07/d2418a24-1e6b-11e4-ae54-0cfe1f974f8a_story.html
It is actually quite favorable to the Orioles. In it, he writes:
The Orioles whole argument is they are just following the contract and the expect others to abide by the contract too.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/ny-court-enjoins-nationals-mlb-in-dispute-over-tv-rights-and-masn/2014/08/07/d2418a24-1e6b-11e4-ae54-0cfe1f974f8a_story.html
It is actually quite favorable to the Orioles. In it, he writes:
If the formula or methodology is in the contract, it is pretty hard to deviate from it regardless of what the market conditions are.
The Orioles whole argument is they are just following the contract and the expect others to abide by the contract too.
Doctor Detroit
Please remove your headgear
Going to game 
avoiding injuries
Footballguy
I hope you enjoyed the offensive onslaught. If you stayed after the game, let us know how the post game show was. Lasers and fireworks.Going to game
Doctor Detroit
Please remove your headgear
Best post-game show I have ever seen. Absolutely amazing, what a class organization this is.I hope you enjoyed the offensive onslaught.If you stayed after the game, let us know how the post game show was. Lasers and fireworks.Going to game
avoiding injuries
Footballguy
I didn't realize it at the time, but they showed it on MASN after the game. Very cool. I should have gone.Best post-game show I have ever seen. Absolutely amazing, what a class organization this is.I hope you enjoyed the offensive onslaught.If you stayed after the game, let us know how the post game show was. Lasers and fireworks.Going to game
The_Man
Footballguy
Would be nice to believe the O's are a class organization. Not convinced this will last but I'm enjoying the hell out of this for as long as it lastsBest post-game show I have ever seen. Absolutely amazing, what a class organization this is.I hope you enjoyed the offensive onslaught.If you stayed after the game, let us know how the post game show was. Lasers and fireworks.Going to game
avoiding injuries
Footballguy
I read a LOT of quotes yesterday from past and present Orioles that said Dan and Buck have brought back the Oriole way. It was nice to see/hear.Would be nice to believe the O's are a class organization. Not convinced this will last but I'm enjoying the hell out of this for as long as it lastsBest post-game show I have ever seen. Absolutely amazing, what a class organization this is.I hope you enjoyed the offensive onslaught.If you stayed after the game, let us know how the post game show was. Lasers and fireworks.Going to game
Koya
Footballguy
I remember when those hires were made, and the greatest hope for so many of us was not winning so much as restoring the integrity, respect and hope of an organization that actually wants to win, and do things the right (Oriole) way.I read a LOT of quotes yesterday from past and present Orioles that said Dan and Buck have brought back the Oriole way. It was nice to see/hear.Would be nice to believe the O's are a class organization. Not convinced this will last but I'm enjoying the hell out of this for as long as it lastsBest post-game show I have ever seen. Absolutely amazing, what a class organization this is.I hope you enjoyed the offensive onslaught.If you stayed after the game, let us know how the post game show was. Lasers and fireworks.Going to game
Uruk-Hai
Footballguy
Man, I hope Gonzales doesn't get too shook up over these incidents of being sent down. I don't pretend to understand the rules of all of this. How many more times can he e sent down without someone else claiming him?Marvelous said:
That said, Jimenez was fine. Delmon Young has been Buck's stealth weapon this season.
