It was bound to happen eventually, but just what was that?
Guthrie took the mound in the seventh, recorded an out, and was replaced by Jamie Walker. Guthrie was rolling, and although he was shaky in the early innings, clearly was dominating the Rays at that point. I felt confident; if Guthrie goes seven, the 'pen will hold this one.
Unfortunately the bullpen, which up to tonight had been nearly invincible, decided to let the Rays tee-off as if these later innings were batting practice. The bullpen allowed eight runs in just an inning and two-thirds, and the O's lost their third straight, 10-5.
The results will remind any hard-core fan of last season...starting pitcher is in line for the win, suddenly the game is a blow-out, courtesy of a slew of relievers who can't get a single out.
So many questions! Why take Guthrie out? I don't care what the pitch count is; he's a young arm and at that point in the game was only getting stronger. So what if the rest of the lineup bats left...he's gotten them out before! Need I remind anyone of last year's Mother's Day Massacre, where Guthrie was two outs away from a win against the Sox and the bullpen allowed six runs to give the game away?
We were up 5-2! Let the kid pitch! If you want to save your relievers, this was not the way to do it. This is all in hind-sight, but the game changed drastically after Guthrie left. Do we need any more reminders of what can happen after you let your ace head to the locker room?
I think Walker said it best...
"We all blew up. I started the fire and it got a little ignited, but I blame myself for that one. I take full blame." (courtesy of MLB.com)
The O's are still in sole possession of first, but need to snap this streak. Cabrera starts tonight, and after the bullpen implosion last night, he'll need to locate his fastball and work deep into the game, and let this impressive 'pen rest and reflect on their 'perfect storm.'
Guthrie took the mound in the seventh, recorded an out, and was replaced by Jamie Walker. Guthrie was rolling, and although he was shaky in the early innings, clearly was dominating the Rays at that point. I felt confident; if Guthrie goes seven, the 'pen will hold this one.
Unfortunately the bullpen, which up to tonight had been nearly invincible, decided to let the Rays tee-off as if these later innings were batting practice. The bullpen allowed eight runs in just an inning and two-thirds, and the O's lost their third straight, 10-5.
The results will remind any hard-core fan of last season...starting pitcher is in line for the win, suddenly the game is a blow-out, courtesy of a slew of relievers who can't get a single out.
So many questions! Why take Guthrie out? I don't care what the pitch count is; he's a young arm and at that point in the game was only getting stronger. So what if the rest of the lineup bats left...he's gotten them out before! Need I remind anyone of last year's Mother's Day Massacre, where Guthrie was two outs away from a win against the Sox and the bullpen allowed six runs to give the game away?
We were up 5-2! Let the kid pitch! If you want to save your relievers, this was not the way to do it. This is all in hind-sight, but the game changed drastically after Guthrie left. Do we need any more reminders of what can happen after you let your ace head to the locker room?
I think Walker said it best...
"We all blew up. I started the fire and it got a little ignited, but I blame myself for that one. I take full blame." (courtesy of MLB.com)
The O's are still in sole possession of first, but need to snap this streak. Cabrera starts tonight, and after the bullpen implosion last night, he'll need to locate his fastball and work deep into the game, and let this impressive 'pen rest and reflect on their 'perfect storm.'
(photo by Jon Parr)
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