O's 2008 Season in Review (Part 2)

Before I write this blog, I'd like to thank the guys at ABC Channel 2 for keeping my post up all season long...I don't know how many hits I had and I'm still bartending at Bertucci's but I certainly appreciate the help! I'll find a job soon...

Now lets talk Orioles baseball...for my final post (?) let's review the Birds by position...

• Catcher: Ramon Hernandez is finished. I love the fact he can speak Spanish with the pitchers, but he can't block a ball, throw a runner out or hit the ball anymore. The O's were experimenting with him at first base, but I don't see that happening. Expect Matt Wieters to start before the All-Star Break.
• First Base: I love Kevin Millar, but all signs point to Millar leaving the team. He's a bench player at best for the O's in 2009. The Birds started both R. Hernandez and Aubrey Huff at first last season, and all of Baltimore should be praying that Mark Teixeira starts at first next year.
• Second Base: Brian Roberts. That's all I have to say...unless the Birds receive a monster offer for Roberts, he needs to stay. Another solid year for the O's leadoff hitter.
• Shortstop: We don't have one.
• Third Base: Melvin Mora had a career year. Aubrey Huff stood in nicely.
• Outfield: The O's have one of the best squads in baseball. Nick Markakis, Adam Jones and Luke Scott are solid, and Luis Montanez adds depth...I don't see any need for improvement here.

Unfortunately, the Birds need help in one area...pitching.

• Starters: At this point I only trust in Jeremy Guthrie. Daniel Cabrera can't be trusted, and the rest of the staff is questionable at best. I liked Brian Bass in the last few games of the season. Minor League starters provide a lot of promise, but we need starting pitching NOW.
• Relievers: They were great early, and horrible late. Injuries and wear and tear took a toll, and the trade of Chad Bradford to the Rays didn't help. Middle relief is almost as important as starting pitching, and the O's need both.
• Closers: George Sherrill was incredible early on, but an injury mid-season killed the O's in the final inning(s). With both Sherrill and Chris Ray healthy in 2009, the Birds could have two great options in the later innings...

I'm sure I'll be back for at least one more post, especially since two AL East teams (Tampa Bay and Boston) are fighting to represent the AL in The World Series...

O's 2008 Season in Review

The season is over for the Orioles...what have we learned?

Once again, two teams from the AL East are in the playoffs, and this time the Yankees aren't one of them. The Tampa Bay Rays took first in the division and the Boston Red Sox are back as the Wild Card. The Orioles finished in last place in it's division for the first time in 20 years.

So...how 'bout them O's?

Honestly, the Birds looked good this year. The offense was one of the best in the league...the O's had five 20+ home-run-hitters and almost became the first team in the history of baseball to have three players hit 50 doubles.

The problem? As usual, the O's pitching just couldn't cut it. Injuries hurt the starting rotation early (former first-round pick Adam Loewen will now try his luck as a hitter), and the bullpen just couldn't handle the added pressure. Starter Daniel Cabrera looked promising until the All-Star break, but then looked like the same old Danny...leading the league in all the wrong stats (walks, hit batters, wild pitches). At least he didn't lead the league in losses this season...

The bullpen looked good early but fell late...Chad Bradford went to a contending team (the Rays) and Jamie Walker stayed to blow every game he appeared in. George Sherrill went on the DL and Chris Ray never returned...

I'll be back on Tuesday to give a position-by-position opinion on the O's for 2008 and 2009...

O's losing season ends...with a loss

It's finally over. The Orioles lost their final game of the 2008 season this afternoon, falling to the Toronto Blue Jays 10-1.

O's starter Jeremy Guthrie took the loss and lasted just four innings. Guthrie was charged with three runs off six hits (two were home runs). The bullpen added to the O's woes yet again, as Toronto tacked on seven more runs in the next four innings. There was one bright spot: George Sherrill pitched a scoreless ninth, allowing no hits while striking out two.

The offense? Nonexistent. The Birds couldn't get on the board until the sixth inning and managed just five hits all game. Melvin Mora's RBI double was the highlight of the afternoon. Nick Markakis went 3-for-4 and finished the season with a team-leading .306 batting average.

That's it. There is no next game, no tomorrow. The O's season is officially over. I'll be back later next week to talk about what went right and what went wrong this year..."The 2008 Season in Review."

Back-to-Back Rainy Days Produce Different Outcomes

Rain..you never know what the weather will bring you. For the Orioles, rain shortened their last two games: a 3-1 loss on Friday and a 2-1 victory Saturday night.

The O's had lost 10 straight before the rain worked in their favor last night...after heavy showers forced an early loss Friday, the precipitation allowed the Orioles to claim their first win in nearly two weeks on Saturday. Brian Bass pitched six strong innings, and the rain made sure that the O's bullpen couldn't allow any further damage...

In a few hours, the Birds will play their final game of the 2008 season. Jeremy Guthrie, who started the season off, will pitch for the final time this year...how fitting. I'll be there at Camden Yards for the final regular season game (no October series this year), and can only hope that the O's finish off the season with a bang!
I'll be back for the final game update shortly...GO ORIOLES!!!

O's Lose Ninth Straight

The Orioles started off hot but cooled off quickly, falling to the Tampa Bay Rays 11-6.

The Birds came out swinging, and were up 6-0 after two innings. Tampa Bay scored 11 unanswered runs from the fourth inning on, and the Rays swept the Birds in four games.

Nick Markakis went 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Markakis doubled in the fifth inning, and now has 48 on the year...both Markakis and Aubrey Huff need two more doubles to reach 50 for the season and join Brian Roberts to become the first trio of teammates ever to have 50 doubles each.

The O's (67-91) have one final series at home against the Toronto Blue Jays (83-75) before the season comes to an end. The Birds are off tomorrow and will send Chris Waters (3-4) to the mound on Friday. It looks like Jeremy Guthrie is well enough to make one final start this season; he's slated to pitch on Sunday...I'll be in the stands for the finale!

Tampa Tops O's Twice in Doubleheader

It was a long day for the Orioles and their fans...the Birds fell 5-2 in Game 1 and then again 7-5 in Game 2 on Tuesday. After nearly seven hours of baseball, the Birds bullpen (Jamie Walker) imploded and sent any and every O's fan still in attendance home with a severe case of "WHY!!"

The O's were up 2-0 in Game 1 before the tragic fifth inning...need I say more? Worse yet was Game 2...the Birds sent Alfredo Simon to the mound for his first big league start...Simon left in the eighth with a 5-3 lead...enter Jamie Walker (my personal hero this season, he's just pitched so well!). Walker came in with the daunting opportunity to record ONE OUT, and was unable to do so...he allowed four runs on three hits, a walk, and two wild pitches...if he's still around in 2009 he better be wearing a Seattle Mariners uniform.

That's it for me...the O's play one more against Tampa tomorrow night before the Blue Jays come to town...

Welcome Home! O's lose again...

After being swept in New York, the O's returned to Baltimore and continued their losing ways, falling to the Tampa Bay Rays 4-2.

Sorry I missed Sunday's game...as both my readers know, I don't follow the Birds on Sunday unless they win (they did not) and I was too busy following Baltimore's winning team, the Ravens (2-0 and in first place).

I was at the game Monday night, and Brian Bass looked great until the fifth inning. Bass finished his evening after 4 and 2/3 innings and had allowed no runs on no hits. He was pulled after walking the bases loaded (with two outs), and reliever Randor Bierd allowed Tampas' first hit of the game, a two run single to give the Rays a 2-0 lead.

The Birds answered right back, collecting their first hits of the game and tying it up 2-2 in the bottom of the inning. That was all the scoring for the O's though, and the Rays went on to score two more in the seventh to take the win.

The O's and Rays will play a doubleheader later today...

Burres magnificent but O's fall in ninth

The Orioles have finally found some quality starting pitching, but have lost their offensive spark... they fell to the New York Yankees 1-0 on Saturday afternoon.

The Birds have now lost three straight one-run games, and are 20 -29 in one-run contests on the season. Their 29 losses are worst in the AL and tied with the Atlanta Braves for the most one-run losses in the Major League.

Brian Burres sparkled, allowing just three hits over seven innings, while walking none and striking out two. The O's bullpen couldn't back him up though; Jim Miller took the loss and Jamie Walker allowed the game-winning single with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the ninth.

The Orioles face the Yankees later tonight on prime-time TV...the final game at Yankee Stadium. The O's send rookie Chris Waters to the mound, opposing the Yankees' Andy Pettite. I was looking for a sweep...but not a Yankees sweep. Waters is coming off a complete game shutout, and needs to fight his nerves and pitch to his potential...the O's need to step up and give the young man some run support...

I'll be flipping back-and-forth between the O's game and the Green Bay Packers game...as you all know I've lost my enthusiasm for the Birds on Sundays (except for the Ravens)! I hope to have something worth writing about later tonight...

Offense can't get it done v. Yankees

The Orioles dropped their third straight game last night, falling 3-2 to the Yankees in New York.

O's starter Radhames Liz turned in his second consecutive quality start, allowing three runs in 6 and 1/3 innings. Liz walked three, struck out one and threw a wild pitch that led to the Yankees third run, which proved to be the game-winner. The bullpen allowed just one hit and walked two through the final frames.

The Birds offense started off hot...Brian Roberts led-off the game with his 50th double of the season (tying his career high) and came around to score on Aubrey Huff's single. The Birds scored again in the second inning to take a 2-0 lead...unfortunately, that was it for the offense. For the second game straight, the O's had a chance in the ninth inning but let it slip away...the Birds had runners on the corners with two outs and Brian Roberts at the plate...Roberts popped out to end the game (he grounded out with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth the night before)...

Brian Burres will start in place of Daniel Cabrera this afternoon...

O's miss late opportunity; lose again

The Orioles left the bases loaded in the ninth inning last night, and left Rogers Centre with a 3-2 loss.

Starter Garrett Olson (9-9) took the loss...Olson allowed three runs in 5 and 2/3 innings but his performance wasn't enough...the Birds managed just two runs in the fifth inning; Alex Cintron stroked a two-run single to put the Birds up 2-1 before the Jays came up in the bottom of the inning.

Down 3-2 in the ninth, the O's loaded the bases against Toronto's closer B.J. Ryan. With one out, Melvin Mora popped out in foul territory and Brian Roberts grounded out to end the threat and the game...

The Birds send Radhames Liz to the mound later tonight in New York City. It will be the final home series for the Yankees at Yankee Stadium...wouldn't a sweep be sweet? Go O's!

The Erik Bedard trade looks even sweeter...it looks like he'll be out for the next 6-9 months...

O's fall just shy of three straight wins

The Orioles blew a big lead and eventually lost to the Toronto Blue Jays 8-7 at Rogers Centre.

The Birds were up 6-0 in the fifth inning before Brian Bass and the bullpen let the Jays right back into the game. The O's scored five runs in the top of the inning to take a commanding lead, but the Jays answered with five runs in the bottom of the fifth to make it a one-run game. The bullpen allowed solo runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings and Toronto escaped with the win.

Offensively, the O's were hot. The team combined for 14 hits, and every starter but one (Luis Montanez) had at least one hit in the game. Aubrey Huff connected for his 32nd homer of the season, and Melvin Mora topped the century mark with a two-run single (he now has 101 RBIs). Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis both doubled for the second straight game, and now the Roberts (49), Markakis (47), Huff (48) trio look to become the first three teammates in the history of baseball to hit 50 doubles a piece in a single season...10 games left!

In other news, Daniel Cabrera and Dennis Sarfate have been shut down, though Jeremy Guthrie may make one final start this season. The O's 2009 schedule came out earlier today...Go O's!

Waters nearly perfect in complete game shutout

It took just over a month, but the Orioles finally won consecutive games as Chris Waters pitched the O's past Toronto 2-0.

Waters (3-3) went nine innings, allowing just four hits. He walked two and struck out three, and needed only 106 pitches to blank the Blue Jays. The O's offense managed just six hits, but scored twice to give Waters the win. Brian Roberts had an RBI double in the third, and Luke Scott blasted a solo shot in the fourth to give the Birds a 2-0 advantage...it was more than enough for Waters.

Nick Markakis doubled in the first inning, giving him 46 for the season. Brian Roberts and Aubrey Huff each have 48 doubles, and they could become the first trio of players in MLB history to have 50 doubles in a season on the same team...there's always a reason to watch the Birds in late September!

The O's send Brian Bass to the mound tomorrow night in Toronto...

(photos courtesy of MLB.com)

O's use the long ball to take down Twins

The Orioles won for just the fourth time on a Sunday this season, spanking the Twins 7-3 in front of nearly 19 thousand fans at Camden Yards.

Radhames Liz pitched eight scoreless innings, and the O's offense tied a season high with five home runs. Nick Markakis and Oscar Salazar both went deep twice, and Luis Montanez hit his second major league home run. Markakis now has 20 homers, giving the Birds five players with 20-plus home runs on the season.

George Sherrill returned in the ninth inning, and was charged with three runs before Jim Miller recorded the final two outs. At least the game wasn't on the line...it's good to see Sherrill back.

The O's are off on Monday and begin their final road series on Tuesday in Toronto. Chris Waters is slated to take the mound...

O's Outscored 24-8 in Doubleheader

It doesn't get much worse than this...the O's dropped the first game of a doubleheader against the Minnesota Twins 12-2 and then proceeded to lose the second game 12-6.

Starting pitching was ineffective, as Daniel Cabrera took the loss in Game 1 (5.1 innings, 4 runs, 5 walks) and Garrett Olson couldn't even make it out of the first inning in Game 2 (6 runs off five hits in 2/3 of an inning).

The Orioles turn to Radhames Liz on Sunday...let's hope they aren't swept out of town...

O's Split Series with Cleveland

The O's took the final game of the four-game set against Cleveland, winning 6-3. It may not have been a series win, but at least it wasn't another loss.

Melvin Mora returned to the O's lineup, and delivered a key two-run double in the third inning to give the Birds a 3-1 lead. Mora is now just an RBI shy of reaching 100 for the season.

Spot-starter Brian Bass kept the O's in the game...Bass allowed four hits and three runs (one earned) in four and 1/3 innings, and ended up with a no-decision. The bullpen held on, and reliever Lance Cormier was credited with the win, while Jim Miller picked up his first MLB save.

The O's host the Minnesota Twins later tonight...Daniel Cabrera (8-9) is slated to take the mound...

This is getting ridiculous..

It just keeps happening; the same old story...the O's lost to the Indians 7-1 last night at Camden Yards. The Birds are now 34-35 at home, the first time they've had a losing record at home since Opening Day (if I remember correctly).

Once again, the O's were able to score just a single run off six hits, and again, the opposing teams' starter went eight strong innings.

Chris Waters, the O's starter, allowed five runs in just under six innings, and that was more than enough for Cleveland.

Aubrey Huff drove in the O's lone run...in the ninth inning. Melvin Mora was out of the lineup, and now Jeremy Guthrie is doubting he'll be able to start on Saturday. On the plus side, closer George Sherrill may return on Friday (as if the O's have had a save opportunity lately).

The Orioles (64-80) are now proving the experts right...they need to win just one more game this season to prove them wrong (the pre-season prediction was that the O's would finish 64-98).

O's back in the loss column

For a brief day, the O's were big winners...they fell to the Indians tonight 6-1 at Camden Yards.

Radhames Liz (5-5) wasn't horrible, but his effort certainly wasn't enough. Liz lasted just four and 2/3 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) off eight hits. He walked three and struck out five. The bullpen fared a bit better, but the offense was flat...

A day after scoring 14 runs, the Birds managed just a single run off six hits. The ninth inning was the only frame in the game where they actually had more than one hit in an inning (though they were unable to score).

Chris Waters (2-2) takes the mound for the O's on Wednesday, and Melvin Mora (a late scratch today) is finally expected back in the lineup later this week...

O's, Huff bring bats in big win

The wait is finally over...the Orioles losing streak ended tonight as they took the first game of a four-game series against the Cleveland Indians, 14-3.

O's starter Garrett Olson (9-8) set the tone early. Olson went six strong innings, allowing just three runs off eight hits, while walking three and striking out six. You heard it right...an O's pitcher had a quality start in September (and it wasn't even Jeremy Guthrie).

The Birds were down 3-2 in the sixth inning, and then the bats came to life...the O's scored seven runs in the bottom of the sixth and another five runs in the eighth to sink Cleveland.

The Birds bats' hit for the home run cycle...Luke Scott (solo shot), Ramon Hernandez (2-run dinger), Adam Jones (3-run blast) and Aubrey Huff (grand slam) all went deep to account for ten of the O's runs. Huff and Jones each went 3-for-5 with four RBIs a piece...welcome back Aubrey! Melvin Mora is expected to return Tuesday, adding even more power to the O's lineup...

Jeremy Guthrie was scratched as tomorrow's starter due to the flu; Radhames Liz is scheduled to take the mound...here's hoping the O's can start a winning streak at home...

(photos courtesy of MLB.com)

O's Drop Season-worst Eighth Straight

The losses continue to pile up...the Birds fell again last night to the Oakland A's, 5-1.

Daniel Cabrera took the loss, and was unable to make it through four innings. Cabrera allowed two runs off five hits through three innings, but walked six batters while striking out just one. He threw 84 pitches, 42 for strikes.

That was all the cushion the A's would need, as the O's were held to just one run in the eighth inning. The Birds managed just five hits all night...Nick Markakis' sac fly was all the bats could muster.

New relief pitcher Alfredo Simon came on after Cabrera exited, and allowed two home runs in an inning and 2/3...at least he didn't walk anyone (though he did hit a batter!). The Orioles have lost eight games straight, and have walked 63 batters in those games (averaging nearly eight walks per game).

As expected, the first game of the doubleheader was postponed due to Tropical Storm Hanna; a make-up date has yet to have been announced. That may have been good news for the Birds...the team has Sunday off before Cleveland comes to town. Garrett Olson is scheduled to start Monday...both Melvin Mora and Aubrey Huff are expected to return to the lineup...

O's Bullpen Lets A's Walk Away with the Win

The Orioles lost their seventh straight game last night, falling to the Oakland Athletics 11-2 at Camden Yards. The Birds (63-77) are now worse than the A's (64-77).

Chris Waters (2-2) took the loss, but he kept the Birds in the game...he went five and 1/3 innings, allowing just three runs while walking three, hitting a batter and striking out two.

Enter the bullpen...three relievers (Brian Bass, Brian Burres and Kameron Mickolio) combined to walk seven batters (Bass even hit one) in a single inning. They walked in five runs...but hey, at least they didn't allow a single hit! Randor Bierd came on to stop the bleeding and he did allow a hit, a grand slam, to give the A's an eight-run inning and an 11-2 lead in the eighth inning.

Meanwhile, the O's offense was held to just six hits and managed just two runs (one earned). Oakland had just one more hit than the Birds, but allowed just two walks...it's tough to win when you walk ten batters (and hit two more) in nine innings...haven't I wrote this same column before?

The Orioles are scheduled for a doubleheader later today (weather permitting) so the Ravens can begin their season on Sunday with no interruptions. Garrett Olson and Daniel Cabrera are scheduled to take the mound for the Birds...