Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
The Yankees have gone 14-5 in their 19 series since the All-Star break. Of those five loses, one came in Anaheim, one came in Detroit, one came at home against the Devil Rays (something of a let-down series after the Yanks had swept the Red Sox), and two came against the Orioles. The first of those series came while the O's were running off an 8-2 stretch to start Dave Trembley's managerial career. The second came after the O's had taken two of three from the Red Sox via a pair of walk-off wins. Since the last time these two teams met, however, the O's have been a staggeringly awful 8-21 (.276). Curiously the slump began immediately after it was announced on August 21 that Trembley would return as the O's manager next season, with the Birds promptly embarking on a nine-game losing streak after the announcement.
You can put your conspiracy theories away, however, as the O's, despite their history of closing up shop early, have an excuse this time: injuries. Cy Young candidate Erik Bedard won the day day of Trembley's extension, but tanked his next start after which he revealed he'd been pitching through an oblique strain, which has since shut him down for the season. Two weeks later, Jeremy Guthrie left a game with the same injury and hasn't pitched since. A week after that Danys Baez tore something in his elbow which ended his season. In the meantime rookie Garrett Olson, who was attempting to replace Bedard, strained his forearm (he hasn't even thrown on the side since then), and Radhames Liz, who was competing with Olson for a rotation spot, got roughed up so badly that he was banished to the bullpen despite the injuries to the others. On offense, center fielder Corey Patterson, who was hitting .313/.333/.458 in the second half, has been out since September 5 with a sprained ankle, and Melvin Mora was benched for four games with a tight back.
It's no wonder the O's have packed it up, shipping Steve Trachsel to the Cubs and taking flyers on repeated castoffs Victor Zambrano and Fernando Cabrera, who are trying to make good in the rotation and in the rotating closer spot respectively.
Still, the O's seem to be figuring some things out, having won three of their last four by shutting out the Angels on Thursday and taking two of three from the Blue Jays over the weekend. Tonight the O's send the erratic Daniel Cabrera to the mound in the Bronx. Cabrera's coming off a stinker against the Angels (4 1/3 IP, 10 R). That was preceeded by an outing in which he was ejected after instigating a fight with the Red Sox after giving up three runs in 3 2/3 innings. Before that he turned in two nearly identical quality starts (6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 HR, 4 BB, 7 and 8 K) against the Sox and Rangers. Before that another stinker (5 IP, 6 R), and before that 6 2/3 shutout innings against . . . the Yankees (who walked six times but managed just two hits). Go figure this guy, anyway.
The Yanks counter with Phil Hughes, who's had two good starts in a row, battling back from an ugly first two innings in his last outing in Toronto, and posting this combined line in those two starts: 12 IP, 8 H, 4 R (3 ER), 1 HR, 5 BB, 7 K. He's still not the Phil Hughes who dominated the Indians and nearly no-hit the Rangers, but he seems to be figuring things out. Here's hoping he continues that trend tonight.
Baltimore Orioles
2007 Record: 2007 Pythagorean Record:
Manager: Dave Trembley
General Manager: Mike Flanagan
Home Ballpark (2007 Park Factors): Oriole Park at Camden Yards (99/99)
Changes:
25-man Roster
1B - Kevin Millar (R)
2B - Brian Roberts (S)
SS - Miguel Tejada (R)
3B - Melvin Mora (R)
C - Ramon Hernandez (R)
RF - Nick Markakis (L)
CF - Tike Redman (L)
LF - Jay Payton (R)
DH - Aubrey Huff (L)
Bench:
L - Freddie Bynum (UT)
L - Brandon Fahey (UT)
S - Luis Hernandez (IF)
L - Paul Bako (C)
R - J.R. House (C/1B)
R - Gustavo Molina (C)
L - Corey Patterson (OF)*
Rotation:
R - Daniel Cabrera
R - Jon Leicester
L - Brian Burres
R - Victor Zambrano
R - Victor Santos
R - Jeremy Guthrie*
L - Garrett Olson*
Bullpen:
L - Jamie Walker
R - Chad Bradford
R - Jim Hoey
L - Kurt Birkins
R - Rob Bell
R - Fernando Cabrera
R - Radhames Liz
R - Danys Baez**
60-day DL: L - Jay Gibbons (OF/1B), L - Erik Bedard, R - Chris Ray, L - Adam Loewen, R - Jaret Wright, R - Kris Benson
*Injured
**Out for the season
Typical Lineup:
S - Brian Roberts (2B)
L - Tike Redman (CF)
L - Nick Markakis (RF)
R - Miguel Tejada (SS)
R - Kevin Millar (1B)
L - Aubrey Huff (3B)
R - Melvin Mora (3B)
R - Ramon Hernandez (C)
R - Jay Payton (LF)
In 11 starts against the Yankees, Daniel Cabrera is 3-4 with a 3.90 ERA, and a 36/42 K/BB ratio in 64 IP. This season he's started against the Yanks thrice: he's given up 4 runs on 6 hits in 6 innings twice, and the 6 2/3 of shutout ball that Cliff mentioned. I would not be surprised to find the Yankees win in a laugher tonight.
http://tinyurl.com/yp8wj9
Although, this guy has a terrible sense of humor:
"33. Jose Offerman, Boston Red Sox: aka Jose Awfulman"
LOL good one dude!
http://withleather.com/post.phtml?pk=3888
Also, I'm reminding myself that Hughes has recently struggled in the 1st but settled after that.
Which means the bats need to light this clown UP.
The bad: He sucked. Also, he hasn't struck anyone out since the first batter of the last game.
Now let's go out and outslug these guys, Yanks.
And Girardi's answer should be: "The Orioles suck, they've got a bad owner & no farm system. I ain't sticking my foot in that shit."
But you're not fast, Scrabble.
HA!
crap...
They're not Yankees though.
ok. it is back!
Hey Yankees, the bottom of the order was drawing walks against this chump, remember?
122 ABs since! Perfect time to start heatin' up...
How much longer will the O's stick with 10 Cent? Guy's a fuggin mess up there.
6 fastballs, all 88-89.
6 GB-4 FB now for Phil. Only 2 K, but improving.
This is a very dissapointing start for Hughes.
131 What? If Edwar gets an out here, I'd say it's a pretty good start considering the 1st inning. If not, then yeah.
Hughes should have dominated? What? He's 21, he's been hurt, and he's sucked. But now all of a sudden he's supposed to dominated?
There. 5.2 IP, 2 ER is pretty good in my book, all things considered.
It kinda sucks that the first 30 pitches are so bad, but he's a rook, I'm sure he'll adjust.
The problem is depending on him this season.
Guess not! Either that, or the umps tonight exercised bad judgment.
Given the choice between the Indians and Angels in a short series, I take the Angels.
The Viscount
The Vizier
The Vysiwyg
The White Sox score 11 in the top of the 5th.
The Mutts getting killed by the Capitols.
And Viz showing Mo how to really come close.
Jorge, you're slow.
Of course, I could just be delusional.
Sit down, SF, I have some news.
Someone who feels like looking this up - who exactly beats up on the Orioles this year? Anyone? I feel like they only seem to gut it out against us...
Look what Sciosia did with Percival - if you're not getting the job done in close games, it's time to take a back seat to someone who will.
Payton is like a three-year-old.
Vizcaino knocked down Payton with a brush-back, and Payton was apparently pissed. He threw his equipment (bat, gloves, helmet) toward Viz.
(That's my favorite all-two-word sentence in the English language.)
Think about that.
So I mis-read and mis-heard on the same incident. I'd better stick to watching.
So, I dunno.
343 I've watched every game! Seriously though, it seemed like the Yankees caught the Indians at the right time in both series.
351 Yeah I suppose. I would really like to see them all start, but I doubt that will happen, but like you said, I guess its inevitable.
I want Cleveland - let Boston deal with Lackey, Garrett Anderson & Chone MF Figgins.
Good ol' Kyle.
I'm feelin' a little something different about this club down the stretch. I don't sense a 'desperation' as in recent years. Sure, the youngbloods have a lot to do with it, but it's hard to explain...
362 Hear, hear!
Wow! Cano's arm needs to be tested. For robotics.
345 If the other five starters were all effective, I'd keep Joba in the pen to set up Mo. He can then move into the rotation if there's an injury or if one of the other 5 is ineffective.
.307 .364 .554 13 HR
Series 1
Fausto Carmona
Jeremy Sowers
Jake Westbrook
Series 2
Fausto Carmona
Paul Byrd
Jake Westbrook
The Yankees handled Carmona both times, and if you replace Sowers/Byrd with Sabbathia, you have a totally different look to a short series.
Also, it should be noted that the Yankees starters in series 1 were: Chase Wright, Kei Igawa, and Sean Henn. (shudders)
vs. NY this year:
.500 AVG, 13 hits out of 26 ABs
2 HR, 10 RBI, .519 OBP
The only teams he does better against are Seattle and Oakland - although not by much, and those teams play each other 19 times!
Yes, Garrett Anderson
Why is this rook hitting for Tejada? Did I miss something?
Is this an SAT question?
Wait, so, does anyone know why Tejada didn't bat??
Thanks, Joe.
How about the NL Central. The Reds are playing spoilers.
St. Louis was down 11-0 and it is now 12-10.
Viz battles his ass off with a sore shoulder and average stuff. Farns is simply terrible. Just a terrible, terrible, terrible pitcher. Damn him.
3.5 up and 3.5 down.
Go, Yankees.
The Blue Jays next year will be exactly where they are every year. A non factor.
4 runs up, I still think Farns should have gotten one more batter. To me that move almost reeks of a lack of confidence in Mo to get the last out if the game's closer than 2-3 runs.
I know that sounds a little ludicrous, but Mo has more & more days where he gives up a run when trying to nail things down.
What ever happened to White? I though he was having a great year down on the farm. Can't we replace Henn with White? White is a lefty correct?
He deserves it, though. He's been solid gold the past couple of games.
Has the last month really swayed that many people?
Farnsworth's incompetence knows no "splits"
If you didn't want to burn Mo, blame Farnsworth for being useless. Its not Joe Torre's fault that Kyle Farnsworth is incompetent.
Mo gave up a double to a guy who hits .400 off of him. Mora, yes absolutely you should have Mo face him - Mora's hitting .118 off Rivera.
Just sayin'.
Glad you're not the manager.
I'm damn glad you're not the manager.
It's not about hurt feelings, it's about having a guy who has a speck of confidence going into the playoffs. We DO need someone besides Mo, Joba and Viz to pitch, fyi.
And Farnsworth might have confidence if he didn't pitch like shit. Its not Joe Torre's fault.
I can't argue with bringing in Mo there. Nor do I think Farnsworth with the 5 run lead should have been a difficult decision. The problem with Farnsworth is he always fails in those situations - or at least it seems that way.
Back to Kyle - 'total disaster'? When was the last time he gave up 4 runs in an inning? April 11th, I looked it up. I think your opinion of his (lack of) worth is a little extreme, no?
Now if it was Sean Henn out there, I'd agree with you 1000%.
496 Right. We all know Mo's the 'man', but NO ONE else could have gotten us that last out? Ugh. That appearance was like 6 pitches too many, and now we may not have him in a close game tonight.
The baseball season always poses a tension between strategic (long term) and tactical (short term) goals. I'm not convinced that the immediate situation last night warranted placing the tactical (get the 'sure out' now) over the strategic.
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