Changes in Sarfate
The 2008 Olympics are finally over. All that's left is for Michael Phelps to clean the pool.
In four starts, Orioles right-hander Dennis Sarfate was 0-2 with a 10.34 ERA, 14 walks and 15 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings. On the surface, the whole experiment looked like something I attempted in one of my high school science classes. And if you saw my grades, you'd know I'm not bragging.
But maybe some good came out of Sarfate's brief encounter with a major league rotation. He hasn't allowed a run in three relief appearances since returning to the bullpen, surrendering only two hits, walking three and striking out seven in 5 2/3 innings.
"It got me a feel for how to pitch, not try to muscle up," he said. "The last three or four outings, I've just kind of taken it easy, just let my arm get out and throw strikes. The biggest thing is getting ahead in the count, getting some of these hitters off my fastball and throwing my breaking ball for strikes. I just think starting helped me develop some of my other pitches that I haven't been throwing, and it kind of got me back in a groove."
Maybe that's what Jamie Walker needs. Make him the No. 2 starter behind Jeremy Guthrie.
Walker allowed his seventh home run to a left-handed batter yesterday. Their average against him actually had dropped to .329 before the game, but he's still not performing the specialist duties that have been assigned to him. And he has no idea why.
"If I had the answers, I'd correct it," he said. "(Since) I don't, I have to keep working and that's all I know to do."
Manager Dave Trembley wasn't exactly full of suggestions.
"I don't have an explanation for that," he said.
That was Trembley's stock answer yesterday during a very brief post-game session with the media.
Trembley takes losses pretty hard - probably too hard in a sport that consists of 162 regular-season games. He was short with reporters yesterday, mostly because he'd rather be inside the clubhouse, consoling his players and sharing in their pain and frustration, then sitting in front of a row of television cameras and breaking down a defeat that breaks his heart.
"I really don't have anything to say other than our guys played their butts off, and I've seen it all year from them," he said. "And if you have a question that's of legitimate importance, other than the box score and what you saw out there, then you can ask me. But I'd appreciate it if you all make sure your questions are educated, because I've got a bunch of guys who just gave their heart and souls to that game. And I hope you all understand."
Soon after, he ended our daily get-together by saying, "Well, I wish I would have had about 15 more minutes to sit out there with my team instead of come in here as quickly as I did. That's how tough it is for me to process. We played our hearts out. We didn't win. The guys get respect. They got beat, they didn't lose."
Perhaps he also was fretting over today's unusual "doubleheader" that includes the suspended game. He must choose a reliever to pitch the 12th inning. He must hope that a resolution comes quickly.
Then he can look forward to having Chris Waters, Brian Burres (still not official, but we know) and Radhames Liz start the three scheduled games against one of the better teams in baseball.
So you want to be a major league manager?
Down on the farm, Billy Rowell had an RBI single in Single-A Frederick's 2-1 loss to Salem. The Keys hit into four double plays, were picked off three times and left 10 men on base. And they were beaten on a two-run single in the ninth inning.
So you want to be a minor league manager?
"Maybe that's what Jamie Walker needs. Make him the No. 2 starter behind Jeremy Guthrie."
Classic!
the other day i was texting about Sarfate and the iPhone software interpreted this "misspelling" as Warfare...which i didn't catch as i sent it off.
when the recipient asked me what the heck i was talking about, and i explained, we both decided that he now has a new name when we discuss him.
as for Jamie Walker, i really ache for him. i love the way he comes at the game, and it's really painful not to see it working this year, because i know how much he wants to win and win dominantly.
Sarfate's definitely looked much better since coming back to the 'pen. On the whole, Walker's looked better since coming off the DL, but with his stuff he can't miss over the plate and get away with it, especially when the pitch is belt high or above.
I agree with Anthony about Markakis. He had no business taking that pitch with two strikes, even if he thought it was outside. He's down to the last pitch of the game with the tying run at third, so he must guard the plate. All the more so when the guy on the mound is a future Hall of Famer. (Nick, quick question: Who do you think is usually going to get the borderline call from an umpire, you or Mariano? (Hint: There's only one correct answer and it's not 'me.') Markakis has great baseball instincts, great baseball smarts, but he needs to learn that as good as he is, he's still a young player, and a quality veteran is going to get the call more often than not over a quality youngster. No, it's not fair, but it's reality. (Rivera being a Yankee might not hurt, either.)
Is this rotation starting to remind anyone of last Sept.?
Walker is a fighter, but I think he is done... he has lost alot of MPH off that not so fast fastball this year.... he is throwing Bradford speed now.
The ONLY reason Cabrera is still in the rotation is because of attrition.
I have to agree that Sarfate looks much better, more relaxed now. It was worth a few brutal starts if this has helped him to become the good middle reliever that he will & should be...nothing more.
I want to go back to the Sux/Spank fan debate. I was out of town since mid Friday, killing what few brain cells remain in my aging head & hardening my liver some more as well down at the beach.
I read what all of you said & tend to agree... here is my take...both groups are annoying & obnoxious, they just do it differently.
Spankee fans g e n e r a l l y know the game outside of Spankee involvement , tend to have that outward arrogance of superiority which has festered over many , many years of bought championships & media driven hype. Add to that their parents days of Berra, Mantle, Rizzuto, Ford, & Maris, etc. & the constant stocking of those teams via KC & others. It's a smugness well developed over the years & generations.
Suxs fans are a different bred but possibly more disdainful to the decent fan. They remind me of the woman that was hardly ever noticed for years, much to her dismay & confusion, had almost always come up short for years... so she goes out & gets a face lift , drops 30 pounds with lypo, & gets an overly proportioned breast enhancement. All of a sudden she is now getting noticed & has a fuss made over her , but she really isn't sure to handle it, although she has craved it for most of her life. Thus she is over the top with her reactions & very much in your face. That is your basic Suxs fan.
Much props to Sarfate. He showed guts out there against the yankees. Even though he looked tired in his last inning, he didn't let them beat him. In fact he retired them as if even when he doesn't have his best stuff, they still can't hit it. I hope he can take this in and thrive.
I would love to be a Manager. Then I could explain to my Team why the Home Plate Ump screwed Payton and Markakis by calling pitches strikes that were 6 inches off the plate. I'm sending an e mail to MLB. This crap has to end.
What Jamie Walker and Daniel Cabrera need is a demotion to Norfolk. Yeah, I'm putting my application to be a major league manager. I'll be a blunt, won't take no for an answer, kind of manager. If Sarfate pitched better returning to the bullpen after being a starter..... makes you wonder if Daniel Cabrera needs to be a reliever after a while.
Pencil him as the long man and let him work whatever is going on with him in the bullpen. Bring up somebody from Norfolk or Bowie (after the playoffs... sigh). And just cut Jamie Walker or demote him.
Hey Roch, do the players talk to each other during the game? Payton should have warned the other players about the wide strikezone. Markakis had no business taking that last pitch of the game given the circumstances. Markakis may have a great batters eye, but that doesn't mean the umpire does. He has to ascertain the umpires strikezone for that game and adjust accordingly, as do all the players. This is why the players need to talk with each other during the game. Cabrera will be a starter until we get four players better than him in the starting rotation to go along with Guthrie. Guthrie should be Orioles MVP. Where would we be without him?
Morning, Roch,
You've become so prolific since the move I can't come close to keeping up. 10 post per day starting at 6:47 AM?
We cruised over to Salem, Va. Saturday evening to catch a Key's game and I have a few observations for you;
Tim Bascom looked poised, comfortable and was pretty effective. He's not a power arm, but seems to have a nice selection of pitches, knows when and where to throw them, and throws them all for strikes. He had a rough 4th inning when he got lit up for 5 or 6 hits but managed to limit the damage to just 2 runs.
Billy Rowell sparked a late inning rally that broke the game open with a leadoff double (I think, I was paying beerman and when I looked up, he was standing on 2nd). Other than that, I can't believe he's a former 1st round pick. You'd sure never know it by watching him play 3rd base. He just doesn't look very athletic and there's nothing about his defensive skills that would convince someone he's even a 'diamond in the rough'. His manner can best be described as, uh, disinterested. He reminds me of my daughter's T-ball years when she much preferred to play with the butterflies and admire her cool shoes than go after the ball.
Finally, great observation on Sarfate. His month-long crash course on Pitching in the Big Leagues seems to be paying dividends.