Down on the farm
Triple-A Norfolk's Jim Miller has been named the International League's Pitcher of the Week for Aug. 4-10. Miller is the first closer to win the award since Richmond's Kevin Barry in 2004.
Miller went 4-for-4 in save chances, allowing one hit, walking one and striking out six. All four saves came on the road.
Miller, 26, was part of the Rodrigo Lopez trade with the Colorado Rockies.
At Double-A Bowie, Nolan Reimold went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. He's been scuffling lately but said he felt better at the plate.
"I was on a little slide for a while, but it was good to come out and get some knocks, especially with guys on base," he said. "Hitting third isn't very different from hitting fourth. I guess you know you're going to get up in the first inning, so you have to be ready to get in there, but I haven't been going about things differently. Hitting in Lou's spot, those are some big shoes to fill, but there isn't too much different. It doesn't really bother me at all."
Reimold was referring, of course, to Lou Montanez.
Baysox closer Julio Manon struck out the side in the ninth for his 27th save, tying the franchise's single-season record.
Triple-A Norfolk's Mike Costanzo went 2-for-4 with a double and his 11th home run.
Going back to my question yesterday about Most Valuable Oriole, I see that very few people have found room in their top three for Jim Johnson. Maybe it's strange to consider a reliever who isn't a closer, but you could make a strong argument for him.
For now, I'm going with Aubrey Huff at No. 1, but this is a rare season when there isn't a clear-cut favorite. And the next two slots are wide open. How do I choose between Johnson, Brian Roberts, George Sherrill, Nick Markakis and Jeremy Guthrie?
Markakis, by the way, deserves to win a Gold Glove this year - same as in 2007 - but again, it won't happen. And that's too bad. He's been sensational. He's also at a position that's got too many other candidates who have been doing it longer. His time will come. I just wish it would arrive in 2008.
Ben W,
we still have Fahey or we can sign a guy like Felipe Lopez, temporarily under we develop L.J. hoes. We can add Sherill and get Weeks from the Brewers. Huff's trading value will never get higher than it is now so they got to trade Aubrey. Same with Millar and possibly Mora.
2010 lineup
Hardy-ss
Jones-cf
Markakis-rf
Teixiera-1b
Wieters-C
Mora-3b
Montanez-DH
Reimold-LF
Fahey-2b
Wieters gets called up in 2009
O's decide to spend some money and get Tex
Julio Manon must be a fabulous pit------oh wait.
btw....still waiting for masn to "remember my personal info"
Roch, I think your point on J. Johnson is valid (obviously I agree, since he made my top 3). It’s easy to forget just how desperate things can get when you don’t have a reliable guy coming in for the 8th inning, and you don’t have to go back too far to find memories of when the O’s had practically no one to count on.
Like it or not, the game has developed into a starter/middle reliever(s)/closer game. Everyone knows about the starter and closer importance, but not so much the middle relievers. Perhaps it’s because the “Hold” is really an unofficial stat and there’s no official cumulative stat like Win or Save that reflects performance. Pitching specialization is part of the game and will be no matter how much we pine for the days of 300 innings per season, 130 pitches per game starters (they’re not coming back).
In terms of valuing a middle reliever year to year, it is sort of a crap shoot. You can see that with some of the relievers the O’s have acquired over the years. What’s the reason? Hard to say. Perhaps it’s because a lot of the truly effective ones become closers or sometimes starters. Maybe they’re not that good to begin with—the middle reliever role has often been the default role for failed starters and closers and inexperienced potential closers and starters. It’s an underappreciated role, no matter how it comes. Can anyone name the 5 best middle relievers over the course of the last 5 years? I sure can’t.
While Sherrill had a good first half, he’s been fading, and he’s showing his shortcomings as a closer. Since just before the All-Star break, he’s shown that he’s very hittable. Now he looks like every other so-so closer out there that is overrated and can be replaced.
Jim Johnson definitely belongs in the top 3, with Huff and Guthrie. Markakis and Roberts would round out my top 5...I guess that would make Sherrill (and his horrible ERA) 6th and pretty much forget the rest.
Another interesting question might be--Name the top 3 "single game performances" by an Oriole this season.
You can't trade Brian Roberts for a shortstop even if it is J J Hardy!
Yeah we may fill that provebial problem known as a shortstop... but then what do we do about second base? My understanding is that We do not have anyone major league ready at either position "down on the farm".
Bart:
If you trade Brian Roberts and get Hardy for SS, who would we have at second base?
Yeah, think about that for a minute. We don't have anybody who can replace Brian Roberts. That's why we don't trade him and instead sign him long-term along with Nick Markakis. I do agree that we need to trade Ramon Hernandez or at least do a salary dump for him. While Ramon can do a bit of good with his bat, his defense is just plain terrible.
If anything, the next dude who could go would be Jamie Walker. A salary dump as well. I'm only speculating, I can't be as good as Roch is.
It is truly a shame that Jim Miller has to continue to waste good outings in Norfolk while Cormier continues to get lit up in every appearance. I'm sure Lance is a good guy, and I wish him nothing but the best, but he should be working out his issues at AAA, not in Baltimore.
Roch,
Huff is the O's MVP. He is having a tremendouse year and I would put Roberts second with Sherill 3rd. I really do shudder to think what this team would be like without Roberts on top of the lineup and in the field. Sherill has made a great transition and is a great team guy, but Huff has been a MONSTER this year at the plate while also an acceptable guy in the field.
Possible trade this off season...
Orioles get
J.J Hardy
Minor league pitcher
Brewers get
Brian Roberts
Also, the orioles should trade Ramon Hernandez. They shouldn't ask for much, but they would not have to pay him next year, and they can make room for Wieters.
The orioles have a future center fielder in Jones, right fielder in Markakis, catcher in Wieters, and getting Hardy would put a guy in the middle of that at shortstop.
Jim Johnson would be in the top 5 spots. But with a season of guys hitting a lot better then anyone expected its hard to justify him as top 3. I'd have Markakis over Roberts over Huff as my top 3. Huff has been the best hitter but the other two have almost been as good and they have played gold glove type defense.
Huff
Markakis
Guthrie
down on the farm, i noticed Bruce Kison sitting in the stands at last night's game. i remember running into him in Arizona during the Fall League last October. out there, he seemed to be part of a 2 or 3-man contingent that kept an eye on the boys in order to report back, and i also observed a conversation or two where he was relaying thoughts the other direction, as well.
last night, he was taking notes continuously throughout the game -- not just using his gun to periodically check on Zach Clark but also jotting down observations seemingly from every play.
it turns out that he and Andy MacPhail and others from the O's organization were in attendance at Prince George's Stadium throughout the home stand last week.
i found it fascinating to see what was going on. my assumption is that this is in preparation for determining September callups. would that be correct?
by the way, Ryan Finan made a beautiful leaping stab to bring down a shot over his head at first, while Blake Davis' bat was on fire as well as his shoes, at one point stealing both second and third to set himself up to score on a sweet Wieters single to shallow left. meanwhile, Jonathan Tucker made an impressive diving catch in center to help preserve a 6-4 lead late in the game. it was great watching the guys step up when the pressure's on, especially now that Lou has moved up...
Roch, how do they decide the gold glove winners? Shouldn't it have something to do with the fielding percentage? But of course, that would be too easy, right? I still can't understand how Ripken didn't get the gold glove the year he only made 3 errors...ugh. Here's hoping whoever votes for these awards actually looks at the stats this year and gives Nick the credit he deserves.
Jim Johnson really deserves a lot more credit and respect than he gets. Don’t get me wrong I like George Sherrill but I think he is an extremely overrated player in an extremely overrated position. 1) Look at his ERA and 2) read “The Most Overrated Position in Sports” http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=caple/080805
I agree. I think JJ should be a consideration. Markakis just has been amazing. Maybe he'll be in consideration next year when there aren't that many players ahead of him. Doesn't 3 years count for something?
Julio Manon? That's a name I haven't heard in a while. How's he doing? 27 saves? That's an eye-opener.
Who will be the future 3rd Baseman for the O's Scott Moore, Mike Constanzo, or Billy Rowell?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------It's supposed to be Rowell. The rest is up to him. - Roch