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So do I, Roch, so do I.

Two three-run homers in a game? Nah, couldn't happen, right? After all, our lazy no-defense catcher hasn't produced in a while. But, then he hits a homer. Now, why can't he produce with the glove?

Melvin Mora is just scorching in August!

Ben W. -- In fairness, Ramon has produced a little defensively. On Monday he made an absolute perfect throw right on the bag at second to gun down Coco Crisp in a steal attempt. Also, though I don't recall the exact play, he recently made a nice play on a tough chance: he pounced on a dribbler in front of home plate and fired to first to take away a base hit. Granted, he hasn't done much else, but here and there he's flashed some leather. (It's not like he doesn't have the skills; he just hasn't been using them.)

Orioles' Magic Number: 21 (victories needed in the remaining games for a winning season)

Roch- What have you heard about John Mariotti? He did so well since he was drafted but then he got hurt and he has not played in like 3 months. I thought he was a steal last year in the 10th round. Well, if you can get the scoop. Unless he got promoted from Delmarva I think it might have been a serious injury.

Now that the team has finally sent Olson to the minors, I want to express some thoughts about the handling of the pitching staff the last few days. Friday, Saturday, Sunday against the Tigers none of the O's starters made it five innings. The bullpen was exhausted coming into a series against the Red Sox. Fernando Cabrera, one of our best bullpen guys, had just thrown three great innings on Sunday and would not be available Monday or Tuesday. Myself and a few others here mentioned that we needed to option Olson after he pitched Sunday and get someone else here to help the bullpen. In Trembley's post-game comments on Sunday he seemed sure that Jeremy Guthrie would pitch 8-9 innings on Monday and give the pen a break. No move was made. Monday we find out that Olson and Sarfate will be returning to the pen.

Guthrie goes seven innings, but the pen is abused again. Without looking it up, I know that Cherry threw over 30 pitches and Jim Johnson was in the mid-twenties, essentially making neither of them available for Tuesday's game. As fate would have it we find out that George Sherrill was not available due to shoulder soreness.

Okay, it's Tuesday morning. Your closer, setup man, your seventh inning guy(Cherry), Sarfate, Olson, and Fernando Cabrera are all likely unavailable to pitch. You know Olson is going to be sent down before Friday. Essentially you have a four man pen(Castillo, Walker, Cormier, Bierd) with Daniel Cabrera pitching. Why would you not option Olson and get Mickolio here for Tuesday's game? In fact, the question could be asked why someone like McCrory wasn't at the stadium pending Sherrill's status as well. Wasn't this one of the supposed advantages of having our AAA affiliate close by? Players could get to Baltimore that day, if necessary. They knew before the game Tuesday that Sherill was going on the DL.

Respecting the game, I think it's important to be prepared to win each game or at least put yourself in a position to win each game. Whose responsibility is that? The manager's and the GM's, but in this case I would put most of the responsibility on the manager.

I've mentioned before that I think Trembley is either stubborn, slow to react, or a slow thinker. Those traits can be helpful, but most often I believe harmful. He would have a difficult time managing in the NL. A good manager anticipates, in advance, several innings or sometimes several games ahead. I like alot of what Dave Trembley brings to the team and the organization, but this is not one of his strengths.

Poor Jason Bay. He'll never be another Manny, but he's one nice player. A Steve Finley type.
I saw him at AAA when he was briefly a Portland Beaver and it was obvious he had a beautiful swing and was destined.

I just wish he'd stop hitting homers off the O's.

It's August 20 and they haven't collapsed yet. It could still happen, given the state of the starters but we can thank Andy Mc and Trembley for providing a little hope and a competitive team.

Ken -

Okay, I'll give you credit for Ramon's plays "here and there". I did like that throw to gun down Coco Crisp. That's probably the only and best play I've ever seen Ramon make all year. You say he hasn't been using them. My question to you is, Why? If he can flash leather like that, why isn't he doing it on a consistent basis?

And, I agree with you, I'm really hoping the Orioles can pull off a winning season, or at least get .500. We were only 3 games under .500 before the Red Sox series. Now we're about 4 and half or so games. We need to sweep the Yankees or something like it.

It seems that the O's are holding there own this year, keeping in mind how young they are. They went four out of seven last roadtrip, and now are only four games under 500%. If they keep on hitting the way they are I see them over 500%. Then again they do play the Yanks then the Whitesox in this homestand. What do you think Roch?

-Bryan

I know we were desperate for a starter, but it doesn't take a genius to see that Sarfate is best suited to be a reliever. He's got such a good arm, I only hope he can learn to control his stuff. Mickolio has a nice live arm too, but that delivery is certainly odd and Palmer certainly was questioning its viability.

The O's need to give Moose another good shelling on Friday. Guthrie against Pavano looks like a mismatch for us. I think Bowie shelled Pavano recently. Rasner against DCab Sunday--should be interesting.

whoever thought that we would be finding fault with the way the team is managed this late in August? If they were 15 games under 500, where they were supposed to be, the manager would be getting sympathy notes.