This and that
Troy Smith...Kyle Boller...Joe Flacco...
Anyone know what Daunte Culpepper is doing these days?
The Orioles are off the next three Thursdays, so manager Dave Trembley can play around with his rotation and skip Dennis Sarfate, who really, really needs to go back to the bullpen. He seemed more satisfied with last night's effort - he went a career-high 4 2/3 innings while allowing four runs - so let him feel good about it and don't put him in that position ever again.
Sarfate allowed two home runs, walked three and hit two batters in last night's loss. He's walked 14 in 15 2/3 innings as a starter. Until he finds the strike zone more consistently, he isn't going to be effective in any role. But he's clearly more suited to be a one-inning reliever, though it's good to know he can be stretched out if a need arises.
Meanwhile, Brad Bergesen waits his turn at Double-A Bowie. With the open dates on the schedule this month, he might be waiting until September. We'll see.
Can you remember another season when the Orioles have had so many issues with umpires? Jay Payton was ejected in the eighth inning - his third - after slamming his helmet to the ground in protest of a close call at first base that went against him.
Chris Ray tossed another scoreless inning in the Gulf Coast League. See you in spring training, Chris. No idea what your role will be, but see you there.
Just out of curiosity, if Ray is ready to return next season, is he your closer over George Sherrill? Is Ray your set-up man, with Jim Johnson going into the rotation? Is Ray your seventh-inning guy, replacing Chad Bradford?
Triple-A Norfolk's Radhames Liz threw eight scoreless innings last night, walking one and striking out eight in a 4-0 victory over Charlotte. He threw 77 of his 110 pitches for strikes.
Liz is 2-2 with a 2.67 ERA in four starts since returning to Norfolk. This is exactly what he needed. Liz hadn't solved the Triple-A puzzle, hadn't shown that he could repeat his delivery and consistently throw strikes. He hadn't shown that he could pitch more than he could throw. Good move to option him. He's still a candidate to join the Oriole's rotation in 2009 - and stay there. And he'll likely be back up in September when rosters expand, so we could get another look at him and see how much he's progressed.
As I wrote yesterday, Brian Burres makes his first start for the Tides today.
Bowie's Jason Berken had a no-hitter through 6 2/3 innings. He settled for allowing one hit over seven scoreless innings, walking four and striking out six.
The Baysox's Jon Tucker is batting .488 in his last 11 games. Way to pick up the slack for Lou Montanez.
Single-A Frederick's Pedro Beato fell behind 2-0 in the first inning and 4-1 in the second before settling down and not allowing another run through the sixth. Chris Amador hit a two-run homer.
Single-A Delmarva's Brndan Monaghan and Matt Angle executed a perfect suicide squeeze in the ninth inning to produce a 3-2 win over Savannah. Angle laid down the bunt as Monaghan broke for home.
Tyler Henson tied the game with a towering home run in the eighth, setting the stage for the ninth-inning dramatics.
Anyone ever seen a walk-off suicide squeeze?
Sarfate doesn't have enough control or enough pitches to be a starter. You keep pumping fastballs and they eventually disappear like the one Cabrera hit.
I've noticed the Ump issue for years now. They are very confrontational and will toss you for anything. I remember once when Harold Baines got tossed for dropping his bat after he took a called third strike. Dropped, not threw or slung, just dropped it. And he didn't say a word to the Ump the whole at bat.
Ray back to closer, his stuff is better suited to it. Sherrill to set up. Johnson to rotation.
Liz and Sarfate has a similar flaw. When they go toward home plate their left shoulder goes toward first and they can't control their fastball. Tell Kranitz thats a freebie. The next one costs.
One of the SI reporters thinks Teixeira will get 8 yrs/ 168 mil. I say pass at that price. Any opinions?
Didn't Ramon Hernandez execute a walk-off suicide squeeze in the playoffs as a member of the A's? I want to say it was in the '03 division round against Boston.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And you would be correct! - Roch
I'll give this to Jay - the guy really cares. He was screwed on that call. Sarfate was frequently squeezed last night too. These guys probably get built up annoyances at things like this.
Or no?
Hey Satyr... I'm probably annoying people by now but I've been jumping up and down and saying that signing Texeira for that kind of money flies in the face of the rebuilding program for months now. I see Roch stating that the Orioles will make a run for him. That surprises me because they haven't finished blowing up the old team. I can't see Texeira making any sense when the pitching staff still requires several pieces to make it whole. I'm thinking MacPhail and the front office will be "in the hunt" to sign Texeira for PR purposes only. Evidently a lot of fans want him and Texeira himself has expressed interest. To not "officially" pursue him would probably anger a number of fans. In the end, either the Yankees or Red Sox (or Angels) will get their man for ridiculous money. It's money the Orioles are better off spending on extensions for Markakis, Guthrie, Johnson, and perhaps another pitcher and a shortstop for next year to bridge the gap while the rebuilding continues. I still think the team has to comtinue to focus on liquidating Huff, Ramon Hernandez, Mora, Payton, and perhaps Millar. Then there is also the whole Brian Roberts situation. That's still a tough call because he's such a great character guy. Besides, we already have a large hole at shortstop. Dealing Roberts would leave a huge hole up the middle unless we received some quality in return.
Is there any chance that Mora would OK a deal of any kind, or are his roots firmly entrenched in Baltimore? We keep talking about dealing him but maybe it isn't even possible.
Why not have Sherrill and Ray split the duties? Who says you need one closer? Have Johnson set up Ray and/or Sherrill.
Liz looks like a perfect candidate for long relief, less pressure. A year in this position may build his confidence being in the majors.
I seem to remember the Indians winning game 3 of the 1997 ALCS against the Orioles on a botched squeeze play. If I recall, the Indians batter missed the bunt, but the catcher dropped the pitch. Instead of just picking the ball up and tagging the runner, he argued that the pitch was foul tipped. I remembered thinking the same thing while watching on my TV a thousand miles away.
Baron,
I agree. Use the money for more pressing needs. Look at the stats.
Huff .300 25HR 82RBI
Teixeira .295 24HR 92RBI
I realize Huff is having a Career year or close to it. And Teixeira is a better fielder. But there is a huge difference in salary if Teixeira gets the 21 mil a year he is supposedly asking for. Extend Markakis, Guthrie, and Roberts. Thats more important that tying up 20 to 30 % of payroll in 1 guy.
I don't think Mora would waive his no trade under any circumstances. On the flip side he's having an above average year and I don't see any third basemen coming up soon so if it ain't broke yet.......
At least Sarfate got through the 1st innng. That's an accomplishment all by it's self...
I think you leave Sherrill as closer and ease Ray back into a significant major league role. See how each does. If Sherrill is as intense a competitor as he seems to be, I don't think he'll accept being bumped back to a setup role after enjoying so much success as a closer. If it turns out that this year was an aberration for him, and if Ray is dominating in his setup or 7th-inning role, then the Os can make the switch. I'd give each pitcher plenty of rope, however. As for Johnson, let's see how some of the other young starters fare before we take him out of a role in which he's been so successful and valuable.
Ideally Sherrill finishes the year strong and either someone offers us a top prospect for him this winter (which we should take) or, if not, he becomes one of the best left-handed set-up men in our bullpen. Chris Ray is this team's closer. Sherrill has done an admirable job filling in, but his highest and best use is as a set-up guy because his secondary stats show that he is not a top-tier closer.
As for signing Texeira, provided he'd be willing to sign on here it wouldn't be a bad move. I'd expect the team to be competitive again in eight years before his contract would expire. Money isn't the biggest hurdle, it is the four to five wins he'd add to the team in the standings, which means lower draft picks.
Joe Carter with the Cleveland Indians vs. the O's. Normally thought of as a power hitter, he had my respect from that point onward.