Rehabbing Orioles
Matt Albers, who elected to skip surgery to repair a torn labrum, threw a scoreless inning last night at short-season Single-A Aberdeen. Albers walked one batter and struck out two.
Albers was following Chris Ray, who allowed one hit and struck out one.
The Orioles' bullpen never recovered after losing Albers, but he'll be given a chance to win a spot in the rotation next season. Manager Dave Trembley believes that Albers will benefit from knowing when he's going to pitch, and from having a set routine between appearances.
And we'll all sit around and wonder whether the shoulder will hold up each time Albers reaches back for a little extra on his fastball.
Single-A Delmarva's Nathan Nery hadn't allowed a run in 15 straight innings going into last night's game. Then he held Lakewood to an unearned run in 7 2/3 innings, leading the Shorebirds to their 78th win, the third-highest total in the franchises' 13-year history.
Nery was chosen in the 18th round of the 2006 draft out of Stetson University. He spent the last two seasons at Aberdeen.
Shortstop Greg Miclat, taken in the fifth round this year out of the University of Virginia, is batting .359 for the IronBirds.
Todd - I agree with your assertion that Trembley should allow some of the young pitchers to work their way out of difficult innings. This should be especially true when they have a lead. How many times has he removed them with a big lead this year when they could have been allowed to survive on their own.
On the other hand, I'm not sure that Olson fits. If Trembley had brought Sarfate in to face Bailey for instance, he may have gotten out of the inning with the score still tied. Olson needs to be handled with kid gloves. My opinion is that his psyche is very frail right now and to remove him after five and two-thirds, only giving up 3 runs, looks and feels a whole lot better than last night's end result.
Liz on the other hand is different. He's been yanked several times with big leads. He's strong as a horse, let him pitch.
Teenage Mutant Ninja - I also shuttered when Thorne demanded the replay of Millar's homerun. It was the first thing out of his mouth. Our guy hits a homerun in a comeback effort against the Sox and he demands a replay.
Maybe Hatepaste could add a Part II to the petition: Sign Texiera/Dump Thorne!
Albers didn't manage 50 innings this year before his shoulder went south. The O's better hope his shoulder holds out otherwise they will be looking for a replacement by the beginning of June. How about a medical report Roch. Post the xrays and MRIs so we'll be able to predict how long he'll last.