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More random Oriole monomania:

Luke is hot again. He should have had a couple more homers against Boston, instead hitting two doubles that just barely caught scoreboard, including one where he gazed at it a little too long and almost got thrown out at second. Speaking of which, Pedroia, Mr. MVP, ran into a terrible out at third base that would have had the Rocheteers howling for his release had he been an Oriole.

While I’m thinking about Pedroia, the phantom tag of Pie at second – I watched that play several times – was because he didn’t know Pie was coming. He took the throw well off the bag and put the ball in his hand because he was going to throw back to first. Pie sliding in surprised him, and he instinctively reached toward the bag to tag him, but without the ball in his glove -- although he stuck it in an instant later, the little sneak. It would have been close anyway, but the ump missed the whole missing ball angle, and the Pie haters were thus given another opportunity to jump on him. As for Pie catching the tying bloop in the 9th, I watched that several times too. No way.

Pie has been a lightning rod for criticism here – the poor guy can’t even throw a runner out at the plate without getting grief. But count me as a supporter. As I’ve noted, statistically he’s been far and away our best defensive outfielder this year (in fact our only good outfielder) and lately he’s gotten some big hits. Felix Pie ≠ Corey Patterson.

Guthrie’s performance last night was more slings and arrows. I’m not saying he’s been terrific, because he hasn’t. His tendency to give up crushing homers is impossible to dismiss. But Abreu’s stake-in-the-heart was a great piece of hitting on not-that-bad a pitch. Plus, if that ball lands a foot to the right, it hits the scoreboard, it’s a double, and Guthrie holds them to 3 runs in 7 innings, a quality start.

Jackdunn’sbaby: A guy in my baseball group is going to lend me the Law book on Satchel, which he’s really enjoying. Thanks for helping bring baseball lit and history to the blog!

Bill G: The Boddicker stats are readily available at baseball-refence.com, a wonderful site I’ve shamelessly plugged here. Out of deference to this group, and to Roch’s proofreading (which I already abuse) I don’t want to repost them, but if you give me your email I’ll send my post that way if you like.

To JPA and others who argue that the O’s should stick Salazar somewhere and find out what he can do, I offer this counter-argument:

Projecting offense from the minors to the majors is complicated because the pitchers are so much better in the majors. Similarly, projecting pitching ability is complicated because the hitters are so much better. But, hey, defense is defense. A ground ball at Norfolk is a ground ball at Baltimore. A pop fly in no-man’s land there is the same thing here. One can argue that outfielders need to get used to different fair and foul dimensions, or make the adjustment from playing left field to playing right. But third base at Norfolk is pretty much the same as third base in Baltimore. Likewise first base.

The Orioles have enough years of watching Salazar play to know that he simply can’t be trusted defensively on anything like a regular basis at either first or third base (and from what little I’ve seen, I strongly agree). He’s also old enough that he’s not likely to improve much as a defender. Much as I love his offense, Salazar is an aging, pinch-hitting, DHing, emergency corner infielder. Period. Albeit to the astonishment of many here, it is a proven fact that the Oscar Salazars of the world, wonderful hitters though they be, pass through waivers all the time. To the similar astonishment of many here, players with enormous defensive upsides, such as Felix Pie, do not. If major league rosters expanded to 26 or 27, there would undoubtedly be more Oscar Salazars on them, but they haven't, so there aren't.

Roch,
Do you or any of the great bloggers on this site have stats on the teams winning percentage when wearing Baltimore on their unis?

Watching Andino turn a 3-0 count into a 3-2 count and a routine fly ball out, I checked his stats. His OBP before tonight was .278. His OPS+ (again, average is 100) was 54, which is exactly what it was last year for the Marlins. For perspective, Mark Belanger was a career 68. Cesar is 67. I'm not trying to diss Robert. I like his D. But we're not getting much O out of the SS position.

I like Hernandez' poise out there. It's a contrast to Santana, who's doing much more emoting, including some goofing around when he was down 5-0.

Roch...Since Cesar is down on the farm getting ready to come back...What oraganization is he with while he is getting ready to rejoin the team?

Also who else like how JJ got the out at second, while Robert drove to get out of his way and JJ going down on his knees, and both laughing and smiling about it?

I know I liked it!
Way To Go O's!!!
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Izturis is still with the team in Anaheim. He took live BP yesterday. Trembley told reporters that Izturis could go on a rehab assignment in a few days, location to be determined. Looks like he could be activated before the break, which is quite a reversal from what he heard not long ago. - Roch

Roch- First of all, can you post to whoever thinks that 1000 ops is "average" that they watch way too many games involving the 55 yankees.
Christ. Average OPS might be around 600. 700.
If you have a 350 OBP and a 650 SLG, you are one of the best in baseball.
lol.
Anyway, I'd say that Tillman really wants to be one this team. Yes, he lost his last 5 decisions before tonight, but, look at what he did in those games, and look at who is at norfolk. Or I should say look who is NOT at Norfolk. He has pitched just fine. That span had 3 quality starts.
Are they going to shut down Matusz after the minor league season? Or, maybe, just maybe, a Sept. call-up?
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I was told a while back that a Sept. call-up for Matusz wasn't going to happen. He'll be shut down. - Roch

Phewww, we needed that one. A little too close for comfort at the end there, but still, a win is a win. Hernandez was dealing the first few innings.

Let's get a win tonight because we all know who is pitching on Sunday with his inflated ERA.

Roch,

I just need to say how rude it is of the Angels to be playing an evening game on the 4th of July. Just about every other team is playing a day game. I think the O's are one of four games on tonight, and one is the Texas game which is more of a health and safety issue due to the heat.

Don't day game baseball and the 4th of July go together?

I guess the case could be made that an evening game allows you to hit up the BBQ in the afternoon.

But a lot of O's fans in Baltimore will have to choose between the fireworks and the game tonight.

I guess people in Orange County have better things to do than celebrate the 4th of the July. Muppets

If anybody doubts the influence of Huff in the clubhouse, watch his interview with Amber.

And her scowl when it is over.

OCJ - You make a good point about all the criticism Pie gets. On the play at 2nd vs. Red Sox a player with better instincts would have slid another foot to the inside and avoided the tag. Either way he was safe. What's really hard to digest was DT's response . . . . he saw the entire thing, but it was so bad, why argue! How anyone could be critical on the bloop in the ninth is beyond me. Paul Blair, Torri Hunter, and Willie Mays wouldn't have caught that ball.

Agree as well about Guthrie. The 2nd homerun to Abreau was a good pitch handled very well by a veteran hitter. Lesson learned here , maybe was more for Wieters than Guthrie. This was the 2nd time this season he has given up more than three runs on regular rest.

I respectfully disagree about Pie being our only good(Nick Markakis) outfielder.

I expect to see Pie and Zaun in the lineup tonight because the Sunaday line up had become Saturdays.Berken needs to step up like Hernandez did last night.Reimold's not getting good wood on the ball lately in the games I've watched.lot of balls off the end of the bat,He has to figure out how he's being pitched and make the adjustments.His high average when men in scoring position doesn't add up when you consider a big chunk of his rbi's have came on homers.

BC Mike predicted 7IP, 3R from Hernandez last night, off by a mere one out. Roch, you have some excellent forecasters around here.

David B: Great line about the fun facts!

Speaking of Big League Choo (nice one, Chris), he had 7 RBI last night. I'm sure that everyone here knows that Ball Four author Jim Bouton co-invented Big League Chew, which probably earned him more money than authoring the greatest baseball book of all time.

I have to agree with Brummie about the night game today. However, most cities in Orange County have banned fireworks so the only way to see fireworks legally would be public displays of which they will have one after the game. If it was a day game I would be there but my family and I will be celebrating the Fourth with some friends. Of course, I will be catching the game on TV.

Hernandez looked good out there. A couple hits he gave up could have been outs had they been hit harder.

Got to see Roberts score from first on a single. You don't get to see that very often.

I thought Figgins had second stolen easily in the seventh but Wieters had such a quick release and strong throw. Where did we get this guy? I think he might be pretty good.

I was getting nervous enough with Johnson walking the leadoff batter, but when I saw him start to fall when he caught the bouncer over his head I started to cringe as I saw this game start to slip away. But what athleticism to have the control and precense of mind to make that throw to second.

The future is looking bright for the O's.