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Brob should try bunting. A hit is a hit! It might get him started.

Roch-
Happy 4th to you and all the readers. I was really impressed with the hustle B-Rob showed in last night's game when he scored from first on Nick's single to right. I think that could be the spark to get him going.

Just watched Brian's video blog. Nice feature.

Some replies:

Ryan: An average OPS is about .770 in the AL this year (don’t quote me on that; I’m guesstimating). However, I was writing about OPS *+*, which is a different thing. By definition, an OPS+ of 100 is average. OPS+ is a better stat than OPS because, like ERA+, it controls for park effects and because it uses 100 as its center point, which makes it easy to look at our left side infielders, Andino (52), Izturis (61) and MelMo (72), and see how little they’ve contributed offensively so far this year. If you look at their OPS numbers -- .585, .620, .658 – and think average is 600-700, you might miss that.

Ray: You’re right, but I didn’t specifically SAY that Felix is our only good outfielder. All I said was that *statistically* (using the UZR/150 stat I cited earlier) he’s our only good outfielder so far. As I’ve noted, although all our outfielders have exhibited plus arms this year, only Felix has a positive zone rating, meaning Adam and Nick aren’t getting to as many balls as their peers are, or at least whoever devised this statistic thinks they’re not. As I’ve noted in other posts, though, Adam and Nick performed well last year according to this metric, so I’m not sure how much I trust it. In any case, I plan to proceed under the belief, delusional or not, that the Orioles have a good defensive outfield, although the stats I’ve seen don’t support it so far.

Baron: I’m not denying there could be minor differences in fielding from the minors to the majors, but I’m sure you see my point that it’s not like hitting and pitching, where it really can be hard to project. The gist is that the O’s gave up on Oscar as a defender a while back and I have no reason to question their judgment.

BC Mike – I guess I know what that BC stands for now. You and Baron do your country proud. I’m sorry there are so many American nincompoops. Although let’s pretend Troll B is a limey. So are there other Canucks here? Stand up and be counted!

About last night . . . I loved Matt gunning down Chone, although if Figgy slides lower he’s under the tag. Johnson’s throw to second was great, as was his smiling with Andino afterward. Athleticism is a wonderful thing – that was a wicked hard throw, although you could argue that staggering in the first place wasn’t especially athletic. In any case, I can’t imagine Brian had time to decoy anybody on that play, although his gesture may have served that purpose. Again, can you imagine the uproar here if Abreu, who absolutely would have been safe with any hustle, had been wearing black and orange (and are those caps red? I’m color blind, but they looked too dark for orange)?

Ten bucks Dummie_Oriole blames Roberts' slump on "Andrew." He knows he hates the Orioles, so look for his blame to go to those who have no control over something like this...

Trade Huff, trade Baez. Stay focused on the future. Pull the trigger on Sherrill if the price is right.

Hey Roch

If you want B-Rob to break out, plant some poison ivy around second base.

Must stop reading your blog.... my jokes are getting as cheesey as yours.

Thank you roch for at least pointing out that brian is not performing well. Our other writer in this town made a big deal out of him scoring from first base on a single. I quess when you are 3 out of your last 32,when you struck out 12 times , by the way that makes number 56 for the year for a leadoff hitter. He is second on our team by the way. But then everybody will say he leads the league in runs scored. Well jones, nick, huff, and luke have over 160 rbi's so that might explain why. Anyway i appreciate the article .

As Independance Day is upon us, we can only wish and dream of the day in which we are not so dependable to be the perennial doormat of the AL East.
Tillman is close, so there is some hope. There is NO reason after the break in which Arrieta and Tillman are not part of this rotation.

Enough is Enough....the downward spiral has turned this club into beleivers...that they are losers.

It doesnt have to be this way!

You can blame it on the players, you can blame it on DT. But when the dust settles, where this club is now sitting has to be blamed squarely on the shoulders of Andrew...Mr. Electricity!

Roberts has had these kinds of slumps ever since he's been an O. he'll go on a tear soon.What the heck are the pirates doing? they seem to be trading people for the heck of it. The Nats unloaded Milledge and Hanrahan on them for a couple of decent players.The Pirate fans and players are pi$$ed about this deal and the one with Atlanta.And they're not that far out of the race.The Nats would have been a good place to trade Pie where he could play everyday.

I blame B-Rob's slump on his wife.

It's always the wife.

Smothered & covered.

Brian will be fine, although I'd really like to see him become more consistent. Streak hitters are very deceiving relative to their contributions to the team over the course of a year. Their overall numbers may look good in October, but their basically automatic outs for a good third of the year.

Anyhow, Rochet. My backhand sucks! Very frustrating. Just when I think I've finally got it mastered, it goes to crap on me. I'm a one-hander who thinks slice backhands are for sissies so I keep wailing at the topspin. Any tips?

This just in... Or at least across my desk...
Billy Livingston signed by the Tribe. My archived video decapitation is no worthless.

Sigh.

Breaking news,Steve McNair has been murdered in Memphis. This is horrible.

Jack,

How's the saying go... "Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it" ... I believe that's close.

So let's throw caution to the wind. Bring up Tillman and Arrieta NOW.
And while you're at it, bring up Patton and Matusz too.

And let's hope that by rushing them up here they don't become the next Hayden Penn, Radammes Liz, Daniel Cabrara or Garrett Olsen.

Jack... Mr. Idiot!

Some people will never be happy with what the team does or doesn't do. Some will post nasty messages about every little thing. Those that find it necessary to do so should try to make their posts have proper spelling because if they don't, they look even more stupid. Why read any Orioles blog or take the time to respond if you have such disdain for everything Orioles related?

Yes, those are red caps. Something to do with Independence Day. I guess some people need constant reminders or they'll forget. I liked it better when MLB did not wear different colored caps and use pink bats.

I would like to agree with the wife comment....but if that is the case...how is Aubrey doing so well????

So overall, Brian has always had slumps, they all get them now and then.

Also...R.I.P Steve McNair

roch just a heads up about the waffle house on powerline off commercial in ft. lauderdale. they've been cited a couple of times by the health dept.
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I believe it. There was water dripping from the ceiling during a heavy rain. Large puddles behind the counter and on a few tables. But yes, I ate there anyway. - Roch

RIP Steve McNair. You had a great year with us in 2007.

Becky, The difference between Aubrey Huff and B-Rob is that B-Rob is still, technically, a newlywed. How long has Huff been married? I really don't know. But we all know that Brian JUST got married... I noted before the season that he'd have a down year because of it.

He'll rebound, though...

Roch:
If Robert's wanted to be a real lead off hitter and real professional he would bunt. he doesn't have to do it once every game, but you can't have a lead off guy going through these prolonged slumps! A bunt base hit might just be the thing that unclogs the slumpo and gets him and the team going. This is selfish and unprofessional on his part. His job is to get on base anyway he can, period!

Orioleholic is right that some O's "fans" will complain no matter what. Someday the same people who were screaming for the O's to bring up Nolan and Wieters will be screaming that they aren't playing as well as they should be, and should be sent back down. I have my gripes too and there are certain players I'm less fond of, but I love watching the O's no matter what. Some games are less fun than others,no doubt, but let's get a grip. I doubt any of us would make the right decisions every time.

As for Brian, he'll break out--just like Nick, Luke, and Adam are.

Happy 4th everyone. Enjoy the game tonight.

roch, write more articles like this for all the players. IT WORKED! roberts 2-3 w/ 2 doubles! GO O's!!!