Post-game chatter
The entire Orioles dugout was yelling for pinch-runner Robert Andino to go back and tag up at first base on Matt Wieters' long fly ball.
That wasn't a classic no-doubter off Wieters' bat, but the ball cleared the fence, and Carl Crawford's leaping attempt, to give the Orioles a dramatic 4-2 victory.
"I asked him after," manager Dave Trembley said. "I was watching Crawford. I said, 'When you hit it, did you think you got all of it?' And he said he wasn't sure. I was watching Crawford. It looked like Crawford was camped under it."
Wieters had three hits last night, including a three-run homer, and five RBIs. Tonight, he took Jim Johnson off the hook and saved the Orioles from a crushing defeat.
"He's going to do it here for a long time. I don't think there's any question about that," Trembley said. "This has been a tremendous season for him to learn, to go through some struggles.
"We told the team the other day that one of the goals we had coming down here the last three weeks of the season was, let's leave here and make a positive impression on your teammates and on your coaches and the people in the league. We've got an awful lot of young guys whose eyes have been open. I think they've learned a great deal. I think they understand a lot more about themselves and how difficult success comes in this game. The good ones, they're going to find a way to get it done."
Wieters was looking fastball, and he got one.
"They gave me confidence to swing away and I was going to look for a fastball early and try to put a good swing on it, and I was fortunate enough that it carried out," he said.
"It's a situation where you might bunt, but he gave me the sign to swing away and try and drive something.
"I definitely feel good at the plate right now. It's something that comes and goes over the course of a year, but hopefully I can keep this swing going for a little bit longer."
You could easily take a head-count at the end of the game and determine how many fans stuck around.
"I think at some point in time this year I've signed an autograph for each and every one of them," Trembley said. "They all knew me by my name and I knew who they were. No one offered to buy me anything, though. I was hoping somebody would say, 'Come on over, I've got a soda or a hot dog or something.' Gosh darn, fame is fleeting around here. I know how it goes.
"I saw a lot of people who are familiar faces and regulars on my e-mail list and regulars on the video journal call-in and down the right field line that I sign autographs with, so it was kind of like family at the end."
Trembley said he didn't reconsider using Johnson in a save situation after the right-hander had warmed in the eighth before the delay.
"He's the ninth-inning guy and he's going to come in and he's going to get it done. That's how you feel. He's going to get it done," Trembley said.
"(Ben) Zobrist has broke my heart before this year and he'll probably do it again. He's had a heck of a year."
Johnson didn't allow a home run last year. He's surrendered eight this season.
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Categories (click for archive)Roch Kubatko | Roch Kubatko Orioles |
Were there about 177 dedicated fans there at the end? Every voice seemed to come through on my speakers. I thought I was back about a decade hearing the sounds of my boys playing Backyard Baseball on the computer.
Considering the position he plays, if Wieters keeps this up he could still get some ROY concideration.
Roch-
This is the stuff that really makes me think things are finally going to be different next season.
Weiters and Reimold should see dramatic increases in their production. I mean like 100+ rbi's each.
I just wish I felt the organization was really doing what they can to get that impact bat in the middle of the lineup.
Tillman, Bergy, and Matusz is a GREAT start to the rotation. I don't know how they are going to fill those other 2 spots because I don't know who is going to be shopped, but, the more pressing matter might be finding a legit closer.
i was lucky enough to see johnny bench play in person and watching bench play at his position was like watching brooks play his position. wieters 2 throws to roberts to get crawford on steal attempts last night were perfect..perfect. bench could not have thrown them any better.
Carl Crawford woke up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat after having a nightmare about Matt Wieters. First, he throws Crawford out twice on steal attempts, then he hits the ball just out of his reach for a walk-off home run. I hope these Crawford nightmares continue for 15 years.
So glad Wieters is doing so well. I hope it continues. I like the three for our rotation next year. Matusz, Tillman, and Bergusen. We now need to improve the bull pen. First of all, we need a closer. That is dependable. Several other spots need to be addressed. Replace Baez, Sarfate, Bass, and possibly Ray. Mikilio and Castillo have looked impressive at times. Albers, you never know. I would resign Hendrickson, for long relief. He seems to be better in that roll. We need a #1 starter. Plus a big bopper in the 4th spot of the line up. Either a 1st or 3rd baseman. But, I would address 1st base, first. Sign Mora, for his option year. And then find a 3rd baseman. Mora's defense has not slumped.
Roch,
This is the kind of baseball that we've been looking for all year long! Too bad it's just now starting to happen at the end of the year...but maybe this will save Dave's job!