Are the Twins going to be the team to revive the Orioles?
They're sitting in last place in the AL Central. They haven't won a series this year. They've scored only 45 runs, six fewer than the Orioles, who have become allergic to home plate. Catcher Joe Mauer is on the disabled list with a viral infection and first baseman Justin Morneau sat out yesterday's game with an illness that makes him questionable for tonight. A closer controversy culminated with Matt Capps unseating Joe Nathan.
The Twins are batting .235, ranking 23rd in the majors. The Orioles are 26th with a .228 average.
Anybody know where I can find four low-scoring games this week?
I'm sure Chris Tillman (0-1, 7.30 ERA) and Francisco Liriano (0-3, 9.42 ERA) will gladly take one tonight. They're quite due.
Clay Rapada will join the bullpen tonight. The Orioles like the idea of having a second left-hander, especially with Michael Gonzalez struggling, and Mark Hendrickson took himself out of the running with a 10.13 ERA at Triple-A Norfolk. He gave up two more runs yesterday, throwing 33 pitches in 1 1/3 innings.
Nick Green hit his first home run, and it must have been a bomb. According to the Tides' game summary, the ball flew over the left field picnic area.
I've never been to Harbor Park, but I assume that's a long way from home plate.
Double-A Bowie split a doubleheader yesterday. Jeff Fiorentino hit his first home run in Game 1, and the Baysox rallied from a seven-run deficit to win, 11-7.
Billy Rowell started at first base in Game 2 while Joe Mahoney's on the disabled list. He's batting .250.
Tim Bascom held Erie to one run in 6 2/3 innings, but he settled for a no-decision.
Single-A Frederick lost both ends of its doubleheader to Salem. Dan Klein (UCLA) took the loss in Game 1 after giving up a run in 2 2/3 innings. L.J. Hoes went 0-for-7 over the two games to leave his average at .115.
Kipp Schutz and Trent Mummey hit their second home runs for Single-A Delmarva. Manny Machado went 3-for-4 and is batting .361.
Let's get back to the Orioles.
A bunch of students here at SOR are suggesting drastic changes to the lineup, or at least a little tweaking. A few of you passed along suggestions. Feel free to post them again. And I'll challenge everyone else to give me a lineup for tonight against the left-handed Liriano.
Feel free to give me your right-handed version for other nights.
Who's moving up? Who's moving down? Who's going to the bench?
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