If you wondered whether Felix Pie was going to spend last night's game in manager Buck Showalter's doghouse, your answer arrived in the eighth inning when he pinch-ran for left fielder Luke Scott.
Putting Pie on the basepaths again?
Showalter did it, and Pie raced from first to third on reliever Casey Janssen's errant pickoff throw.
Pie was stranded, but at least he got off the bench. Showalter talked to Pie about the outfielder's ill-advised stolen-base attempt on Sunday - I'm sure the tone was sharp enough to carve a Thanksgiving turkey - and the matter is closed.
Pie also singled in the 10th inning to move the potential go-ahead run to second base with one out.
Scott had his first three-hit game of the season, and two of his singles came on bunts against the Blue Jays' exaggerated shift.
That's exactly what I'd be doing. It won't help your home run total, but your OBP will go through the roof - unless it's open at Rogers Centre. (See what I did there?)
I'm just impressed that somebody on this team can lay down two good bunts on the same night.
Nick Markakis had his first three-hit game since May 15.
Koji Uehara gave up five homers last season. He's already matched that total this season. I know he's a fly ball pitcher, but he'll need to shorten the distance a little.
I never doubted Matt Wieters' toughness, but he really showed me something last night. He tweaked his right shoulder on a hard swing, wincing as he left the batter's box, and almost had his mask removed by Rajai Davis' bat, but he launched a ball into the second deck to tie the game in the eighth inning.
I'm sure you noticed that Wieters was batting fifth last night, with Derrek Lee dropping to sixth.
I'm going to be forced to end my Gold Glove campaign for Robert Andino if he doesn't start improving his throws. He made two bad ones last night.
Mark Reynolds is taking heat for his 14 errors, but he made a nice play fielding J.P. Arencibia's chopper with the bases loaded in the eighth and firing to Wieters for the force that kept the score tied. Wieters almost turned the double play with a strong throw to first.
Former hitting coach Terry Crowley apparently will continue to serve as interim bullpen coach through the rest of the road trip that ends next Wednesday afternoon in Pittsburgh.
You have to shake your head at the timing of Alan Dunn's hiring as LSU pitching coach. Dunn obviously had no idea that the Orioles' bullpen job would open up, but it's quite ironic. Or it's quite the coincidence. One of those two.
Triple-A Norfolk manager Gary Allenson would be a logic choice to succeed Rick Adair, who has replaced Mark Connor as pitching coach. He's a former major league catcher and bullpen coach (1992-93 with the Red Sox.) And he knows these pitchers.
Then again, I'm not sure whether he hopped back over the outfield fence in Durham. If you haven't seen it, check out this YouTube clip when you're done reading this blog entry.
Former Orioles catcher Chris Hoiles will be making an appearance at Harry Grove Stadium in Frederick on June 23. Maybe he should swing by the warehouse first.
Would Dave Trembley be willing to take the job? He started out as the bullpen coach before replacing Tom Trebelhorn as bench coach before replacing Sam Perlozzo as manager.
A few readers here brought up Rick Dempsey's name.
Anyone else want to nominate a replacement for Adair?
It needs to be someone who would most likely accept the job. I don't think Jim Palmer is leaving the MASN broadcast booth. I don't think Josh Rupe is that desperate to get back into the Orioles' bullpen.
I'm taking your suggestions.
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