Simon says he didn't get job done
Juan Samuel has only two more games left in his Orioles' managerial tenure, but he let his players know before Thursday's series opener how important it was for him to go out on a good note. Samuel lived for several years in the Kansas City area and has had one of his daughters at the first two games of the series.
Perhaps, that's why he he took last night's 7-5 loss to the Kansas City Royals very hard. The Orioles have lost 32 games under Samuel and I've seen him this annoyed only once or twice.
Closer Alfredo Simon was handed a one-run lead in the ninth inning. He got two quick outs and then got two quick strikes on Rick Ankiel. He then walked him, allowed a single to Wilson Betemit and a three-run, game-ending homer to Alex Gordon.
“There’s no excuse,” said Samuel. "“We have to win the games that we were supposed to win and that was one of those.”
It was Simon's third blown save in 18 chances. He acknowledged that he struggled to grip the baseball on a rainy night at Kauffman Stadium, but as Samuel said, there are no excuses.
"“It’s a lot of frustration,” said Simon. “They played all eight innings and they give me the last inning just to make three outs. But this happened in the game and I hope I do better next time.”
A Baltimore native, 
Comments
It's not difficult to take these losses anymore. If we had won, then we fans would have enjoyed a great comeback victory. Because we lost, the Orioles can celebrate instead our four game lead over the Pirates for MLB's first place. The only race that matters now is the one for the first draft pick.
Posted by: George | July 31, 2010 10:29 AM
Wow...only to the Orioles does this seem to happen...one strike away!!!...WOW.
Posted by: steve119 | July 31, 2010 10:50 AM
Oh so what if Simon blew a game.... these things happen. I like Simon. I think he has good stuff. He has all the pitches you need to be a successful closer. Now you need a pitching coach to convert him from a thrower to a thinker. Talent alone is not going to sneak a fastball by Alex Gordon. It was not a good idea.
1.) Fire Rick Kranitz now!
First see above and the rest of my reasoning’s are too long to list
2.) Fire Terry Crowley now.
Here's my reasoning. Kevin Seitzer states that it's an excellent AB when you force the pitcher to pitch 8 or more pitches. The Orioles problem all season has been they barely make the pitcher break a sweat. I have seen on numerous occasions that the opposing pitcher uses 8 or less pitches to get all 3 batters out. 8 Pitches or more to an oriole’s batter. Ha! Maybe Markakis or Roberts and that's about it.
Crowley is clueless.
3.) Reassign Andy MacPhail now!
But if he can acquire Alex Gordon from the Royals today, he will earn a reprieve temporarily.
Lastly, that’s a pretty amazing recovery by Brian Roberts. I can see no ill effects from his bad back. That is nothing short of remarkable, if not miraculous!
Posted by: Dan W | July 31, 2010 11:09 AM
Yes, Simon screwed up. Unfortunately, he wasn't pitching against the Orioles, or Ankiel would have swung at one of the three pitches after 1-2. Crowley's Crumbs habitually get themselves out on balls.
Offense as usual screwed up. 1 for 11 w/ RISP. 0 for 8 Thursday. Inept in Toronto, and all season.
Samuel screwed up. Two runs in, two on, none out. Pie, fast lefty hitter, low DP threat up. Scott, slow runner, on second Samuel calls for free out (sac bunt), a play that, overall, costs a team runs. Scott thrown out at third. Next batter Wieters, strikeout prone, facing strikeout pitcher. Runners go on 3-2, Wiethers whiffs, Jones out at third. Samuel kills rally chance.
O's should have scored at least three more runs in the game. How often has that happened this season? Teflon Terry remains unscathed.
Posted by: OriAl | July 31, 2010 1:24 PM
When did SIMON realize he didn't get the job done? Was it after walk, or was it after the basehit, or was it after he watched GORDON's 3-run HR sail over the wall and into the bleachers?
Posted by: rileyspaw | July 31, 2010 3:19 PM
I say he deserves a break.
He was having a very difficult time gripping the baseball, and I'm sure, throwing the ball where he wanted to in the strike zone.
To be honest, I was afraid he was going to groove the ball to Ankiel.
Remarkably, he got two quick strikes on Ankiel and then couldn't get him to swing at anything close.
Betamit hit an inside pitch and the rain kept on getting harder.
No way Simon meant to give Gordon that good of a pitch.
It just slipped away from him.
I think if it had been the seventh inning, the umps would have suspended play.
I think they let it continue because there was only one more out to go.
Posted by: Bear the Birdfan | July 31, 2010 6:28 PM