Nice... bottom 9th, 3-run lead, and Ray isn't up warming. How nice, let Shuey begin the inning. Walker warming up...

Hmm think this might signal a pattern? Ray has lost confidence-- or at least the coaching staff has lost confidence in Ray. I'm fine with that. There has to be consequences.

Oh, nice.. he's gotten the first 2... A 1-2-3 save? *crossing fingers, not posting so I don't jinx it*

Does Shuey have a splitter? Can't tell on the radio, but he seems to be getting them to swing at the low pitches, in the dirt. That's an closer out pitch, right?

Oh yeah, now I can post... 1-2-3 baby.

See what a dominant out pitch can do for a closer???? If only Shuey could still throw 97 mph. But a dominant splitter showed once again that closer's need a dominant out pitch. Paying attention Ray?

A great win. Some quality at bats, including the big hit by Ramon Hernandez, a really nice start from Brian Burres and Paul Shuey closing things out.

Maybe Paul heard your casting call for closers, Roch. LOL (As long as he's doing the job, the Orioles should let him stay in that role.)

Just listened to Shuey's post-game interview on the radio...

Wow, what a neat story. A metal hip? Dang. He's also saying all the right things. I hope he works out and gives us some stability. You never know, of course.

Shuey for closer!!!!
Multiple pitches, thrown with accuracy, keeping
batters off balance. Don't think an old man
can be a closer? Take a look at Detroit's closer Todd Jones and Cleveland's Joe Borowski,
both over 35 yrs old and in the top five in saves in the AL.

Shuey as well as Burres showed me something against the Angels. Nice stroke by Hernandez. I guess he knows Carrasco.

Roch, I see Michelle Wie has WD from the US Women's Open, the second WD this month. Can anyone say Anna?? Michelle better produce soon.

I really like listening to Trembley's post game comments. He really expresses himself and his philosophy well. While I and many others may disagree with some of his decisions(there probably hasn't been a manager who hasn't been second guessed) he really seems to put a lot of sound thought into what he does. He also appears to have a game plan going in but is flexible enough to change it as necessary.
Lastly it seems he knows what is on this blog because he manages to address some of the issues brought up by others.
Good win tonight. Nice to see Burres extend his innings. The guy has great composure.

p.s. Roch, Michelle needs to take some time off
and regroup. Then give it another shot.

is it just me or does anyone else think that amber looks like a super sexy student teacher with those glasses on.

Wow...really thought Burres was out of gas in the 6th. Way to rebound. Shuey had a nice 9th. Didn't think Ray would be available having pitched a lot (and badly) the last two days.

KEN FRANCIS-
You can't switch a batter from one spot in the order to another or you violate rule 4.04 that the batting order shall be followed thoughout the game. Otherwise Huff bats out of turn. According to rule 6.10, you can not switch the position of the DH from one spot in the order to another. It is impossible to switch a position player to the DH once the game has begun. A DH can only be replaced by a player that has not yet appeared in the game (and that includes the pitchers).

amber should be working on the max channel on sin city diaries or the best sex ever shows!!!! WHAT DO HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT ROCH?????

Missed the game tonight, but saw the post-game show and read posts here for an update.

RBF - I did not post anything about DH rule?

However, I do stand behind Brian Burres remaining in the rotation. He has been nothing short of outstanding this year. He's now 4-2 with a 3.38 era against major league competition, not spring training or AAA. He has been used so erratically of late that it's amazing that he continues to give a quality start each time out. I'll live with his walks because he has shown repeatedly that he can wiggle out of jams and mininmize the damage, in part because he doesn't give up the long ball(4 in 64 innings) and K's(8 per nine innings) a surprising # of people.Show me another fifth starter in baseball who has been as good.

RBF - You complained about him running out of gas after 60 pitches, but then complained when he was left in to throw 116. What gives??? You can't have it both ways.

I have no problem with Bell, but I'm just quesssing that the O's will stay with Burres in the rotation, put Olsen in Trachsel's spot, and leave Bell as the long man. I've said it before here, the rotation has been the lone bright spot. If Burres starts to resemble Steve Trachsel then you look at someone else. But until then, Why fix it if it ain't broken?

Heard the manager on the radio before the game saying he wouldn't play Ray in a ninth inning situation because he wasn't performing. BRAVO! You have to give someone else the chance. Burress got them 4 outs away with more than one run to spare. Great effort! I'm afraid that's what the starters have to do to secure a win. Don't allow the bullpen in with less than 2 outs in the 8th. It's good to see the club sscoring some runs and they have a lot of 2nd half players, but with only 1 guy batting over .300 and no real consistent power threats, it's just tough to score runs night in and night out. I really hope they keep it up.

Barry:

Hahaha.... Amber is ALWAYS beautiful! Didn't I say that a few months back? Is she single?

Think you could give her my email, Roch? ;)

I have no problem with Trembly becuse the orioles are more aggresive now. Its about time we start taking advantage of other teams weaknesses such as the yankees not being able to stop base stealers. I say let Trembly finish off the year and see what happens. I also say Chris Ray is terrible. Lets bring up some young minor league guys who have no scouting reports on file and see what they can do. Im all for garret olson. Back to Trembly I feel as though he has the team playing a little harder than before. I see more life and emotion in the game now. I also think its time to trade tejada and gibbons and get some prospects and at least one position player. I see next years rotation looking like bedard, guthrie, cabrera, burres, olson.

i sure hope we found a reliable new closer by accident tonight, and that trembley stays with him if it works out.

i hope no one hates me for saying this considering amber is indeed easy on the eyes, but i'd like to see her interviews be a little less lazy.

she will always take a guy who did something well, and pose a scenario that is obviously important, and then ask, "how important was that?" well, of course it was obviously very important, and she knows it herself, but she asks it. i don't know why, but that kinda gets old.

but maybe that's for another blog. then again, maybe amber reads this blog.

Ain't the beer cold tonight in The Trail's End...the blues roadhouse honky-tonk bar in Burres' home town of Oregon City, Oregon.
Been there many times. Bet he hasn't. You oughtta ask him. Never know who's a blues fan.
Did I read that right? The O's are THREE GAMES behind the NYY?

Nothing says "old school" like Shuey rockin' that cheesy 'stache ! Remember back in the late '70s - early '80s glory days, when it seemed like half the O's wore them like that? I had gotten up to grab a soda during the pitching change and when I got back, I thought MASN might have switched over to "Orioles Classics"!

OK, give Trachsel a break, a strain/pulled muscle there would keep most of you in bed, much less pitching ML ball. He pitched well when healthy. Trading him won't bring back nearly equal value in my opinion. They have a very reasonable option on the guy for next year, they should keep him. Look at the intangibles he has provided for the young flame throwers. That is invaluable stuff. DLing him was smart, let's him use the all star break as extra time to heal.

Olson? Maybe, why not, but don't expect AAA results.

Shuey, great job, good for him, great story. When I was home last weekend, there was an excellent story on him in the local paper, The Daily Express. Hampton/ Newport News paper.
I don't see him as the answer long term, but why not for now & give Ray some time in setup. Maybe until after the all star break?
Doyne? Probably not, he is the classic AAAA pitcher. I would be nervous with him as closer, set up, middle guy, OK, but not closer. Remember , he was signed as a minor league free agent.
Birkins scares me.... why not DL Williamson too if his ankle is that bad, he could injure his arm changing his delivery compensating, that way they could bring up Doyne to replace him for 2 weeks.
Now I say hope that Baez is better soon, he is not as bad as he pitched. He could be some help if he is healthy.

Burres is the Moyer clone. Let's hope the O's don't let him go like they did Moyer. Pitchers like him drive hitters nuts.

I wish people would get off Amber's case. As far as I'm concerned morons like David and their sophomoric comments should just be prohibited.

Steve is entitled to his opinion but I think he misunderstands what Amber's trying to do in her interviews. Given that we have Buck, Palmer, Dempsey, Gary, Dave, Fred, Joe, Jimmy, etc. to do the Xs and Os stuff, Amber's trying do give us more of a view of what the players are like as people. I think she does that well. For example, her interview with Shuey was revealing if only people took the time to listen.

Ray -

I mistakenly put your name instead of someone else's about the DH thing. Sorry

I was saying it looked like Burress was out of gas in the 6th and was surprised that Trembley stayed with him. That surprise continued as Burress rebounded and was left in for over 116 pitches. I didn't think he had enough to go that far into a game. I wasn't complaining about him going that far, just surprised. Anything to avoid this bullpen.

My point about Burres and Bell is that Bell has been a starter for his whole career. He has shown this year from spring to AAA to his relief appearance against the Angels on Friday that he has vastly improved this year over his career "journeyman" numbers. Burres' splits as a starter and reliever show he is much better as a reliever.

The O's have the 5th best starter's ERA in the bigs but the 4th worst bullpen ERA. This is the reason they're 9 games under and 14 back. Putting both Bell and Olson in the starting rotation doesn't really degrade the rotation, but moving Burres to the pen vastly upgrades it. It that allows them to start holding leads more frequently, they're better off overall.