Player move
Needing a pitcher who can give them multiple innings, the Orioles activated Jon Leicester from the disabled list and promised to keep his pitch count under 500.
I believe that's how many he threw in that May 12 game in Boston.
Leicester had his contract purchased from Triple-A Norfolk. To make room for him, the Orioles designated Rob Bell for assignment.
They hope that Bell clears waivers in three days and can join them in Tampa on Tuesday, after rosters expand.
Here's the lineup:
Brian Roberts - 2B
Corey Patterson - CF
Nick Markakis - RF
Miguel Tejada - SS
Kevin Millar - 1B
Melvin Mora - 3B
J.R. House - DH
Ramon Hernandez - C
Jay Payton - LF
Jeremy Guthrie - P
Roberts vows to play tonight, but he's walking gingerly because of pain on the top of his left foot.
Roberts injured his foot while sliding into third base, but he compounded the problem by dropping a can of soda on the exact same spot this morning. Roberts was re-stocking his fridge, a can slipped out of his hand and he instinctively stuck out his foot to keep it from exploding on the floor.
The can, not his foot.
I commend Roberts for staying in the lineup. This would have been the perfect excuse, with the team playing so poorly, to sit on the bench tonight.
Comments
With his string of sup-par performances, not surprising that Bell got DFA'd . Even with the shortage of pitching in MLB, it's doubtful that anyone will claim him so we may end up seeing him again(ugh!).
Actually, he looked ok earlier in the season but obviously things went downhill from there. Maybe he caught the dreaded Chen/Ortiz/Brower/Dejean syndrome. for which there is no apparent cure.
Posted by: TerryP | August 30, 2007 5:09 PM
That bullpen needs to be disinfected before anyone else catches the Chen/Ortiz/Brower/Dejean virus.
That might actually entertain the fans.... between innings.... have the Bird put on a hazard suit and powerwash the bullpen!!!
Posted by: Alan in VA | August 30, 2007 5:20 PM
I wish we could DFA the whole bullpen... Just kidding.
Random question: Any news on who the September call-ups are going to be? I know there was some concern from others about wasting money because we are doing so bad, but I believe it's time to just give up and let the kids play. But once again, that's just my opinion... :)
Also, I know that we have really dropped the ball, but I was completely taken back by the booing of Jim Hoey the other night. I was at the game, and while it was indeed painful to watch, there is no excuse for screaming at a kid who started the year in Bowie and was lights out in the minors this year. If you want to boo someone, boo our $42 Million Men in the Pen.
Posted by: Megs | August 30, 2007 5:23 PM
Has Roberts had X-rays? He'd better not have a broken foot! His chase for 200 hits and possibly the stolen base title were going to be just about the only reasons to watch any O's games the rest of this season!
Posted by: Anne | August 30, 2007 5:34 PM
The simple fact is that most of the guys currently in the bullpen are either worn down from overwork (Bradford anyone?), or just not that good. Burres got by for a while as a starter, but he's never thrown this many innings before and is running out of gas. There's a reason Bell was available in the spring. Baez is also just a mediocre reliever. Hoey is simply lacking confidence. Walker has pitched well and I think Bradford can come back. The entire bullpen dynamic is seriously screwed up right now.
That $40 million investment is looking real good right now.
Posted by: Ryan CMU | August 30, 2007 5:38 PM
The only good reason to watch an O's game = Jeremy Guthrie
Posted by: Wooley | August 30, 2007 5:57 PM
I had a list ready to post and I see one is here. To help the BP in Sept Fernando Cabrera , Jon Leicester , Bob McCrory, Jaret Wright .Other players I'd like to see are Luis Hernandez , Mike Cervenak and Nolan Reinold .I think if Jaret can picth one inning lets try him at closing
Posted by: John | August 30, 2007 6:44 PM
Ryan CMU. You are right about the fatigue factor. Bradford and Walker have been decent but both are not used to being called upon so often. They probably deserve a raise! Walker may be regretting leave Detroit for a few extra mill. Although the Tigers are struggling right now at least they are playing for a playoff berth, rather than for 4th place.
My theory on Bradford is that teams are seeing him more often and that unorthodox delivery isn't so much of a mystery.
I've laid into Baez enough so I'll back off for now, other than to say-anybody want this guy for free? Seriously, this should be the first order of business in the off-season-eating the remaining 12 mill of his contract.
Posted by: TerryP | August 30, 2007 6:54 PM
John, Good list. I would add Knott and Castillo to the list of players and Craig Anderson, Hayden Penn and Jim Miller to the pitchers.
If the O's bring up enough guys they can match up batter for batter with the bullpen!
Posted by: TOM D | August 30, 2007 7:29 PM
i'm thinking the O's need to somehow hold off the Rays tonite... restoring their 8 game cushion on 4th place-in the division of course... Though finishing no lower than 5th should be enough to continue to attracting top-tier free agents, I would have to say.
Go O's!!!
For this particular post, I was asked to enter the letter 'y' in the field below.
Good question I say.
Posted by: jim66 | August 30, 2007 8:01 PM
Man that's scary to hear about Roberts!
Just goes to show you how serious of health problems soda can cause.
Posted by: Nick | August 31, 2007 7:27 AM