This start will show if the Taxi man has come full circle.

As weak as our offense looks most nights, it goes from bad to worse when we face a lefty without The King or Ramon. We could still win if Cabrera throws a shutout, but you hate to waste one of his starts with a lineup like this.

Do you think we'll be seeing Matt in the majors a little earlier than we thought? :)

I sure hope Wieters can make the jump to the majors next year.

"I sure hope Wieters can make the jump to the majors next year."

He's gotta show he can handle AA ball first. There's no possible way he sees less than 200 minor league games before a call up. He's at a little under 40 right now, so maybe in the middle of 2009, but not sooner.

Are you kidding me...our first two batters see a total of 3 pitches. Way to work the count guys. We gave Lester an easy first inning...

So much for DCab getting the best of Pedroia today. Already happened the other way around. Let's hope the bats don't go dormant again today.

question: would an automatic out be more beneficial than having Payton actually bat? Worst swing on the team. how can a guy who's so aggressive never get a good swing on a fastball?

Jeff V,

Who are your sources? I see it being VERY likely that Wieters is our starting catcher next year.

Please...with his talent level it is possible. If he makes the jump to Bowie at around the all star break and does well, then has a strong spring of course he could make the team.

As Boros said last year, he is a once a decade type talent.

The idea is not to rush a player that isn't ready, holding a player in the minors for the sake of convention only hurts both the player and the team.

And for the record I have Wieter's game count at 75 not under 40.

The NESN announcers said that MLB is having special Manny Ramirez balls put into the game whenever he's at bat. The balls are marked to commemorate his 500th home run. Except, I don't get it--he's at 498. Do they think he'll hit two home runs in one at bat or something? Maybe he could wear a commemorative helmet to mark the 500th consecutive month he hasn't washed his disgusting, disgusting hair.

The reason potter & the FO had this game start at 3:05 is simple, it's not because O's fans don't have jobs, they are not part of the thought process as we all know.... the mid day start is to accommodate the Red Sux fans in town naturally. By noonish, they have dragged themselves out of bed, recovered from their hangovers & want something to do before they return to Hooters or Hustler's for the evening. A night game just wouldn't suit... no intelligent Suxs fan goes to Hooters or Hustlers in the late afternoon, come on guys, really....

Okay - how did THAT happen?? Since I can't get the game on the radio (the Orioles radio coverage outside the immediate Baltimore metro area is sorely lacking) I am tracking it on ESPN. How does Huff get doubled off first on a fly ball to left?

Is the sun in our hitter's eyes or something? We don't do well on Sundays -- aren't those usually day games...I have not looked at the schedule, but what is our record when the sun is shining?

Huh Jon? I too think it is very possible he will be on the team next year.

As for my sources well, I have yet to see a negetive review on the kid in any publication, I tracked him over the winter in Hawaii where he was named the #1 prospect there and have been getting fredrick keys audio over my computer this season.

You don't have me confused with the guy that didn't know that Wieters played 38 games of winter ball do you?

"And for the record I have Wieter's game count at 75 not under 40."

He has 33 games at Frederick. 31 games at Honu. 5 games in Spring Training.

I'm saying he needs at least 200 games in an Orioles affiliated minor league team. Just like every other decent college drafted professional baseball player gets.

Of Boras would say his client is a once a decade type talent. To him, all of his clients are.

damn, i guess i need to retract my comment about the Jay Payton automatic out. I hate to admit i was wrong, especially since i still hate Payton...but what a shot!!

I for one count games on the bench as games played and the Hawaiian league is a valid league.

"Just like every other decent college drafted professional baseball player gets."

So Ryan Zimmerman with his 67 games isnt decent? Or Alex Gordon and his 130 games? Ryan Braun and his 189 games? Troy Tulowitzki and his 151 games?

Thats all just from the first round of the 2005 draft. That doesn't include Justin Upton since he played 216 games OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL.

Jeff V - how do you have Wieters game count at 75 when this is his first year of minor league ball?

And to the Payton haters - how about that?!

All in good humor, folks, not slamming on anyone... Let's Go, O's!

Omigod. Jay Payton! Jay Payton! (Could that really have been Jay Payton?)

Let's go O's! Bullpen, it's up to you.

Jack, Wieters got a lot more out of those games in winter ball then he would of out of playing in say Aberdeen. The league is a mix of US and Japanese league players and some are rather advanced.