To be honest Roch Walker tweaking his hamstring doesn't bother me at all. Maybe a 15 day stint on the DL can help straighten him out.

well, we shall see what ends up happening this inning...but as i mentioned in another post a few days ago, unlike Perlozzo, Trembley has a much slower hook. However, he seems to bring a guy back out and then takes them out when they fail to retire a few batters. At least in the cases of Guthrie once or twice, Olson 3 times and Burres at least twice, the inherited runners have scored.

As i type, Ramirez double play. So still 2 on two out and Lowell up.

Still though, a TON of "plus" innings with inherited runners scoring. If i was a pitcher for the Orioles, i'd really dread seeing Walker come into the game when my runners were on base. Walker seems done and has no confidence left which compounds the fact that he really doesn't have the stuff to get out of trouble and/or put batters away.

It's hard to second guess the chance to leave the starter out there, especially since he seems to take them out before they bring up the potential winning run...but for the most part, this bullpen has been extremely strong. They can work a few innings and all relievers prefer to come in with no one on base.

Jim Johnson is GOD.

Walker's hurt? Bob? Oh, Bob?

Wow!!! Jim Johnson just pitched a terrific inning. He keeps after Manny until inducing a picture-perfect DP, then gets Lowell to fly out. Bases loaded and noone out...what a way to shut them down. Score remains 5-3 Birds.

Jim Johnson is my hero... I like him in the setup role... should Trembley have taken out Guthrie? Probably, but I have no problem with him showing confidence in his starter... considering how many of his starts they've wasted...

Jim Johnson for President.

Wow - Johnson is the MAN! Is he too valuable to let him start? I think maybe he is...

Again Trembley persists in staying too long with Guthrie.

The rationale will probably be that he is stretching out his starters because he "only" has seven relievers.

Thanks goodness for Johnson. This guy is for real.

uh oh... maybe i should retract my statement...

Guthrie was pitching well, five straight shutout innings. With the crap we've been getting out of Walker and Bradford, I think it's hard to fault Dave for trying to get one more inning from him. All's well that ends well, although it took a Houdini act by Johnson.

It's just too bad Johnson has walked these guys in the 8th. Pitched his heart out in the 7th, just couldn't do it in the 8th. I think this one's going in the loss column unfortunately. This is one we should have won.

Jim Johnson. You can say God, but I say he's God and Good!

Yeah, I don't really feel any pain for Walker, but I digress because my hamstring isn't tweaked. But, if he goes on the DL, all the better for everybody.

Home plate umpire Laz Diaz is terrible... the call on ortiz was bad and his strike zone was terrible all night...

I like it. I've said from the beginning that I like the fact that Trembley goes longer with his starters. He's not afraid to go against the book. That is the difference between good managers, and great managers.

I've flipped up my bill! What a sweet 8th & 9th by Johnson & Sherrill--take that, Boston!

Jim Johnson is the most improved pitcher in baseball. This kid is for real, even though he couldn't get out of the 8th inning. His Houdini act in the 7th was absolutely the turning point (other than Luuuuke's homer). What a win!

By the way, I thought Diaz' call was a good one. His bat still went through the strike zone.

5 out save for Sherrill - Wow! Great win!

IMHO, Ortiz swung -- good call.

Great game. No more Nick T-shirt nights, though. He ends up hitless on a night that the other bats are hot, against Beckett no less. Q is for Quit second-guessing Trembley; he's got a good feel for this .500 team and the future looks better and better.

One of the great duels between Johnson and the great Manny Ramirez. Ramirez had some great swings, but Johnson was a little bit better each time. Johnson has shown that he has the temperament to match.

Sooner or later Johnson will have to be moved to starting rotation.

Good stuff!!! I think the home plate umpire is due for an eye exam.

Bad call on Ortiz? That's BASEBALL!

I like the face that Trembley is keeping the guys in there, simply because I think that was a managerial decision BEFORE the season started - "Let's see what these young guys can do, and then let's get ready for the future".

Of course, the future could be NOW?!?!?

well, even if it isn't, it sure is FUN!

I have said it before......why is Jim Johnson not starting. He been absolutely amazing out of the pen. Instead of him shutting down batter for an inning, give him a chance to shut down batter for 7!

GREAT WIN!!! GO O'S!!!

Now that brings a question. Will Trembley use Johnson for that power arm between Olson and Burres?

If they don't want to move Traschel to the bullpen, demote him to Triple A, and have him help the pitchers down there.

It all works out for everybody!

Johnson is clearly a different pitcher from the kid who was called up for a few starts a few years ago. He has a ton of confidence--deservingly so--and not to many a Cabrera like 2 seamer. He's consistently around the plate but mixes his pitches well enough. Obviously this kid has a huge future and Trachsel is 36, pitching horribly, and not a cornerstone to this rebuilding franchise. He's just a stop gap--and a horrible one at that--and i think it's time for him to go.

I honestly think they brought in Trachsel again because management was afraid this team would be so young and bad...they needed a guy who could give them some innings. Obviously these pitchers have proven management and critics wrong by being a year or so ahead of schedule. They certainly don't need Trachsel at this point and have enough young arms to fill the void capably. This is the first time in years there are plenty of candidates who deserve to start

I think a rotation of

Guthrie
Cabrera
Olson
Burres
Albers

is very capable and for those who think they need to stay in the bullpen...i'd take 6 strong over 1 exceptional any day. These kids are the future and they seem at this point to be ready for the next challenge. Dump Trachsel and give one of these guys a shot. Let's face it, even if a few of them falter out of the pen and in the rotation, it's not hard to fill the void of another Traschel like pitcher.

A dime a dozen...

OK, I'll stick my head in the lion's mouth. Jim Johnson is not starting because he has not been stretched out enough to go 5 innings let alone 6 which is what the Os would need from him if they take him out of the bullpen. And even with 6 innings who are you going to pitch in the 7th and 8th? He is the long man in the bullpen which means 3 innings pitched a night tops. He'd have to go back to extended spring training to be able to pitch deep into a game.

Lance Diaz is known as one of the better umpires in the game.The call on Ortiz was absolutely correct,you can't truly judge intent but the rule says if the bat travels past home plate,it's a swing.The bat clearly traveled past home plate.Melvin Mora got called out on a similar play earlier this year even though it looked like his bat hadn't crossed home plate.JIm Johnson also made some good pitches in the 8th inning,but I've been noticing more and more how umpires with huge strike zones in the beginning of the game,start squeezing the plate late.All hitters want is for umpires to be consistent.Jamie Walker on the DL might not be a bad thing,it's not like he's getting lefties out,lately not even every once in a while.The guy is getting killed.

Wow, great performance from Johnson and Sherrill!! That said, that call on Ortiz was a bad call. He certainly did not swing. But, we will take it!

With Johnson pitching the way he is, I can see why everyone is expecting him to crack the rotation. But trading Sherrill before the deadline has also been in the discussion. The FO may be much more inclined to trade Sherrill if Johnson keeps up his Dennis Eckersley impersonation. Johnson demonstrated last night he has the toughness to be a stopper. Oh, and his stuff is rediculous. Did anyone notice Johnson hit 97 with his 2-seam FB? I like all the options emerging from our young talented pitchers.