Why the fixation on using a lefty on left handed batters? This smells exactly like the "we have no choice but to go with Millar" thinking. In 30 ABs Jim Johnson has a .100 BAA vs LHB while in 47 ABs Matt Albers has a .147 BAA. Why is Dave Trembly so stubborn when it comes to making changes?

Kurt Birkins.

Oh wait we let him get away...

Maybe this is thinking outside of the box but WHY do we need a “left handed specialist”?

Call me crazy but aren’t we better off carrying pitchers that can get out BOTH left-handed AND right-handed hitters? Recently, there has been some comparison between our current staff and the nine man staff that Earl Weaver used to carry. The reason that Weaver could have a five man bullpen is that at least three of those pitchers could go at least three innings.

Why not carry an eleven man bullpen that has at least three relievers that can pitch a minimum of three innings per appearance. Right now we have Albers (if he doesn’t end up in the rotation), Johnson (if he doesn’t become the closer), and Bierd (when he comes off the DL), that could pitch at least three innings an appearance. If Albers and Johnson move into new roles we could bring up Penn and Liz to take those roles. Both Penn and Liz have shown that they can’t pitch efficiently enough to be effective starters. Put them in a role where they could limit themselves to their best pitches (once through the order), and they could be very effective. They might also learn how to pitch so that they could join the rotation.

After Bradford and Walker are gone I would like to see the role of “specialist” retired in favor of pitchers that can be counted on for at least three outs.

Speaking of Roberts. Andy Mc. would be a big loser if he were to appear on " Deal Or No Deal." If he's our savior, I'm an astronaut !

Just got in from visiting my mom and listening to the Orioles on the car radio. Does anyone else find Fred Manfra's play-by-play totally frustrating? He's very pleasant and has a nice voice, but he absolutely loses track of what's happening. Today, we got a full description of Aubrey Huff's encounter with a beach ball and near the end of this detailed description, Fred happened to mention that Huff did not catch the pop up that he was chasing. I don't know how many times I have yelled at the radio, "SO WHAT HAPPENED, FRED?!?" He tends to handle play-by-play the way Earl Williams used to catch: Once the ball stopped rolling, he would pick it up. With Fred, once the play is over, he'll tell you what happened. C'mon, Fred, you're a likeable guy and I know that you can do better!

Roch, I agree. Trembley has to split Burres and Olson up. Pitching staff: 1.Guthrie 2.Cabrera(maybe 1 soon) 3.Olson 4.Trachsel 5. Burres. Maybe Trembley should use these next few days off to set up the staff !

Venting, you are absolutely right. He always plays catch up and often calls the play after it already has occurred. Try watching the game on tv with the volume down and the radio play by play on. I used to do it all the time when Chuck Thompson was on the radio. It's a joke now. Trouble is there is not enough talent out there and because he's got a good voice, Manfra probably is as good as we can do. At least he's not as bad as Johnny Holliday doing Maryland hoops. He might as well just give us the final score. We'd do better making up the rest of it for ourselves.

With regard to the lefty v. lefty stuff, sure you can pull out anomolies but the stats overall show overwhelmingly that hitters don't hit the curve that breaks away, as opposed to the one that breaks in. You genuises who think otherwise clearly should be running baseball teams. The solution is to get a better lefty, not to pitch right handers against leftys.

Rock please don't tell me what choice do the orioles have but to keep running him out. It the same choice that all the other teams are confronted with right now. Today milw took away the closer's roll from eric Gagne, San diego , released edmonds, st louis took the closer roll away from there closer. and on and on and on. We are almost at the quarter mark of the season so why is it that the orioles are the only team that has to put up with ineffective and out right terrible pitching.from him.

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Which takes me back to my original question: What's the option? Who takes his place? Or do we scrap the percentages and let, as at least one reader suggested, the Jim Johnsons and Matt Albers of the world face the tough lefties? Give me Plan B. - Roch

Roch lefthanders are batting close to 400 against him , anybody would do a better job then that. I keep hearing about past accomplishments,you and i have both seen players lose things over night and i do believe that he falls in that category> I saw a dave trembley quote and he isn't the least bit concerned with his performance. I think that evaluation is down right scary.That means that they aren't even considering replacing him. Next week i will be writing to you and the only differnce will be that he will have let 15 inherited runners to score by this time next week. Please help me to understand where he get's or deserves all this loyalty that he is getting.

I'm just catching up with weekend entries, so I don't know whether anyone will see this post but it's on this topic, so here goes. Bob, the Orioles would surely be the most dysfunctional organization in baseball if they were to release Walker for him having a bad month. What kind of a precedent is that? What player would ever want to play here? Walker was solid for us last year, despite overuse. For three years before that, he was a great lefty specialist for the Tigers. If that's not enough to cut him slack in a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately mentality, why haven't the Red Sox cut David Ortiz by now? Walker has been ineffective in a handful of games for the Orioles, Ortiz has been terrible in many more for the Red Sox. I know I'm pushing this argument to the absurd, but I hope it's useful in making a point.

I liked KC's uni's. It reminds me of George Brett's tobacco spitting tempor tantrum in NYC. That & Dan Quisenberry.

Albers or Johnson into the rotation; Burres to the 'pen. Should be done whether or not they need to replace Walker.

Johnson to the rotation would be a mistake. Why risk losing the dominance he brings? Plus, I remember his starts last year...not good.

Once Beird comes back, I'd say bye bye to Trachsel and move Albers into the rotation.