The lineup and more Millar
Brian Roberts - 2B
Nick Markakis - RF
Melvin Mora - 3B
Kevin Millar - 1B
Aubrey Huff - DH
Ramon Hernandez - C
Jay Payton - LF
Adam Jones - CF
Alex Cintron - SS
Garrett Olson - P
Miller was packed in ice today in the trainers room, as he received treatment for a sore right hamstring and left shin. Millar said he strained the hamstring about 10 days ago and has been running with a choppy stride to compensate for it. He fouled an Andy Pettitte pitch off his shin during Wednesday's game, leaving a pop tart-sized bruise.
I assumed it would be more round.
Millar won't concede that the hamstring caused him to slow up as he approached first base last night in the 12th inning, after Red Sox shortstop Julio Lugo bobbled his ground ball. Millar said he stopped as he hit the bag, rather than running through it, and it appeared that he slowed up. He also reminded us that he's painfully slow to begin with and put himself in exclusive speed-challenged company - Paul Konerko and Charles Johnson.
Bottom line: Millar doesn't want out of the lineup and said he knows his body well enough to tell that the hamstring will improve without rest. But manager Dave Trembley indicated that he'll soon rest Millar for a game, which sounds like a good idea to me.
Trembley was going to sit Millar Tuesday, decided against it and watched him hit two home runs.
Here are the Twins' starters for the series in Minnesota that begins Tuesday: Kevin Slowey, Glen Perkins and Boof Bonser.
Radhames Liz isn't scheduled to pitch for Triple-A Norfolk through Tuesday (Wednesday's starter is listed as TBA). The Tides are starting Ryan Bukvich tonight, Chris Waters Sunday, Jon Leicester Monday and Andy Mitchell Tuesday.
I'm predicting that Liz starts Tuesday in Minnesota. If I'm wrong, it won't be the first time.
Trembley said Matt Albers is still a consideration despite throwing three innings last night.
Meanwhile, Steve Trachsel will be in the bullpen tonight as the second long man, joining Lance Cormier in that role.
Comments
I guess Trembley listened to me and finally shuffled the line-up. Let's see if that line-up brings any kind of production.
As for Traschel, so he's in the pen, hmm? I guess we needed him to kick punts and kick-offs, huh? Oh wait, that's football, never mind.
Liz is an interesting choice for the starter, but I prefer Albers over Liz rated on their performance. If Albers does not throw in this series at all, he should be able to start against Minnesota. Of course, who can tell because of the offense-challenged offense and the long men?
Posted by: Ben W | May 31, 2008 5:26 PM
What not give Q some ab's? The word is out on Ramon's throwing game.
Posted by: Danny | May 31, 2008 5:27 PM
Starting Catcher: Ramon Hernandez. Are you kidding me?? Does Dave Trembley want Jacoby Ellsbury to break the MLB steals record by the end of this series? Ramon is a joke. He was awful last year and he might be even worse this year. Guillermo Quiroz should call his agent.
Posted by: Dylan | May 31, 2008 5:39 PM
It's incomprehensible why LH is still on this team and not Salazar.Also why in the world won't they just release Traschel? It's interesting that theyare promoting so many scrub pitchers to Norfolk while holding back on the valid prospects.Evidently Millar makes out the line up and not Trembley.
Posted by: John | May 31, 2008 5:45 PM
Please keep Liz in Triple-A. I think it would be wise to put Albers in the the rotation and Trachsel in the bullpen, at least for now.
Posted by: dave | May 31, 2008 6:16 PM
To all the people complaining about the roster construction. Yes it is disfunctional right now but I firmly believe McPhail is looking toward next year and the year after that. And if he says he's going to draft a pitcher bet on a position player getting picked. I'll bet he's a damn good poker player too.
I am pretty pleased overall with where the Orioles are right now. I figured there would be 90-100 losses and it doesn't look like that will happen now.
Rebuilding takes time and a few lumps along the way. This will all be forgotten when we win the Series in 2010.
Posted by: Satyr3206 | May 31, 2008 6:30 PM
"Steve Trachsel will be in the bullpen tonight as the second long man..." And the Boston hitters are salivating like a pack of starving dogs as they wait for a steak to be thrown in their midst. LOL
Posted by: Ken Francis | May 31, 2008 6:34 PM
I like Albers a lot -- let's get him in there for Tuesday's start.
Roch -- what's the minor league situation with all the infield positions besides catcher? my guess is that there's not much.
Posted by: Luke | May 31, 2008 7:14 PM
Why not play Huff at first and DH Millar?
Posted by: sudhir | May 31, 2008 7:17 PM
The second long man? Trembley might have invented a new position...
Posted by: Matt K. | May 31, 2008 7:27 PM
Umm, he's used this lineup before.
Q and others will not play because DT is just here to keep the peace until 2010. Thats all.
Exactly, why are the Orioles delaying the inevitable with Trachsel and Hernandez? If Liz is the guy for a start next week get him up here and comfortable, why waste time? Why bury Hernandez on the bench, what good does it serve? Why do they refuse to sit Millar? Salazar is what they can use on this team but won't make the decisions. He'd be perfect to give Millar a day off per month (wouldn't want him cranky by giving him too many days off), DH and pinch hit.
I guess that's too much when you're just trying to keep the peace in 2008.
Posted by: Another Frustrated Fan | May 31, 2008 7:35 PM
The team would be better off releasing Millar; he can't hit anymore (though I do love that Orioles Magic video). Let Huff play first. Get freely available talent to DH -- Todd Linden, for example -- or call up Luis Terrero.
Unnatural love for an unproductive player is a vestige of bad Orioles management. Time to change the era.
Posted by: section 34 | May 31, 2008 8:02 PM
Roch, do you think the Orioles' plan is to suffer through Ramon until Wieters is ready? I would think that wouldn't be for at least another year, quite possibly more.
Posted by: Andrew | May 31, 2008 8:36 PM