Oh my goodness , did Brian Roberts got traded ??????

You guys are going to have fun with this lineup today! Who knows . . . maybe it will work. Didn't Belanger own Nolan Ryan? Rebulet own Randy Johnson?

Lou Montanez, if you're reading this, congratulations and get to Baltimore soon. We're going to need all the help we can get.

Orioles should promote Alex Cintron ASAP. I've already seen enough of Juan Castro.

Hey roch why no comment on why roberts is not inthe starting lineup. I know you just assume that he is giving him a off day for rest, but i am telling you he realizes that he is starting to tank , just like he did last year after he realized there wasn';t any hope in playing. 7 for his last 45, and playing with no emotion what so ever.Take a good look at that line up. there are 4 automatic outs in it and they have nerve to charge full price for today's game . Dog day's of august are here gentlemen and this team will slowly fade in the sunset with a worse record then last year.
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You didn't get a comment about Roberts earlier because I hadn't talked to the manager yet. Now I have and here it is: Trembley said Roberts is scuffling and he wanted to give him a day off. Nothing injury related. - Roch

Not exactly the look of a line-up that breaks 2 losing streaks. In response to Liz's "pop up" fiasco, at what point does the coaching staff take accountability for this series of fundamental mistakes? Not a game goes by without a base running blunder, or someone missing a cut off man. Trembley has this team playing hard, but its time to mix that with sound baseball.

Allan - Half hour later I had the same thought. Sickening feeling. Did Roberts get traded? Let's hope it's what the manager says.

Seeing as it will likely be a 3-month rip-a-thon on the pitchers from here on out, I would like to point out that the offense has been absolutely spectacular (relative to expectations) this year. We put up another 5-spot against the Angels and consistent production even in the losses. If the offense were not mashing the ball, we would truly be in a battle for one of the worst teams of the decade. The offense can't control what goes on with our sorry pitching staff.

For the first time in many years, our offense wasn't hyped up at all by the FO and they go out and have 5-6 players closing in on 20-25 HRs. With even mediocre pitching (4.5 ERA) we would have another 5 wins in July. It would be nice to get a vet and that is why I hoped Trax could give some quality starts. He could not. Don't bring up AA guys. Not worth it.

I agree with Ken Camel that JJ is often not brought in during the most meaningful portion of the game. It is not always the 8th inning-- bring the man in when it matters most!

Also, does anyone else feel that Dave T has been contradicting himself lately with how important it is to support the players. His two week rant about the starting pitchers is supposed to be "supportive"? Do you think that Burres, Olson, Liz, and Cabrera don't know they are pitching like crap? Another they don't seem particularly sharp, I'm sure they know that an 8.00 ERA and lots of "L"'s are not good.

BTW, wasn't Montanez a former 1st round pick-- why isn't he getting a tryout? What happened to the experimentation during this rebuilding phase? JJ for starter like Joba!

I think Melvin Mora was supposed to get last Sunday off. Today he isnt in the lineup. Roch, do you know if Mora is out of the lineup today b/c of injury or is he out just to get a breather? I know he came out of the game last night. Just wondering though.
I can see Montanez coming up in September. Reimhold is a maybe.
Cintron should be back soon too. Walker I think will be back near the end of the week. When he does, I hope a starter, Liz or Olsen, is sent down to straighten himself out.

Good Lord, I'm having a hard enough time as it is convincing myself that today is not the day to start skipping out on games in my plan...and then there is no Roberts AND both Fahey and Castro in the lineup at the same time. Are they trying to break my spirit completely?! *sigh*

BTW bob lancione - Not only are you still an idiot, but you're proving to be quite an @ss as well. Bravo!

If it works, and if Fahey plays a brilliant game and gets on base four times, starts 3 double plays, and we break the Sunday streak, then I guess the trade-Brian rumors get pretty hot, eh?

Before we rip too deeply into a young, learning to pitch at the big league level, pitching staff, we might want to look at Detroit's rotation a few years ago, right before their world series run. Maroth, Robertson, and Verlander got tattooed regularly....Patience, locals, patience.....

I'm not worried: Roberts badly needs a day off and Trembley should have left him on the bench today, even if he didnt ask.

Ken "The Camel" Francis - Good job on laying out the O's issues a couple of posts back. I don't disagree that Kranitz should be held accountable for the lack of progress on our young starters, but there is something else you need to consider. We have had both Leo Mazzone & now Kranitz working with our young pitching staff. Pitching coaches deserve some credit and some critisism depending on how the staff performs. However you need to have pitchers with both the mental as well as physical ability to pitch. I think we are sorely lacking in both areas. If we have two of the top pitching coaches in the business here, then you have to consider that there are other issues in play here.

Pitching is much like a chess match. Not every pitcher needs to have Beckett, Peavy or Santana ability. The Jamie Moyers of the world exceed because they have the mental aspect of pitching down. They mix up their pitches, and more importantly, throw them for strikes. I think the pitching we have added over the last few years is of better quality, however most of our prospects in the past were over hyped. Now we have some quality to work with, as well as new teachers in the system. Tillman, Erbe, Arrietta, Hernandez & Matusz will give us more depth in the rotation, and potential to develop, which ias something even the scouts are now conceding for the first time about Oriole prospects. Let's face it, most of us knew full well of the lack of quality arms available to the O's before the season even started. Andy MacPhail can not fix that in one or two years. Now we have at least added some depth. And as most figured, key injuries would do this staff in. I think Lowen & Albers qualify as key!

Jim in Dundalk - look quite frankly I have no doubt that you and I are loyal fans to the end. And please believe me, Angelos has irritated the hell out of me too! Many times. When we lost Mussina to free agency and signed a player like Belle, I wrote fiery and spirited note to the p[ublic relations office, to his attention. Never got an answer, but it did make me feel better. However, Angelos has conceeded in some areas, evidence of the trades this past off season, putting the name Baltimore back on the uniform, and releasing Gibbons. Eating contracts is not like giving up monopoly money. I'm not saying he's suddenly the savior here, but I have to take the small amounts of progress the organization is making. And we are making progress.

In regards to Weiters, having played some minor league ball my self, I can tell you that although manageent certainly encourages signing autographs, there is always the constant reminder of acting like a professional, and to focus on the upcoming game as well as personal preperations. Ya'll might want to consider that before villifying Weiters.

Hey tracy the truth always hurts doesn't it

Greetings from sec 27. My superstitious son will not let me eat anything at the game today that I've eaten this year. No Boog's, no Uncle Teddy's. I'm dyin' here.

Separately, what day is Tillman scheduled to start this week? I can't find a web site that lists starts.

Hunter & Dempsey praise Markakis for hitting the first pitch and dump on Payton for the same thing.....what's the deal?

For everyone begging Roch for trade rumors . . . it may be that there are none. At least not yet. remember how deliberate MacPhail was over the winter. I have no problem waiting to the deadline for something to happen. Also, guys like Bradford, Walker, Hernandez, Mora, and Payton are all likely to clear waivers and may not be dealt til August.

I do have one request of team management. If you don't do anything else, PLEASE, PLEASE get rid of Jay Payton. Today Millar walks to load the bases, Scott is hit by pitch, and Payton swings at the very first pitch. Not a first-pitch fastball. So instead of us having a 3 run plus first inning, we are stuck at two. Dempsey then had the nerve to back him. Where's the DISCIPLINE DT?

Also, for those hoping to see Montanez here. Why do you think Reimold was moved to leftfield this week at Bowie?

Hey, Roch. This blog doesn't write itself! You've been talking to Amber for 2 innings. You're on the clock, man!

Payton's now 0 fer 2 with the bases loaded today. Those play-off teams should really be clamoring to get him now...

Payton may be going for the Mora record of 11 LOB in one game. Six after two innings.

not that Payton doesn't deserve to be ripped at times, but "rip" equally! Results shouldn't determine whether a player should be criticized or not.....Now striking out swinging on 3 pitches after 2 consecutive walks....that deserves criticism!!!!

Winston,
Thanks!!! and remember, you promised!
Roberts should be traded
Sherrill, too
Huff, too
Values are high
Trade dcab before his value goes lower, which is likely.
Trade Payton and Millar because value won't change and you may get someone who can help in a couple years.

What’s the truth, bob? ... That you're an idiot or an @ss? Both?

Time to celebrate? Olson has completed 6 and gone 3 times through the heart of the Angels lineup. You have to send him out for the 7th. Its called growing pains.

'c' is for can't Celebrate mediocrity

Let me go on the record to say - I DO NOT LIKE the decision to pull Olson for Bradford. Over-managing at its finest. Olson threw 6 quality innings, induced 2 double plays. H needs to be given an opportunity to grow, mature, and work out of a jam like this, especially when handed a four-run lead. I understand the appeal of getting the Sunday monkey off their back is great, but I guess I am thinking more long-term.

As I type this, Bradford just got a DP to get out of the inning. No matter. I hope the team wins, but I would have much rather had Olson work out of it.