Peter,
Maybe it is time to provide an analysis of the possible top level college talent the O's will have to choose from in next year's draft. At the current rate, they will get one of the first five picks next year.

This at least gives us diehard fans something to look forward to in the O's next 10 months. :)

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Pete's reply: Might be a tad early for that.

Well, at least Olsen made it to the 6th inning. Quite an accomplishment for this staff.

Liz pitches tomorrow. I love his delivery. Maybe he'll fall off the side of the mound. That would be the best thing since earlier this year when Sarfate dropped the ball in his wind up >:-\

And yea. Signing Teixeria will solve this problem. So instead of losing 12-5 we'll lose 12-7. Has anyone noticed that CC Sabathia will be a free agent? Or Ben Sheets? Or Rich Harden? Mike Lackey?

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Pete's reply: That would be John Lackey.

Hey, do you think the Orioles would sign me? I consistently threw strikes in Little League. Granted my fastball probably tops out at 65, but I have a decent curveball, and I wouldn't walk any batters.

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Pete's reply: Are you arbitration eligible?

Andy MacPhail's Christmas 2008 shopping list.....

Pitching
Pitching
Pitching

I blame the pitchers, as any number of the guys could cement their status for the future with this club. It seems like these young kids really like playing for the Tides so I hope they enjoy being there next year. I guarantee that Andy will not go into next season with these arms. He really had is first look this year at the likes of Olson, Liz and Burres.

I agree with you list Pete, but walking out of Madonna's apartment would be a plus in my book. Heck, I would walk so slowly out of there, you would think I was Mr. Olson pitching on a Monday in Boston.

Peter,

Do you think the reason Trembley seems to be using the vets more than the guys who actually have a chance to be here in 2010 is because his contract has not been renewed and he's trying (unsuccessfully) to get as many victories as possible to save his job? Once we're destined to finish last I don't care if we finish 20 games out or 30 out, I'd rather see the young guys play out the string.
Also, I know Ramone Hernandez is under contract for another year for too much $$, but I think his being behind the plate is hindering our young pitchers development. I know it's a lot of $$ to cut, but the future of our franchise lies in the young arms. My 2 cents.

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Pete's reply: I don't think that's it. I believe he likes Montanez and is protecting him a little while he gets acclimated to new ballparks. A lot of posters are angry about this, but if the kid looks bad defensively for a month, it's going to make it much harder for him to play a meaningful role in the future. There's more to it than just hitting.

I disagree Peter. I think they all listened. I just don't think any of them actually absorb the message and think about why they get in trouble with walks, or analyze what was going through their heads when they started off a hitter who eventually walked. If they actually stop to think about what triggers walks for them, results might change. Olsen got two nice strikes on the corner on the first two pitches he threw to the first batter he faced last night, and then spent the rest of the inning needlessly trying to hit that same spot. Note how many of the best starters in the game seem to have their most trouble in the first inning? Is that because they are feeling their way into the strike zone and into the hitters' heads? Do they try and paint the corner from pitch one, or do they just try to make sure they have a grip on the strike zone before moving the ball around more? Palmer was the master of knowing when he could throw the bp fastball down the middle with impunity (at the Hall of Fame this weekend, his ability to read hitters was noted somewhere). With Olsen, you get the opposite. After walking three in the first, what do you think every Red Sox hitter was thinking in the next inning. Right, the same thing everyone on the planet was thinking, which is he is going to groove pitches down the middle to avoid walking people. I used to always wonder why half the NBA could not beat half my high school team in a free throw shooting contest, and why so many major league pitchers don't know how to pitch. The answer is the same for both, they never had to from their earliest memories, when they were overpowering everybody respectively with dunks and heat. Anyway, until the Orioles' pitchers really analyze the "why," they will never figure out "how" to change it.

When I flipped on the TV last night and saw it was 3-3 in the sixth inning and Olson was still pitching, I thought to myself, well that's not so bad. Of course, he never made it out of the sixth and by the time the inning was over it was 6-3. So I guess it wasn't so good either. Amazing that he still has a winning record for the year.

I'm almost 100% sure that John Lackey is not a free agent this season

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Pete's reply: He won't be. I was just correcting the first name on that post. The Angels have a $9 million option, which they will almost certainly exercise.

I'll say what I've been saying forever: give me a good four-man rotation. Trying to stretch the talent to five men only makes more evident that they are stretched too far. Jim Palmer and Earl Weaver and former GM Pat Gillick all agree that they need to change the way the minor handles this; give each of four starters more starts (yes, you have to change what you do between starts), and build up their arm strength with 5-8 more starts, both of which would help better prepare them for the majors.

The economic incentives do not make much sense to me. You'd have one fewer starter to pay, and you'd have improve the quality of your starting rotation. Plus, your fifth starter would be a long reliever and strengthen your bullpen. Finally, if you had a lot of pitching talent, it makes it easier to trade for a position player.

The only proven starter on the O's right now is Guthrie. I'd must rather have to fill 3 spots than 4.

Konrad Herling