Albers on Albers
Matt Albers obviously is happy to be back after being sent out twice this season. He hopes he can stick around for awhile this time, but that depends on the next pitching move. His best chance of staying is if the club moves Brian Bass into the No. 5 slot instead of calling up one of the Triple-A guys.
He said he feels like he figured some things out during his time at Norfolk.
"I feel good,'' Albers said. "I thought I pitched pretty well there and … I got the call this morning and drove up from Norfolk and I am glad to be here."
On changes he has made: "I went to the kind of things I was doing last year. Just trying to throw a lot of sinkerballs, get ahead in the count, work in my breaking ball. Same sort of thing I just got more consistent work down there and was able to work on some things and it went pretty well."
On staying up this time: "That’s the plan. Whenever I get called back up, try not to get called back down. … You try not to worry about it, you try to take one outing at a time. Try to do what I can and try to stay here as long as I can, obviously. It’s kind of one of those things, a numbers game. You never know."
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Comments
Welcome back Fatty Matt.
Posted by: Mick | May 22, 2009 5:12 PM
How do minor league options work? Is it a set number that each player receives? How many does Matt Albers have left?
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Pete's reply: Players generally have three options that start burning after two years in the minor leagues.
Posted by: Fan in IL | May 22, 2009 5:45 PM
Very disappointed that the O's didn't promote a new prospect like David Hernandez or David Pauley. Albers didn't do well in the first two times, and will NOT do well again. Albers will be like Eaton - waiting to be another failure...
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Pete's reply: You'll get one of those guys on Tuesday. There's no reason to call up a starter until then.
Posted by: disappointedO's | May 22, 2009 5:56 PM
This is a side note but I think Albers, Reimold, and Hill are good examples of what having a affiliate in closeby Norfolk means instead of Ottawa. With Albers we've already called him up and down a few times as a matter of near housekeeping. Reimold was pretty much a emergency callup. Could we imagine having to pull off the same moves thru a club located in another country far north? We've seen so many strange callups straight out of Bowie the last few years, Daniel Cabrera's and/or Hayden Penn's callups come to mind. Is there any connection of affiliate location and convenience with rushing prospects?
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Pete's reply: I'm sure it has had an effect at times, but I think MacPhail is pretty conscious of not rushing guys.
Posted by: Basemonkey | May 22, 2009 6:58 PM
Very disappointed in disappointed that he thinks Albers will automatically fail.
What, you have your crystal ball out?
Many a player over the years has gone down for fine tuning and come up and done just fine and judging from Albers' first inning and a third against a good hitting team, looks like maybe he just might.
Sometimes I think these Baltimore fans hope they Orioles fail so they can wallow in their negativity.
Sorry, I'll choose to think positive. Having grown up on Chicago's northside does that to a person.
Posted by: Ken | May 22, 2009 9:55 PM
DH needs to pray for a rainout to get himself up here..What a start tonight.
Posted by: John | May 22, 2009 10:30 PM
Ken;
Well said. I've been watching the O's from Toronto for a long time and can remember Baltimore for having the best fans. Number 1 without a question. There still are a lot of them. I read their comments on this board, but there sure is a lot of wallowing going on too.
Despite the losing record, there's a lot to like. The outfield with Nick and Jones, and a dogfight in left with Reimold, Pie and Montanez. When was the last time we saw so much competition for a spot?
Best of all, the great looking young pitchers in the minors just starting to knock on the door. Bergeson, Berken, Hernandez, Tillman, Arrieta, Patton, Erbe, Matusz.
I'm with you. Keep the faith.
Posted by: bob c | May 23, 2009 1:02 AM
albers look good l;ast night. he was a definite asset last year. for hernandez to pitch tuesday it would be on 3 days rest. 4 days rest for berken
Posted by: fkterp | May 23, 2009 7:18 AM
Who really is the most vulnerable in the bullpen? My vote is Mark Hendrickson, the last remaining journeyman starter. Has he even made an appearance since losing his spot in the rotation?
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Pete's reply: Yes, in New York. Pitched okay.
Posted by: Chris | May 23, 2009 8:46 AM
As a lifelong Cubs fan and O's fan for the past 6 years, I understand losing teams. Although this team is losing, they are not losers. This is a necesary growing period that will pay strong divedends in the years to come.
As for Albers, he pitched well last year before his injury, so I completely disagree with the comment that Albers is like Eaton. Couldn't be more wrong. I think many so called O's fans like complaining about them losing more then they like watching them play. If they actually watched them play, they would see the beginning of a Bergesson (pitched strong innings in NYC) Riemhold taking hold, Montenez contributing, Jones, Markakis become one of the best 2-3 punches in the league...you would have to be blind to not understand the pieces are starting to come together.
Posted by: paul | May 23, 2009 8:50 AM
Bob and Ken,
I agree that Baltimore used to have the best fans in baseball and were optimistic about their team but 12 years of bad baseball will do that to you.... even the Cubs have come close to winning...the O's have not.
Posted by: David | May 23, 2009 8:54 AM
How can anyone give Trambley a A for this year we are out of it already.I now we are rebuilding but COME ON.
Posted by: D.Rich | May 23, 2009 9:44 AM