Pete,

Does anything in sports make sense? I say the O's take 2 of 3 from the Evil Empire and march in and sweep the series in DC. Let's get the party started!

Peter,

You noticing a trend here? Orioles play ___________ (insert team name here) and someone calls for you to call a reverse lock. Reason: The Orioles are a bad team. You could make an argument that calling a reverse lock on the season makes sense, given the Orioles' mediocrity. So, wait, does that mean we're going to win the World Series?

Oh Peter. You tiptoed right up to the line and then only a single reverse lock.
I'll go with Eaton as the second part of that 3 game, but thats far enough.
The best chance the O's have is to try and out homer the Yanks in that shiny new band box.

Let's say for argument's sake, that Eaton starts getting banged around in this next start just like Perkins tonight for Minn when he gave up back to backs to Texeira and Rodriguez. Instead of lifting Eaton if this does happen, I say leave him for the whole nine innings. Let him eat the loss, the innings, and the defeat. Save the relief pitching arms, give Eaton his final walking papers, call him a cab, and then someone get on the phone to Norfolk for a replacement. Be kind of like the Welsh longbow guys in the 100 year war drawing straws to see who'd stay behind to bayonet the dead and dying before the French arrived to torture the guys. Do it quick and clean and leave no doubt in Eaton's mind that he needs to retire with his millions and not prolong our torture.

Could you explain this 'reverse lock series sweep' language? Things are starting to get ridiculous here...

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Pete's reply: I admit it's silly. The reverse lock concept was popularized years ago by my buddy Jim Henneman, then of the Evening Sun. Basically, it's a situation where every indicator points one way, so that becomes the reason to go the opposite way. It's sort of a macro version of what seems to happen every time Jim Palmer or one of the other analysts point out that a certain pitcher hasn't given up a home run all year. You can almost bet that pitcher will give one up before the inning is over.

Might as well declare the season a reverse lock AFAIAC. 100 victories, here we come! Not.

The start of the second paragraph should be their, not they're.

Pete,

WIth the streak the evil empire is on right now, winning one game would be great. I'm going with Guthrie against Hughes, Hughes isn't that good. I agree completely with you that this will more than likely be Adam Eaton's last hurrah! Can't figure out who will get released or sent down, but my leading candidate again is Jaime Walker! With Hendrickson in the pen to serve as the situational lefty and Eaton as the long guy, look for Bass to get sent out!

Mr. Schmuck,

Is Hernandez the next in line because of a longer record of success in the minors?

I would assume that if Chris Tillman continues to pitch well, he would get some starts maybe after the All-Star break or when rosters expand? Things are looking good from some of the Orioles' top-end arms in the minors so far this season.

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Pete's reply: I think Hernandez would be next in line because he's pitching well and he's not one of the prospects that's being held back for developmental reasons.

Reverse Lock? With the O's this year, expect the unexpected but dont expect it to consistently happen because the year of inconsistency is upon us! We really have no idea from game to game which side of the O's we will see.....Offense? Defense? Fielding? Base running? Who knows what we will do!!!

Everyone--including every Oriole player and fan--is frustrated.

Honestly? I don't think McPhail, Trembley, or most of all Angelos have a clue as to how to really improve this team. They haven't done much in the past 2 years, and things ain't gonna get better all of a sudden.

The sad part is that the Orioles have a legit 1-6 batting order (whether Scott or Wiggington are in the lineup), but as is obvious, the 7, 8, and 9 spots are hurting.

Oh, for the days on 33rd St. (except for 1988).

Pete,

The Blue Jays seem to have struck lightning in a bottle with young pitchers Cecil and Romero and I was wondering if you knew if these guys were top prospects? Whether they are or not, the Jays have thrown them into the fire and they have been excellent. Why do the Orioles have to sit through Eaton and Hendrickson before we see Tillman and Arrieta?

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Pete's reply: Probably because one size doesn't fit all and they are trying to do what's best for those young pitchers. The Blue Jays obviously have had some great early success, but let's see how it plays out for awhile.

If the Orioles were really smart, they would bump Eaton from Thursday's game, pitch Hill on five days rest, insert Koji on five days rest Friday night in DC, and bring up a new pitcher like Pauley or Waters to start Saturday.

Bringing in a new pitcher worked wonders last Saturday so why not do it again? Giving extra rest to Koji did noty help his stamina so why not just leave him on a regular schedule? Eaton should be cut on Friday morning!

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Pete's reply: You have to take Hill well-being into greater account. There's a reason they didn't schedule him for New York.

I actually think that the Orioles should exhaust current resources before going down for Hernandez. See how Bass handles it. Baez has been lights out from the pen, so he cannot start. Maybe give Hendrickson another start if Eaton does not pull through. I would wait until the Orioles play in late June to bring up another pitcher, when the play Florida and Washington back to back, if they can wait that long.

Pete: Your thoughts?

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Pete's reply: I think they need a new starter, and Hernandez is the best option at this point.

Reverse Lock? Lately the O's arsenal has been more like "Flintlock" on a rainy day !
Sooner we replace Eaton the better off this club will be .

I have a feeling that Jones will be back in CF for the opener. He was available to pinch hit Sunday, and with another day off Monday should be 100% ready to go. They will definitely need him in the lineup. The Izturis/Andino swap probably won't effect things much, except Izturis is a switch hitter and Andino isn't (I don't think, at least). Both are good defensively, they just don't provide the impact on the lineup that Jones does.

I say the O's get out with two wins with 8 HRs in the series, several going to that short porch in right.

But I don't think they win the third game due to Eaton...the bullpen will shut things down starting in the 4th inning. Bass and Baez doin' work.

Hey, English major. "They're best chance of getting a win..."?

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Pete's reply: Thanks, I fixed it. That's not so much a function of bad grammar, but of me hurrying to put up a post. But it shouldn't happen.

Pete,I want to be Luke Scott in my next life,not you pal,OK?

Eaton won't have a problem getting another job,the Nats would scoop him up in a heartbeat,man their pitching is bad.
Maybe we could trade him for Corey Patterson.

Wonder how many boos and fist pumps Huff will get when he makes outs up there?

I think Eaton has been pitching with his back against the wall since spring training, but he continues to be horrible. I don't want to see any of the young guys that aren't ready, but no way can a guy like Waters do any worse than Eaton. I would have cut him after the way he pitched with a big lead against the Yanks, two starts ago.

Pete, is it time for the O's to discuss an extension with Huff? Have you heard whispers? I would think if they started discussions now that they would know by the deadline if they can sign him so if they can't, I am pretty positive that they will get some serious major league ready prospects for him. I would love to see him stay, as he has surprised me in the field, as well as the fact that you need a power hitting 1B in the AL East.

Pete - I have never wanted the Orioles to lose so I won't start. I just hope Eaton bombs and he sent packing, bu the O's score 15 runs to win 15 - 13

What does Tillman have left to prove in the minors? He appears to be ready and he can't be as bad as Eaton. Even if he struggles, it will aid in his maturation for next year. BRING HIM UP!!!

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Pete's reply: Even if he struggles it will help him? No, it won't.

Baltimore will take two out of three and Robert Andino will have a fine series filling in for Cesar Izturis.

Adam Eaton pitching in the New Yankee stadium?? Haha...doesn't matter that Jones & Montanez are hurt. All they'd be doing anyway islooking over their heads and watching 'em sail out.

Eaton is a joke. I'll gladly sacrifice a win if it means he goes for good. If they don't bring up one of the young guns then at least bring up Chris Waters, he couldn't possibly do any worse.

I'm glad they are talking about Hernandez instead of Waters or Pauley.

I still like Hernandez better as a long man in the pen, but why not see what he can do with a couple of turns in the rotation.

Pete,Bass has seemed to find his stuff and while I think Hendrickson may do ok in the bullpen,Eaton needs to be gone.The only thing I like about the series finale,is if it's Eaton's finale.Seconly Pie's move to Cf has not improved his defensive play in my opinion,he'll make one good play and then follow it up by another bad play.Take a look at the difference between Adam Jones and Felix Pie at almost the same point in their careers,and I think you'll see where I'm going here.Adam Jones should be an ALL Star this year,and very well might be,although he makes an occasional mistake,like the ball popping out of his glove,he learns from them and progresses.He has a good baseball IQ.Pie does not seem to have it.The physical tools yes,the mental ones,no.So often that's the difference between a stud and a dud so to speak.I understood Koji starting the inning,but givien his past history,three years at least as soon as the first batter reached base,he would have been gone.The fact that so many times Trembley doesn't even have somebody starting to warm up has cost us at least 5-7 games in my opinion.Last year we were a come from behind team,but with Wigginton,Pie and Izturis,who is actually hitting better,and I can live with that,they have stranded more runners than the rest of the lineup combined.It's not always the outs you make it's when you make them,just like it's always not the hits you allow(Jamie Walker) it's when you allow them.Gregg Zaun would be a more than adequate backup catcher,Ty Wigginton was a very good spot starter NL type player.Felix Pie would be a very good AAA+ player,but instead we have them here as starters.Throw in Adam Eaton and Mark Hendrickson as your 4,5 starters and that's a recipe for disaster.With a manger who still hasn't figured out how to handle a pitching staff,when to argue a call, or call for a bunt,and he never will.I'd love to see us take 2 out of 3 from the Yankees but as well as they are playing we'll be lucky to win one.

jay. I kind of like your idea of leaving Eaton in for the whole game to take his pounding-too bad there isn't a mercy rule in MLB!
Seriously, the Eaton era should have ended 2 weeks ago. How much more does anyone need to see? Have we not learned any lessons from the Drabek. Trachsel, Russ Ortiz debacles? I get that we need some stop gap arms and help is on it's way,etc but this is still the big leagues. Fans are paying decent $$$ so if nothing else, MacPhail should at least try other options.
The Orioles are one of the few teams that keep sending out over-the-hill pitchers.
Let's use Bass and/or Waters in the rotation-as others have pointed out, how much worse can they be? There are pitchers in the deep minors that can 'hold' teams to less than 8 runs per game.

Hey Roch,

That Jaybird sure knows his grammar.

On a baseball related topic...I agree that Hernandez is the likely call, though I wouldn't be opposed to giving Arrieta a tryout. Seems to have the best upside right now.

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Pete's reply: Roch? You've got the wrong guy. He's the one who looks like Conway Twitty. I'm the one who looks like Kenny Rogers.

Pete, with the loss of a few lbs., I'll give you a Cary Grant look.

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Pete's reply: I'll take it.

Notice that Eaton gets the no. 1 guys while Guthrie gets the cream puffs?

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Pete's reply: Well Bergesen got the No. 1 guy this time.

Hey Pete , about that Cary Grant thing , I take that back . I must have been looking at a photo of someone else :)

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Pete's reply: I'm stunned that you don't see the obvious resemblance.