Peter Schmuck wants you to know that, contrary to popular belief, he is more than just a bon vivant, raconteur and collector of blousy flowered shirts. He is a semi-respected journalist who has covered virtually every sport -- except luge, of course – and tackled issues that transcend the mere games people play. If that isn’t enough to qualify him to provide witty, wide-ranging commentary on the sports world ... and the rest of the world, for that matter ... he is an avid reader of history, biography and the classics, as well as a charming blowhard who pops off on both sports and politics on WBAL Radio. That means you can expect a little of everything in
The Schmuck Stops Here, but the major focus will be keeping you up to the minute on Baltimore’s major sports teams and themes, whether it’s throwing up the Orioles lineup the minute it’s announced or updating you on the latest sprained ankle in Owings Mills. Oh, and by the way, that’s Mr. Schmuck to you.

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Comments
he would have to clear waivers to go to a hospital in norfolk, correct? I'm all for the pie experiment...i say just put him out against every right hander, and see what happens.Who cares about wins? Pitching is pretty bad, baserunning and defense sloppy, a clueless 3rd base coach, and a hamstrung manager who can do nothing about any of it... Think Pie can make it worse?
I guess the O's bullpen is at it again, the # 7 hitter singles, walk the #9 hitter. I'm convinced this team is out to make the game about as complicated as possible.
And now the nearly demoted leftycomes in to pitch the 9th...
Posted by: jim66 | May 12, 2009 10:01 PM
I hope nothing major is wrong with Pie, but this might give montanez a bit more time to find himself at the plate, especially with what we've been seeing the past couple games. We might also be able to see a little more of what Wiggington has to offer. I think we're fine. Again, I hope everything's alright with Pie, but this may give some players a chance to fill some roles that may have been a little too split up - DH and LF. I know they'll only bring up Wieters when he's ready, but do ya think hitting .333 in May and a couple open roster spots makes it any more likely? That's only 36 at-bats and he's only slugging .407 on the season (.472 in May) with one homer. What do ya think? I really think they're going to have to keep him there at least another month
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Pete's reply: At this point, I think they can wait another couple of weeks.
Posted by: christian | May 12, 2009 10:15 PM
praying for you felix. get better soon!
Posted by: they released burres!! | May 12, 2009 10:19 PM
I wonder if he has appendicitis? That's what it sounds like if he has a severe stomach problems. Hopefully I am wrong.
Posted by: Dave | May 12, 2009 10:27 PM
Here are my comments (or as your buddy Bud Tucker would say, no one flew in on the noon balloon . . . and asked me, but)
1. Sorry to hear Pie is injured--not Wally Pip, to be sure, but now Lou can prove his worth, or not.
2. Don't laugh, but I think Guthrie is out of position, so to speak. I think he has the makings of a classic 50 save closers. He is better later in a game, he is the best conditioned athlete on the team, and pitching everyday would be no sweat.
Don't get me wrong, I love to watch Guthrie pitch, and I think he has gotten a raw deal in the run support the past 3 years. However, he has a bad habit of throwing taters in early innings (with 2 outs).
I wish him all success, but something is not right with Jeremy--maybe he would do better in a closer (or late inning) relief role.
I think he was mistaken to do the WBC, and it obviously has made him look exhausted.
Posted by: logiopath | May 12, 2009 10:27 PM
Glad he is gone...Montanez is better at everything and bring up Reimold from Tides (.396 batting avg. with power!)
Posted by: david0 | May 12, 2009 10:55 PM
Where was Ernie Tyler tonight, I didn't see him.
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Pete's reply: Ernie was there. I talked to him in the parking lot after the game.
Posted by: Rebuilding | May 12, 2009 10:59 PM
I hope Felix Pie is alright I think he hurt himself when he stretched out for that line drive that got past him. I was at the the game sitting three rows back on section 68 and I have to say the Orioles fans were heckling him hard (apple pie chant was going strong). I just hope the injury isn't that serious. Sometimes you don't like an individual player but for no reason should you encourage them getting injured.
Posted by: michael | May 12, 2009 11:09 PM
I don't believe Roch, or many fans, like conspiracies of silence -- though many apparently do. This is in the interest of a sort of hero worship/savior psychology perhaps. There seems to be such a conspiracy to cover over the fact that Matt Wieters, the wunderkind of minor league hitters last year in Advanced A and AA, is having trouble adjusting to the more sophisticated pitching in AAA. Just tonight Amber and the broadcasters were murmuring in awe again about how he would appear in Baltimore soon and start bolstering the offense big time. Not so fast. He's hitting a weak .275 at Norfolk with exactily one home run in 91 at bats but 19 strikeouts. In a full minor league catcher's season that comes out to 5 homeruns and 95 strikeouts! Ouch. Maybe he'll adjust as the season goes on, but it seems he's hardly ready now to be an offensive force at the major league level. Let's stare the truth in the face here.
Posted by: menalcus lankford | May 12, 2009 11:14 PM
Scott and Pie both potentially out? Does this mean Reimold on the way? I sure hope so.
Posted by: Shaun | May 13, 2009 2:50 AM
Hopefully Pie is ok. Good news on Scott.
Montanez deserves a shot, and I believe he'll earn the everyday left field starting job on merit.
Where's Reimold play if Montanez puts it together as expected? Log jam for position players? Nice change!
I look for Hernandez to follow Hill to the big show. Starting piching will start to improve and wins will follow.
Posted by: Dennis | May 13, 2009 5:41 AM
They only need 4 hours to make a roster decison in order for a new player to drive to Balto.This is a perfect chance to DL Pie then keep him in the minors 30 dayson a rehab assignment afterwards.They would still need a 4th OF,hopefully not Gathright.Salazar can do that and pinch hit.I'd be in total shock if they bough Reimy up because he earned the chance. McPhail doesn't believe in merit rewards,especially for our minor leaguers.I's rather see Christian called up over Gathright at least he can hit.
Posted by: John | May 13, 2009 7:04 AM
I have been and continue to be a Trembley supporter!!!!
BUT this team lack commitment to feilding and base running. Whether the coaching or players Trembely has to take the hit. He needs to straighten this out quickly. I would start regular practiceson these issues . Notjust one or for a couple weeks. I would make the point about the importance of concentratio and commitment.
OR there is plenty of room to hold him accountable.
Posted by: Ed So Pa Fan | May 13, 2009 7:26 AM
I have been and continue to be a Trembley supporter!!!!
BUT this team lack commitment to feilding and base running. Whether the coaching or players Trembely has to take the hit. He needs to straighten this out quickly. I would start regular practices on these issues . Not just one or for a couple weeks. I would make the point about the importance of concentration and commitment.I thought this was something covered in spring training.
OR there is plenty of room to hold him accountable.
Posted by: Ed So Pa Fan | May 13, 2009 7:27 AM
I don't care what anybody says, Lou Montanez should be in LF instead of Pie. They have to find another way to get him some ABs. Montanez and Reimold have to be the real candidates for that position.
Posted by: DSpedden | May 13, 2009 7:35 AM
The grow your own players approach seems to be a better choice for the birds in light of this years deals. This Hendrickson guy is terrible. They need to cut him this afternoon at the latest. Freel, Pie, Wiggington.... none of these guys are major leaguers.
Posted by: Richard L. Howard | May 13, 2009 7:45 AM
It's way too early to give up on Pie. He looks raggedy sometimes, but I'd keep at it for a LOT longer than this, and get him a lot more at bats before throwing up the hands. So far, the way he's been used has carried with it the implication that the manager has minimum confidence in him.
Given an equal number of plate appearances, I would expect Pie to outperform Montenez. If I'm wrong, let's determine that fact in October, not in May.
Posted by: Jerome Norris | May 13, 2009 8:47 AM
i guess if i had a chance to play on a major league team and i was batting 180 and likely to be waived i would fell sick in my stomach too.
Posted by: fkterp | May 13, 2009 8:48 AM
Hi Pete. Hope the kid is okay. I like your blog picture...very cool. I like the color scheme on your shirt, except I noticed a little orange stain there on your collar. Is that Kool Aid? Come on Pete, just having a little fun. Don't get steamed. Noticed that irritated you a bit on the blog about Koji. I actually think you're pretty fair both ways.
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Pete's reply: I really don't mind the Kool-Aid stuff...I even rip myself for that on occasion. I used to bang on Hunter for it, so I can't complain if what goes around comes around. The thing that peeves me is when somebody says "I know you're not allowed to criticize the Orioles," which is bunk. I've been criticizing the Orioles for 11 years. I just think some people have overreacted to some of the stuff that has happened the first six weeks.
Posted by: duke of york | May 13, 2009 9:07 AM
I hope it's nothing serious; however, I get stomach aches when I'm really stressed out about my job.
Posted by: Rick Schultz | May 13, 2009 9:51 AM
Maybe he is having an axiety attack. He must be under great stress.
Posted by: Kathy M | May 13, 2009 10:00 AM
This is a human being...who goes out there for the city of Baltimore to help the team. Have a little heart in this time of trouble for the guy. Pie is by no means the major problem for the team. I'd say it's the errors in the field, the baserunning loses 1 to 2 runs a game.The Orioles play too much "Big Ball" and not enough manufacturing of runs for a team who loses a lot of 2 run games. The long guys from the bull pen are getting better but let's face it they are dangerous.
Posted by: billy griffin | May 13, 2009 10:04 AM
I hear Pie injured his stomach on a pickoff throw attempt.
Seriously, is it a coincidence that Pie's "stomach" is "bothering" "him" and Montanez finally gets the missing tilde added to his "N" on the same day? Jim Tyler knows something the rest of us don't.
Posted by: Max | May 13, 2009 11:20 AM
Taking a 3rd strike on a fastball right down the middle at waist height with a runner in scoring position should give ANYONE a bellyache!
Posted by: Jim | May 13, 2009 12:36 PM
Dave, Pie wouldn't have been discharged from the hospital if he had had appendicitis.
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Pete's reply: Yes, Pie reportedly was discharged, so he obviously is not seriously ill.
Posted by: Sudhir | May 13, 2009 1:01 PM
Hopefully the kid will be OK. BUT, Nolan Reimold SHOULD BE BROUGHT UP!! The kid is hitting .396 with 9 homers at AAA. Exactly what in the living hell is the point of letting him languish at AAA when he's earned a spot in LF at the major league level. Chris Tillman has earned a spot too. Holy crap Batman, just bring them up!! It's not like they can't make room for them.
Posted by: oldetoys | May 13, 2009 1:05 PM