Like the fact he is showing signs of life.

that pitch to BRob was way outside, and in the top of the next inning he called 2 pitches to Pedroia balls and they were both closer to the plate than the pitch he called Brob out on... if you're gonna be incompetant, be bad for both sides!

Agree one hundred percent John. It is about time something got to him.

Maybe Brian should work on hitting and hustling a bit rather than blaming everything on the umpire.

Can someone please explain to me how Lester comes in with a .500 record and and 4.35 era, but everytime he faces the Orioles he is simply unhittable? This guy has been tagged for 5 or more runs this year by Oak, Cle, Sea, Min, and TB (twice), but is always the second coming of Jesus against the O's. Even the Nats scored 3 off of him!
Required negative comment:
Sorry Pete, but I've got a real bad feeling about this series. Frankly I'll be surprised if we score more than 1 or 2 runs for the 3 games combined.

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Pete's reply: Can't disagree. The O's do not match up well against the Red Sox, and you know Big Papi is going to be heard from eventually.

I agree with JP. I was at the game Saturday and the first hit of the ball game went right past Brian with nothing more than a token effort by Roberts to field the ball. He swung at the first pitch when he came to bat and promplty flied out. His second at bat he swung at the first two pitches and of course made another out. He basically looked like he would have preferred the day off. Sheez! These kind of performances from our veterans set a bad precedent for the young guys coming up. We need to get this kind of element off of the team as soon as possible.

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Pete's reply: Yes, right. The Orioles are going to be a much better team without Brian Roberts. Perspective check!!!!

The only chance the O’s have to get a win is tomorrow against Smoltz. I think even against Smoltz it is going to be an adventure with Rich Hill but the signs are encouraging that our sisters the Natinals pulled the W last week.
Now my negative comment:
I wish Brad Bergesen didn’t have to face Josh Beckett on Wednesday I really like the kid. Good attitude very humble and tries hard but... it’s a death sentence.. Poor guy is going to need a sports therapist after that one.. Just because he’s the best guy we got right now doesn’t make him an ace.

John,

So if the Orioles don't throw out Bergensen against the Red Sox because Beckett might outduel him, doesn't that defeat the purpose of the Orioles grooming one of their own high potential pitchers? This is a chance for Bergensen to test his meddle against one of the best pitchers in the league. If Bergensen is going to learn how to succeed you have to throw him out into the waters against one of the best teams in the league and one of the best pitchers in the league when that happens to be on tap for his next start. It's not like the Red Sox figure to drop out of contention within the next few seasons.

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Pete's reply: I'm not worried about Bergesen. He doesn't have to win to gain from the experience of facing the Red Sox. He's got a strong makeup, so it won't hurt him to face Beckett. And I'm not so sure Beckett will dominate the Orioles lineup anyway.

Tim,
Remember man this is Bergensen first year in the bigs… What’s the rush putting him up against a multiple World Series winner? I think we need at least 1 reliable veteran starting pitcher to take on these kinds of games. Guthrie can be a good pitcher at times but he’s no ace. We need somebody else Im just worried for the kid thats all.

Doubt it. Admitt I have not done my home work yet but Boston is following some rigid patterns. Expect Baltimore to lose tomorrow and if it does happen Well expect Baltimore to get Lucky in the last game against Beckett. Lets see what happens.

I'm a lot more concerned about Hill tonight than I am Bergy.Bass isn't available so if Hill gets raked,it'll be Hendrickson coming in.

I just wonder how much more rope Berken gets.I really thought he'd be better than this.I said the other day that Zaun should be catching this series because he knows the hitters better.

John,

How do you expect Weiters to learn the hitters if you don't play him against them? What would you gain by playing Zaun? The Orioles are winning nothing this year so it doesn't make sense. Now is the time for the young guys like Weiters to gain experience so when all the pieces are here we are ready to compete.

Jeff,

There is plenty of time for Wieters to learn but... a time to learn is not aganst the Boston Red Sox and aganst one of their better pitchers thats a time to either know or get smoked. Over time Wieters will be a great player but this season baby steps..

All of us Oriole fans have to realize that you can't have it both ways. Wieters is a rookies with 15 or so games under his belt and he was never advertised as a polished defensive catcher. We have to learn to live with his growing pains up here. I still want us to bring up a couple of young pitchers and get something that looks like a major league rotation rather than what we have now. It is Trembley's job to jolt BRoberts and he needs it.

Who ever doubts Bergensen,

Has you been watching this kid? He has been great thus far in his career and has faced some veteran lineups ie. the white sox etc. He has all the potential to be a #1 or 2 in this league. He throws strikes and lets his fielders make the plays. He also has one key elements that you do not see in too many rookies and thats composure. I have only seen him loose his cool on one occasion and thats cause he was taken out and our reliever gave up a three run homer to the batter anyway.

I think most of you are looking at this the wrong way. If Bergensen out duels Beckett, who is one the leagues elite, how much of a confedence boost does that give him? Give McPhail and others in charge to bring up some other great prospects?

I for one think there is no better pitcher for the O's to have face the red sox with Beckett on the mound than our hottest pitcher. Like or not we are building our team with youth. Gone are the days of getting players past their prime ie. Albert Bell, Jimmy Keys (I could go on forever). Its time to be young and exiciting. Its not like anyone thinks we'll make the playoffs most of you are just drooling over a .500 season.

Dump the non-performers, Mora, Zahn, and Wiggy and try to get something for them for the future. Go with the kids............ at least they want to play. Trade Guthrie for a power-hitting 3rd baseman.

Nick,

I hear what your saying man and I agree Bergy is the best we got but at this point it scares me to put him out there like poor Berken. Id rather have Guthrie go out and take an L like normal hahah. Everyone needs to go out and support Berg on Wed....

The Yankees and Red Sox are always going to get the calls. That's what major league baseball wants. Yankees, Mets, and Red Sox in the playoffs at all costs. Remember this is a business. Didn't we get inter league baseball strictly to have the Yankees play the Mets? The other reasons were pure smoke.