Amen to that Pete. Terrible loss tonight. Dave should shoulder some blame for this one, not all but some. I mean we cannot even defend him by saying we had speed on 1st. So frustrated right now.

K, I'm not gonna say it was stupid, but I'm curious...why have the entire infield in with one out in the ninth and the bases loaded?

If Roberts and Izturus are at double play depth, we might be in the 10th right now. It seems Trembley's getting a little gun-shy or overmatched lately.

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Pete's reply: No, they were playing the right depth. If Izturis was at double play depth, he would have had to go far to his right and probably would not have been able to turn the DP.

Pete--Sharp analysis. After Huff singled to center, I thought OK, Mora hit into tough luck last time, lining out to Suzuki with the runners moving. We're not bunting here, so let's string together some hits.

You're right, advance scouts know this stuff. And so do respected baseball writers and observant fans.

Bergesen was gritty tonight and deserved the win. The Orioles, who dominated the Mariners last season, let this win slip away.

Hope the day off on Thursday helps the team.

why on earth was Izturiz playing in with one out and the bases loaded in the ninth. He should have been at double play depth and he probably would have turned two on the play. STUPID MOVE

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Pete's reply: See my answer to that on an earlier post. The infield was at the proper depth.

Pete,

I totally concur, you are a Dave Defender! However, you failed to point out that in a tie game in the top of the ninth, leadoff hitter gets on and your second best bunter at the plate (last time I checked Melvin Mora isn't Eddie Murray, Cal Ripken or Babe Ruth) there was ONLY one sign to give, it wasn't a risky hit and run with Huff and that refridgerator on his back on first, it was a sacrafice? Talk about a really stupid decision? And to think we stayed up until 0040 to witness it????????????

I'd like to wish Jaime Walker tremendous success in whatever venture he chooses. Adios!

What need to be said,I've said it over and over,Stoneface beats us once again,why are you runniong Huff with a 3-0 count and making Mora swing at 3 balls.Ridiculous.Sorry you show me where Trembley has taught this tean anything?They make the same mistakes over and over.Why not bring Baez in after Johnson pitched 2 innings with an off day tomorrow.The man has no clue how to handle a bullpen.We have 5 sacrifice bunts.Seattle has 32 after tonight.And if you're playing for the double play why bring the infiled halfway in?a routine groundball gets through and we lose the game.Another good pitching performance wasted.Sorry folks,Trembley needs to go with Walker and Juan Samuel as soon as possible.There's a feeling of losing for the last year once we are down or tied in ballgames because that's when the manager has the chance to make the difference and it hasn't happened here since last July.Look it up.Enough to make me puke.We need somebody here to teach these kids how to win and it's not going to be Trembley,not this year,next year or ever.Mark my words.He's so predictable it's pathetic.

Hi Pete,

How many times does he have to do this with Huff running? He's been thrown out 5 times already, probably on the same play. I'm starting to lose my confidence in Mr. Trembley, I can't remember any of his moves panning out lately. Maybe he should sit for a game to get over his "slump".

Why wouldn't Dave pinch-run in that situation? I mean it's bad enough Huff was picked off in his last time on the bases - HUFF of all people! I also disagreed with the hit and run call...you think Dave wanted Scott to get that sac fly before Wieters came up?

Tough break for Bergy, thought we might actually have be able to snag a series-finale for once.

Whatever happened to fundamentals? Sure hope not too many Little Leaguers were watching tonight. Terrible coaching tonight. Idiotic baserunning. Good grief.

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Pete's reply: Hope no Baltimore Little Leaguers were watching, since it was after midnight on a school night.

I don't care if Ichiro was 100% likely to steal 2B. I didn't like the load the bases strategy. JJ is capable of getting a strikeout or maybe a ball is hit to SS and the runner on 3rd goes for home, as so many things could happen, but to put all your eggs in one basket wasn't what I was hoping for.

Bergesen pitched a great game. This is two in a row for him, as he is clearly mature beyond his years.

Pete, I was all for extending Dave, but if we can hold players accountable and say it's time to release guys like Eaton and Walker then it's fair to do the same with the Manager. I was 100% with you in that he didn't have the players before, but this isn't the same team from week one, but the miscues are adding up. I am tired of the respecting the game shtick because it's just a saying with nothing to back it. I would love to see the O's keep Jauss, Kranny, Dunn and Crow and say bye bye to Dave, T-Bone and Juan.

I never complained during Daniel's struggles, as I thought he would turn the corner. I still think the trade for Benson was the right one at the time, as they needed a vet in the starting rotation. I supported Mazz and Sammy, as well as Dave till this season, but this is not a wasted season in my book, but it will be if change isn't made. I am not someone who after one bad game, wants to trade everyone, but I am disgusted at the way the team is being run on the field.

Pete,I guess just because you say that the infield was at the proper depth,we have toagree with that?Well,I don't,and you sayingsee my previous post is kind of like somebody repeating wrong information,just at a louder level.Seems more people here disagree on that issue then agree,but again,whatdo we know,most of us have just played and watched the game for 40+ years.If we can even beat the bad teams,what chance do we havewith the good teams?Oh and by the way,2 games ago,Seattle and the Orioles had identical records.One of the reasons we have such a horrible road record,because Dave has to manage in the bottom of the ninth,and more often then not he gets outmanaged and outmanuevered.What is there to even think about with Walker,the truth is it's not Trembley's decision but he'd never admit that.He has to wait for the warehouse to give him that edict.God,for someone who had the kahunas to stand up to Peter Angeloser,oh that's right,he got fired by Pete,and it's no coincidence that was our last winning season.Until that happens we won't ever win here.This club has the personality of it's manager,laidback,very little passion,boneheaded mistakes,and then the audacity to defend them by saying,'that was a no-brainer",I'd do it again.Yes because he has no brain,I just don't see the baseball smarts or ability from him,much like Felix Pie as a player.Nice guy,good tools,poor discipline and execution.Take a look at his record over the last 95-100 games,I think that's enough time to make a fair judgement.We've turned the corner and found out we were on the wrong block.

Everyone knows that a jinx doesn't work if you announce it. Great job Schmuck, you cost us the game! Next time, keep it to yourself.

And what's with all the cranky posts? I know this blog is supposed to be a bit personalized, but between the jinx piece and these last two posts tonight, it sounds like you're up a bit past your bedtime. Not that you should be happy-go-lucky about it all, but it seems as though you've only fueled some posters' negative feelings. It seems they do it well enough themselves, and seem to know "ahead of time" what would have been the "right" thing to do, such that sarcastically commenting on our base-running blunders only gets them more agitated. Just an observation. I hope everything's alright on your side.

If I may comment further, perhaps hypocritically, there seems to be somewhat of a disconnect between the coaches and players. Other than Monday's win, which was Hill's and then Trembley's for pulling him after his longest of 4 outings since coming off the DL, our recent wins seem to have been the responsibility of the entire team. Between our consistently stellar pitching and then the offensive explosion last Wednesday, it seemed like any of our guys could do anything they put their minds to. On the flip side, I've been pretty irked about a few of our mistakes between the base paths. What frustrates me is not that they happened, but the uncomfortable thought that they really shouldn't have. After beating out an infield shot to the man with the Gold Glove at third the past two years, I have absolutely no beef with Reimold being picked off trying to take second after we'd grounded into inning-ending double-plays the previous two innings. In fact, I loved it, because I think he was doing it on his own and felt like he should be trying to start something.

The other follies seem to be in the hands of the coaches. It just seems to me that the coaches may be trying to play too large a role in the game. Once the game has begun, a manager may take the responsibility of defending players on bad calls, pulling them out, calling for shifts and trying to push them around the bases when the opportunities call. But just as Trembley tried to make a method out of finishing Johnson-Ray-Sherrill earlier this season, his hit-and-run offensive has not been working out so well. Add to it the infield shift at the end of today's game. It didn't cost us the game because Izturis wouldn't have been able to reach it and turn two, but with slo-mo Branyan at first and Beltre at the plate (and Suzuki with 9 SBs at second and Gutierrez, a CF, at third) we should've been focused on the right side of the infield.

The other day, Markakis, who was at first, made it clear around second before realizing that Huff had lined out, and was almost thrown out back at first before reaching the bag. He looked at John Shelby incredulously, not frustrated with himself, but almost as if it was Shelby's doing. BRob hasn't stolen a base since May 19, and had a similar stretch of 18 games earlier this year without one. He's still 10th in the AL, and I know it looked like he's had a few minor injuries, and that he should only steal when the opportunity's right, but it seems like something else is going on. As noted above or elsewhere, Huff is 0 for 5 in attempts, and got picked off third tonight. Really? It isn't like he's been given the green light. As I've noted before, Juan Samuel has cost us a few runs when he's become too caught up in the game - too worried about mistakes he's already made. He's kept guys at third that should've come home and then, in the same game, pushed people home that have been thrown out by more lengths than Mine that Bird is going to pull this weekend.

Maybe Trembley's worried about his job, maybe not for the remainder of this year (we need to keep him through till we're able to bring up Arrieta and Matusz), but that it's at least in question. Trembley has tried to use methods where he's only noticed trends, when what he should be doing is playing by the fundamentals of baseball, doing what is "ground logic" for managing and coaching a team at any level, and then feeling out the rest of the decisions. Maybe, because he hasn't any pro-ball playing experience, he isn't fit for this responsibility, in which case we should be finding someone, i.e. Gary Allenson, to start working his way up - maybe taking over as the third base coach. We do need to have base coaches, though, who know who is on base and can keep their names and where they are on the base paths in mind, while the ball is in play, and we really need guys like that now.

Is there a limit on how much we're allowed to type? Most people probably won't even bother reading this, but the O's are about the only thing I really care about and I love putting down my thoughts. Just wondering if there actually is a limit or if you have a preference. Thanks Pete.

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Pete's reply: I'm usually pretty positive, but that loss really bothered me. I get to complain once in awhile too.

bobby valentine will be available after this season.

The idiot Trembley needs to read "Moneyball" and try to grasp the concept that outs are IMPORTANT!!! Bill James concludes, thru hard statistics, that giving away outs far outweighs the possible benefits of the stolen base, the hit-and-run, or even bunting a runner down to second. Did you know that a runner at first base with not outs will score 40% more often than a runner at 2nd base with one out? It's about OUTS, and Trembley and the brain-dead Oriole baserunners think NOTHING of giving them away for free. They are a perfect illustration of Mr. James' point and they're an embarassment on the basepaths!

The O's have slipped back into a complacent approach to the game.

As exhibited all too often in games past, the entire team takes the SAME approach at the plate...or you could call it the same contageous HEAD COLD.

Two runners picked off - 1 rookie and 1 seasoned veteran. No bunts by the O's hitters while the other team bunts the dickens out of the ball to advance runners.

Averages dropping because not enough pitches are being taken...see Roberts here.

Too many pop ups that indicate hitters pressing to imitate Luke Scott. Very few instances of driving the ball.

Once again I look to the manager and the coaches for correction of a poorly prepared team that executes the game's fundamentals poorly.

The worst of it is that the team wasted an excellent pitching performance.

Walker is not the only one who exhibits poor judgement.

I saw this Dave Trembley quote in the game story: "I did [try different things]," Trembley said. "We hit-and-run three different times, lined out to right, double-play ball back to the pitcher. Hit-and-run again and swung through it. That's baseball. That's the way it goes."

I wasn't able to watch the press conference. I'm happy to see you pointing out Dave's mistakes this morning, but I'm wondering if anyone asked Dave why he continues to do the same things over and over again when they don't work? Does anyone call him on saying he's doing different things when he obviously isn't?

Good points noted above. HIt and run is generally used with a fast runner on the bases and a good bat control hitter. We had neither with Huff on the bases and Mora at the plate. Any of the suggestions noted above in that situation were better than Trembley's.
With respect to Beltre's 9th inning at bat, I'll go with Johnson on this one-he just found a hole and could have easily have struck out. I've seen Beltre for years and and 9 times out of 10 he waves harmlessly at curves in the dirt.
It's a shame to lose to a team with the punchless attack like Seattle but on the positive side, good outing by Bergy.

i disagree w/ the bunt suggestion in the 9th. Scott would have been walked. I do agree that the hit and run has become way way too predictable. PIE
needs to pinch run there in the ninth, and the hit and run OR straight steal has a much better chance. Also, why walk Branyan? He's not fast, and also strikes out a lot. It puts a lot of pressure on the pitcher when there is no base open. Also, debatable if Izturis was positioned correctly. I think they must have moved the infielders in when Beltre got two strikes.

Peter- just wanted to say how much I am enjoying catching up with the O's every morning by reading you. Keep up the good work, and thanks.

Just when we had reason to hope AND come to the ballpark, again, - the Orioles stick their collective heads up their collective sphincters and it all goes away!!! 2nd - If he doesn't quit looking overmatched soon - Zaun will be pinch hitting for the Wonder Kid! As in I am really starting to "wonder" about the kid. SIGGGGGHHH! If Trembly was in a try out situation as manager - he would be long gone by now!! SIGGGGHHH!! Finally we get some pitching and Brian Roberts decides to make us want to trade him, and Huff makes a half dozen dumb A$$ base running plays each season and Mora - don't get me started on Captain Clutch now days! SIGGGGHHHH!!

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Pete's reply: Did you think Wieters was going to hit .400 up here during his first month? Don't get all hot and bothered. It's just a handful of games in a long season.

I feel bad about disliking Trembley's game management. When he took over, he was exactly what the team needed - no nonsense, getting guys to put in the work (the idea that such an awful team never took infield before Dave took over shocked me), etc... Before Dave, the vets (it seemed) were running the team, not mgmt. And the players seem to like to play for him, which is important and under-appreciated.

Even the aggressiveness made some sense early last year, and - to his credit - he really dialed it back once it became clear that the offense had the ability to produce runs in bunches.

But this year, the combination of aggressiveness and predictability is just awful.

And he's just....not a very good tactician. He hasn't had an optimal bullpen, and the starters (until recently) put too much stress on the 'pen, so it's hard to fault him too much there...but I don't think he manages it well, either.

But, let's remember - the most important job for now is integrating the kids into the big leagues...and he seems to be doing a pretty good job of that, in my opinion. At some point, you probably have to replace him, or bring on a tactician bench coach.