Orioles: Never on Sunday
Normally, I wouldn't focus a whole lot of attention on a single game in June, but I think today's series finale against the Atlanta Braves is a little more important than your average Sunday rubber game. Obviously, Dave Trembley thinks so, too, since he's going with much of his everyday lineup instead of the collection of reserves that usually play a day game after a night game.
The only exceptions (other than temporary starter Robert Andino) are Ty Wigginton at third and Gregg Zaun behind the plate, and I probably would have thrown Matt Wieters out there with the day off tomorrow and the relationship he seems to have with starter Brad Bergesen. Trembley has the catchers scheduled well in advance, which is fine, but it shouldn't be chiseled in stone.
The Orioles need to build on last night's victory and they need to get over the hump on Sundays and in the final games of series. They are just 3-17 in series finales -- which is beyond pathetic even for a rebuilding team -- and have lost nine of their last 10.
The odds aren't exactly on their side today, with Derek Lowe (7-3) going for the Braves, even though Bergesen has been pitching very well. Lowe has as many wins as the Orioles two winnings pitchers -- Jeremy Guthrie and Bergesen -- combined.
Stat of the day: Relievers Brian Bass and Dany Baez, who were considered the last two guys on the pitching staff at the end of training camp, are 8-2 combined. The rest of the pitching staff is 18-34.
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Comments
Wiggington in the 5 hole is part of the everyday lineup?
Posted by: Slim Charles | June 14, 2009 11:55 AM
Pete instead of saying something nasty today all i am going to do is wish you a very nice day.
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Pete's reply: You to...and the O's
Posted by: blancione | June 14, 2009 12:00 PM
I believe when Uehara threw Trembley said Zaun would catch due to their working relationship or something to that nature. Hmmm, have the performances Bergesen has had with Wieters not shown that too? Why not sit Matt last night and allow him to work with him. Who knows Trembley is very odd sometimes. Having something set in stone unwilling to change it is not smart.
Posted by: Joe | June 14, 2009 12:03 PM
Trembely's predictability is going to cost him his job. There is no reason for Wieters to EVER take a back seat to Zaun. I realize Wieters isn't lighting up the league offensively yet, but that is even more reason to pencil him in every day to get more experience (especially with an off day tomorrow). Other than Rick Demsey, is there anybody at Camden Yards that is happy when Zaun's name is in the lineup?
Posted by: Anonymous | June 14, 2009 12:10 PM
adam jones out. No problem with that if he's hurt (shin)...but it's no coincidence this team doesnt win on sundays. This lineup is their 5th best
Posted by: raveno's | June 14, 2009 12:13 PM
I agree just another example of DT's incompetence not to have Weiters in there with Bergesen who has turned into a new pitcher with Matt behing the plate. At least DT is playing some players today.
Posted by: Charles Sullivan | June 14, 2009 12:21 PM
Pete, isn't it funny how bad teams develop "jinxes" while good teams generally don't?
Take the Orioles for example: there's the "Sunday" jinx, the "day game jinx" (closely related to the "Sunday" one), the "lefty opposition pitcher" jinx, the "road" jinx, the "opposition pitcher just brought up from the minors" jinx, the "substitute announcers" jinx,and seemingly many others. Somehow I doubt that the Red Sox or the Dodgers have this many "jinxes."
Posted by: Jess Kvetchin | June 14, 2009 12:32 PM
Bass and Baez have been very pleasant surprises. And as for your claim that Trembley is going with his everyday lineup, that is not true. Over on Roch's blog, he has the lineup with Zaun, Wigginton, Pie (albeit for an injured Jones), and Andino (for an injured Izturis, but Andino would play on Sundays anyway). Four reserve players.
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Pete's reply: Yeah, I blanked on Wigginton, but Jones was in the original lineup and Andino is the starting shortstop for the moment.
Posted by: Luke | June 14, 2009 1:05 PM
I dunno Pete, according to the lineup showing on Yahoo Felix Pie is playing cf and Adam Jones is on the bench....could they have it wrong?
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Pete's reply: Late scratch. Jones was in the original lineup.
Posted by: dave taylor | June 14, 2009 1:14 PM
Now let me see if I get this....we didn't rest Mora when he was 0 for a month in RBI and hitting below Mendoza BUT now that he seems to be getting hot, NOW we rest him? Why to cool him off again? DT is amazing
Posted by: Charles Sullivan | June 14, 2009 1:41 PM
Pete,
Where did you get your info from? He has the same old Sunday lineup out there! He probably had it set in stone on April 6th.
I just don't get it. Adam Jones breaks out and he gets to sit? Matt Wieters is finding his stride and he sits? Trembely is his own worst enemy on Sundays.
If I wanted to see Pie, Wigginton, Zaun level talent I'll head to Bowie.
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Pete's reply: Sorry, I blanked on Wigginton (and have corrected that), but Jones was scratched an hour after that post went up. It wasn't the typical Sunday lineup. Guess Trembley had a hunch on Wiggy.
Posted by: Denny | June 14, 2009 1:41 PM
Jones has an injury so I'll take back that part of my argument.
Posted by: Denny | June 14, 2009 1:47 PM
Pete I know many have pointed it out already, but you really missed the mark with this one. I logged on to the website to say something about how I can't believe Trembley puts this lineup out there today after they finally score some runs (how nice it would be to win a series and all) and you're talking the opposite about this being the everyday lineup. Reimold 2nd. Zaun 7th (with Bergesson pitching who we know works so well Wieters) Pie 8th and Andino 9th, not to mention Wigginton 5th? Oh well we all have our bad days. Looks like Trembley is getting lucky so far, with 7runs through 3 innings, but he's still a moron for putting this lineup out there with the importantce of today's game. Especially not having Wieters catch Bergesson. I love the comment about Trembley having this lineup for today penciled in on April 6th, there probably is some truth to it, but I honestly think the man may some brain damage or something. Almost wish he didn't get lucky today.
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Pete's reply: Andino is the starting shortstop and Pie wasn't in the lineup when that entry was posted. He was added when Jones was scratched. I admit, however, I blanked on Wigginton replacing Mora. Just one more thing, when you call someone else a moron, do your homework. Jones is hurt and that should have been obvious to you the minute you saw Pie out there. If you were watching last night, you would have seen how hard Jones hit that ball off his shin. I was surprised he was in the original lineup.
Posted by: djph | June 14, 2009 2:54 PM
Wow, everyone was dead on today about what an idiot DT is huh?
I wonder how many will man up that they were the ones who messed up this time.
Posted by: James C | June 14, 2009 4:21 PM
Pete,
Good point on Bass and Baez, but then again, look who we left spring training with as our Starting rotation and look who is with us now?
Posted by: Keith Rowe | June 14, 2009 5:29 PM
Pete,
If you need some DT thrashing, I would say keeping the back-up catcher happy might become a problem! Jason Varatek is 37 and catches 4 of every 5 games (sitting only when Wakefield pitches) I really think our 23 year old phenom can do the same!
Posted by: Keith Rowe | June 14, 2009 5:31 PM
This is really a moot point now, but seriously, don't you think that since Bergesson's surge in his last four starts coincided with Wieters becoming his catcher, that it was an extremely risky or careless move to have Zaun out there today. I understand that Izturis is out and Jones hurt himself (I didn't see Saturday's game by the way), but Melvin had his first good game in a long time and it was curious not to see him out there. Maybe Dave knows his players a little more than I give him credit for but I still think it was not the prudent lineup considering everything that has happened in the last few weeks. If my calling him a moron offends you or anyone else I'm sorry but obviously I don't have much respect for Trembley and I am inclined to make those feelings known when I question his decisions.
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Pete's reply: I'm not high on name-callling, for one thing, and in that situation, you were unaware of the Adam Jones injury, so you were in a glass house on that. But you have every right to criticize Dave. That's part of the reason we're here.
Posted by: djph | June 14, 2009 10:53 PM