Pete , as much as I like Dave T. the man , as long as he is the manager , nothing makes sense .

I've mostly given up on trying to make sense of Trembley's decisions. He has a set schedule for everything; the numbers of pitches thrown, the inning a certain pitcher will be used, the spot a batter has in the order, and it seems absolutely nothing that happens in a game alters any of those. I really don't see why they even need a manager at this point. Just post the list of rules on the clubhouse wall, and tell the players to follow it.

Well, here we go again with the flip flopping of Markakis. And then putting Huff at cleanup again! Maybe he'll come with a bat to the plate instead of an actual broom and dustpan! And with Greinke on the mound? (To take a quote from Denny Green) we hope Chris Tillman is pitcher we HOPE he is.

I have been one of the few DT defenders but I must agree that not playing Weiters today defies logic. You could at least DH him with Scott and Huff struggling, go with the hot hand. If I need a win in the worst way, I thow away schedules and play my best team.

Still, like you say in your article, he is forced to send out starting pitchers with era's over 6 all year long. He is not calling the roster shots.

I can't figure out why Tilman did not start last night for Hill. Everyone was on schedule. I know they said they wanted to get everyone an extra day of rest...blah blah...blah... I want to win a game! They all get to rest in October as usual...

Just saw Patton's ERA was 6.00 at Norfolk...nevermind...

Until you find a power hitting 1b and 3b player and bring up some pitching, nothing will change.

Is it wrong to hope Huff gets a couple of hits tonight to spark interest in his tired behind?

We wouldn't want to see the kid we've been touting as 5 parts savior to get in a groove & feel too comfortable at the plate nor do we want to see another savior make his ML debut with someone pretty darn familiar behind the plate. Those things makea bit too much sense & therefore, should be eliminated from your thought process.
Please refer to Dave's Way, page 114, paragraph 3, section BAD. Illustrations by Andy & Pete...crayon coloring by Mike.

Wieters is learning to play MLB. He should be hitting in almost every game, either as the catcher or as the DH. Does Trembley know what he is trying to achieve?

Perhaps the idea has been to play Huff regularly to increase his trade value. This idea has backfired spectacularly as Huff appears outmatched at the plate. The Huff idea was always a poor one as the main tactic should have been to maximize Wieters' ML ABs.

Not too smart....

I understand why u want to sit your catchers but, considering Wieters' importance, and his recent hit and hot streak, why do we sit our future catcher to keep Zaun happy? I am all for keeping key clubhouse guys content, but this is pushing it. Oh well.

Anyways. The bIGGEST issue I have is that Hill's revealed that he's been pitching with a torn labrum. That's not a minor issue. It's a potential career threatening injury. Based on the utter lack of command, this injury really does explain a lot. It really does. I am not one to rehash the past and make drama, but I think it is somewhat important to figure out who was hiding this fact. My impression is that it was Hill, since he said he discovered that news officially on the 1st of the year, before he was even an Oriole. In which case, it would mean that we traded for damaged goods. In that case, we'd like to know if the Cubs management knew about this tidbit also. Hill learned about the news of a torn labrum, and a month later the Cubs traded him. Who is that PTBNL? A lot of this is off the Orioles' shoulders since trading damaged goods leaves a GM silently excommunicated. All liklihood is if this really does impact ill's effectiveness, perhaps the Cubs renegotiates or waives their right to the PTBNL?

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Pete's reply: I'm guessing the PTBNL isn't anybody you need to worry about.

Dave Trembley has no feel for the game. You can't manage from a schedule all the time. And Juan Samuel doesn't have a clue at third base coaches box. How can you see the same players for a year and a half and not know who can do what on the base paths?

I would think that Tillman would want Wieters out there. These guys are going to be like brothers over the next few years.

There is absolutely no sense of team-building by Trembley. Just matter-of-fact, learning the game, crossing the baseball T's and I's, being a "good baseball man". Enough already, start learning how to WIN and stop coddling these guys.

the only people who will make sense of wieters a 23 yr old catcher who had 4 hits last night, and despite the fact he's coming off spending 11 innings behind the plate and a guy who has far more experience catching tillman than zaun are brain dead schmucks who think like trembley, that is if trembley really thinks. (nice run on) everyday trembley gives anyone with any common sense a good reason why the o's need to find a real major league manager. i would guess that andy m. is concerned about the team continuing to lose and in turn losing the fan base. andy the smart baseball fans know you are doing the right thing 95% of the time. if the team could start showing real progress in the win loss column by may-june of next year the big crowds will be back. it's amazing so many people still buy tickets for the games after 12 yrs of horrible baseball and 18 bad yrs out of the last 25. baltimore is an outstanding baseball town. "may the schmuck be with you, even if the schmuck is limping..long live mel brooks.and supporters of "schmuck'.

Pete,

You're onto something with Zaun. I have the feeling you know some people who know some people who have given you some insider info. It would not surprise me. I can't imagine Zaun would want to be a backup to a rookie. Lately he has played well, hence it would be smart of MacPhail to put him on the trading block. We will see.

Regarding Hill's medical status, where's the due dilligence or do we only check out big investments? I remember many chastizing King Peter for vetoing the Aaron Sele deal for medical concerns but he was right on that one. Hill apparently has a definite arm problem that was undetected but by the same token, how could he even pitch? No wonder he was so wild but why didn't he say something until now?
MacPhail has to take some of the blame on both the Hill and Patton deals if neither one ever pitches again. I guess he trusted the Cubs and with the Patton deal, he probably figured he already received enough back from an apparently washed up Tejada. Well, Miggy has bounced back and Scott is really the only guy doing much. Albers is medicore, Costanza is buried in the minors(is he even with us?) and Safarte is recouping and wild when he did pitch.

Pete,

In AM we trust I think or at least through Friday. If were showing Zahn off, I have no problem, otherwise Matt needs to be catching 4 of 5 games. Should be exciting the next couple of days provided we don't give Sherrill away!

Come on lay off Zaun come on the guy just won a cooking contest....thats all the reason to start him.....oh wait this is baseball not Iron Chef MLB.... my bad

Whats the status of the game, I just noticed that the game is delayed?

Just a few points:

Catchers always get frequent days off to rest. We don't want to wear his knees out gratuitously, especially after an 11-inning game.

Is there any evidence that someone who went 4-for-5 is going to do better the next day than otherwise expected?

Do we know who makes the lineups? Is it Trembley alone, or does he receive direction from the higher-ups?

It frequently amazes me how it can be that the dumbest baseball guy in a stadium of 40,000 people is exactly the one who is paid to manage.

Peter,
Did the Orioles radar break?

This is the funniest thing I've ever seen. The ground crew has taken the tarp off 3 times already and as soon as they it off it pours. It's like a Three Stooges skit.

This not the umps decision until the game starts.

Hard to believe Wieters not paired with Tillman in this historic start, especially with a day game tomorrow.

With regard to the myth that the O's have a potent lineup, i'd like to see Pie given a chance batting second. He's a dynamic athlete, a potential game changer, and gives opposing pitchers much more to consider when he's in the top of the order. If he hits 7th or 8th, he's forced to think as a run producer, and gets himself out swinging at balls usually.

If the O's can trade Huff and move Scott to first base, the four outfielders can play everyday rotating at dh to keep fresh. Pie hitting behind Roberts and in front on Jones, Markakis, and Reimold is a pretty exciting meat of the order. I'd like to see how it gels in the last two months.

Pete,
Is there a limit to how many players can be on the 15 day DL? Since you said "To make room on the 15-day list, the club moved pitcher Alfredo Simon to the 60-day DL." I didn't realize there was a limit. Honest question.

I was also surprised see Wieters not in the lineup. You would think Tillman would be more comfortable with him out there.

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Pete's reply: I don't know if there's a limit, but I believe players on the 60-day DL do not count toward the 40-man roster.

Pete, you have made the point many times that we shouldn't call for Trembley to be fired unless we know a better option. You're absolutely right. Trembley has done a great job bringing this young team through the past two years, but moves like not starting Wieters--or eve DH-ing him--make it seem to me like it's time to at least start looking for that better option.

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Pete's reply: I don't know if it's just his catching schedule or they are showcasing Zaun, so I don't know what to think.

Pete, The Wieters decision makes no sense to me, either. I understand having Zaun behind the plate for Tillman's first game, but starting the ice cold Huff over Wieters as DH.

Does Trembley think that MacPhail isn't paying attention? I don't believe he thinks he has any job security issues, but if that's the case he'd better snap out of it and quick.

If this Orioles don't start playing better in a hurry, he could be out a lot faster than people might imagine. If MacPhail perceives that a freefall has commenced, then I think Trembley could be in big danger.

I'm not saying it will happen, but he Trembley does need to do better at handling some of the things that are under his control, like making out lineup cards or know when or when not to go to the bullpen. For me his in-game decision making is mediocre.

Also, for a manager whose reputation is largely built on teaching the fundamentals, but the O's have struggled in that regard as well. From season-long baserunning woes to lackadasical play to failure to execute bunts and move runners, the team has left a lot to be desired in doing the things it needs to win.

True, he's also had some bad luck with absent and injured players. I think Guthrie's struggles are at least somewhat attributable to the time he lost playing in the WBC, and maybe Mora wasn't helped by it either.

Losing Uehara really hurt the rotation and that sent shockwaves to the bullpen. No way of telling with Simon, but had he pitched anything like he did in the spring the O's starting pitching would have been better from the get-go. Ray's slow return from losing a year also reduced the team's core of relievers. Freel might have had a place in the team's plans had an injury rendered the idea moot.

Then, too, Trembley had to play the players he was given and that included some poor arms in Walker, Hill, Eaton, and Hendrickson as a starter. He also was forced over the first couple months of the season to deal with playing Zaun and Pie as everyday players where aside from Zaun's work behind the plate, they represented to wasted spots in the lineup.

And there's not much he can do about slumps (not when his team lacks the depth to have solid backups) and the failure of his team to hit in the clutch.

In the end, though, none of that matters. It hardly ever does with managers, who are expected to find ways to win, even with less than stellar rosters.
If Trembley is fired, Jauss could adequately serve as interim manager. Then the team can see which established manangers will be available.

Again, I'm not saying it will happen or I that I necessarily want it to happen, but in my view Trembley really needs to put it together from here on out or he's gone.

Yes, Trembley's been given a bit of latitude, but the losing can't continue much longer and the schedule isn't exactly his ally in that regard. It's time for his players
to start watching his back if they want him as their skipper, and that means they need to cowboy up and start doing what it takes to win. The clock is ticking....

Pete,

Congrats on the anniversary! As a western transplant, it's tough to keep up on my hometown Birds, and the internet is my only source.

Here's to many more years!

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Pete's reply: Thanks very much.

I read somewhere, may or may not be accurate, that a couple days ago Tillman himself asked to have Zaun catch his first game. Maybe he wants the steady presence of a 14-year MLB veteran to help him in his first start.

Though like many of you, I am perplexed that Dave isn't DH-ing Wieters tonight. He's been on a roll lately, and after last night it seems getting him some more at bats would be a cool idea.

Someone tell Trembley that Huff is hitting .167 (7-42) with 1 yes ONE RBI in 10 games since the break (run producing cleanup hitter right there). Wieters is hitting .323 (10-31) in 8 games over that span.

And he had twice as many hits yesterday than Luke Scott has had since the all star break. (Thank goodness Luke is sitting this one out).

Pete,

Wasn't Simon moved to the 60 day DL to make room on the 40 man roster for Tillman?

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Pete's reply: Basically, yes.

If you DH Wieters and Zaun gets hurt you would have to put Weiters behind the plate and loose your DH.This must be the reason.

i see guthrie has already taken tillman under his wing. I hope this turns out to be at least a decent debut.

i guess there's no stopping this KC juggernaut. Oh wait, Huff's a one man wrecking crew.
Hey Pete, Jonsey IS heating up...

Jones needs to stop hitting 1st inning homers. It is obviously cursing us ;)

Zaun has been in the majors for 76 years. If teams haven't yet figured out what he's about, they never will. I think he's playing because Dave said so.Leave Dave alone.

Tillman seems a little shaky. But I think he will be fine. Even Rick Vaughn let up big home runs.

'He's gonna need a rocket up his ass to catch this one!'

There is no way a lineup with Huff, Mora, Zaun, Wiggington, and Izturis can win. Simply amazing to have so many terrible offensive players on the field at one time. I wish we would lose the DH. Tillman probably would hit better than Huff.

Funny you would need to showcase a player that has been around as long as Zaun......do you think most major league teams have heard of and are quite familiar with Zaun???? Yeah. me too
No, it makes perfect sense to sit down your hottest hitter and the only catcher who has already caught Tillman,
we really need a win but more than that we need to stick to DT's schedule...

Funny you would need to showcase a player that has been around as long as Zaun......do you think most major league teams have heard of and are quite familiar with Zaun???? Yeah. me too
No, it makes perfect sense to sit down your hottest hitter and the only catcher who has already caught Tillman,
we really need a win but more than that we need to stick to DT's schedule...

Some people don't really use logic before they speak.

I knew full well that Zaun would start tonight. You have the "future ace" of the franchise making his first ML start...you want a veteran catcher behind the plate to guide him and help keep him calm.

Wieters will be great, but he doesn't have that veteran knowledge and presence yet. A rare smart move by Trembley to get him in there tonight.

John James,

Not that I want to take Pete's side on this, for his has enough wit to take care of you, but couldn't help by noticing how angry and upset you are at him.

Did you two go the same high school or something? Did he give you wedgies when you two were kids?

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Pete's reply: I'm sorry Slugger, I made him go stand in the corner again.

What a depressing day for an O's fan - trembley goes stupid (You do not rest a guy who just went 4-5?) and Tillman gets lit up by a bottom feeder in the AL - lets not kid ourselves, they hit rockets tonight. Just a bad night all around as the only thiong left is to watch Jones swing at bad pitches...our youth is developing but these are some real tough days for us O's fans.

Christopher,
good try...but some of us try and use what little logic we have even though we may fall short in your eyes

doesn't make sense still the two (Weiters and Tillman) have already worked together so the comfort level would be better....more comfort might "keep him calm"

also, Weiters is hot!!!! wouldn't a nice three run homer settle the rookie down?...sure it's not guaranteed Weiters would hit one but not that crazy either, huh?

just plain doesn't make sense....about as much sense as constantly doing the
hit and run.....

7 hits, a walk, 3 hrs to the Royals, and he didn't get 5. These guys arrive with too much hype, too much expected.
Let him pitch out of the 5 hole for the rest of the year, and if he has an ERA under 6 or so, consider it a good year.
My approach for the rest of the year, and maybe the next two years is to expect absolutely nothing from this team. They are terrifically flawed, as is shown in this little 3 game disaster, and, barring any blockbuster deals(unlikely) and any large expenditures(highly unlikely), short of enough major league talent to really make a difference one way or another for a year or two. When you step back, being disappointed in this group,
a combination of youngsters on the learning curve and veterans who'd have a hard time landing jobs with good teams, is pretty much a waste of good energy.

Dave Trembley looked like a deer caught in the headlights when a reporter mentioned Hill had talked about having a torn labrum.

The Orioles and Trembley, seem to be on all kinds of schedules...like the schedule where they win one game per week.

So we're not putting any premium on using a veteran catcher to help keep guide one of the youngest guys to every wear an O's uniform (I think he was 4th)? Then add to it things like Wieters just caught 11 innings and the O's next day off is right about Christmas.

Huff starting is a little questionable, but DT didn't sign him for $8 mil this year and since he just had a day off, it's no surprise he stayed in.

It sucks they both are currently 0-7, but then again Tillman got tagged for 2 HR's and got a no-decision. Kind of a wash in the battle of the know-it-alls I'd say.

~~Until you find a power hitting 1b and 3b player and bring up some pitching, nothing will change.~~

We have brought up three young starters, a starting LF and a starting C in just over half a season. Not too spoiled are we?

~~the only people who will make sense of wieters a 23 yr old catcher who had 4 hits last night, and despite the fact he's coming off spending 11 innings behind the plate and a guy who has far more experience catching tillman than zaun are brain dead schmucks who think like trembley, that is if trembley really thinks. (nice run on) everyday trembley gives anyone with any common sense a good reason why the o's need to find a real major league manager.~~

Or maybe those people who have heard the mutterings that Wieters has a limit on how many innings he will catch and talk of a move eventually to first base that have been around since before he was drafted. Or maybe those who are actually in the clunhouse and know that Wieters likes to know his schedule. Or those who know he will be catching more innings this year than ever before so are intent on resting him to keep him as fresh as possible. Or anyone who just doesnt need to find negatives in things that just are, not good or evil ,just are what they are.

This just in: Orioles officially the DUMBEST, STUPIDIST , MOST CARELESS... fundimentally sound team in the history of baseball. Dave Trembley goes postal on team...beats the living piss out of Huff, Mora, Roberts, Guthrie, Johnson & the bat boy for good measure. He later apoligizes and states it was just a misunderstanding due to not sleeping the past 27 days. Mets GM states he "completely understands"...suggests his developer of player personel Tony "the bat" Bernizard "talk" to the remaining Orioles to get things "ironed out". George Sherrill throws errant beer bottle that hits Juan Samuel in the head at 94mph...Samuel out for at least 1 week...Orioles assured of scoring at least 37 more runs in his absense. Andy McPhail reports, "all is well, we are on the correct path'.

The whole Zaun and Wieters probably came down to Wieters catching Bergesen tomorrow afternoon at 12:35pm after night game. Trembley rarely plays same catcher on night then day game back to back.

Showcasing Zaun!!!
That is so funny on so many levels, I don't even know where to start!

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Pete's reply: There's also the fact that Wieters caught 11 innings the night before and is catching Bergesen in the afternoon today.

Pete, please teach us something. Simon's injury was believed to be season-ending from the very beginning. What did the Orioles gain by waiting until the end of July to place him on the 60-day DL?

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Pete's reply: I don't know. Just no reason to make that move until you have to, I guess.