As of 4:15 3 rbi , steal of third , etc . - playing like he is aware of his citics today .

If he ripped one, I hope he brought some air freshener.

Pete,

Maybe naming a youngster like Adam Jones the Team Captain would wake some of these guys up! I'm a strong believer in rewarding the correct behavior. Congrats to Adam Jones on his All-Star selection and wishfully many more!

I really like Roberts, but I thought we should have traded him for a couple of top prospects. It's really the only fault I find with AM and his rebuilding plan. Only time will tell if he called this right. If we are in the playoffs in 2010 or 11, a guy like Roberts could be pivotal.
I do think he doesn't hustle enough at times, but I think some players just don't look like they are playing hard even when they are.
I still would trade Roberts just because he may bring back a couple top prospects, but it's still really all about the starting pitching which is on pace to be VERY GOOD next year and the next several (barring a ton of injuries). With Tillman coming up and Weiters improving, I think you will see this team play well over 500 the rest of the way.
I don't think Trembley is the guy to take us to the playoffs, but again, I think we should let AM do his job as he has shown quite a knack for this so far.

It is too bad for the O's that the Angels have them right where they want them. Rich Hill has been given every chance by this offense and he continually blows leads and loses momentum. I would say that only Guthrie, Hernandez, and Bergensen should stay in the rotation for the second half. If they want to try out Tillman after the All-Star break, then they just have to figure out who would start Friday and let the day off Thursday help get Bergensen and Guthrie another start before the break. As for Friday, I would let Berken and Hill throw 2-3 innings each and then pray the bullpen can finish the game.

The O's record right now is not what concerns me or makes the season for me. It will be how they finish against a very difficult schedule, especially in July. I think to even have a chance to finish strong, they have to figure out if Hill can ever amount to anything and put Berken back in the minors, replaced by Tillman. They also need to avoid all of the stupid mistakes. A continuance of the mistakes will just show me they really don't care to play for Trembley next year, I hope that is not the case.

As for today, all I have heard is how bad the Angels bullpen is, but have the O's even scored a run against them this series? Looks like they'll have another chance today, and they'll sure need more runs then they have now.

When I read the title, I thought you were talking about the pop-up he let drop in right field last night...

Your job as the manager is to win the game for the team,not win for the starting pitcher.trembley should have pulled Hill as soon as he gave up the baserunner.By the way on the ball Markakis hit,the second baseman was pulled off the bag by Figgins throw and not even didn't Trembley come out ot argue,MASN didn't even show the replay.Time to shelve the Rich Hill experiment,and either send him back down or put him in the bullpen.They keep saying they don't want to rush the young arms but our best 2 pitchers right now are Hernandez and Bergeson are our best pitchers.Let the rookies play.

Wieters rips one

So tired of watch the pitchers walk the world and then get ahead and pitch up in the zone and get killed. Time to get rid of the waste and bring up Tillman and let the kids play.

Chris Ray needs to stay in the minors for a very long time.

Rich Hill...release him.

Nice, two walks to the Angels w/the bases loaded. Another 4-0 lead wasted.

I agree with the last poster. This is ridiculous. Offense scores 6 runs and should have put the Angels away. Where is the Ray Lewis i.e. the leader of the club house. We have seen what a Ray Lewis personality does to a team, why can't the Orioles find someone like that to make these guys step up. We have lots of young arms and that's great but there needs to be a leader of "men" from within the clubhouse. It's not D.T. to be that role it needs to be a player.

Now that Roberts has been signed to a contract that appears to be way over the market rate for 2nd basemen (see Orlando Hudson), I believe that we are not moving him anywhere, not even for marginal prospects, unless some very high revenue team (Yankees) needs a long term fill-in. Even that would not seem to be in the cards.
He must now be self motivated to live up to the expectations generated by the contract and the fact that he is the senior Oriole.

At what point does Albers finally get released???? Its GAME OVER whenever he warms up.

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Pete's reply: Actually, he pitched great yesterday.

I'm actually too disgusted by Trembley's moves to even make any points about the multitude of them,except to say unbelievable.

Dave Trembly simply guesses with his bullpen. The pitcher who surrenders the lead is often not the losing pitcher. I cannot imagine what it must be like to leave the mound knowing the guy behind you is giving you the L.

Pitchers REALLY DO CARE about wins and losses. You either yank him before he faces the tie run, or let him pitch out of the mess he got himself into. Trembly REPEATEDLY violates this basic bullpen rule. I've watched at least 4 instances of this in the last two weeks. Bergerson in Philly. Johnson vs Boston. ANd now twice this weekend.

Trembly has lost his pitching staff, and when you face this caliber of team, along with red sox, yanks, and rays...he's never going to be a .500 manager. Might as well pull the plug on him sooner than later.

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Pete's reply: I'm not familiar with that basic bullpen rule. I thought you matched up to get people out.

Boy, the team sure need some arms in that bullpen, our alleged team strong suit. Who was it we got for Chad Bradford?... I know he went on the DL Pete, but at least while he was around you could count on him to throw ground balls.

Let's stop pinning every loss on the manager. This game was lost because Hill is awful and Albers is overworked. Also, the Angels are a lot better team than the Orioles. Trembley can only put into the game the players he has. Hopefully, the O's will be a team that knows how to win in the near future, but they are far from that right now.

Orioles bullpen for the Series

Ings H BB R
O's 10.1 16 9 12

Ang 11.1 5 4 0

What a huge difference. Time to sell and bring up more kids. Tired of watching bad pitchers that have no future with the team.

If Bergesen and Guthrie(occasionally) don't pitch the Orioles almost have to score 6 to 7 runs a game because the other starters get blasted every time they go out there

They've lost 3 games this week they had no business losing which just amplifies all the problems but to blow this many leads in one week is just unbelievable

Jones is the O's All Star - but to name a guy who at times also doesn't run hard your capatain misses the point on the value of a captain. Zaun is the only guy I think currently playing who could be a captain - and no way can you make a backup catcher your captain. Roberts is very disappointing to me - he has his contacts and now it's like he could care less - if he needs a conference with his manager to tell him to "run" he's a bit far down the road to change his stripes. The problem with big money, long-term deals...brutal.

We lost our leader with the release of Millar .
The clock is officially ticking for DT .

Pete,

What is advantageous to this club about holding onto Rich Hill. Has he not proven with two teams in two leagues that he is incapable of being an effective starter in the big leagues. He has potential, yes, but so did DCab and we know how that ended up. Why not let him go and bring up Tillman or Patton. Also, why keep letting Ray loose his confidence up here. When Izturis comes back, is Berken to the bullpen, and Ray to AAA a feasible option?

John

TD's clock has been ticking for a long, long time. Hope Andy has a plan and someone wants to manage these guys (remember how the first manager courtship ended?).

Losing breeds losing.....

Guys like Brian Roberts, and Melvin Mora have been on a losing team for years.....

losing day after day, week after week, month after month, season after season. It takes its toll.

The O's should trade the vets, get some prospects, and build a culture of winning.

Andy should have traded Roberts when he had the chance. it would be better for the team and for Roberts.

If the O's aren't careful, this losing mentality will effect Adam Jones, and
all the other kids that will be coming up this year and next.

Be careful with Nick M....he looks like he has signs of the dreaded "losing virus".........

The team needs some some leadership......

Hang in there Andy.....god knows we are all rooting for you.

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Pete's reply: So, let me get this straight. If you trade away the good players for prospects, you're going to create a culture of winning....how?

I still agree with Peter on issues like Trembleys time table. After the All-Star break, THEN he's truly on the clock because Andy has said he wants to avoid the late season swoon of recent seasons.
As for today's game, it's on Hill. Yeah the bullpen shouldn't have gave up that many runs but remember the O's had a 4-0 lead and Hill almost immediately gave it up. Is that Trembley's fault? No. Hill has not been good lately and in a few weeks we will be talking about whether or not Tillman will take Berken's place or Hill's place in the rotation. And if you guys think we should be playing better or have a winning record or whatever, remember we will continue to be what we are until our rotation is Guthrie, Arrieta, Bergesen, Tillman and Matusz. And guess what? That won't happen till 2010.
Trembley does indeed have to get the team to play better, particularly in August and September, or else he will truly be in trouble and deservedly so. He has made mistakes no doubt, but he can only work with that he's got, which is the current set of starters and relievers and sometimes good players make managers look smart. He can't go out there and make them pitch better.

Rich HIll's numbers are becoming Eaton/Russ Ortiz-like but because he may still have an upside, it's time to send him down to the minors and find some control. I can't see that happening because he's another one of McPhail's Cubs golden boys(like Pie/Patterson etc).
It's time to start getting serious-20 runs allowed in 2 games to a pop-gun offense like the Angels!! Our pitching is unravelling and we haven't even faced potent offenses yet.
Peter-I have to disagree with your opinion that August will be better...Guys are already mailing it in-Markakis is looking like Alex Rios or Vernon Wells-.270 hitters with no pop but lots of zeros on their pay cheque.
And for my final Sunday rant, Sherrill is clearly more worthy than Jones for the All-Star team. Jones hopefully wil get better but for now, his stats are about average for an OF and any production took place in Apr and early May. Like you, I am a big Sherill fan and his numbers warrant another trip to the All-star game(even if it's mainly because not too many Orioles even deserve to even be considered).

Man, I sure hope that no one on this blog has ever had a day where they weren't quite with it at work. Are we sure Roberts isn't experiencing an illness in the family? An argument with his wife? Just because we watch these guys on tv doesn't mean they aren't human. Considering how hard Brian has played over the years, I think he's earned the benefit of the doubt.

The trade Roberts posts are idiotic.You would have such a hard time replacing what he brings to the team because there just aren't many players like him around. He is a very young 31-32 with the way he works out and stays in shape. He has many more years of .290 15hr 75rbi 35sb 100r and 50db left in him. You don't sign someone to a 4 year 40 million dollar deal to be the co-centerpiece of your teams rebuilding and then trade them a few months later. A little perspective please.
Someone started talking on Pete's Palmeiro post the other day about a lie detector test and it got me to thinking. I wish we could give the oriole's players one and find out what they truly feel about their manager. Perhaps Roberts is pissed and dogging it because he thought he was re-signing with team that was going to be a winner but like the rest of us have realized, it's not going to happen with an incompetent manager. So he will not sacrifice his body or do anything above and beyond the call of duty until he feels like all his mates are doing the same. Whose job is it to make that happen? I think we all know the answer. B-Rob is a smart and honest guy, I think we can all tell that. I personally would like to see him try to be the motivator, to set the example, but if that's not who he is you don't just throw his talent and productivity away. It's McPhail's job to find someone who will do it.

Hire Dempsey as the manager and Palmer as the pitching coach.

Justin Turner, Norfok Tides second baseman, is having a good year. That gives the O's the opportunity to trade Roberts and continue the rebuilding. Huff can bring more prospects, too, and either Salazar or Wiggy can hold down first base until Brandon Snyder is ready (and he's been hitting well lately).

The O's have only 3 starting pitchers who merit being major league starters. That's Bergesen, Guthrie (occasionally) and Hernandez. Johnson and Sherrill are OK at the back end of the bullpen, but the middle relievers are a mess and have been unable to bridge from 5-inning starters to late-inning relievers. Bass has been either very good or horrible. Same with Albers. Rich Hill is just awful as a starter, but with that curveball could be a terrific left-handed reliever in the role Jamie Walker couldn't handle anymore. Berken and Koji could be best in middle relief.

So let's go with Bergy, Guthrie and Hernandez as starters, and bring in Tillman and Arrieta to round out the starting five. Hill, Johnson, and Sherrill in the bullpen. I'd give Koji and Berken the chance to show their stuff as middle relievers. I think Albers, Bass and Hendrickson are on very thin ice because of major inconsistency. Ray has been consistent, but unfortunately it's been consistently BAD. Who knows whether Sarfate will come back with anything to offer?

So that's 5 starters (2 of them not even on the team now) and 5 relievers. That leaves 1-2 bullpen positions open for major competition, and I'd sooner give the opportunity to the young hotshots at Norfolk and Bowie than old retreads whose appearance is a roll of the dice.

So trade Roberts and Huff and get some more strong prospects, mostly pitchers and infielders. The O's outfield is solid for a decade, barring injuries.

Until Rich Hill can find the strike zone on a consistent basis, he can't be trusted out of the 'pen. He really needs to go down to the minors and get sorted out. A pitcher with an ERA over 7 has no business starting(or relieving).
Huff is one of our more consistent hitters and Roberts' bloated contract suggests that trading them is ill-advised. Besides,we just end up with more holes to fill.