Pete

He must have heard you! :) But seriously on that first at bat, the 2-1 curve was outside and called a strike, then the umpire made up on the 2-2 pitch as that cut fastball was a much better pitch he called a ball, so Matt was working on the dealers money and stood there and took the 3-2 pitch.

Everyone keeps talking about what were going to do with either Hill or Berkin come Wed? I think either Sherrill or Baez or Hendrickson will be dealt and there will be no problem.

Looks like Guthrie is giving back our runs we got him!

Another steller outing by our "ace" with the ERA that is a run higher than Hendrickson? The biggest disappointment for the O's this season contnues...his pitches are straight and fat.

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Pete's reply: Let's be fair here. The guy didn't ask to be the "ace" and he got a cut in pay this past offseason. If he was the third of fourth starter, he'd be maybe a win below average.

One would think that the staff "ace" not getting it done again would be more noteworthy then a rookie being fooled by a very good pitcher.

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Pete's reply: Well, when the Orioles have a staff ace, I'll start worrying about that. Guthrie is at the front end by default and I think it's too bad that people are blaming him for not being what he isn't.

Probably a good thing for Jones to get a little humble pie tonight...he's going to need to shorten up or something - he is getting handled pretty easily. The pitchers adjusted to his start this season, now he has to humble himslef and adjust as well.

Pete,

I know he's a rookie and has an extremely bright future, but have you noticed Wieters swings and misses at way too many fastballs? I'm sure he'll get his bearings and end his career with a .290 average and 300 home runs, but his bat looks awful slow at times. Your take?

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Pete's reply: I think he looks like a good young player who is almost two months into his major league career. He's a big guy, so his swing is going to look long -- and it probably is right now -- but he'll adjust. I loved the at-bat right after the one I criticized. I mean, the guy was facing an outstanding pitcher.

Pete

Reimold hsa been hitting much better of late.... just doubled off the wall. Was his brief slump just that or has he made any significant adjustments?

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Pete's reply: Really couldn't tell you that. He's patient at the plate, and for awhile he was too patient. Struck out looking a bunch. Now, he seems to have settled in. He's three months in, so he's going to be up and down.

Wow, Pete, a little harsh? The kid's just now trying to figure out how to make good contact at a 95 MPH fastball, like Buck Martinez pointed out early in the telecast. I wouldn't call out the 23-year-old Wieters because he was overmatched by a tremendous pitcher in a particular at-bat. If you want to call anybody out, let it be a veteran like Aubrey Huff who has not run out a grounder all year and looks clueless at the plate right now, or Wigginton, who has grounded into more rally-killing double plays than anyone on the team.

Just my opinion, though :)

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Pete's reply: Wasn't calling him out at all. I just felt in that situation, he was looking for a walk -- or a CB in a FB situation -- when he's the last guy who can get something done. It's more about mindset. I think he's doing just fine.

They say a picture tells a thousand words - I think the shot of Melvin Mora coming face-to-face with umpire Joe West past 1st base on his groundout with West raising the fist for the out and Melvin's look encapsulates the frustration of this season.

The O's are unwatchable - they suck! None of their pitchers would make another major league team. They would not do well in AAA! The head coach is a joke - the team has no guts .... they leave runners on, especially early in the game, and they can not hit the oppositions bull pen.
How many more years of this nonsense can we take? Baltimore would do well to get out of MLB altogether. Maybe a Boston or NY farm team would fair well!

I agree with some other posters....you decide to call out a rookies at bat against one of the better pitchers?????
It reminds me of DT calling out Weiters earlier in the year for not getting out of the box quick enough...
you guys don't want to offend the veterans or what.????.

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Pete's reply: Yeah Bill, I did that because I don't want to offend the veterans. Get a grip.

Almost all of the Orioles do WAY WAY WAY to much standing there with the bat on their shoulders, TAKING very hittable 3rd called strikes. Ya can't hit it if ya don't swing at (ooops, that's Adam Jones motto right now but he does it no matter where they throw it, Huff too, and Mora, Oh Well)! The standard from day one - Baseball 101 - if it's close enough to be called strike three it sure as hell is close enough to swing at it! The orioles, except for Reimhold SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How the Orioles play the rest of their games against the Yankees, Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays may be the difference in the AL East. Baltimore is 0-6 in both Fenway and Yankee Stadium this season, and 1-1 against the Rays in Tropicana Field.

Beat the freaking Red Sux. You have my permission to lose every game in Tampa the rest of the year.

I think you mentioned it before, but Jones does know you can take a first pitch now and then right?

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Pete's reply: I believe he does. This is one of those re-adjust periods for him.

Matt's doing great! For a rookie in his second year of pro ball, I can't see how anyone could expect more. I'm sure the organization is delighted, and IMO the fans and media should be too.

Best of all he's learning his craft playing against the best teams on the planet. This may be one situation where it's an *advantage* to be in the AL eastern division.

Thank god football is back soon! I don’t want to even see orange until next season.

I agree but it wasn't anywhere near as bad as the Mora at bat whiffing at two pitches in the dirt that almost hit him in the foot. How much longer do the fans have to put up with this from Mora and Aubrey the Mighty Huff and I'll Huff and I'll strike out or hit a meek grounder to second? Wieters has been in the league two months and still learning; Mora and Huff are lifers who should know better. Mora is OLD and he's showing it; perhaps Huff is in a miserable slump but if he is there's no way he should be asking for big money next season.

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Pete's reply: Well, believe it or not, slumps sometimes end.