Thanks everybody
I've gotten a lot of nice notes from many of the posters on this site, wishing me the best with my Achilles surgery. I really appreciate the support and hope everyone is having a great summer weekend. Everything went very well -- thanks to the wonderful doctors, nurses and hospital personnel over at Johns Hopkins. It is the best medical facility in the world, so I wasn't surprised, but I was amazed that they actually made the whole thing a relatively pleasant experience.
Sorry, didn't mean to turn this into an Oscar speech, but I like to explain when the blog is left dormant for 24 hours. I'll be on light duty here for a while, but I'll be reading all the posts and hopefully giving cogent replies. I'll be eye-to-eye with my elevated right foot for the next 10 days. Wonder if it will affect the discourse.
I did watch last night's game, but was -- for obvious reasons -- unable to kick the TV when Jason Berken threw that fat pitch to Jim Thome in the fith. I had be restrained when Danny Baez did the same thing with the bases loaded an inning later.
Other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play? I thought there were a number of positive developments in the series opener against the White Sox, from guys laying down bunts to Aubrey Huff beating out two infield balls to Adam Jones and Nick Markakis going deep. But when you don't pitch, you don't win.
Comments
Glad to hear the surgery was successful. Good luck with your recovery and don't push yourself. Everything, even deadlines, can wait an extra few minutes.
.............................................................................................
Pete's reply: Thanks very much.
Posted by: Hutch | July 18, 2009 1:27 PM
Tough game for the O's. It is about time to replace Berken with Tillman or Hernandez. As Gary Thorne pointed out last night, he has had trouble retiring batters in the 1st, 4th and 5th innings - which doesn't leave much room for error when he only goes 5 innings.
Who will be the first Oriole traded? Only 13 more days until non-waiver deadline.
A related issue - you had your surgury at #1 ranked Johns Hopkins, when the recent rankings came out, I saw them on MSN and they had a picture of Duke University Hospital, which is #10. Does this prove Duke gets all the preferential treatment of Maryland?
............................................................................................
Pete's reply: I don't know about that. Maryland has always been known for its great medical facilities.
Posted by: Christian | July 18, 2009 1:41 PM
Glad to hear everything went well Pete. I was just wondering what the O's are doing with the #7. It has not been retired but nobody has been issued it since Cal Sr. right? Is it just temporarily out of the rotation? Nothing against Sr., but I don't think his mangerial record or the fact that he is Cal's son is enough to retire it.
...............................................................................................
Pete's reply: I think they withhold it out of respect for him, because of his great contributions throughout the organization.
Posted by: Chris G. | July 18, 2009 2:54 PM
Pete,
Glad everything went well for you!
Chris Tillman also pitched last night and I can't help but to think the O's put Berken and Tillman on the same rotation on purpose. After last night I would not be surprised to see Tillman's next start in an Orioles uniform.
I think my favorite part about last nights game was when Chicago's 3B played back on Roberts and he made him pay for it by dropping a perfect bunt. Then Markakis made him feel a little extra special by knocking one out.
Good luck and I wish you a speedy recovery!
Posted by: Chuck in Hawaii | July 18, 2009 2:59 PM
Mazel, Mazel,
Glad to hear everything is going well. Will try not to irritate you any during the next two weeks, would hate to be cause of you kicking anything in your condition! Best wishes!
Posted by: Keith Rowe | July 18, 2009 3:51 PM
How can the O's trade anybody with little or no depth in the minors? Well they have depth at 2nd and the OF but that's about it. The next wave of pitching if there is any is at Fredrick and Delmarva and two years away.
They aren't going to replace Berken with Tillman because that's burning depth for no reason.If somebody else breaks down,they'll have to call Berken back up again.Hill is actually the shakiest and it's possible Guthrie could go on the DL if they can't get his virus figured out.
Posted by: John | July 18, 2009 4:04 PM
Hope you get well soon Peter!
I would actually trade a rough night of pitching just to see all those crooked numbers in the top three of the batting order - it was long overdue and good to see. The O's will eventually pitch, but overhauling your batting order isn't happening anytine soon...these top 3 need to produce.
Posted by: Gary | July 18, 2009 4:07 PM
Hope all goes well pete. I know what it's like to be laid up for awhile. I had a detached retina and i had to lay in bed face down for 2 weeks. Anyway certain things like this certinly put things in perspective as far as sports goes. Good Luck
Posted by: blancione | July 18, 2009 4:29 PM
Pete - good to hear everything went well . Get well soon buddy !
Since you plugged Johns Hopkins , I'd like to second that . Ten years ago as a child, my stepson was hospitalized there for cancer treatment . Today he's a healthy teenager thanks to them .
Kinda ' puts it all back into perspective .
Posted by: the artist formerly known as jack in hebron | July 18, 2009 5:31 PM
Happy everything went well Pete. Get well soon.
Not pitch? You mean like Bergesen's meltdown just now? Ugh. At he came back the next inning and got 3 outs without anymore damage. He's young - he's learning. Gonna be a lot of that for the next few years. Oh well. Someday it will all come to fruition. Go' O's!
Posted by: nebraska_jeff | July 18, 2009 5:45 PM
Glad to hear that your surgery went well. Enjoy your down time while you can, it will pass very, very quickly. I missed Thome's first home run, but I called the grand slam after Baez hit Dye, so I wasn't ready to kick the TV. With this team some things are just too predictable. All in all, it's fun to watch the kids develop and I'm anxiously awaiting the rest of them to arrive. Although the results are about the same, this is a bit easier to watch than recent years becasue there is finally hope. Take care of yourself, we'll get along just fine with fewer posts while you recuperate.
Posted by: Allen Reed | July 18, 2009 5:56 PM
Glad to hear the surgery was a success, I wish you a quick recovery.
As far as the O's go any reason they keep sending Hernandez down rather than Berken? Is it just the way the rotation fell or does it have something to do with options or something? Hernandez had a lot more success not only with ERA but getting deeper into ballgames and keeping it close giving the Orioles a chance to win. It seems whenever Berken pitches well the Orioles don't score any runs and when he doesn't we manage to score a fair amount but not enough to win.
.............................................................................................
Pete's reply: It definitely was the way the rotation fell. He'll be back in a couple of days.
Posted by: Matt | July 18, 2009 6:19 PM
WTF!!!!! Horrible, horrible, horrible call for strike 3 to Wigginton. This BS is getting ridiculous. When will the O's start protesting some of these games? Where was the manager? Why didn't he get on the umpire's face for the horrible call.
How about Markakis. Why doesn't he put his body out there when he would have gotten hit by a pitch inside to load the bases with nobody out. Common guys, this is textbook. How many times have we seen Varitek and Youkilis do that when the game is on the line. Instead he makes a weak out. How many time we've seen that this season?
I will stop watching O's games. My blood pressure is sky-high.
Posted by: Slugger | July 18, 2009 6:25 PM
Just as predicted.....BIG SECOND HALF. Shooting for 0-74 and they're right on track. Berken can go back down now....seen enough? Let's give Tillman a shot now.
.............................................................................................
Pete's reply: I don't know. Not sure he could take your reaction after his first loss.
Posted by: oldetoys | July 18, 2009 6:53 PM
Pete, Your knowledge of baseball, understanding of the Orioles, fine writing and wit make you one of the few consistent pleasures of following the O's. So take care of that Achilles heal, and keep your wit dry. You'll need it. It looks as if we're in for another long second-half.
..............................................................................................
Pete's reply: Well, I suspect it's going to be a tough week, but I still think the second half will be better than the first.
Posted by: Rockvillejake | July 18, 2009 7:06 PM
Hey Peter-all the best in your recovery. Your blog is a breath of fresh air to this die-hard Orioles fan.
Stay thirsty my friend!
.............................................................................................
Pete's reply: I have stayed thirsty, as a matter of fact. Can't even have a beer during the British Open.
Posted by: TerryP | July 18, 2009 7:16 PM
Did no one listen when Trembley stated they don't intend to bring ANYONE up the rest of the season? Not that many people here like him anyway, but he was basically stating what he was told by McPhail I'm sure. Get over the Tillman in 09 fetish. Let the kid keep learning so he's fully ready. Berken was probably brought up too soon and how's that working out?
On a lighter note, glad to hear you're on the road to recovery Pete. Good thing it's Rascal accessible.
............................................................................................
Pete's reply: I still think Tillman will be up in the next month or so.
Posted by: James C | July 18, 2009 8:29 PM
Here's hoping the new Schmuck is better than ever.
............................................................................................
Pete's reply: Thanks very much. Me too.
Posted by: Cameron | July 18, 2009 9:31 PM
Good luck with your recovery Pete. If you do one thing over the next few days, wear your compression sock or device as much as possible!! Trust me, its no fun finding out you've shot a blood clot from your leg into your lung! And if you have any pain in the middle of your back tell the doctors right away!
.............................................................................................
Pete's reply: Thanks. I'm being very careful.
Posted by: larry | July 18, 2009 9:33 PM
Pete:
All the best on your recovery .... you are a special sports writer Peter Schmuck ... you column .. guess it's a blog now .. is the first thing this transplanted Baltimorean looks at each morning.... do you have any idea of the number of people that actually take the time to read what you write ... a lot! ... and you have to write about a perennial last place team ... you can even make them interesting .. now that a sports writer! Be easier writing about the Red Sox.
............................................................................................
Pete's reply: Mel, thanks for the kind words. I'd rather write about the O's, for all their faults, than the Red Sox.
Posted by: WiliamsburgMel | July 18, 2009 10:02 PM
Hey Pete,
Rest up, there will be a lot going on over the next 12 days. Glad all went well.
Posted by: cb coach | July 18, 2009 10:43 PM
Our obvious baseball differences aside,I'm glad the surgery went well.Have been under the knife 11 times headed for 12,and it's never an easy thing to face.My mother spent 4 years battling luekemia at Hopkins and they were fantastic.My Dad just had an aorta replacement several months ago at the Hopkins Bayview unit and they were great as well.Your heel is in good hands.Sorry couldn't resist.Best wishes for a speedy recovery,they are never fun at any age,and more so at our "middle age",lol.
.............................................................................................
Pete's reply: Thanks Burt. I have to remember that I'm very lucky that this is my first hospital-requiring medical problem in about 25 years. Just sitting here with my foot up watching Tom Watson. That's not too bad either.
Posted by: Burt from Essex | July 19, 2009 12:32 AM
only a schmuck tears his achilles tendon. i remember watching dan marino play against cleve. he dropped back to pass and fell because he tore his achilles. oh well marino was a schmuck too. feel better schmuck. how often does one read an article with dan marino and peter schmuck in it? when marino reads this he'll feel very proud of himself. as the song in west side story goes..when you're a schmuck you're a schmuck all the way.....
............................................................................................
Pete's reply: ...from your first cigarette til your last dying day.
Posted by: fkterp | July 19, 2009 6:47 AM
Just want to say I'm glad to hear your surgery and recovery are going well. Hope you have steady improvement as you return to your old self.
............................................................................................
Pete's reply: Thanks very much.
Posted by: wbalfan66 | July 19, 2009 7:46 AM
A belated good wishes, and a speedy recovery to you on your surgery. I wasn't aware. Fortunately for you this occured before Obama's health plan takes effect or else you would have to wait at least a year for a doctor to be chosen for you, and another year to have the surgery done.
Posted by: O's fan | July 19, 2009 8:39 AM
When did this happen? I was at camp...with no internet (anarchy!), and then I come back and Schmuck has gotten injured? Well, anyway, hope you feel better. I'm glad you can still write (whew). Good to hear the surgery went well and I wish you a speedy recovery!
............................................................................................
Pete's reply: The original injury was on July 4. Thanks for the kind words.
Posted by: Ilana in DC | July 19, 2009 4:25 PM
I agree he'll be up, but the call for blood right after the break is a little early.
I'm not totally naive. It's very much like a "no new taxes" promise, but I just don't see what you lose by giving Berken a real shot and time with the big league pitching coach. He should at least get some time to not live in fear of being demoted.
Posted by: James C | July 19, 2009 4:36 PM
Glad to hear the surgery went well. Here is hoping for a speedy recovery.
.............................................................................................
Pete's reply: Thanks very much.
Posted by: Socal O's Fan | July 20, 2009 1:39 AM
Pete --
Thought at your age, with a bad wheel, they'd just put you out of your misery...
Kidding of course. Glad to hear recovery is going well.
Posted by: Mike | July 20, 2009 3:08 PM