The wild ones
The first two Twins pitchers -- Armando Gabino and Philip Humber -- walked a total of seven batters in 3 2/3 innings, but the Orioles still may regret not making more of back-to-back opportunities with the bases loaded.
Humber walked in a run in both the third and fourth innings, but he also got a couple of generous ball-strike calls from home plate umpire Gary Darling to avert a total middleman meltdown.
Darling kept him alive against Cesar Izturis long enough to get out of the third, then gave him a shoulder-high fastball on a 2-0 pitch to Luke Scott with the sacks packed and one out in the fourth. Don't know how much sympathy Scott deserves, however, since he stared at a 2-2 curveball that got way too much plate to go by unmolested in a bases-full situation. The O's were fortunate to get their fifth run when Darling gave Matt Wieters the benefit of the doubt on a borderline breaking ball a few minutes later.
Five runs in four innings is nothing to sneeze at, but this game should not be this close, not after the O's put a total of 13 runners on base.
Comments
This ump's strike zone? IT STINKS!
Posted by: Jay Sherman (The Critic) | August 25, 2009 10:03 PM
why in the world would pie try to tag from 2nd with one out and markakis coming to the plate? a terrible mistake.
Posted by: Dave in Buffalo | August 25, 2009 10:18 PM
Schmuck,
I thought one of the new rules is if someone takes a ball into the dugout the runner moves up. Mauer went into the O's dugout. Pie should have been awarded 3rd!
.............................................................................................
Pete's reply: I thought the same thing at first glance, but Morneau actually caught the ball, not Mauer.
Posted by: smbaublitz | August 25, 2009 10:21 PM
Just agreeing with smbaublitz...
Stupid move by Pie, but by rule he should have been awarded third on Mauer's entrance to the dugout. Wieters was called for it earlier this year... coaches should know that rule as well as the umps!
Two baserunning errors in one inning?? Ugh.
Posted by: Dan | August 25, 2009 10:25 PM
Fastball down the middle on 1-2 is always a good pitch.
Wait, did I say always? I meant never.
Posted by: Chris in Hawaii | August 25, 2009 10:32 PM
Trying not to get frustrated here...but all the stupid baserunning outs! I just want the Orioles to do the best they can and not be the laughingstock of the league. But the stupid baserunning mistakes, and then putting Bass in...he is toast and has been since last Sunday's debacle. I guess Trembley isn't really managing for his job, because he lost the game the moment he brought in Bass, who can't get the bottom of the order out. Pathetic. Major disappointment.
Posted by: flaosfan | August 25, 2009 10:33 PM
the Twins trade of Bass to us is paying off for them.
Posted by: ssmd | August 25, 2009 10:34 PM
I thought Bass was the long man, meaning he comes in if a starter doesn't go five. Asking him to protect a lead is asking for trouble. But who should DT have used...Henddrickson? I'm guessing he was saving Mickolio for the 7th?
Posted by: Jon | August 25, 2009 10:38 PM
Are you kidding me! How long does it take to realize that Bass has nothing! Fire everyone!
Posted by: JLO | August 25, 2009 10:38 PM
Matusz just got Bassed!
Posted by: JLO | August 25, 2009 10:41 PM
Its hard not to think the O's (players and manager) are playing to secure next year's #1 draft pick. Its the only explanation.
Posted by: Brian in Va | August 25, 2009 10:50 PM
I enjoyed watching the movie "House of Wax" as a young guy. Vincent Price. Scary.
Watching Dave Trembley in the dugout tonight looked like the second remake of "House of Wax."
Bass had all the life of a fish tacked to the wall.
Dave sat there. Gave us a squint at one point. Then the snapping turtle open jaw thing.
Flexibility, nimbleness, thinking with imagination, showing some grit and going out there and making a change before all the bad things happen--well these are not Dave's strengths.
Dave is a dedicated guy; he is doing his best. He is the transition fellow and should be thanked for what he has done. He knows schedules, plans. He has been supportive of the young players.
But there is no way. Absolutely no way that Dave is the manager for the Orioles next season, when, with the young, talented starting pitching Baltimore will begin to flex its wings.
Buck Showalter--leadership with baseball instincts and fire-- would be a good choice as the manager of the 2010 Baltimore Orioles.
Posted by: Barry | August 25, 2009 10:52 PM
Bass needs to go play hang with his hommie Albers at Norfolk.
Posted by: Terry | August 25, 2009 11:13 PM
no doubt this team, although lacking, has squandered its share of games this year.
the bottom of the Twins order is 6-11 with a walk, and that's silly.
Bass is spent. He needs to be shut down.
Not a DT basher, but he had to get him before 5 got on. That was piss poor managing.
Posted by: jim66 | August 25, 2009 11:27 PM