A cosmic shift? Or dumb luck? Even the sun shines on a dogs arse from time to time.

Even the French won a few battles here and there, although as history shows, the only thing the French was successful at in the past 2 milleniums is beating themselves.

14 losing years feels just as long, and I still don't think this team is better than 78 wins. They got a while to go

Agree with d.i.g.b. - while it sure beats losing, hard to get excited about the occasional victory unless it is sustained.

The other day someone on another blog made a dismissive comment about those who require help finding statistics. No mean googler meself, I was soon comparing the OPS of the Yankees and the Orioles top farm teams. It was enlightening but not encouraging. It's early in the year, sure, but four years into the MacPhail regime and we have only Brandon Snyder (yea Brandon) with OPS > .900. The Yanks have 3 above 1.000 and 6 above .900.

Granted, one of those outliers in the Columbus Clipper stats is Grady Sizemore who had all of 3 ABs at AAA this year, but still, sort by ABs and the guys getting the playing time aren't putting up the numbers.

Yet.

See for yourself!

web.minorleaguebaseball.com

Double A notes:

What's up with Joe Mahoney? Decent OPS, but he's only been in 6 games for Bowie. Has he been injured?

Billy Rowell on the other hand - he's not hitting and he's not playing.

Encouraging - Caleb Joseph.

Best stat line - Robbie Widlansky, perhaps, tho Jeff Fiorentino also looks good in more selective ABs

Widlansky could be a sleeper. People I've talked to really like him.

Bagging on the French? The French who measure their history by millenia (yes, Dave, that's millenia, not milleniums), not centuries and who rank as the wealthiest nation in Europe and who have been a world power for at least the past 600 years (that's 400 more than we've been around - as a Euro centric nation that is - for those who don't have enough fingers and toes to count).

Maybe Dave in Glen Burnie is really an AKA for Luke Scott.

I doubt there's a poster on this board who, in February, wouldn't have taken this record at the end of April, especially considering the freakin' schedule and the loss of Matusz and Hardy.

So far, this year, the O's have gotten some breaks, and had others go against them. So what? As Buck says, "it all evens out."

If you're not impressed by how the O's have handled the month of April, than you 1) don't know baseball, 2) don't understand the ridiculous degree of difficulty in April's schedule, and 3) have no appreciation for how hard it is to climb back up from an 8-game losing streak - especially against this calibre of competition and considering last April and May's debacle.

The schedule gets better, the bats will come around (that's a statistical certainty) and help is on the way in the return of Matusz, Hardy and, dare I say it, Simon.

If you guys can't enjoy what the O's have done this month, than you are hopeless.

I don't think I would reserve much hope for a 26-year-old in his second year of AA, ken.

My Orioles minor league players to watch are all with Frederick right now: Dan Klein, Bobby Bundy and Tyler Townsend.

Two others to keep an eye on:

- Trent Mummey, of: .299/.376/.519, 9 extra base hits, 15 stolen bases through 19 games with Delmarva and Frederick

- Jonathan Schoop, 3b: .311/.374/.511, 10 extra base hits, through 21 games with Delmarva. He was signed out of Curacao as a shortstop, but playing on the same team as Manny Machado has pushed him over the third base. If his glove plays well there, I'm guessing he'll pass Josh Bell on the depth chart by the end of this year.

And here's the Manny Machado update:

.325/.430/.571 with three home runs, six doubles and two triples in 77 at bats. And the best part: 11 strikeouts, 14 walks.

The kid isn't going to be in the Sally League for long.

jc -

It's been an up-and-down month:

6-1 in their first seven

0-8 in their next eight

5-4 since then

Which adds up to 11-13.

I won't say I'm enjoying that. Why would anyone enjoy a losing record? But I will say that if you told me that they were going to lose eight in a row and still end up at 11-13 going into the last day of April, I would have laughed at you.

Oh, and I wouldn't say anything is going to get easier in May.

Sure, we've got a fading KC team after we leave Chicago and another three against the Royals in Baltimore later in the month, but then we've got six games against a much better Rays team, two each against the Yanks and Red Sox, five against the Mariners (here's hoping we don't run into Felix and Pineda in both times) and three against Oakland and their MLB leading 2.59 ERA.

Oh, and after having five off days (three scheduled, two rain outs) in April, we've got just two scheduled off days in May.

And heck, even if that did look easier on paper, nothing is easy when you're not even a .500 team.

Sun shines on a dawgs arse...

Maybe it's me, but I haven't seen an opposing team blow up like that in years.

If the sun shines on dawgs arse, we've got 13 years of sunshine, huh?

I said it last night, and it's worth mentioning again. Yesterday was a strange day...that inning was bananas. I felt bad for their pitcher...lead off walk to Nick, than he works 2 outs with Nick still on 1st (after dozens of throw overs too), and then walk, error, blooper, walk...It seemed like he was gonna get out of it, but the look on his face when he was pulled was one of "WTF just happened? I totally had that, and what the heck..."

Kinda nice to see it happen to someone other than a Matt Albers in Black n' Orange, Gonzo, or whom ever from the pen over the last 6 years.

Now, about Golden Wieters...you think they'll be turning him around much more to face LHP's? Probabaly...still only .200 AVG. (but Slugging .550!!!)

Man, Pete......nobody, I guess, got the Frank Zappa reference for your title. Kudos.

Maybe you need to use "Zircon encrusted Weiters" for your next one.

The worst team in baseball this year will win around 60 games folks.

Some of you are actually excited about an 11-13 record. How does that play out over an entire season again?

You see... it has gotten to the point where some of you actually get excited when the O's win ANY game. The bar has been set SO LOW that things actually feel better to you.

Do you even read what you write? Do you even see how you now accept losing?

Face it people.

This is another LAST PLACE TEAM.

LAST PLACE
LAST PLACE

Ok Boston is in last place technically..... keep banking on that folks.

LAST PLACE
LAST PLACE

When will you face facts that the exec running this team has lost more games than any exec in the game over the last 20 years.

HELLO
HELLO
HELLO

..............................................................................................
Pete's reply: Geez, I just read this entry and I actually feel sorry for you, Wayne. How horribly unhappy you must be if the only way you can feel fulfilled is if you can convince other people to be unhappy after the Orioles win three of four. This world is challenging enough without looking for reasons to wallow in misery. Let me know if I can help in any way, but you better hurry. I'm hearing from one of your secret sources that I'm going on vacation for a week at the end of May.

Sad but true wayne, sad but true.

jc -

don't even get me started on politics - this is sports. I was only making a vague comparison about the O's win yesterday.

If you're excited about 11-13, great. Yes, we don't have Matusz and Hardy. Injuries happen and there will be more. But if you can't see the glaring lack of depth, then you probably can't see past your nose. That's 2 players we've lost temperarly, it's April, and if this team loses another starting pitcher, I don't know what they'll do.

And thanks for the grammer lesson. Lighten up.

Paulie -

In '09, the O's came back the last two innings and scored 10 runs to beat the Red Sox 10-9. Even the sun shines on a dogs arse.

This is a team with a very young rotation and a line up with both talened young players before their prime and talened old players past their prime. It's going to be a long season with a bunch of up and downs. I don't think this is a turning point.

wayne -

If they don't finish in last place, are they still a last place team?

nb,

Nope

Last place is what last place does.

jc,

I'm confused by you.

jc, Then call us hopeless you idiot. They have a losing record. That's what they always have jc - a losing record.

So sure, we're all just flipping out about their amazing April. And we were also flipping out over the sweep by Cleveland. Was cleveland part of that 'brutal' schedule you moron?

It's clowns like you that have come to define what the Baltimore Orioles stand for. The fact that you would have taken 2 games under 500 by the end of April defines you. wayne, what are you confused about? The guy is a total Loser!

FWIW having Andino step in for JJ hasn't been a downgrade (other than power).

Grammar, not grammer, Dave.

Pete likes me! He responds to me.

Hey smitty, pretend to be me and maybe he'll respond to you, too.

That's right, Wayne, no matter how hard you try, you're just not getting through to us.

Supposing that you actually have something else in your life (and I know that's probably making a stretch), your time may be better spent elsewhere.

In other news... Andino, baby!

Nice job by Tillman so far, one walk certainly is where he needs to be given he is not much of a strikeout pitcher. I don't know how long he can hang on to this shutout even though the White Sox are struggling offensively. Sure would be nice to back the guy up with a little more run support.

Wow. Trying to win a game with the combination of Tillman followed by Gonzalez is going to be very, very difficult.

Wow. Serious props to Gonzalez not only for getting three outs, but also for not backing down after Fox failed to make that play at the plate. It was a good time for Gonzo to get his act together... now let's score some runs!

I don't care that Matt Weiters needs a break behind the plate. You better DH him and bench Guerrero. He is on fire. Buck's decision to sit Weiters may very well cost the O's the game.

Andino over Hardy, hands down. HIs defense is above average. He just stole 3 bases to score, and he is hitting.

I was all for the O's signing Guerrero and I'm glad they have him, but with no walks in over 100 at-bats, how can we not label him a selfish player? I understand he is a hacker and has been very successful but how can you go that long without a walk and not be hurting the team's ability to score runs?

Posted by: Mesotheliangelos | April 30, 2011 9:13 PM

Nailed it!

Meso;

Oops!! Spoke a little to soon.

Jon,
One way is to hit the first pitch with the bases loaded and drive in a couple.
That doesn't hurt.

Some would point to Andino as some serious foresight given to constructing this team.
Who is this guy and when did he replace robert andino?

Who signed Robert Andino?

Last place never felt so good.
I love last place because now just like Secretariat we can sneak up from the outside and win going away!!!

Craig Tatum and now John Hester as backup catcher options.

With Andino offering such high quality utility work and Hardy on his way back, the days of the Fox have got to be numbered.

Gonzales looked very good at the end of last year and is still going to get it together this year.
Everyone rips Macphail for this signing and the Kevin Gregg signing but Andy has really had a a good couple years at the helm....couple that with the talent we have at the low and mid minor leagues and we are looking solid.
Thanks Uncle A
Thanks Joe J

Yeah Smitty that helps, but what doesn't help is his dismal .270 on-base percentage. That's an unheard of number for any player, let alone a cleanup hitter.

but Andy has really had a a good couple years at the helm

Wow. Is that post a bit or something?

Hey folks, here's a question: if Brian Roberts struck out but made it to first base on a passed ball, does that still increase his OBP?

...............................................................................................
Pete's reply: No. Same as an error.

Yeah Smitty that helps, but what doesn't help is his dismal .270 on-base percentage. That's an unheard of number for any player, let alone a cleanup hitter.

April: done.
In the basement: Red Sox.
Not in the basement: Orioles.

When was the last time that could be said?

*cue the whinehousers*

Wayne's tips to a positive outlook volume #847

"This is another LAST PLACE TEAM.

LAST PLACE
LAST PLACE

Ok Boston is in last place technically..... keep banking on that folks.

LAST PLACE
LAST PLACE"

Wayne,
Someone should ask Boston how it feels to be so alone
with no direction of home
like a complete unknown
well below the O's

4th and climbing fast

If some one told you after 25 games that Matusz hadn't thrown a pitch
that Hardy hardly played
that Guthrie had 1 win
that no regular was hitting anywhere near .300
that Andino was our best player..

and we right around .500.

would anyone except smitty (and maybe dan qz) have believed you?

Oh and that the Red Sox were looking up at us all alone?

Go figure

I believe it was Earl Weaver who said that he felt you could get a good handle on a team after the first 40 games.
Here's to going 10-5 over the next couple weeks and then lets see what happens.
We'll be getting Matusz and Hardy and yes even the Duke back...
If Lee and Markakis can get going soon the things should get quite interesting around here..

I like that mindset Smitty. I have no doubt Nick gets going soon but Lee's best days are so far behind him (at least offensively), I don't know how much production we'll get from him. Also, I think expecting anything from Duch is crazy.

Yeah Jon,
I wouldn't worry about Lee. I remember Eddie Murray used to have some awful Aprils. Lots of very good hitters have trouble getting going in April. Lets talk at the end of May regarding Lee and Markakis
You never know about Duch. They are talking like he's getting closer. Perhaps he goes on a rehab down the road and looks good.
He sure would add some depth we will need this summer. AAA looks bleak for starters this year. we need our core to stay healthy to get to the playoffs....cue Mora...."PLAYOFFS???"

Tom in Seattle said:

The other day someone on another blog made a dismissive comment about those who require help finding statistics. No mean googler meself, I was soon comparing the OPS of the Yankees and the Orioles top farm teams. It was enlightening but not encouraging. It's early in the year, sure, but four years into the MacPhail regime and we have only Brandon Snyder (yea Brandon) with OPS > .900. The Yanks have 3 above 1.000 and 6 above .900.

Granted, one of those outliers in the Columbus Clipper stats is Grady Sizemore who had all of 3 ABs at AAA this year, but still, sort by ABs and the guys getting the playing time aren't putting up the numbers.
___________________________

Ummm, you do realize the Columbus Clippers are Cleveland's AAA affiliate, right?

I figured Grady Sizemore would have tipped you off, but apparently not.

As Joe Angel would say: Another one in the WIN column!

Sure, the White Sox are playing ugly baseball right now, but I honestly can't remember the last time the Orioles capitalized on the other team's mistakes. Let alone two games in a row.

And even if you're wayne of James C, you've got to like seeing Britton and Guthrie lined up to start the next two games.

Or you could mope about how a .480 winning percentage equals just 78 wins. Or how the Orioles always have a losing record. And you could insult people just because they're hanging on to a bit of hope. Whatever works for you.

I, for one, enjoy watching my team play good ball. And while they're doing so, I'm not going to think about what happened in the past. Because you know what? Things could get better. Sure, they could get worse too, but I don't like to wait for my team to lose so I can say "I told you so".

End rant.

Good game today boys. Lets see if we can bring some brooms down on the ChiSox.

Bonus: Mike Gonzalez looked like a major league pitcher today. Dare I say, his stuff looked filthy. I'm not saying he's turned things around, but it sure was nice to see him pitching today instead of just throwing.

I just curious to see how long it will take Wayne to turn on Buck.

Oh by the way I guess Wayne you will have to uptick the win total to 61 for now.

12 - 13 no nothing to get to excited about especially when it includes an eight game losing streak in the middle of it all, but it is better than 2-16.

So if that means I suffer from low expectations so be it but then again I didn't exactly view this season with high expectations either.

But let us see where things stand come the end of May.

Wayne = Mental Midget

Strike that, Wayne = very lonely, grumpy, mental midget

smitty;

Agree with you about Gregg and Gonzalez. I don't know why, but neither of them were given much credit from the get go by posters around here. It was as if because neither was Mariano Rivera, then they must be bums.

A quick look at the career stats for both of them shows how unfair that is, particularly so for Gonzalez. This is a guy in the 6 years he played before we got him, who only once had an era above 2.70. He's given up a ridiculously low 240 hits in 311 IP, given up a HR every 12 IP, and struckout about 10 every 9 IP.

Everyone around here though wanted to write him off because he was injured from the start last year. Almost no one wanted to mention how outstanding he was after he got back. He pitched every bit as good as his career marks.

If both Gregg and Gonzalez pitch to their career numbers, they'll be valuable contributors to this club and worth every penny we're paying them. Gregg has taken a few good steps recently and Gonzalez took a major one tonight with his performance against Chicago. Let's hope it keeps up. I think it will.

wow this is easy,,,,

Because Gonzo has stunk since being an Oriole dan qzzzz. He was a save blower in Atlanta the year before (look it up sir), and our brilliant GM saw enough in him to give him a bloated contract.......

It was a typical AM move. If the guy had an eye for talent, perhaps he wouldn't be the leader in Losses by execs over the past 20 years....

And I LOVE IT when someone says something stupid like '....if he's not mariano then they must be a bums'.

No hero....... no one wants any of them to be the greatest closer in the history of the game. We just want them to be 'good'.... for the Baltimore Orioles.

Ugh..... Oriole fans. Sometimes I think the Yank/Sox/Philly fans are right with what they say about them. I like to hold out hope, but then I see post by smitty, PP and dan zzzz.

@dan qz,

No actually I spoke at the right time. I would have taken Weiters over Guerrero with the bases loaded any day. I guess I didn't take into account the team they were playing against. A team that has the tendency to self destruct. Yeah, Buck gets the benefit of the doubt when they win. I certainly want them to win. But you manage like that against the AL East you will get burned. I've been as big advocate as anybody in favor of Buck, but from what I've seen in the past 20-30 games, I'm not impressed at all.

The O's are dead last in MLB in steal attempts. What's he waiting for a 3 run homer? This is not Earl Weaver O's. He needs to play small ball. You have: Markakis, Andino, Roberts and Jones, who have exceptional speed. A team that struggles with the bat needs to manufacture runs any way possible. He has been by the book more than Dave Trembley and has shown same stubbornness as Trembley. And Derek Lee has no business batting 3rd. Neither does Markakis batting 2nd right now. As someone else said: Guerrero needs to work the count and draw walks. I don't care what his style is. If Buck can find the time to straighten Andino (a backup player) out, he has time to talk to a veteran. I'm not in favor of sacrificing wins to let your guys snap out of it.

To all of you jumping on the Gonzales wagon right now. He is still a bum. I watched the Gary Thorn interview with him, and the guy is mentally f-up. He doesn't believe that he should concentrate on his mechanics. I've got news for him. Pitching is all about mechanics, unless you're throwing 100 mph fastballs that nobody can hit. Jim Palmer noticed that his mechanics are so flawed that are affecting his slider and breaking pitches to not break. He was very hittable; however the White Sox are sucking a baboon's arse right now. I'd like to see Gonzales get it done against the AL East.

For a nominal service charge
you can reach nirvana tonight

I'm not ready to jump on the Mike Gonzalez bandwagon just yet. Let's see him put together a few decent outings first-remember that even Danys Baez looked good for a short period!
As far as the offense goes, we should be running more and of course, try to cut down on the number of K's. That is easier said than done as our lineup is full of veteran free-swingers, who aren't likely to change their ways anytime soon.
Vlad Guerrero isn't going to work counts at this stage;he's like Tejada in that regard. I guess Buck has to accept that or move him down in the order, which I don't agree with. He is still driving in runs and is the least of our worries. Reynolds is worse than I thought-he looks lost up there. Markakis is another hitter who appears in a extended slump, especially in the power department.
If we can somehow get those 2 going, then we should have a decent offense. I agree with those suggesting Buck shake up the batting order-maybe move Andino into the 2 slot?

Christopher - good catch on the Yankees AAA affilliate, which is Scranton Wilkes-Barre. I was confused there - but the SWB Yanks have 2 above 1.000, 2 more above 900, so the basic point that our system is not producing the players is reinforced rather than weakened (too bad we can't see the same for my credibility) by seeing that the Indians and the Yankees are both doing so much better.

Nice win last night.

Meso;

There are a few problems with base stealing as a stategy as far as the Os are concerned.

Number 1, do you really want Roberts running the risk of putting his back out and ending up on the DL? You increase that likelihood every time you send him.

Number 2, who of Markakis, Andino or Jones has ever shown they have the aptitude? Their respective success rates in terms of stealing are 72%, 63% and 68%.

Stealing bases isn't just about speed. It takes a certain talent that none of these guys has ever demonstrated.

1) I think there is somebody else posting as JC. That's ok, it's common enough, but so there's no confusion, my posts tend to be long and tome like.

2) I love it when folks continue to raise the bar so that they can convince themselves and others they are always right. .500 and third place (and spitting distance of first) on May 1 would have sent any of us into ecstatic states of delirium two months ago.

But if you move the bar and say, "well that's just 500, that's just mediocre, talk to me when they're on track to win 97 games" - then you simply live to make the point that they're just never gonna be good enough, cut DLee, fire MacPhail, bring up Manny and trade Jones, Vladdy, Nick and, while your at it, Britton before Buck ruins him and he is worthless in tradeable value.

Me? I'd rather see the trend moving in the right direction. You? You buy Apple stock two weeks after its high and wonder why you keep losing money.

Will somebody make an intelligent argument refuting the fact that the O's are playing a better brand of fundamental, opportunistic, confident baseball than any time in recent memory (aside from the last third of 2010)? Did any of the haters on this board expect the O's to climb back to .500 so soon after the 8 game losing streak, and to do it against the Red and White Sox? Yes, absolutely, the White Sox look horrid, but the O's have a little something to do with that - especially in capitalizing on mistakes. Two months ago, on paper, would you have traded the White Sox roster straight up for the O's? Last year they won 88 games, had 3 players hitting over 20 home runs, didn't have a starting pitcher with an ERA over 4.65, had two with ERAs under 4, and had a closer with 27 saves.

Anyone want to trade rosters now? After this weekend?

So, guys 'n gals, steer into the skid, buy the trend - and the trend is trending in the right direction.

But, if you are only willing to stop hating when the O's have won 97 games and won the WS... at least you'll guarantee you'll be right a lot more than you'll be wrong. And that does seem suspiciously to be the point with you guys.

Be careful when quoting stolen base percentages. A busted hit-and-run is usually the batter's fault but the baserunner is charged with a caught-stealing.

I have no opinion on base stealing except if Roberts is playing and stealing is one of his assets, he should be stealing.

Getting 100% from someone -- especially a key someone -- in 80% of the games may lead to more wins than getting 80% from that same someone is every game. Plus, whatever you get from the replacement in the other 20% of the games is a bonus.

(Showalter was 7-2 in games not involving Roberts last year.)

Love the Zappa reference!!!!!!!

"I've got troubles of my (I said), and you can't help me out. So, take your meditations and your preperations and ram-it, up your snout...

BUT SCHMUCK HAS THE CRYSTAL BALL!!!"

"I've got troubles of my own (I said), and you can't help me out. So, take your meditations and your preperations and ram-it, up your snout...

BUT SCHMUCK HAS THE CRYSTAL BALL!!!"

Wayne, you can take take your meditations an' your preparations An' ram it up yer snout!

Look here brother, Schmuck is making a Zappa reference, don't you waste your time on Wayne!