SB Nation - Robert Andino

Former Marlins News

craig — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:25:48 -0000

I'm sure there is a lot more than is about to be reported, but it is all I found for today.

Nationals left-hander Scott Olsen is arbitration eligible and it's not known if he will remain with the club.

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When reached by phone recently, Olsen said he is not sure what the Nationals are thinking these days, but he made it known that his shoulder is 100 percent.

"The medical staffs in DC and Melbourne, [Fla.] were real good about the shoulder," Olsen said. "We had a job to do and we did it. I went down to Florida with a plan for getting myself back. By Spring Training, there is not going to be any issues. When I do my throwing program in offseason, I've been told to go about it as if I wasn't even hurt. I will not do anything different."

When asked about his future with the Nationals, Olsen said it's too early to tell.

If the Nationals are willing to take Bonifacio back, I more than willing to take Olsen back in exchange. Of course that isn't going to happen, but nonetheless I am still willing. I guess there is a reason the Marlins have never contacted me to a part of the GM's staff.

The second one is Robert Andino.

David Pinto is doing his very ambitious series on Baseball Musings evaluating all players from A to Z, this is what he had to say about Andino.

Players A to Z, Robert Andino

Truthfully, I think Dino can hit better than he did last season. However, projections don't mean anything unless you can prove it in the field and Robert didn't last season.

So that concludes the Former Marlins in the news. Like I said, there are probably a lot of others but you really didn't think I was going to work that hard to find them all? Did you? We catch them as they come.

Orioles 7, Yankees 3: Brian Matusz makes us happy

Camden Chat — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 20:32:20 -0000

More photos » by Frank Franklin II - AP

Brian Matusz made Derek Jeter so mad he almost said a bad word to the umpire. Siddown, Jetes. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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Last June, according to the story told by Gary Thorne on today's telecast, Brian Matusz had just signed with the Baltimore Orioles. He was in New York for the draft, and saw the new Yankee Stadium being constructed. He said to himself, "I'm going to pitch there someday." He had yet to throw his first professional pitch.

Fast forward 15 months. Brian Matusz got his wish, or, more accurately, earned his destiny and took the mound at the new Yankee Stadium today against the New York Yankees. He entered the day having won his last two outings, and having gone 7.0 IP in both. He'd given up just 5 ER in those 14 innings, and O's fan might have been cautiously optimistic about today's game.

Throw caution to the wind, people - Brian Matusz will be winning a lot more games in Yankee Stadium over the next six years.

Matusz went 7.0 IP again today, and aside from a SAC fly in the 1st inning, didn't allow a run in his last six innings of work. Sure, he had his troubles, but not many. There was a 20-pitch inning, and the Yankees sent five men to the plate in the 7th. That was the most he faced all day - five batters in an inning. It's great to win. But to face just three or four batters an inning, almost every inning? And by a rookie? Against a team that's up by eight games in the AL East? I'll take it.

The offense did its best, for one inning, to make this an easy day for Matusz. In the second inning, AL ROY candidate Nolan Reimold led off with a home run to left-center, Matt Wieters walked after Luke Scott looked terrible, again, and Ty Wigginton singled Wieters to second base. Michael Aubrey singled the two runners over, and Robert Andino singled Wieters in.

Then Brian Roberts came up. Then the ball went out, over the wall in right-center. Pretty quickly, too.

The grand slam by Roberts, his 15th HR of the season, made the game a 6-1 lead for the Orioles, and the way Matusz was pitching, you could almost feel comfortable. Next year, when he's allowed to complete games, a 6-1 lead may be as automatic a win as you can earn in the majors. But, for now, we're at the mercy of Diamond Dave's decisions with the bullpen.

The sight of Chris Ray warming up in the 7th inning was not needed. Really, Dave, really? Chris Ray? In New York? You do remember what happens when Chris Ray pitches in New York, right? Instead, sanity prevailed, Matusz was allowed to finish the 7th, and Danys Baez came in to pitch the 8th, and did so in a completely professional and non-exciting manner. Thank you, Danys. Jim Johnson finished the game. That's all I'm saying about Jim Johnson today. I will not spoil the good mood.

The Orioles go for the improbable series sweep tomorrow, and here's hoping the O's close them out. -duck

Poll

Who was the Most Birdland Player for Sept. 12, 2009?

Brian Matusz (W, 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 3 K, 2 BB)

158 votes

Nolan Reimold (2-3, HR, RB, amazing first-row catch of foul ball)

6 votes

Brian Roberts (3-4, Grand Slam, 4 RBI, 1 R, and, oh yeah, a GRAND SLAM. Plus a walk.)

62 votes

Danys Baez (1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 1K, not being Chris Ray while in New York)

0 votes

226 votes | Poll has closed

O's 5, White Sox 4: A Series Win, Finally.

Stacey — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 22:19:52 -0000

More photos » by Charles Rex Arbogast - AP

3 months ago: Baltimore Orioles' Nolan Reimold launches a two-run home run off Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Mark Buehrle, that also scored Nick Markakis during the third inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 23, 2009 in Chicago. Watching on the play is catcher Ramon Castro and umpire on Ron Kulpa. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

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The Orioles beat the White Sox 5-4 to win their first series since July 10-12 against the Blue Jays. Jason Berken battled through poor defense in the first inning and pitched 5.2 innings to earn his third win. Home runs by Felix Pie and Nolan Reimold and a 3 hit game from Brian Roberts fueled the offense, while Kam continued to be the man. Jim Johnson took a page out of Flat Breezy's book but in the end there was never a doubt as he earned his 6th save.

Jason Berken pitched one of his best games this year, although it didn't start out so well. In the first inning he induced a routine ground ball by Scott Podsednik that was booted by back up shortstop Robert Andino. That was followed by another routine ground ball by Gordon Beckham. Mora picked the ball cleanly but airmailed the throw into the camera well. Podsednik, who had stolen 2nd base, scored on the error and Beckham went to 2nd. Berken didn't get rattled as he retired the next three batters, but instead of getting out of the inning 3 up-3 down in 14 pitches, he had to get five outs on 22 pitches, and a run scored.

After the first inning, Berken went on to pitch the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th without any trouble or any defensive miscues. He retired the first two batters in the fifth, but then lost his control, walking the number 9 hitter Brent Lillibridge. Podsednik hit a double that bounced up into the stands to score Lillibridge and Beckham singled in the second run. He got out of the inning and came back to retire the first two hitters in the 6th before giving up a single to Carlos Quentin. That would be it for Berken, but he'd done enough to be in line for his 3rd win of the year. With his family making the trip down from Wisconsin to see him pitch, Berken came through.

The offense had a good day against White Sox starter Mark Buehrle, and they started in the first inning. Brian Roberts hit his major league leading 47th 2B of the year and scored on a single by Adam Jones to take a 1-0 lead, and in the 4th inning Brian again led off the inning with a hit, this time a single. He stole 2nd, moved to third on a groundout by Robert Andino, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Felix Pie (Pie entered the game for Jones in the 2nd as Adam was having back spasms). Two batters later, with Nick Markakis on base via a single, Nolan Reimold took Buehrle deep for his 12th HR of the year. Buehrle would give up one more run on HR by Felix Pie in the 5th. Buehrle exited the game after 5.2 innings and the White Sox bullpen allowed just one more hit, a double to Chad Moeller in the 9th.

After Berken exited the game, Kam Mickolio took over and again impressed us all, going 1.1 innings without allowing a hit. His season line is now up to: 9.2 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 11 K. Danys Baez followed Kam with a perfect 8th inning, leaving it to Jim Johnson to close out.

JJ was shaky, allowing a leadoff double to Paul Konerko. He struck out Carlos Quentin and then Alexei Ramirez singled, putting runners on first and third with one out. JJ bucked down, though. Pinch hitter AJ Pierzynski grounded to shortstop, scoring Konerko, and Mark Kotsay struck out to end the game. Never a doubt, Jimmy!

O's win to take the season series from the White Sox 5-4, their first series win against them since 2001. Tomorrow night they start a 3 game series with the Twins to conclude their 9 game road trip.

Poll

Who was today's Most Birdland Player (MBP)?

Jason Berken (5.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K)

62 votes

Brian Roberts (3-4, 2B, BB, 2 R)

70 votes

Felix Pie (HR, Sac Fly, 2 RBI)

34 votes

Nolan Reimold (2-4, 2 R HR)

82 votes

248 votes | Poll has closed

Orioles 6, Angels 4: Yup, we needed that.

duck — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 05:39:53 -0000

More photos » by Francis Specker - AP

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We needed that.

The Orioles won a game against the Angels tonight they could have lost. David Hernandez could have lost his composure. Jim Johnson doesn’t always channel the fielding prowess of Greg Maddux. And George Sherrill has been known to walk a batter or two, or three... But they didn’t. The bad stuff didn’t happen. And the O’s won, 6-4.

The offense, as per usual this year, got hot early than forgot how to hit. Luke Scott sent a pitch to the RF wall in the first to put the O’s up 2-0. Aubrey Huff smacked the hell out of a ball to RF in the 3rd with two men on to put the O’s up 5-0, and then Nick Markakis drove in the 6th and final run in the 4th. Then the O’s went back to watching "Matlock" or whatever the hell they do for the last 5 innings of a game and forgot they could actually keep scoring after the 4th inning, even though it was clear Ervin Santana was hittable.

David Hernandez threw 6.2 IP of pretty good (OK, Stacey, GREAT) pitching for a rookie, and showed signs of being the pitcher we’d all been led to believe he could be back in Spring Training. It’s not exaggerating to say David Hernandez needed this start as bad as we Orioles fans needed to see a win, if not more so. The spot is his for the foreseeable future, but Chris Tillman is on the horizon. Someone’s gonna lose a rotation spot sooner rather than later. And David Hernandez did a pretty good job of making a case for "Not me." Jason Berken, you’re on notice.

Jim Johnson decided to show us Wednesday was no fluke, as he bounced at least four balls to Matt Wieters in the course of his 1.1 IP of work. He looked like a man who wasn’t sure if he’d ever throw another strike that wasn’t waist-high down the middle. George Sherrill thought about making things interesting, and decided against it, as he had a 0-2 count on all batters in the 9th, and the one runner allowed on via a single was wiped out on the the game-ending double play. It is really nice to have an infield defense you can believe in. Thanks again go to Melvin Mora, Robert Andino, Brian Roberts and Aubrey Huff. I think their defense is getting a tad overlooked this season. And Matt Wieters launched a missile of a throw to cut down Chone Figgins. Damn, The Deity has an arm.

The series continues tomorrow with a 6:05 PST start time, so we folks in the East get a 9:05 start instead of 10:05. I’ll be about 5 beers deep into a neighborhood party by then, so keep yourselves safe, folks. And ignore my bad typing if I decide to chime in somewhere around the 6th inning tomorrow. You have been warned.

Orioles vs Angels boxscore | Orioles vs Angels coverage | Halos Heaven

Poll

Who was the Most Birldand Player for July 3, 2009?

David Hernandez (6.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 2 K, 2 BB)

100 votes

Aubrey Huff (HR, 3 RBI, 2-4)

56 votes

Melvin Mora (2-5, No Stupid Baserunning!)

2 votes

Luke Scott (1-5, 2B, 2 RBI)

2 votes

Nick Markakis (2-4, 1 RBI, 2 R, 1BB)

9 votes

Matt Wieters (1-3, awesome throw for CS)

9 votes

178 votes | Poll has closed

Orioles 11, Red Sox 10: Greatest Comeback in Franchise History (you can look it up).

Stacey — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:38:24 -0000

More photos » by Nick Wass - AP

Baltimore Orioles' Brian Roberts (1) slides home to score the go-ahead run on a Nick Markakis double during the eighth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 30, 2009, in Baltimore. The Orioles won 11-10. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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You want to hear something funny? In the 2nd inning of this game, with the Orioles down 4-0, I had myself convinced that John Smoltz was going to throw a no hitter. I really believed it. I had visions of John Kruk warbling on about John Smoltz's huge comeback as a Red Sox and the Orioles looking the way we all expect them to look in situations such as these. Well, Robert Andino ensured that the O's wouldn't be no hit with a single in the third, and Felix Pie ensure they wouldn't be shut out with an RBI triple. It was of little consolation, however, since Rich Hill was just awful tonight. Absolutely putrid. A Kevin Youkilis home run in the first, a Dustin Pedroia two run double in the 2nd, and let's not even talk about the 4th inning, when the Red Sox scored 5 runs to go ahead 9-1.

I was just about to turn off this sorry excuse for a baseball game and get to the laundry I've been neglecting when the rains came and washed away the stink of the Orioles. After over an hour of rain, the game recommenced, and our lives were changed. Justin Masterson replaced John Smoltz and at first, it looked like more of the same. He retired the first six batters he faced until the 8th inning.

And that's when something magic happened.

Aubrey Huff led off with a single. Simple enough. At that point the O's were down 10-1 and I was barely even paying attention to the game. Follow that with a single by Nolan Reimold and an Luke Scott double off the scoreboard (three feet to the left and it would have been a HR) and suddenly it was 10-2. I yawned. Oscar Salazar stepped up to the plate, pinch hitting for Melvin Mora. Oscar hasn't gotten many chances since being called up, but he made the most of it by absolutely crushing the baseball to left field. It landed in the back of the left field seats and the O's were down 10-5, and they weren't done. With two outs and Robert Andino at 2nd, Felix Pie singled in the 6th run. Nick Markakis followed with a single of his own and with runners on first and third, Aubrey Huff lined a ball towards second. I thought it would be a base hit, but Pedroia timed his leap perfectly and stabbed it out of the air.

The Orioles had made the score respectable and were back in the game, but five more runs in two innings against the best bullpen in baseball seemed like a steep order. Do you know what the Orioles offense said to that? They said, "Pshaw, we don't even need two innings. We'll do it in one."

Leading off the 8th was Nolan Reimold, who started things off with a single. The scoreboard again proved to be Luke Scott's nemesis. This time he launched what I thought for sure was a home run, but it hit off the top of the scoreboard and bounced back into play for a double, putting runners and 2nd and 3rd. Probably all for the best, since home runs are known to kill rallies. Oscar Salazar followed his monster home run up with a "single" to the catcher. Actually it was the catcher picking up the ball and just standing there. Who knows why. Who cares why? The bases were loaded with zero outs for young Matt Wieters, who served a soft single into left field to score Nolan Reimold. Ty Wigginton, pinch hitting for Robert Andino, sent a ball to deep right. I thought for a moment it might get out, but instead it was caught on the warning track. Luke Scott raced home with the 8th run of the night. Brian Roberts, in an 0-18 funk, lined a single past a diving Youkilis at third to score Salazar, and just like that the Orioles were down by only one run.

Terry Francona had seen enough and brought in Jonathan Papelbon to attempt a 5 out save. Papelbon struck out Felix Pie for the second out, but he wouldn't be so lucky with Nick Markakis. With Jeremy Guthrie on 2nd (running for Wieters) and Brian Roberts on first, Nick hit a shot into the gap. Guts and Brian raced around the bases to score the tying and go ahead runs.

And then my head exploded. The Orioles had gone from a 10-1 deficit to take the lead 11-10. It was the greatest comeback in team history as well as the greatest comeback of any last place team against a first place team in the history of the MLB (thanks to 2632 for the fun facts). Those comeback facts, of course, would only matter if the O's could hold on to win.

Enter George Sherrill, who has been great this year, but had never pitched in a game that had unfolded quite like this. He was set to face three right handed batters, and chose this night to make things interesting in old school Georgie style. Number 9 hitter Jeff Bailey, just called up to replace injured Mike Lowell on the roster, led off with a single. Julio Lugo struck out and Dustin Pedroia flew out to right, and only Kevin Youkilis stood between the Orioles and victory. Sherrill quickly got two strikes and what Oriole fans remained at Camden Yards after a 9 run deficit and an hour plus rain day rose to their feet...just in time for Sherrill to plunk Youk on the elbow. UGH. That moved the tying run to second base for Jason Bay, who struck out. O'S WIN! O'S WIN! Never a doubt, Georgie. Never a doubt.

What an amazing, exhilarating, roller coaster of a game. It featured everything that is right about the Orioles and everything that is wrong with the Orioles, all in one game. It was magic magic magic magic...Orioles Magic.

Random Notes:

Adam Jones had to leave the game after crashing into the wall trying to rob Kevin Youkilis of a home run in the 1st inning. He actually caught the ball but the impact knocked his glove into the bullpen. According to Dave Trembley, he hit his face against the wall and was suffering from a headache, so they removed him for precautionary reasons. He is currently day-to-day.
It's easy to gloss over because of the win, but the umpiring in this game has been some of the worst I've ever seen. The strike zone has been all over the place the last two games, and the frustration by the Orioles was evident. Dave Trembley spent much of the game jawing at the umpire, who also got words of frustration from Brian Roberts, Aubrey Huff, Nick Markakis, Felix Pie, and maybe others. It's a shame that the umpires aren't held to a higher standard of accountability. Everyone noticed how awful the umpires have been. Dave Johnson, Jim Palmer, the NESN announcers, me.
I think this game makes up for the Mother's Day Massacre from a few years ago. Of course, if you're a Red Sox fan, that game is called the Mother's Day Miracle. The NESN announcers declared this game the Camden Yards Comeback, but you Red Sox fans out there can think of it as the Camden Yards Collapse.

See some great game related pictures below the jump.

Awesome. via www.fangraphs.com

Courtesy of SidewinderX

dkdc's view on the way home from work.

Poll

Who was tonight's Most Birdland Player (MBP)?

Felix Pie (2-4, 2 RBI, Triple, gunned down a runner at home to end the 8th inning)

65 votes

Nick Markakis (2-5, RBI double to knock in the tying and go ahead runs)

67 votes

Nolan Reimold (3-5, 2 runs, generally awesome)

9 votes

Luke Scott (2-4, 2 doubles, 2 runs, 1 RBI, 1 BB, a tshirt that says "God is like coke...He's the real thing")

24 votes

Oscar Salazar (2-2, pinch hit 3 run HR, 3 RBI, 2 R)

117 votes

Matt Wieters (2-4, 1 RBI)

2 votes

Brian Roberts (1-5, clutch RBI single, scored winning run)

3 votes

Mark Hendrickson (3.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 K)

4 votes

George Sherrill (Never a doubt)

14 votes

305 votes | Poll has closed

Adam Dunn Bounces One Off The B&O Warehouse, Nationals Beat Orioles, 5-3 final.

Ed Chigliak — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 21:01:04 -0000

More photos » by Gail Burton - AP

5 months ago: Washington Nationals' Adam Dunn runs the bases after a two-run home run against the Baltimore Orioles in the fourth inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 28, 2009, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/ Gail Burton)

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From The Game Report: DUNN'S BLAST

"Ryan Zimmerman gets a change over the heart of the plate from O's pitcher David Hernandez, and he lines to left for a one-out double in the fourth. Adam Dunn gets hold of a 94 mph 1-1 fastball from Hernandez and demolishes it, one bounce on Eutaw Street and off the brick wall of the B&O Warehouse, my lord, 2-1 in the fourth Nationals on Dunn's 19th."

From The GameThread:

• "ZIMM!!! Doubles to left on a change over the heart...." - e chigliak

• "Time for a donkey ball..." - ROSCOEtheNATSfan.

• "Now for some Dunn magic..." - e chigliak

• "SHAKE N BAKE!!! SHAKE N BAKE!!! ADAM DUNN JUST BOUNCED ONE OFF THE BRICKS IN RIGHT!!! 2-1 DC" - e chigliak

• "HE DID IT. Holy ****" - ROSCOEtheNATSfan

• "He hit it into Boog Powell's BBQ stand..." - Doghouse

• "I assume you've been up there. That's a good-smelling park." - ROSCOEtheNATSfan

• "We're trying to close the BBQ gap, but I have to give them the edge. Although I haven’t tried Teddy’s, yet." - Doghouse

• "LATER!" Exults Mrs. D over the Donkey Ball. 'That was totally t-ball!!'" - Doghouse

• "'That might be the longest ball I've seen hit here.'" Jim Palmer, June 28, 2009"- Nats News Network.

• Nationals win, 5-3 final.

Miss The Game? The DC Faithful Were Watching...

BACKPAGE: (Coverage Continued After The Jump...)

• Nationals Salvage One, Head To Florida To Face Fish...

For The Completists, Full Game Report After The Jump...

We Totally Outcommented Them Again And Got A Win...Check Out The Camden Chat (SBN Orioles Blog's GameThread). (It'd be close without our USA/BRAZIL Coverage though...)

DWDT: 15

Nationals now 22-51.

BACKPAGE:

After getting outscored 17-4 in the first two games of Washington's three-game Interleague series with their regional rivals from Baltimore, the Nationals respond with a 5-3 win on the strength of John Lannan's arm, Adam Dunn's bat, and Willie Harris' heart. DC starter John Lannan let the leadoff runner on in each of the first four innings this afternoon, but let only one run cross in his first 7.0 innings on the mound. Lannan was lifted in the eighth after allowing a leadoff double and a one-out single, and a sac fly and an RBI single off DC lefty reliever Joe Beimel allowed both of Lannan's runners to score, but it wasn't enough for the Orioles to mount a comeback.

Lannan (W, 5-5, 3.45 ERA) allows 6 hits, 3 walks and 3 ER in 7.1 IP, and Joe Beimel and Mike MacDougal give fans a look at what the DC Bullpen Duck Pond would look like if the Nationals managed to win more often. Beimel gets the Nationals out of Lannan's eighth-inning jam with the lead and MacDougal blows the O's away in the ninth to earn his third save of the season and give the Nationals their 22nd win.

Anderson Hernandez's two-out RBI single, which put DC up 4-1 in the sixth, ends up being the winning run, and if O's catcher Matt Wieters had caught the throw in from center by Adam Jones, it never would've counted, as Willingham was so out he didn't slide and had to jump back to tag home after he saw the ball dropped. Willie Harris hits a solo shot to right to lead off the DC seventh, and the Nationals add what's called an "insurance run" (a term you might not be familiar with) in the eighth when Josh "Let Me Play" Willingham doubles and scores when a throw to third from O's phenom Matt Wieters on an attempted stolen base sails into left allowing the Hammer to trot home for a 5-1 Nationals' lead.

Now 22-51, Washington heads down to Florida to start a two-game series with the Fish tomorrow.

Game 1: Scott Olsen (1-4, 7.24 ERA) vs Ricky Nolasco (4-6, 6.42 ERA)

Game 2: Jordan Zimmermann (3-3, 4.64 ERA) vs Sean West (3-2, 3.38 ERA)

Game 3: Ross Detwiler (0-4, 5.24 ERA) vs Josh Johnson - (7-1, 2.76 ERA)

GAME REPORT:

Washington Nationals At Baltimore Orioles. Game 73 or 74 of 162.

O’s starter David Hernandez gets a hard hit grounder to first from Willie Harris for the first out of the afternoon. Cristian Guzman lines out to left. Nick Johnson lifts a low 2-1 fastball to center and Adam Jones’ catch ends the first...John "Cool Hand" Lannan gives up a leadoff walk to Adam Jones, but gets a fly ball out from Ty Wiggington to Elijah Dukes in right for the first out of the O’s opening frame. Josh Willingham makes an awkward diving catch to rob Nick Markakis of a single. 2-2 curve to Aubrey Huff and John Lannan’s out of the first following the swinging K.

Ryan Zimmerman flies out to center. Adam Dunn likes walks, he takes one. Josh Willingham K's staring at a two-strike curve on the inside corner. 2-2 fastball on the outside of the plate and Dukes K’s swinging to end DC’s second...Nolan Reimold takes the second straight leadoff walk from John Lannan. Luke Scott doubles down the line in right, Dukes’ arm holds Reimold at third. Oscar Salazar singles through short and into left for an RBI single and a 1-0 O’s lead. Matt Wieters grounds to first, Nick Johnson steps on the bag and fires home, Luke Scott caught off third, and tagged in the rundown. Robert Andino hits a dribbler in front of home, and Wil Nieves takes care of it to end the second. 1-0 O’s.

Anderson Hernandez lines a high 1-2 curve to center for a leadoff single. Wil Nieves flies unproductively to Reimold in left. Anderson Hernandez gets nailed trying to steal second, so the double to right that follows from WIllie Harris is wasted. Cristian Guzman pops out to end DC’s third...Adam Jones rips a first pitch fastball through short for a leadoff single. Ty Wiggington chops one to second, Cristian Guzman fields, steps on second and throws to first, double play. Nick Markakis pops out to end the third.

Nick Markakis doesn’t have to go far to catch Nick Johnson’s line drive. Ryan Zimmerman gets a change over the heart of the plate that he lines to left for a one-out double. Adam Dunn gets hold of a 94 mph 1-1 fastball from Hernandez and demolishes it, one bounce on Eutaw Street and off the brick wall of the B&O Warehouse, my lord, 2-1 Nationals on Dunn's 19th. Josh Willingham reaches first on a dribbler to third. Dukes takes a 3-2 pitch up high from David Hernandez. Two on for Anderson Hernandez, who allows Robert Andino to do it himself...John Lannan walks the leadoff batter, Aubrey Huff in the fourth. Nolan Reimold lines out to second. Luke Scott lines out to left center. Oscar Salazar pops out to second. Lannan through four with a 2-1 lead.

Nick Markakis tracks down Wil Nieves’ pop fly to right. Willie Harris takes a low full-count offering and walks with one down. Harris steals second and moves to third on a groundout from Cristian Guzman. Nick Johnson flies out to left, 2-1 DC in the fifth...Big Matt Wieters grounds weakly to second. Cristian Guzman fields and throws in time to get Robert Andino at first. Adam Jones grounds to third, Lannan rolling...

Ryan Zimmerman rips a grounder right at and off of Oscar Salazar at third. Adam Dunn K’s swinging through a 2-2 change. Josh Willingham singles, two on for Dukes, who grounds sharply to third, Salazar steps on the bag, throws to first, too late and off target, Dukes safe, Zimmerman out at third. Anderson Hernandez lines an 0-2 pitch to center, Willingham rounds third, the throw from Adam Jones is on line and in time, but O’s catcher Matt Wieters drops it, Hammer avoids the tag, and touches home!! 3-1 DC. O’s change pitchers and Chris Ray gets Wil Nieves looking to end the DC sixth...Ty Wiggington grounds out to Zimmerman at third, throw’s a little wide, but alright. Willie Harris goes back to the track to catch a fly ball off of Markakis’ bat. Aubrey Huff hits a two-out single to right, and Nolan Reimold battles for six pitches before flying out to Dukes to end the sixth, 3-1 DC.

TAWH gets a fastball from Chris Ray, and it’s launched to left, over the out-of-town scoreboard and GONE!! HR!!! 4-1 DC!!!! Cristian Guzman K’s swinging, Ray done, Mark Hendrickson on to face Nick Johnson, who flies out to left. Ryan Zimmerman K’s swinging to end the top of the seventh...Elijah Dukes loses a fly from Luke Scott but finds it in time. Ground ball to second from Oscar Salazar for the second out of the inning. Matt Wieters K’s looking to end the seventh.

Dunn grounds into the dramatic shift for the first out of the eighth. The Hammer rips a double to the wall in right. Hammer steals third with Dukes at bat, and the throw from Matt Wieters sails into left, Hammer scores, 5-1 DC. Elijah Dukes flies out to center. Anderson Hernandez singles with two down. Wil Nieves flies out to left...Robert Andino doubles to the left center gap to start the O’s eighth. Adam Jones chops one to third, Zimmerman leaps, settles and throws to first, in time!! Ty Wiggington singles through second and Andino pulls up when Dukes picks it up. First and third, one out. John Lannan’s done, Joe Beimel on to face Markakis. Markakis flies out to center, Andino tags and scores, 5-2 DC. Aubrey Huff scores Wiggington with a double and then gets nailed at second when Dukes’ throw beats him to second.

Danys Baez vs DC in the ninth. Willie Harris singles to right. Cristian Guzman grounds to first, Huff steps on the bag and fires to second to double-up Harris. Nick Johnson turns one over and grounds out to first...Mike MacDougal on to close out DC’s 22nd win. Nolan Reimold goes down swinging at a low 3-2 heater. ONE!! Luke Scott flies out to left. TWO!! Oscar Salazar grounds to Guzman at short, the throw to first, in time, NATIONALS WIN!!! 5-3 final.

Nationals now 22-51.

The Washington Nationals Just Can't Let Go? Orioles Win 6-3.

Ed Chigliak — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 03:58:35 -0000

More photos » by Gail Burton - AP

5 months ago: Washington Nationals second baseman Ronnie Belliard catches a pop up by Baltimore Orioles Melvin Mora just missing a collision with right fielder Austin Kearns in the fourth inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 27, 2009, in Baltimore.(AP Photo/ Gail Burton)

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HEADLINE:

Bases Loaded Failure:

How many bases loaded situations can you fail to cash in on and still expect to win a game against a major league opponent? Even a mediocre one like the Baltimore Orioles...Two of the Washington Nationals' three runs tonight were walked in by the O's starter Jeremy Guthrie in the first inning, when he gave up back to back singles and then two straight walks to force in the first run of the evening. One strikeout later, Guthrie walked in run No. 2, but the double play grounder Ronnie Belliard hit into ended any hope of a real rally, and let the Orioles' starter off the hook after 39 pitches.

Ryan Zimmerman's DP grounder in the second erased a leadoff single. Josh Willingham doubled to start the third and scored the only run the Nationals earned tonight two unproductive outs later when Austin Kearns, of all people, collected his first RBI since May 7th with a two-out single on a 2-2 fastball low and inside that he lined into left. At that point you might have actually thought that the decision to start Austin Kearns and his .196 AVG and .331 OBP was a good one, did you still think so when he ground into an inning-ending DP with the bases loaded in the sixth? Or when he K'd swinging at a 1-2 curve from Orioles' closer George Sherrill in the ninth?

The Washington Nationals drop their second straight in Camden Yards, 6-3 to Baltimore. DC righty Shairon Martis gives up 6 hits and 4 ER's in 5.0 IP, and DC relievers Joe Beimel and Mike MacDougal give up a run each in the seventh and eighth to put it out of reach at 6-3 O's. Orioles' catcher Gregg Zaun, left fielder Nolan Reimold and first baseman Aubrey Huff hit one home run each, and after Baltimore starter Jeremy Guthrie gives up 3 runs in 5 IP, the Orioles' bullpen gives up just 3 hits in 4.0 scoreless innings as the O's hand the Nationals their 51st loss of '09.

Miss The Game? Unfortunately For The DC Faithful, They Didn't?

Orioles win, 6-3 final.

Headlines: (Continued After The Jump):

• Hanrahan? Who Would Take Him?

• DC Bullpen Update...

• A List Of ?'s That Start With How Long...

For The Completists, Complete Game Report After The Jump...

We Totally Outcommented Them At Least...Check Out The Camden Chat (SBN Orioles Blog's GameThread).

DWDT: 14

Washington Nationals now 21-51.

Hanrahan? Who'd Take Him?

In trying to explain the fact that failed DC closer Joel Hanrahan remained on the roster, Washington Post writer Chico Harlan noted in an article at the Nationals Journal this afternoon entitled, "Bard Emerging As Nats' Regular Catcher", that, "Washington's front office openly admits that he'd (Hanrahan would) be pitching in the minors, if only he had options remaining", and when asked by Mr. Harlan, what the Nationals will do with the struggling reliever, who insists on throwing his slider, (ed. note - "Sorry, I added that.") "Acting" DC GM Mike Rizzo, responded:

"'I just think we'll have to be patient with him and live with him,' Rizzo said. 'Manny will have to put him in the right positions to succeed -- maybe winning by a lot of runs, losing by a lot of runs.'"

•• DC Bullpen Duck Pond UPDATE:

(ed. note - "The DC Faithful didn't cite any sources when they discussed this during tonight's GameThread, so I imagine they somehow see into the future because, according to Washington Post writer Chico Harlan's post game post entitled, "Stammen Moves To Pen (And Post Game Comments)", DC righty Craig Stammen will be moving to the pen when Scott Olsen returns to the DC rotation this week. Mr. Harlan thinks it'll be one of the members of the Nationals' bullpen Duck Pond who will be heading up to Syracuse instead of Stammen, Ross Detwiler or Shairon Martis as had previously been speculated, and since we just read what we did above from the "Acting" DC GM, the DC Faithful think it'll be Jesus Colome.")

A List Of ?'s That Start With How Long...

• How long with the Nationals "live" with Hanrahan?

• How long with they insist on putting Austin Kearns out there?

• How long will Mike MacDougal last as the Nationals' closer? And who's next?

• How long until someone convinces Ronnie Belliard line drives are more likely than homers?

• How long until Stephen Strasburg signs???

Go Ahead, Add Your Own "How Long's" In The Comments...

GAME REPORT...("Two G's, Zaun? Do you know how long it took me to correct all those, ugh...")

Washington Nationals At Baltimore Orioles. Game 72 or 73 of 162.

The Amazing Willie Harris starts the game with a single through second. Orioles’ right-hander Jeremy Guthrie gives up another single to Cristian Guzman, who hits a line drive to center field. Ryan Zimmerman walks to load’em up for Adam Dunn. Dunn takes a 3-1 pitch inside and walks to force in the first run of the game, 1-0 DC. Jeremy Guthrie gets Josh Willingham looking at a two-strike fastball inside. Josh Bard battles Guthrie to a full count, and walks in the second run of the first. 2-0 DC. Ronnie Belliard grounds to short, Robert Andino to Dave Roberts to Aubrey Huff, double play...Josh Willingham goes a long way to catch the first out off Brian Roberts’ bat. DC righty Shairon Martis gives up a one-out single on a grounder up the middle by Adam Jones. Nick Markakis takes a 2-1 pitch to center, where Willie Harris makes the grab!! Aubrey Huff walks on four straight pitches. Nolan Reimold walks to load the bases. Luke Scott chases a 1-2 slider for a swinging K to end the first.

Austin Kearns hits a liner over the mound to short, Robert Andino throws to first to start the second. Robert Andino fields a chest high hopper and throws to first in time to get Alberto Gonzalez. Willie Harris flies out to short left to end the DC second...Melvin Mora hits a line drive to center that Willie Harris handles. Gregg Zaun takes a 2-2 fastball to right and...gone? It’s GONE! 2-1 DC. Robert Andino grouds out to short, Alberto Gonzalez fires to first in time. Brian Roberts stares a two-strike slider all the way in and gets punched out emphatically by the home plate ump.

Cristian Guzman singles to left to start the third. Ryan Zimmerman grounds to third, Melvin Mora to Brian Roberts to Aubrey Huff, double play. Adam Dunn pops out to center, Adam Jones makes the catch...Ronnie Belliard’s standing there waiting for Melvin Mora’s groundout to second. Nick Markakis fights off a pitch inside and lines to left for a one-out single. After getting squeezed on a 1-2 fastball, Martis drops a 2-2 change on Aubrey Huff to get a swinging K. Nolan Reimold grounds to third, Zimmerman takes the force at second...

Jeremy Guthrie gives up a leadoff double to Josh Willingham who rips a pond-skipper past Mora at third. Josh Bard’s fly ball to center is not enough to advance the Hammer to third. Ronnie Belliard grounds sharply to third, Mora looks Willingham back and throws to first to get Belliard. Austin Kearns fully extends and drives the ball to center for an RBI single, 3-1 DC. Alberto Gonzalez fouls out on a foul tip...Shairon Martis walks the leadoff batter, Luke Scott. Melvin Mora flies to short right, and Ronnie Belliard and Austin Kearns almost collide as Belliard catches it. Robert Andino lines out to left to end the fourth.

Jeremy Guthrie pops Willie Harris up to the infield. Melvin Mora swipes his glove through the air to make the catch as he tracks Cristian Guzman’s pop fly foul of third. Ryan Zimmerman flies to center on a full-count fastball from Guthrie...Brian Roberts lines to -- Alberto Gonzalez’s glove!!! Diving catch by Gonzalez. Adam Jones grounds to short and reaches safely when Gonzalez can’t come up with it. Nick Markakis flies out to left. Aubrey Huff beats the shift with a hard-hit grounder under a diving Belliard at second. Martis hangs a change to Nolan Reimold and it ends up in the first row in left for a 3-run HR and a 4-3 Orioles’ lead. Martis drops a two-strike slider onto the outside edge for a backwards K to end the inning.

Brian Bass takes over on the hill for the O’s. Adam Dunn takes a 3-2 pitch low and outside for a leadoff walk. Bass throws a high fastball to Josh Willingham and the Hammer drills a line drive to left, Dunn to third. Josh Bard up with two on. Bard walks, Bass is done. The O’s bring on Matt Albers, and he gets a force at home on Ronnie Belliard’s grounder and a tailor-made DP on Kearns’ weak roller to short. 4-3 O’s...Julian Tavarez gets Melvin Mora swinging to start the O’s sixth. Zaun singles with one down and moves to second as Ryan Zimmerman stumbles and falls as he throws out Robert Andino. Brian Roberts grounds out to first, Tavarez holds it close.

Jim Johnson is the next O’s pitcher. Alberto Gonzalez punches a single into center. Willie Harris grounds to second, Roberts to Andino to Huff, double play. Cristian Guzman grounds out to second...Willie Harris flies over to catch a fly ball off of Adam Jones’ bat. DC Manager Manny Acta calls on Joe Beimel against the left-handed hitting Nick Markakis. Markakis lifts a slow slider to Josh Willingham in left. Beimel sends one right down the pipe and Huff hammers it to left and GONE. 5-3 O’s. Nolan Reimold goes down swinging. 5-3 O’s after the seventh.

Ryan Zimmerman hits a blooper to right for a leadoff single in the seventh. Jim Johnson gets a weak ground ball to short from Adam Dunn. Josh Willingham beats out the back end of his own DP grounder. Josh Bard flies out to center to end DC’s eighth...Mike MacDougal walks the leadoff O in the eighth. Felix Pie takes over running for Luke Scott. Pie gets forced out at second on a sweet diving play by Belliard. Gregg Zaun singles through short. Robert Andino singles to load the bases. Brian Roberts flies out to left, Mora tags and scores on a weak throw from Willingham in left. 6-3 Orioles. Adam Jones grounds out to end the eighth.

George Sherrill’s on to save it. Ronnie Belliard pops out. Austin Kearns K’s on a 1-2 bender on the outside edge. Alberto Gonzalez grounds out to Mora, O’s win. 6-3 final.

Nationals now 21-51.

Pitching, Defense and a 3-Run Homer (and Ronnie Belliard)

duck — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 02:47:18 -0000

Nolan Reimold, proving who this team's #5 hitter should be.

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Dave Trembley said the infield defense was the best tonight that it's been all year, and the Orioles needed every out of it Saturday night.

Sure, the final score was 6-3. But the O's trailed for the first half of this game, and only some defensive gems (and four double playes turned) from 3B Melvin Mora, SS Robert Andino, 2B Brian Roberts and some fine catches by 1B Aubrey Huff kept the O's in the game against the Washington Nationals.

I missed the first inning, but apparently, it was the same as missing the first death from the Black Plague and just waiting for the rest of the village to succumb. Jeremy Guthrie looked bad, 39 pitches bad, and rescue seemed impossible. But Ronnie Belliard, bless his heart, might as well have had a Orioles jersey on while at the plate tonight. To wit:

First inning, bases loaded, 1 out: R. Belliard grounded into double play shortstop to second to first, J. Bard out at second

Fourth inning, man on 2B, 1 out: - R. Belliard grounded out to third (runner does not advance)

Sixth inning, bases loaded, 0 out: - R. Belliard grounded into fielder's choice, A. Dunn out at home, J. Willingham to third, J. Bard to second

Ninth inning, lead-off batter: R. Belliard popped out to third

God bless you, Ronnie Belliard.

Guthrie continued for four more innings, and while never looking impressive with his 2-0 deficit, which soon became 3-0 in the 4th inning, he managed to get through five innings on 95 pitches. Dave Trembley said after the game he told Guthrie as soon as the team took the lead, he was out. But if the team still trailed or was tied going into the 6th, he'd keep Guthrie in. Discuss among yourselves, class.

As far as the rest of the O's, the first 5 runs came on 3 home runs, with Gregg Zaun (?!?!?!?) hitting a solo, as did Aubrey Huff later in the game, and Nolan Reimold giving the O's the lead on a homer that led to the strangest reaction I've ever seen a LF have as Josh Willingham just spread his arms, put his palms in the air and practially screamed "I have no idea where the ball is!" as it traveled 30 feet over his head into the 4th row of the bleachers.

Jeremy Guthrie did indeed recover from his 39-pitch 1st inning to last through 5.0 IP, and while Brian Bass lasted just 3 batters, all of whom reached, Matt Albers was the beneificary of Ronnie Belliard's ineptitude with the bat and further benefited from Austin Kearns' inning-ending double play. The O's tacked on extra runs with Aubrey Huff's solo homer and Brian Roberts' sacrifice fly to drive in Melvin Mora, who seems to be on a mission to reclaim his #5 lineup position. Ain't gonna happen, Memlo. Be happy you're at #7.

We have a plethora of choice for Most Birdland Player, and as tempting as it is to add Ronnie Belliard, I must refrain. But feel free to express your appreciation for his efforts in helping the Orioles win in the comments below.

Nationals vs Orioles recap | Federal Baseball | Nationals vs Orioles boxscore

Poll

Who was the Most Birdland Player for Saturday, June 27, 2009?

Matt Albers (1.0 IP, Hold, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 K, two ground balls when needed most)

55 votes

Nolan Reimold (1-3, HR, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K)

106 votes

Gregg Zaun (3-4, HR)

33 votes

Aubrey Huff (2-3, HR, 2 R)

4 votes

JIm Johnson (2.0 IP, Hold, 0 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 0 K)

8 votes

206 votes | Poll has closed

Baltimore Orioles 11 Washington Nationals 1, What Now?

Ed Chigliak — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 03:50:05 -0000

More photos » by Gail Burton - AP

5 months ago: Washington Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman kneels on the field after missing a ball hit by Baltimore Orioles Robert Andino in the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, June 26, 2009, in Baltimore. Andino earned a hit on the play.(AP Photo/ Gail Burton)

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(ed. note - "If you have any interest in reliving the beating the Baltimore Orioles gave the Washington Nationals last night...")

The DC Faithful Were Watching in the GAMETHREAD.

...But watching the Orioles embarrass the Nationals once was bad enough, I don't really ever want to relive tonight's eight-run sixth inning, which saw three Nationals' pitchers face 13 Orioles' batters and throw 57 pitches before finally getting the third out of the frame on a fly ball to right from rookie catcher Matt Wieters, who'd K'd swinging eight batters earlier for the first out of a long, long inning. Joel Hanrahan struck Wieters out with a full-count slider in the dirt, for the first out of the sixth, the only out he'd record. Hanrahan throws 27 pitches, 16 for strikes and allows 4 runs on 3 hits, with a walk and a K in 0.1 IP in relief of DC starter Ross Detwiler, who's chased after 5.0 IP, 9 hits, 5 ER, 2 BB and 3 K's, when he allows back to back singles to start the sixth. After Hanrahan surrenders four runs, it's Ron Villone's turn, and the DC lefty gives up 2 hits, 1 walk and 2 runs, 1 earned, 1 Hanrahan's, allowing a sac fly from Melvin Mora to score the Orioles' 11th run of the game before a fly ball to right from Wieters mercifully ends the frame, which should have ended two batters earlier, had Cristian Guzman not missed a DP grounder up the middle, for his 10th and the Nationals' Major League-leading 66th error of the season.

Orioles win, 11-1 final.

And The Full Game Report Is After The Jump...

Headlines: (coverage continued after jump)...

Olsen's Coming, Who's Going?

Strasburg In No Rush...

Nationals now 21-50.

Headlines:

Olsen's Coming, Who's Going?

MLB.com's Bill Ladson wrote today, in a post at his blog entitled, "Olsen to pitch next week against Marlins", that, "Right-hander Craig Stammen, who is scheduled to pitch on Monday, is the leading candidate to be sent down." Washington Post writer Mark Viera, in a Nationals Journal post entitled, "Olsen To Return Next Week", says DC Manager Manny Acta, "...offered no hints about the organization's thought process in deciding which pitchers would be sent down," and Washington Times' writer Ben Goessling notes in a Chatter post entitled, "News and Lineups from Baltimore", that Olsen is expected back Monday when Stammen's turn in the rotation comes around, but, Mr. Goessling writes, "...if the Nats pushed Olsen back two days they could swap him out for Detwiler." Or, it could be someone else, as Mr. Goessling reported earlier this morning, in a Washington Times' article entitled, "Olsen To Rejoin Staff", that, "...acting GM Mike Rizzo said last week the choice was 'not necessarily' limited to Stammen and Detwiler." So it could be Stammen, it could be Detwiler, or it could be someone else...Glad we got that straightened out...

Strasburg In No Rush...

SI.com's Jon Heyman wrote this past Wednesday, in an article entitled, "Identifying this season's superb starts...and the poor ones", that the Washington Nationals were, "off to a slow start" in their negotiations with '09 No. 1 overall pick Stephen Strasburg, though Mr. Heyman speculates that it could be because:

"Strasburg's people don't want him taxing his arm by pitching in the major leagues this year, so they are taking the position in talks that there's no rush to sign this year."

FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal's advice for fans of the Washington Nationals? Mr. Rosenthal offers it up in a recent article entitled, "Nats will be in tough battle with Boras":

"My advice to Nationals fans is not to read anything concerning the Stephen Strasburg negotiations until after midnight Aug. 17, the deadline for the team to reach agreement with the No. 1 draft."

Mr. Rosenthal then runs through a "doomsday scenario" which plays out with the Nationals failing to sign Strasburg as they failed to sign '08 1st Round pick Aaron Crow, leaving them with the #1 and #2 picks next year, at which point Strasburg refuses to allow DC to draft him again, and potential 2010 #1 overall pick Bryce Harper, another Boras' client says he doesn't want to play for the Nationals...You know, I think he's right, I might stop reading about Strasburg until he signs...

Meanwhile, in Baltimore, 1st Round pick Matt Hobgood, the 5th overall selection, was in Baltimore today, according to Baltimore.com writer Peter Schmuck's article entitled, "Hobgood in the house", and his agreement with the Orioles will be announced tomorrow.

Washington Nationals At Baltimore Orioles. Game 71 or 72 of 162.

A 1-2 slider from Brad Bergesen gets Cristian Guzman swinging for the first out of the evening. Robert Andino sends a rainbow to first Melvin Mora fires to first as the Nationals are all swinging early and down in order...2-2 fastball on the inside corner at 90 mph, "Steerike!!" Brian Roberts called out looking. Adam Jones turns a fastball inside around for a double to left and off the wall. Nick Markakis bunts by Detwiler as he comes off the mound, and Nick Johnson’s shuffle pass to first is late. Jones to third. Aubrey Huff hits a line drive to center, Jones tags and scores, 1-0 O’s. Cristian Guzman tosses to Anderson Hernandez at first on a grounder from Nolan Reimold.

Adam Dunn flies out to right field. Josh Willingham singles through short for the Nationals’ first hit of the game. Elijah Dukes stays locked in on a slider outside and lifts it to left for a second straight single. Josh Bard singles to left, Willingham scores, Dukes gets nailed at third, sorta, he was safe. 1-1 ballgame. Willie Harris walks. Anderson Hernandez pops out to first, and it’s 1-1 in the second...Luke Scott grounds back to the mound, Detwiler fields, steps and throws to first. Melvin Mora grounds to short, Guzman handles it. Detwiler walks Matt Wieters, but Robert Andino grounds into a force at second, Zimmerman tosses to Anderson Hernandez.

Cristian Guzman pops out over third. Nick Johnson grounds the first pitch to short. Ryan Zimmerman takes a slider to right for a two-out single in front of Dunn. Dunn K’s chasing a two-strike slider to end the DC third...2-2 change outside finds Brian Roberts looking fastball. Strike three swinging. Adam Jones grounds out to short. Markakis gets a two-strike fastball high and inside and he K’s swinging to end the third.

Josh Willingham grounds out to Brian Roberts. Elijah Dukes grounds weakly to Mora for the second out of the Nationals’ fourth. Josh Bard walks with two down. Willie Harris takes a fastball high and outside and gets punched out by the home plate ump, though Harris disagrees...Aubrey Huff singles to center to start the O’s fourth. Nolan Reimold rips a double to left and Josh Willingham bobbles it, allowing Huff to score from first on the error. 2-1 O’s. Luke Scott lines to right, Reimold stops at third when Dukes sends a missile back in. Melvin Mora drops a single in front of Dukes in right, Reimold scores, 3-1 Baltimore. Wieters walks for the second time to load the bases for Robert Andino. Andino grounds to third, Zimmerman fires home, Bard throws to first, double play!!! Ground ball to short from Brian Roberts, who’s 0 for 3 now.

Anderson Hernandez gets a grounder up in Aubrey Huff’s gut, but Huff makes the play. Cristian Guzman grounds out to second. Nick Johnson gets hit again with another curve. Ryan Zimmerman K’s swinging at a slider outside...Adam Jones grounds weakly to short. Nick Markakis’ chopper gets by Anderson Hernandez and into right center. Aubrey Huff grounds to second, Anderson Hernandez fields, spins, throws to second, Guzman to Johnson, double play.

Adam Dunn pops a full-count pitch up foul of third. Josh Willingham K’s swinging over a sinking fastball inside. Elijah Dukes hits a broken bat single back up the middle, but Brian Roberts gets there and throws to first to end DC’s sixth...Nolan Reimold rips a singles off the mound and into center. Luke Scott lines a single into the gap, and Reimold takes third. Detwiler out. Joel Hanrahan hangs a slider to Melvin Mora, who rips a slider to left for a two-run double and a 5-1 O’s lead. Matt Wieters K’s swinging at a slider from Hanrahan. Zimmerman dives and a hard-hit grounder from Robert Andino, who’s safe at first. Joel Hanrahan walks the bases loaded, issuing a free pass to Brian Roberts. 0-2 slider outside to Adam Jones, bloop single to right, 6-1 O’s. Ron Villone on for Hanrahan. Nick Markakis lines an RBI single over second, 7-1 Orioles. Aubrey Huff singles to right, Roberts and Jones score, 9-1 Orioles. Villone walks Reimold. Luke scot grounds to second, DP grou...Guzman misses it, another run scores, 10-1 Orioles. Sac fly to right from Mora, Dukes throws home, too late, Huff scores, 11-1 Orioles. Matt Wieters flies out to right to finally, mercifully end the sixth.

Josh Bard rolls a ground ball under Brian Roberts’ glove at second for a leadoff baserunner as DC tries to mount a comeback. Willie Harris grounds into a force at second, but beats the throw to first. Anderson Hernandez gets the DP grounder right, going to short, Andino to Roberts to Huff, double play...Robert Andino pops out to Guzman in short center. Jesus Colome gets Brian Roberts swinging. Adam Jones lines to right and...fair, Dukes misses it and hits the wall, the ball rolls to the track in right and Jones is safe at third. Nick Markakis strands Jones at third with a fly ball to right.

Matt Albers on the mound for the O’s, and he gives up a leadoff single to center to Cristian Guzman. Nick Johnson lines to third, right into Oscar Salazar’s glove. Alberto Gonzalez singles up the middle to put two on for Adam Dunn. Dunn K’s swinging through a 95 mph fastball. Josh Willingham walks with two down, bases loaded for Elijah Dukes. Dukes down swinging to end the Nationals’ eighth...Aubrey Huff leads off against Colome in the eighth. Anderson Hernandez shows off his range, sprinting his left to get a grounder on the outfield grass and throw Huff out. Nolan Reimold beats Hernandez to the hole with a single to right. Luke Scott grounds into a force at second, but beats the DP throw to first. Oscar Salazar pops out to second to end the eighth.

Josh Bard pops out foul of third, Salazar makes the grab. One down. O’s reliever George Sherrill gets a ground ball from Willie Harris, but Brian Roberts boots it. Anderson Hernandez grounds into a force at second. Cristian Guzman chases junk into the dirt, game over. 11-1 Orioles win.

Nationals now 21-50.

Phillies vs Orioles: June 19-21

Matt Swartz — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 22:00:13 -0000

More photos » by Tom Mihalek - AP

Cole Hamels will pitch Sunday for the Phillies. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

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After a disappointing sweep at the hands of the Blue Jays, the Philadelphia Phillies (36-28) still maintain a three-game lead over the Mets thanks to this weekend's opponent, the Baltimore Orioles (29-37), who took two out of three from the Mets. The Phillies have three games this weekend against the O's, who have a lot of promising young stars, but still struggle to compete in a tough division. The Orioles really do fall short with their pitching, although their young hitters are dangerous. In addition to reliable veterans Brain Roberts, and Aubrey Huff, the Orioles have Nick Markakis, who is quietly turning into one of the better hitters in the American League, Adam Jones, the steal of the Erik Bedard trade who his mashing this year, and the Orioles very own Messiah to combat ours, Matt Wieters. Wieters finally hit his first homerun this week against the Mets, though reports are that if he does not get the day off Sunday against Cole Hamels, the planet might explode. Either that or at least one of the websites linked in the previous sentence will be at least an exaggeration.

The Phillies send Antonio Bastardo out Friday night, looking to bounce back after his first poor start of the season. Bastardo allowed five runs in the first inning before a rain delay ended his night against the Red Sox. The Orioles reply with Rich Hill, who has been the victim of control problems, and if it were not for some luck on flyballs landing on the correct side of the fence, Hill's ERA would be in worse shape. Hill does not have a huge split , being mostly a fastball/curveball pitcher, so the Phillies should not have too much trouble with him.

The Orioles will send out RHP Brad Bergeson in Saturday night's game. Bergeson is a contact pitcher who gets a good number of groundballs. Taking good swings against him will be the key. The Phillies send J.A. Happ to the mound against him. Happ looked a little better than what he is after initially joining the rotation, though his last two starts have left something to be desired.

The Orioles send RHP Jeremy Guthrie to the mound on Sunday afternoon. Guthrie has had some bad luck this year, but is pretty much an average pitcher overall, in terms of control, command, and groundball tendencies. The Phillies send ace Cole Hamels to the mound on Sunday. American League teams have done their best with him this year by fouling off pitches and building up his pitch counts, and getting a shot against the bullpen. He'll try to go deeper into Sunday's game than he has in recent starts.

MATCHUPS

Friday, 7:05-- Antonio Bastardo (L) vs. Rich Hill (L)

Saturday, 7:05-- J.A. Happ (L) vs. Brad Bergeson (R)

Sunday, 1:35-- Cole Hamels (L) vs. Jeremy Guthrie (R)

After the jump, I preview the players, their splits, and the matchups.

ORIOLES

LINE UP

1) 2B Brian Roberts (S): .287/.352/.445

projection average (proj): .285/.365/.425
projected BB/PA (bb): 11%
projected K/AB (k): 16%
career gb% (gb): 38%
career infield flies/flyball (iff): 7%
career infield hits/groundball (ifh): 5%
batting average on balls in play tendencies (babip): projected around .325; i have him .318
swing/contact/zone facts (s/c/z): good eye, good patience, good contact, sees a decent amount of strikes
righty/lefty (r/l): .802 vs .705 ops; 1.3 vs 1.4 k/bb
home/away (h/a): .759 vs .786 ops; 1.2 vs 1.3 k/bb
pull/opposite (p/o): slight pull hitter from both sides
anything else (other): better against groundball pitchers

2) RF Nick Markakis (L): .293/.356/.464

proj: .300/.380/.485
bb: 11%
k: 18%
gb: 46%
iff: 6%
ifh: 6%
babip: projected around .335; i have him at .329.
s/c/z: okay eye, good patience, above average contact
r/l: .888 vs .753 ops; 1.3 vs 2.1 k/bb
h/a: .867 vs .827 ops; 1.6 vs 1.4 k/bb
p/o: spreads ball around pretty evenly
other: much better against finesse pitcher

3) CF Adam Jones (R): .312/.368/.540

proj: .275/.325/.445
bb: 6%
k: 23%
gb: 46%
iff: 12%
ifh: 9%
babip: projected around .325, but i have him at .306; my system is probably conservative since there isn't much data on him
s/c/z: impatient, bad eye, below average contact
r/l: .768 vs .729 ops; 6.1 vs 2.7 k/bb
h/a: .760 vs .754 ops; 5.6 vs 3.7 k/bb
p/o: somewhat of a pull hitter
other: none

4) 1B Aubrey Huff (L): .272/.335/.451

proj: .280/.345/.470
bb: 8.5%
k: 15%
gb: 45%
iff: 11%
ifh: 4%
babip: projected around .295; i have him around .299.
s/c/z: decent eye, decent contact
r/l: .856 vs .745 ops; 1.5 vs 2.2 k/bb
h/a: .839 vs .808 ops; 1.6 vs 1.8 k/bb
p/o: pull hitter
other: none

5) 3B Melvin Mora (R): .277/.333/.339

proj: .270/.330/.425
bb: 8%
k: 17%
gb: 39%
iff: 11%
ifh: 7%
babip: i have him at .298 which is about where other systems have him.
s/c/z: some patience and okay eye, pretty good contact
r/l: .786 vs .816 ops; 2.0 vs 1.3 k/bb
h/a: .806 vs .782 ops; 1.6 vs 2.0 k/bb
p/o: pull hitter
other: none

6) DH Luke Scott (L): .306/.389/.594

proj: .260/.345/.480
bb: 10%
k: 22%
gb: 39%
iff: 11%
ifh: 5%
babip: most systems have him around .295; i have him at .286
s/c/z: okay eye but impatient, mediocre contact, sees a lot of strikes
r/l: .874 vs .850 ops; 1.7 vs 2.2 k/bb
h/a: .896 vs .841 ops; 1.5 vs 2.2 k/bb
p/o: pull hitter
other: none

7) C Matt Wieters (S): .259/.298/.407

proj: .295/.365/.485
bb: 11%
k: 19%
gb: 47% in minors
iff: 7% in minors
ifh: ?
babip: projected around .320
s/c/z: good eye, somewhat patient, below average contact
r/l: seems pretty good both ways in minors, but better babip vs lhp
h/a: not enough info
p/o: ?
other: none

8) LF Nolan Riemold (R): .283/.372/.525

proj: .250/.320/.430
bb: 9%
k: 21%
gb: 51%
iff: 20%
ifh: ?
babip: projected around .290
s/c/z: somewhat patient, average contact, pretty good eye
r/l: .870 vs 1.010 in minors
h/a: not enough info
p/o: ?
other: none

9) SS Robert Andino (R): .252/.292/.313

proj: .240/.295/.360
bb: 6%
k: 23%
gb: 54%
iff: 12%
ifh: 5%
babip: projected all over the place, about .300 overall
s/c/z: not a great eye, not particularly patient, below average contact
r/l: .533 vs .594 ops; 3.4 vs 8.5 k/bb
h/a: .614 vs .488 ops; 4.5 vs 3.7 k/bb
p/o: opposite field hitter
other: none

BENCH

C Greg Zaun (S): .209/.315/.295

proj: .250/.340/.390
bb: 12%
k: 16%
gb: 43%
iff: 14%
ifh: 4%
babip: projected around .265
s/c/z: patient with a good eye, above average contact
r/l: .722 vs .733 ops; 1.2 vs 0.9 k/bb
h/a: .734 vs .715 ops; 1.1 vs 1.1 k/bb
p/o: slight pull hitter as righty, pull hitter as lefty
other: none

OF Felix Pie (L): .202/.279/.319

proj: .260/.315/.400
bb: 6.5%
k: 21%
gb: 46%
iff: 15%
ifh: 6%
babip: projected around .315
s/c/z: somewhat patient without a great eye, pretty good contact
r/l: .675 vs .278 ops; 3.2 vs 3.4 k/bb
h/a: .609 vs .610 ops; 2.8 vs 3.6 k/bb
p/o: pull hitter
other: none

DH Ty Wigginton (R): .241/.280/.380

proj: .270/.335/.470
bb: 7.5%
k: 20%
gb: 44%
iff: 9%
ifh: 7%
babip: i project him at .304, which is about where other systems have him
s/c/z: impatient, okay eye, decent contact
r/l: .749 vs .858 ops; 3.0 vs 1.6 k/bb
h/a: .809 vs .751 ops; 2.5 vs 2.6 k/bb
p/o: definite pull hitter
other: none

IF Oscar Salazar (R): .300/.300/.300

proj: .270/.330/.445
bb: 7%
k: 16%
gb: 42%
iff: 14%
ifh: 11%
babip: projected around .300
s/c/z: good eye, patient, slightly above average contact
r/l: .959 vs .596 ops; 1.0 vs 1.6 k/bb
h/a: not enough info
p/o: slight pull hitter
other: none

ROTATION

FRIDAY OPPONENT: Rich Hill (L): 5.81 ERA, 6.5 BB/9, 7.9 K/9, 0.3 HR/9, 4.09 FIP, 33%

proj avg: 5.00 ERA, 4.5 BB/9, 7.5 K/9, 1.2 HR/9
gb: 35%
pitches: 59% fb, 35% cb, 6% ch
r/l: .728 vs .651; 2.3 vs 1.9 k/bb
h/a: .713 vs .713; 2.2 vs 2.1 k/bb

Hill vs Phillies:

Feliz: 3/14, 2 HR, 1 BB, 4 K
Rollins: 3/8, 1 2B, 1 HR, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 HBP
Bruntlett: 1/6, 1 2B, 0 BB, 2 K
Howard: 1/6, 1 2B, 0 BB, 4 K
Utley: 2/4, 1 HR, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 HBP
Victorino: 0/5, 1 BB, 1 K
Coste: 0/3, 0 BB, 1 K
Ibanez: 0/3, 0 BB, 1 K
Ruiz: 0/2, 1 BB, 0 K

SATURDAY OPPONENT: Brad Bergesen (R): 3.79 ERA, 2.1 BB/9, 4.2 K/9, 1.1 HR/9, 4.62 FIP, 55% GB

proj avg: 5.70 ERA, 2.6 BB/9, 3.7 K/9, 1.5 HR/9
gb: 56%
pitches: 67% fb, 23% sl, 9% ch, 0.4% cb
r/l: .775 vs .736 ops; 4.2 vs 1.2 k/bb
h/a: .777 vs .726 ops; 4.4 vs 0.8 k/bb

Bergesen: has not played any Phillies

SUNDAY OPPONENT: Jeremy Guthrie (R): 5.42 ERA, 2.6 BB/9, 5.8 K/9, 1.8 HR/9, 5.45 FIP, 38% GB

proj avg: 4.30 ERA, 3.0 BB/9, 6.0 K/9, 1.1 HR/9
gb: 43%
pitches: 64% fb, 18% sl, 11% ch, 6% cb
r/l: .733 vs .761 ops; 2.3 vs 2.0 k/bb
h/a: .788 vs .696 ops; 2.4 vs 1.8 k/bb

Guthrie vs Phillies:

Stairs: 3/18, 1 HR, 1 BB, 6 K
Ibanez: 3/13, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 BB (2 IBB), 2 K, 1 HBP
Bako: 0/3, 0 BB, 2 K

NOT FACING US: Koji Uehara (R): 4.30 ERA, 1.8 BB/9, 6.8 K/9, 0.9 HR/9, 3.43 FIP, 29% GB

proj avg: 4.60 ERA, 1.7 BB/9, 6.1 K/9, 1.6 HR/9
gb: 30%
pitches: 57% fb, 32% sf, 6% ct, 3% ch, 2% ct
r/l: .715 vs .760 ops; 2.6 vs 5.0 k/bb
h/a: not enough info

Uehara: has not faced any Phillies

NOT FACING US: Jason Berken (R): 6.84 ERA, 3.4 BB/9, 5.5 K/9, 0.7 HR/9, 4.21 FIP, 32% GB

proj avg: 5.35 ERA, 3.4 BB/9, 5.3 K/9, 1.3 HR/9
gb: 49% in minors
pitches: 60% fb, 17% ch, 14% sl, 9% cb
r/l: slightly better at avoiding contact against rhb but wilder too
h/a: not enough info

Berken: has not played any Phillies:

BULLPEN

CL George Sherrill (L): 2.45 ERA, 2.8 BB/9, 8.1 K/9, 1.0 HR/9, 3.73 FIP, 26% GB

proj avg: 3.90 ERA, 4.6 BB/9, 9.5 K/9, 0.9 HR/9
gb: 32%
pitches: 72% fb, 27% sl, 1% ch
r/l: .773 vs .506 ops; 1.1 vs 4.7 k/bb
h/a: .672 vs .627 ops; 2.3 vs 2.1 k/bb

Sherrill vs Phillies:

Stairs: 1/3, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 K
Ibanez; 1/1, 0 BB, 0 K

Jim Johnson (R): 2.87 ERA, 3.2 BB/9, 6.3 K/9, 0.6 HR/9, 3.64 FIp, 54% GB

proj avg: 4.20 ERA, 3.6 BB/9, 6.0 K/9, 0.9 HR/9
gb: 56%
pitches: 79% fb, 12% cb, 9% ch
r/l: .662 vs .612 ops; 2.1 vs 0.9 k/bb
h/a: .663 vs .615 ops; 1.2 vs 1.5 k/bb

Johnson vs Phillies:

Stairs: 0/1, 1 BB (IBB), 0 K

Danys Baez (R): 3.03 ERA, 3.5 BB/9, 5.8 K/9, 0.8 HR/9, 61% GB, 4.22 FIP

proj avg: 4.70 ERA, 3.6 BB/9, 5.5 K/9, 1.1 HR/9
gb: 44%
pitches: 60% fb, 31% sf, 8% cb, 1% ct, 0.2% sl
r/l: .648 vs .759 ops; 2.1 vs 1.6 k/bb
h/a: .701 vs .705 ops; 2.0 vs 1.6 k/bb

Baez vs Phillies:

Ibanez: 0/4, 2 BB, 2 K
Feliz: 0/5, 0 BB, 2 K
Rollins: 3/5, 1 2B, 0 BB, 1 K
Stairs: 0/4, 0 BB, 0 K
Howard: 0/1, 2 BB, 1 K
Dobbs: 0/1, 1 BB, 1 K
Utley: 2 BB
Victorino: 0/1, 1 BB, 1 K
Werth: 1/1, 0 BB, 0 K

Alberto Castillo (L): 3.86 ERA, 7.7 BB/9, 3.9 K/9, 0.0 HR/9, 6.07 FIP, 33% GB

proj avg: 4.60 ERA, 3.4 BB/9, 6.8 K/9, 1.1 HR/9
gb: 44%
pitches: 58% fb, 36% sl, 6% ch, 1% cb
r/l: .723 vs .762 ops; 2.1 vs 1.8 k/bb
h/a: .564 vs .908 ops; 2.8 vs 1.4 k/bb

Castillo vs Phillies:

Stairs: 1/2, 0 BB, 0 K

Mark Hendrickson (L): 5.61 ERA, 4.0 BB/9, 5.8 K/9, 1.9 HR/9, 5.86 FIP, 40% GB

proj avg: 5.00 ERA, 3.1 BB/9, 5.5 K/9, 1.1 HR/9
gb: 45%
pitches: 60% fb, 12% ch, 23% cb, 4% ct
r/l: .826 vs .692 ops; 1.8 vs 2.1 k/bb
h/a: .811 vs .777 ops; 1.9 vs 1.8 k/bb

Hendrickson vs Phillies:

Feliz: 4/18, 0 BB, 1 K
Rollins: 3/9, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP
Utley: 4/9, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 BB, 1 K
Howard: 1/8, 1 BB, 5 K
Ibanez: 1/7, 1 BB, 1 K
Victorino: 4/8, 1 2B, 1 3B, 0 BB, 0 K
Coste: 2/6, 1 2B, 1 HR, 0 BB, 0 K
Stairs: 2/4, 1 2B, 0 BB, 1 K
Werth: 1/4, 0 BB, 1 K
Bruntlett: 1/2, 1 BB (IBB), 0 K
Bako: 1/1, 1 HR, 1 BB, 0 K
Dobbs: 0/2, 0 BB, 0 K
Ruiz: 0/2, 0 BB, 0 K

Brian Bass (R): 3.92 ERA, 2.9 BB/9, 6.0 K/9, 1.6 HR/9, 5.29 FIP, 66% GB

proj avg: 4.80 ERA, 3.2 BB/9, 5.1 K/9, 1.1 HR/9
gb: 60%
pitches: 66% fb, 18% sl, 11% cb, 5% ch, 0.1% sf
r/l: .862 vs .717 ops; 2.0 vs 1.4 k/bb
h/a: .755 vs .859 ops; 1.8 vs 1.4 k/bb

Bass vs Phillies:

Ibanez: 1/1, 1 2B, 0 BB, 0 K

Matt Albers (R): 3.86 ERA, 4.2 BB/9, 5.3 K/9, 0.4 HR/9, 3.93 FIP, 35% GB

proj avg: 4.70 ERA, 4.2 BB/9, 6.0 K/9, 0.9 HR/9
gb: 47%
pitches: 72% fb, 26% cb, 2% ch
r/l: .812 vs .763 ops; 1.9 vs 1.0 k/bb
h/a: .721 vs .860 ops; 1.8 vs 1.1 k/bb

Albers vs Phillies:

Feliz: 0/2, 1 BB, 1 K
Stairs: 1/2, 0 BB, 0 K
Howard: 0/1, 0 BB, 0 K
Rollins: 0/1, 0 BB, 0 K
Ruiz: 1 BB (IBB)
Utley: 0/1, 0 BB, 0 K
Victorino: 1/1, 0 BB, 0 K

PHILLIES

LINEUP

1) SS Jimmy Rollins (S): .225/.263/.350

projection average (proj): .285/.350/.460
projected BB/PA (bb): 8%
projected K/AB (k): 11%
career gb% (gb): 42%
career infield flies/flyball (iff): 10%
career infield hits/groundball (ifh): 5%
batting average on balls in play tendencies (babip): about average overall, though a little bit high popup rate so slightly below average
swing/contact/zone facts (s/c/z): good eye, pretty selective, but very high contact rate so low walk rate
righty/lefty (r/l): 1.7 vs 1.3 k/bb, mostly because of higher k-rate as lhb. otherwise similar on contact
home/away (h/a): 1.5 vs 1.7 k/bb; .805 vs .739 ops
pull/opposite (p/o): definite pull hitter
anything else (other): stole 47 bases in 50 attempts last year.

2) CF Shane Victorino (S): .295/.351/.451

proj: .285/.345/.430
bb: 7.5%
k: 13%
gb: 46%
iff: 15%
ifh: 8%
babip: slightly above average due to high babip on groundballs-- partly because infield plays in for him and he spreads the ball around well; not that high due to high infield fly rate
s/c/z: pretety bad eye but high contact rate
r/l: much more power righthanded (1.6% to 3.8% HR rate), but much better k/bb as lefty: 1.65 vs 1.88; higher babip lefty also (.316 vs .286)
h/a: far fewer walks on road but nearly exactly the same strikeout rate, same power, same babip
p/o: pull hitter both ways
other: stole 36 of 47 bases last year

3) 2B Chase Utley (L): .308/.441/.567

proj: .295/.380/.525
bb: 9.5%
k: 18%
gb: 37%
iff: 10%
ifh: 6%
babip: distinctly above average historically and for projections too; seemingly strong power leads to high line drive babip rate and reasonably high groundball babip especially for pull hitting lefty; high on flyballs despite high infield fly rate since he hits deep flyballs
s/c/z: pretty good eye, somewhat selective, somewhat high contact rate
r/l: not significant-- only 1.7 vs 2.0 k/bb; .919 vs .865 ops
h/a: similar k/bb home & away; better hr at home-- probably park factors; higher babip at home too
p/o: pull hitter
other: much better against power pitchers relative to other hitters

4) 1B Ryan Howard (L): .257/.331/.552

proj: .275/.375/580
bb: 14%
k: 33%
gb: 40%
iff: 2%
ifh: 4%
babip: low on groundballs over time as he pulls the vast majority of them; very very high on flyballs because he almost never pops out in the infield at all and many of his flyballs are very deep. also since so few of his flyballs stay in the park (only 2/3 or so), a higher percentage of his balls in play are line drives-- which he does well on like many power hitters-- his low contact rate means he sometimes make poor contact though. probably above average overall
s/c/z: swings a lot especially for someone who doesn't see many strikes. however, he is pretty good at distinguishing pulls from strikes despite the consensus on him. he makes terrible contact overall though
r/l: 1.064 vs .786 ops: say it with me "that means he's good against righties, not bad against lefties!" in fact, he's the best hitter against righties in baseball right now probably. his k/bb vs lhp is 3.7 vs 1.6 vs rhp. he has a lot of power against lefties however, but a lower babip. i don't have split data on pull% vs lhp/rhp but observationally i'm pretty sure that's the difference in his babip: .338 vs .309.
h/a: much higher babip on road. very similar hr numbers. 2.0 vs 3.2 k/bb.
p/o: pull hitter, especially on groundballs-- hits more homeruns the opposite way though
other: struggles mightily against power pitchers and groundball pitchers, dominate flyball pitchers (since he almost never pops out, and has 10.3% hr rate) and smashes finesse pitchers (11.8% hr rate); he also does much better on babip with runners on base as defenders can't shift against him-- especially with runners in scoring position

5) RF Jayson Werth (R): .261/.350/.466

proj: .270/.360/.460
bb: 12.5%
k: 29%
gb: 38%
iff: 8%
ifh: 8%
babip: high on groundballs due to high infield hit rate, high on line drives due to power, and hits pretty deep flyballs too; has been historically probably higher than it should be since he's faced more lhp than normal rhb do; overall still seems to be very above average
s/c/z: very selective and pretty good eye; somewhat low contact rate
r/l: .762 vs .919 ops; 2.4 vs 2.0 k/bb; hr rate of 6.7% vs 2.9%
h/a: not much of a split at all
p/o: spreads ball around well for power hitter, but still a pull hitter
other: stole 20 bases in 21 attempts last year

6) RF Greg Dobbs (L): .186/.258/.373

proj: .285/.335/.445
bb: 7%
k: 17%
gb: 36%
iff: 13.5%
ifh: 3%
babip: has been high but probably should not be projected as high-- success derives from impossibly high line drive babip which doesn't typically happen for non-extreme power hitters. given his popup rate, he probably isn't a .320 babip guy and there isn't a .285 hitter
s/c/z: poor eye but very high swing rate; average contact rate
r/l: .761 vs .579 ops despite impossible .481 babip against lhp. in reality, he strikes out in 48% of at-bats against lhp. he should never see them. absolutely no power against lefties also.
h/a: virtually no split at all
p/o: pull hitter
other: much better against finesse pitchers

7) 3B Pedro Feliz (R): .308/.354/.429

proj: .250/.300/.420
bb: 6%
k: 15.5%
gb: 44%
iff: 15%
ifh: 5%
babip: very low-- pops up a lot, hits groundballs predictably to left side and is slow so they can play shaded over and deep; not all that much power so not terrific on line drives either, makes a lot of weak contact as he isn't good at making contact so he chops a lot of balls
s/c/z: high swing rate and not terribly good at distinguishing balls from strikes. swung significantly less in 2008, but it was as much of a decrease in balls as strikes, makes average contact
r/l: 3.3 vs 2.3 k/bb; .708 vs .755 ops, more babip and a little more power agaisnt lefties
h/a: much higher k rate on road, similar bb rate; more power on road, higher babip at home. likely not much difference (.725 vs .716 overall ops)
p/o: definite pull hitter
other: defensive numbers dipped last year, had offseason surgery for back, perhaps these are related

8) C Carlos Ruiz (R): .270/.391/.435

proj: .255/.335/.390
bb: 10%
k: 14%
gb: 50% (but rose in 2008 to 54% from 46%)
iff: 9.5%
ifh: 4%
babip: was extraordinarily low in 2008, but that seems to be rather flukey. his high groundball rate and solid contact rate and pitch selection indicate he should be a good babip guy, but he does very poorly on groundball as he chops the ball a lots/c/z: very good eye and excellent contact skill, extremely patient
r/l: bizarre reverse split despite 0.5 k/bb vs lhp and 1.2 vs rhp; impossibly low .204 babip against lhp, probably flukey and probably much better vs lhp in reality
h/a: similar k/bb, worse babip but higher power at home (park factors)
p/o: slight pull hitter
other: better against power pitchers, currently on DL with strained rib cage, probably longer than 15 days as originally thought

BENCH:

C Chris Coste (R): .253/.354/.422

proj: .265/.315/.405
bb: 5.5%
k: 17.5%
gb: 40%
iff: 10%
ifh: 6%
babip: slightly below average, seemingly due to poor eye and swinging and hitting bad pitches
s/c/z: high swing rate, pretty poor eye, average contact
r/l: .747 vs .855; same k/bb rate, much better babip against lhp, similar power but slightly more vs lhp
h/a: .886 vs .679; 5.4% vs 1.5% hr rate
p/o: pull hitter
other: struggles with power pitchers somewhat

IF/OF Eric Bruntlett (R): .163/.259/.245

proj: .240/.325/.335
bb: 10%
k: 18%
gb: 41%
iff: 14%
ifh: 5%
babip: high popup rate leads to low babip, but not that low; also doesn't do all that well on line drives due to lack of power
s/c/z: somewhat above average eye and doesn't swing much; makes very good contact, sees a lot of strikes
r/l: .592 vs .764 ops; 2.5 vs 1.2 k/bb; 5.7% vs 8.8% xbh/ab-- he's actually average if not above average against lhp; he just is terrible against rhb. he should be used as a counterswitch to loogy use against lefty pinch hitters
h/a: more power at home and more walks at home; similar strikeout rate and babip
p/o: opposite field hitter
other: none

OF Matt Stairs (L): .282/.451/.538

proj: .255/.340/.440
bb: 11%
k: 22%
gb: 42%
iff: 11.5%
ifh: 5%
babip: average all around
s/c/z: very good eye and slightly below average contact
r/l: .862 vs .748; much more power against rhp; 1.4 vs 2.1 k/bb
h/a: not much of a split at all
p/o: slight pull hitter but not much for a power hitter
other: use stairs in case of emergency

IF Paul Bako (L): .000/.000/.000

proj: .220/.290/.295
bb: 9%
k: 30%
gb: 53%
iff: 7%
ifh: 6%
babip: projcted around .285
s/c/z: average eye, average patience, below average contact
r/l: .637 vs .522 ops; 2.2 vs 6.1 k/bb
h/a: .621 vs .621 ops; 2.5 vs 2.6 k/bb
p/o: very slight pull hitter, but spreads ball around pretty well
other: none

OF John Mayberry (R): .286/.286/.786

proj: .235/.290/.415
bb: 6.5%
k: 27%
iff: around 15-20% in minors
ifh: ?
babip: hits ball hard but pops up a lot; probably a bit average but tough to know; projected below average
s/c/z: not enough info
r/l: batter against lefties, particularly at making contact, in minors
h/a: not enough info
p/o: not enough info
other: none

DISABLED LIST: LF Raul Ibanez (L): .312/.371/.656

proj: .285/.350/.480
bb: 9%
k: 17%
gb: 42%
iff: 11%
ifh: 5%
babip: above average, probably because he spreads the ball around pretty well for a power hitter; much better babip with men on-- probably hooks ball in hole well or maybe he was shifted against more so beforehand
s/c/z: definitely a good eye though it's getting worse, slightly above average contact
r/l: .850 vs .733; 1.5 vs 2.8 k/bb
h/a: better k/bb (1.6 vs 1.9) but worse power probably park factors, and probably likely to be better at home
p/o: slight pull hitter but not much for a power hitter
other: none

ROTATION

FRIDAY STARTER: Antonio Bastardo (L): 5.25 ERA, 3.8 BB/9, 7.5 K/9, 1.5 HR/9, 5.07 FIP, 28% GB

proj avg: 5.60 ERA, 4.8 BB/9, 7.0 K/9, 1.9 HR/9
gb: 40% in minors
pitches: ?
r/l: 2.1 vs 4.1 k/bb in minor league career
h/a: much better control at home in minor league control

Bastardo: has not played any Orioles

SATURDAY STARTER: J.A. Happ (L): 3.53 ERA, 4.2 BB/9, 6.5 K/9, 1.3 HR/9, 5.24 FIP, 34% GB

proj avg: 4.40 ERA, 3.8 BB/9, 7.7 K/9, 1.2 HR/9
gb: 29% in majors thus far; 42% in AAA in 2008
pitches: 64% fb, 18% ch, 14% sl, 2% ct, 2% cb
r/l: 1.7 vs 3.0 k/bb in majors thus far; 2.7 vs 3.5 k/bb in AAA in 2008
h/a: not enough info

Happ: has not played any Orioles

SUNDAY STARTER: Cole Hamels (L): 4.48 ERA, 1.8 BB/9, 8.2 K/9, 1.4 HR/9, 4.00 FIP, 42% GB

proj avg: 3.45 ERA, 2.3 BB/9, 8.4 K/9, 1.1 HR/9
gb: 40%
pitches: 55% fb, 32% ch, 14% cb
r/l: .680 vs .748, but same 3.6 k/bb both ways; slightly more power vs lhb-- this is probably selection bias as managers withhold all but the best lefties against him (explaining 20% of hitters faced are lefties only)
h/a: 3.85 vs 3.4 k/bb; .676 vs .709 ops-- less of a difference due to higher HR rate at home
other: much higher k-rate at night: 25% vs 20%, which is statistically significant. ERA difference (4.71 vs 3.01 exaggerated by babip difference), as HR rate and XBH rate very similar. most likely he strikes out more at night.

Hamels vs Orioles:

Huff: 1/4, 1 HR, 0 BB, 2 K
Wigginton: 1/3, 1 2B, 1 BB, 0 K
Markakis: 1/3, 0 BB, 0 K
Mora: 1/3, 0 BB, 0 K
Roberts: 2/2, 1 HR, 1 BB, 0 K
Hill: 0/2, 0 BB, 1 K

NOT STARTING THIS SERIES: Jamie Moyer (L): 6.35 ERA, 2.2 BB/9, 5.2 K/9, 2.0 HR/9, 5.78 FIP, 40% GB

proj avg: 4.80 ERA, 2.8 BB/9, 5.5 K/9, 1.2 HR/9
gb: 39%
pitches: 41% fb, 30% ct, 24% ch, 6% cb
r/l: virtually no split but that seems to be selection as he sees 24% lefties only compared with 32% league average for lhp
h/a: 2.3 vs 1.9 k/bb; not much difference on contact; slightly better babip at home but not more so than the average starter gets

Moyer vs Orioles:

Mora: 10/40, 2 HR, 4 BB, 1 K, 1 Sac
Roberts: 3/10, 0 BB, 4 K
Huff: 8/20, 2 HR, 0 BB, 0 K
Zaun: 2/8, 1 2B, 1 BB, 2 K
Markakis: 1/6, 1 2B, 0 BB, 0 K
Wigginton: 0/6, 0 BB, 1 K
Andino: 0/1, 0 BB, 1 K

NOT STARTING THIS SERIES: Joe Blanton (R): 5.28 ERA, 2.8 BB/9, 7.9 K/9, 1.9 HR/9, 5.05 FIP, 40% GB

proj avg: 4.25 ERA, 2.5 BB/9, 5.8 K/9, 0.9 HR/9
gb: 45%
pitches: 56% fb, 16% ch, 15% sl, 12% cb
r/l: 2.3 vs 1.8 k/bb; .750 vs .719 ops
h/a: 2.2 vs 2.0 k/bb; .698 vs .776 ops; much worse babip away (.313 vs .282), more power surrendered on road
other: extraordinarily good against leadoff hitters, especially the first hitter of games

Blanton vs Orioles:

Huff: 3/17, 2 2B, 1 BB, 1 K
Mora: 5/14, 1 2B, 2 HR, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 Sac
Roberts: 3/13, 2 2B, 1 BB, 3 K
Markakis: 6/12, 1 HR, 1 BB, 1 K
Zaun: 2/11, 1 2B, 1 BB, 2 K
Wigginton: 3/6, 1 BB, 2 K
Scott: 1/2, 1 2B, 1 BB, 0 K
Jones: 0/2, 0 BB, 0 K

BULLPEN

Ryan Madson (R): 2.36 ERA, 3.2 BB/9, 10.0 K/9, 0.3 HR/9, 2.37 FIP, 43% GB

proj avg: 3.80 ERA, 2.9 BB/9, 7.2 K/9, 0.8 HR/9
gb: 48%
pitches: 58% fb, 24% ch, 15% ct, 4% cb
r/l: 3.65 vs 1.8 k/bb; .714 vs .786 ops
h/a: no major split at all

Madson vs Orioles:

Roberts: 2/6, 0 BB, 0 K
Mora: 1/5, 0 BB, 2 K
Wigginton: 1/5, 0 BB, 0 K
Huff: 0/4, 0 BB, 2 K
Scott: 1/4, 0 BB, 2 K
Markakis: 0/3, 0 BB, 1 K

Jack Taschner (L): 4.56 ERA, 6.5 BB/9, 4.9 K/9, 0.8 HR/9, 5.48 FIP, 36% GB

proj avg: 4.50 ERA, 4.1 BB/9, 8.0 K/9, 1.0 HR/9
gb: 35%
pitches: 57% fb, 30% sl, 13% ch
r/l: 1.45 vs 2.2 k/bb; .754 vs .747-- large selection bias where he faces only very good lefties and not very good righties
h/a: .698 vs .797 ops; 2.1 vs 1.5 k/bb

Taschner vs Orioles:

Scott: 0/1, 0 BB, 0 K
Zaun: 0/1, 0 BB, 0 K

Chad Durbin (R): 3.89 ERA, 5.4 BB/9, 8.3 K/9, 1.3 HR/9, 5.45 FIP, 34% GB

proj avg: 4.10 ERA, 3.5 BB/9, 6.5 K/9, 1.0 HR/9
gb: 41%
pitches: 47% fb, 38% sl, 8% ch, 7% cb, 1% ct
r/l: virtually no split
h/a: somewhat of a reverse split but probably just noise

Durbin vs Orioles:

Mora: 5/13, 1 2B, 2 HR, 2 BB, 2 K
Roberts: 2/7, 2 BB, 1 K
Huff: 4/8, 0 BB, 2 K
Zaun: 1/5, 1 BB, 1 K
Markakis: 0/4, 1 BB, 1 K
Wigginton: 2/3, 1 BB, 1 K

Clay Condrey (R): 3.71 ERA, 3.7 BB/9, 5.8 K/9, 1.1 HR/9, 4.54 FIP, 52% GB

proj avg: 4.50 ERA, 2.8 BB/9, 4.9 K/9, 0.8 HR/9
gb: 50%
pitches: 59% fb, 17% ct, 15% sl, 9% ch
r/l: 2.1 vs 1.3 k/bb; .761 vs .842 ops
h/a: .703 vs .898 ops; 2.2 vs 1.3 k/bb

Condrey vs Orioles:

Mora: 0/2, 0 BB, 0 K
Zaun: 0/2, 0 BB, 0 K
Andino: 0/1, 0 BB, 0 K
Markakis: 0/1, 0 BB, 0 K
Roberts: 1 BB

Chan Ho Park (R): 4.50 ERA, 4.5 BB/9, 7.4 K/9, 0.9 HR/9, 6.14 FIP, 42% GB

proj avg: 4.50 ERA, 3.5 BB/9, 7.3 K/9, 1.2 HR/9
gb: 45%
pitches: 51% FB, 29% SL, 12% cb, 5% ch, 4% ct
r/l: .666 vs .820 ops; 2.6 vs 1.3 k/bb; .280 vs .301 babip; 2.6% vs 3.6% HR rate-- much better against righties
h/a: 2.0 vs 1.7 k/bb; .708 vs .780 ops

Park vs Orioles:

Huff: 4/11, 2 HR, 2 BB, 2 K
Zaun: 4/10, 1 3B, 0 BB, 1 K
Mora: 3/8, 1 2B, 0 BB, 3 K
Roberts: 0/3, 0 BB, 0 K
Scott: 1/3, 0 BB, 0 K
Wigginton: 1/3, 0 BB, 0 K

J.C. Romero (L): 1.00 ERA, 10.0 BB/9, 7.0 K/9, 1.0 HR/9, 6.29 FIP, 52% GB

proj avg: 4.00 ERA, 5.5 BB/9, 7.5 K/9, 0.7 HR/9
gb: 55%
pitches: 58% fb, 25% sl, 17% ch, 0.1% cb
r/l: 1.2 vs 2.2 k/bb; .814 vs. 591 ops
h/a: 1.6 vs 1.3 k/bb; .697 vs .768 ops

Romero vs Orioles:

Roberts: 3/8, 1 2B, 2 BB, 1 K
Huff: 1/8, 0 BB, 2 K
Mora: 1/5, 2 BB, 0 K
Markakis: 1/5, 1 2B, 0 BB, 1 K
Zaun: 2/4, 1 2B, 1 3B, 0 BB, 0 K
Scott: 0/1, 0 BB, 1 K
Wigginton: 0/1, 0 BB, 0 K

Tyler Walker (R): 0.00 ERA, 3.4 BB/9, 6.8 K/9, 0.0 HR/9, 2.69 FIP, 43%

proj avg: 4.30 ERA, 3.7 BB/9, 7.4 K/9, 1.1 HR/9
gb: 41%
pitches: 59% fb, 27% sl, 10% ch, 3% cb
r/l: .721 vs .838 ops; 2.1 vs 1.9 k/bb
h/a: .838 vs .712 ops; 1.8 vs 2.2 k/bb

Walker vs Orioles:

Mora: 1/4, 0 BB, 0 K
ROberts: 0/3, 0 BB, 0 K
Wigginton: 0/2, 1 BB, 0 K
Zaun: 1/2, 0 BB, 0 K
Markakis: 0/1, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 Sac

DISABLED LIST: Brad Lidge (R): 7.27 ERA, 4.8 BB/9, 9.7 K/9, 2.4 HR/9, 6.15 FIP, 38% GB

proj avg: 3.50 ERA, 4.1 BB?9, 11.0 K/9, 0.8 HR/9
gb: 41% (though this went up to 46% with increased slider use in 2008)
pitches: 56% sl, 43% fb, 0.4% ch in 2008 (historically 54% fb, 42% sl)
r/l: 3.6 vs 2.8 k/bb; .601 vs .686 ops (tough to tell if that tendency became more or less extreme in 2008 due to limited sample size)
h/a: 3.6 vs 2.9 k/bb; .666 vs .614 ops though due to higher babip away
other: HR/Flyball plummeted in 2008-- probably unsustainably low and his ERA should rise; still rumors of him tipping pitches explain the HR/Flyball spike in 2006 & 2007

Lidge vs Orioles:

Wigginton: 0/2, 0 BB, 1 K
Huff: 0/1, 0 BB, 0 K
Mora: 1 BB
Roberts: 1/1, 0 BB, 0 K
Zaun: 0/1, 0 BB, 0 K

DISABLED LIST: Scott Eyre (L): 2.57 ERA, 5.8 BB/9, 6.4 K/9, 1.3 HR/9, 5.64 FIP, 32% GB

proj avg: 4.20 ERA, 4.1 BB/9, 8.8 K/9, 0.9 HR/9
gb: 41%
pitches: 59% fb, 35% sl, 6% ch, 0.2% cb
r/l: 1.5 vs 1.9 k/bb; .815 vs .720 ops
h/a: not much of a split

Eyre vs Orioles:

Huff: 3/11, 1 2B, 0 BB, 0 K
Scott: 2/2, 2 BB, 0 K
Wigginton: 1/3, 0 BB, 1 K
Roberts: 0/2, 0 BB, 0 K
Zaun: 1/1, 1 BB, 0 K
Markakis: 1 BB
Mora: 1 BB