SB Nation - Jeff Fiorentino

Orioles 5, Blue Jays 4: SWEEEEEP

Camden Chat — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:39:23 -0000

2 months ago: Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Brandon League reacts after making his second throwing error in the 11th inning of a baseball game allowing Baltimore Orioles Michael Aubrey, pictured at right, to score the winning run Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009, in Baltimore. The Orioles won 5-4. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

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The Orioles ended the season on a high note as they swept the Blue Jays for their fourth win in a row. It took 11 innings and a few errors by the Blue Jays, but they got it done. When I said prior to the first game that I wanted a sweep I didn't actually think it would happen, but I'm glad they listened.

Jeremy Guthrie had a personal goal this year of reaching 200 innings pitched, and going into today's game he was at 192.1. He ended up pitching 7.2 innings to give him 200 innings on the nose. He didn't pitch horribly, but he did do what we all expect him to: give up home runs. Three of them, to be exact. Overall he allowed 4 runs on 9 hits. I have high hopes that Guthrie will be able to bounce back in 2010. I don't have anything on which to base that, but I have those hopes all the same.

Nick Markakis had a good final game, collecting 2 hits to make his total on the year 188, the most on the team in 2009. With Brian Roberts on 2nd base in the first inning, Nick hit his 18th home run to give the O's a 2-1 lead. Guthrie gave back that lead with single runs in the 4th and 5th innings. In the bottom of the 6th inning the Orioles loaded the bases with zero outs but after a Matt Wieters ground out and a Markakis strike out it looked like they might waste their opportunity. With two outs Dave Trembley sent Justin Turner in to pinch hit for Melvein Mora. It seemed strange to pull Mora on his last game as an Oriole, but Melvin didn't seem upset at all. He was grinning on the bench receiving congratulations from his teammates, and it turned out to be a good move. Turner lined the first pitch he saw right up the middle to score Roberts and Andino and give the O's a 4-3 lead.

Between innings the fans gave Melvin Mora a standing ovation in appreciation of his years of service to the Orioles. I didn't see the entire game as I mostly checked in during commercials during the Ravens game. I did happen to see the ovation as well as Melvin's teammates giving him hugs and handshakes, and I admit I got a little emotional.

Just after all that, however, Guthrie unfortunately gave up the lead in the top of the 7th inning with another home run. After light hitting John McDonald hit his 4th HR of the year (and 2nd against the Orioles), the score remained tied at 4-4 until the bottom of the 11th, when the O's walked off with a little help from Toronto's pitcher Brandon League.

Michael Aubrey led off the 11th inning with a single, and Lou Montanez followed with a very good bunt up the first base line. League fielded with plenty of time to get Montanez, but threw the ball away. With runners on first and second with on zero outs, Jeff Fiorentino bunted in an attempt to get the winning run to third. Again League fielded, and AGAIN he made a throwing error. Michael Aubrey raced home to score the winning run and end the Orioles season.

-Stacey

Poll

For the final time, who was today's Most Birdland Player?

Nick Markakis (2 run HR)

68 votes

Brian Roberts (2 hits, 2 walks, 2 runs, 1 stolen base)

63 votes

Justin Turner (pinch hit 2 RBI single to give the O's the temporary lead)

35 votes

Jeff Fiorentino (sac bunt that lead to the winning run)

7 votes

173 votes | Poll has closed

O's 6, Blue Jays 3: No 100 losses this year!

Camden Chat — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 03:10:18 -0000

More photos » by Gail Burton - AP

SCREECH. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

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Tonight was a fun game. Wieters Weiners, Eat More Esskay, the fix is in, duck, and myself met up for the game and we weren't disappointed. Mark Hendrickson pitched another good game, allowing 3 ER in 6.1 innings.

Jeff Fiorentino was the hero tonight with two hits and 2 RBI. Lou Montanez also had two hits. DEAL WITH IT.

I said on Friday that I wanted the sweep and the O's are poised to do just that. Jeremy Guthrie will take the mound as the O's go for their fourth win in a row.

Poll

Who is MBP for our clinching-fewer-than-100-losses VICTORY?

Hendo (6.1 IP, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3K)

36 votes

SCREECH! (2 for 4, 1 run, 2 ribbies)

27 votes

Sweet Swingin' Lou (2 for 4, 1 run, was dealt with)

9 votes

Miss Wiggy (2 for 4, 1 run, 1 ribbie)

4 votes

76 votes | Poll has closed

Orioles 3, Rays 2: Finally

Stacey — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 02:38:07 -0000

More photos » by Chris O'Meara - AP

Good job, Chris. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

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Our long national nightmare is over! The Orioles won their first game since September 16th. I couldn't even remember that game, so I looked back at the recap. Wow. I was happy back then. Sadly, even then Jim Johnson pitched poorly as he blew the save that night and was saved by Matt Wieters' walk off home run.

Matt Garza made the start for the Rays and pitched 6 innings, giving up three runs. He didn't pitch poorly by any means. The only extra base hit he allowed was a first inning double to Cesar Izturis, who would score on a single by Nick Markakis that deflected off of Jason Bartlett's glove. The O's other two runs were scored on singles by Melvin Mora and Jeff Fiorentino. Most days 3 runs wouldn't be enough for this team and its pitching staff, but tonight it held up.

Chris Waters made his first start of the year and came through in a big way. He pitched 5 innings, allowing 1 run on just two hits. He was rolling after 5 innings, but since he hadn't started a game since September 5th in Norfolk, he probably didn't have much left. The effective and decidedly un-Oriole like pitching continued as Cla Meredith, Alberto Castillo, and Danys Baez pitched the 6th, 7th, and 8th innings without allowing a hit.

The O's entered the 9th with a 3-1 lead when poor, sad, awful Jim Johnson came into the game. The perfect way for this losing streak to end would be if JJ had been strong and looked good. If he'd thrown that sinker we all know he's capable of, struck a few guys out, and restored our faith in him.

Yeah, that didn't happen. Johnson allowed a lead off double to Ben Zobrist, who is pretty much my least favorite Ray ever. He retired Upton on a popout, and Willy Aybar hit a fly ball to center field. It wasn't hit deep and Jeff Fiorentino, who was playing on the warning track, couldn't get to it. Zobrist moved to third and then scored on Pat Burrell's sac fly. Gregg Zaun hit a pinch hit ground ball single that just eluded Brian Roberts and the tying run was on third with two outs. Jim Johnson looked miserable. He and Matt Wieters couldn't agree on any pitches so Wieters had to go to the mound. Kranitz also went out for good measure. I've never seen anyone sweat more in a temperature controlled dome than Jim Johnson. But he ultimately got the job done, getting Iwamura to ground out right back to him.

O's win! It wasn't pretty, but it worked. They now head home for the final three games of the season where Jason Berken, Mark Hendrickson, and Jeremy Guthrie will do their best to go out on a good note.

Poll

Hey it's been forever since we've done this, but who was tonight's Most Birdland Player of the game?

Chris Waters (5 IP, 2 H, 1 R)

87 votes

Cesar Izturis (2-3, 2B, BB, R)

6 votes

Melvin Mora (RBI single, several sweet plays at 3B, plus there are only three more days to ever vote for him again)

48 votes

141 votes | Poll has closed

The O's Win the Series! The O's Win the Series!: Baltimore 7, Texas 0

zknower — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 21:13:54 -0000

by Gail Burton - AP

3 months ago: Baltimore Orioles Melvin Mora is hit by pitch, pulling his shirt out, by Texas Rangers pitcher Derek Holland in the fourth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 6, 2009, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

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Taking another step towards .500 ball, the Orioles spanked the Rangers in convincing fashion today.

For a club that is fighting to go to the playoffs, the Rangers sure looked moribund (Google it, BSF), being shutout by the resurgent Jeremy Guthrie who pitched 7 strong innings and seems to have truly shaken his demons from earlier this season. Guthrie finished with 6Ks and only 1BB, and looked in the zone all afternoon, working quickly and clearly armed with his good stuff. Fat Albers and KAM! finished off the Rangers with a scoreless inning each. Texas had RISP a couple times, but every time they threatened to make a game of it, Guts would get the out of danger, either with a double play or with a K/ground ball combo (KAM did the same thing in the 9th). All in all, the Rangers left 9 men on base. Ouch.

Meanwhile, our offense showed up, and in some unlikely faces, too. "Screech" Fiorentino and Chad Moeller each had 2 hits and 2 RBI, as did Brian Roberts, who went back to leadoff, and from whom you might actually expect to see such numbers. I'll note that the Dipper was yammering on like a schoolboy in love regarding Fio throughout the telecast. Hwiggggginton was 3 for 4 with a run. Memlo got a hit and scored 2. Every starter got on base except Reimold, who contributed nonetheless with a sac fly RBI. There were no dingers hit in this game, which was refreshing for once.

The Birds took the lead for good in the second on a Memlo single, a Screech BB, and a two-run double by Moeller. They tacked on four more runs in the fourth: first, Mora was hit by a pitch that literally untucked his shirt, and Wigginton doubled him over to third on a gapper that should have been worth only one base but was bobbled in center-left. Screech then knocked in Memlo with his own single to left. Andino followed with a walk to load the bases, and Roberts stroked a sweet liner into left to plate two. Nolan Reimold made it 6-0 with a sacrifice to right. The seventh run came on clutch two-out single by Fio following a Markakis BB and a Hwigginton single that got Nicky around to third.

But the story of this game really has to be Guts (although you may never get another chance to vote Screech for MBP). Making his fourth straight quality start, he has now given up 4 runs in his past 27 IP. Not too shabby. Whatever was making the ship founder earlier this year, it seems to have been corrected: Guts is back to being the Guts of old.

The O's took only their second series since the All-Star break, and won consecutive games for only the third time over that same period; they split the season series with the Rangers 5-5. After a day off, the Birds will travel to Fenway for a twofer against the PHN. With onbly 25 more victories, they can avoid their 12th straight losing season.

Poll

Who's the MBP for Sunday, Sep 6, 2009?

Jeremy Guthrie (7IP, 0ER, 6K, 1BB, ERA now under 5.00!)

204 votes

Jeff "Screech" Fiorentino (2 for 3, BB, 2R, 2RBI, is loved by The Dipper)

32 votes

Chad Moeller (2 for 4, 2RBI)

0 votes

Memlo (1 for 3, HBP, 2R, did not try to bunt at any time)

2 votes

238 votes | Poll has closed

Something Further to Think About

Matthew — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:00:05 -0000

It was brought up somewhat in the thread below, and Dave has an entire post up about Ryan Langerhans as a decent candidate to replace Endy Chavez. I felt like throwing a couple more names out there. Now, I am not saying the team can or even should trade for one of these, just that in looking through the list of guys who:

-bat left-handed
-have not terrible defensive numbers
-are destroying Triple-A this year
-have decent Triple-A track records
-are not overly young and/or seem unlikely to crack even a reserve role any time soon

these popped up.

Jeff Fiorentino (BAL) L/R, 26
career MLB OPS: .679 over 98 PAs
career AAA OPS: .788 over 475 PAs
2009 AAA wOBA: .402
defense: good over a sample size so small as to not exist
blocked by: Nick Markakis, Adam Jones, Nolan Reimold, Felix Pie

John Rodriguez (NYA) L/L, 31
career MLB OPS: .811 over 388 PAs
career AAA OPS: .891 over 1753 PAs
2009 AAA wOBA: .394
defense: between -5 and 0 based on a really sample size
blocked by: a bunch of guys paid real money

Todd Linden* (Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, Japan) S/R, 29
career MLB OPS: .638 over 559 PAs
career AAA OPS: .875 over 2643 PAs
2009 AAA wOBA: .387
defense: +20 UZR/150 in a corner, still a small sample
blocked by: the Pacific Ocean

I don't really like any of these over the Ryan Langerhans idea, but hey, you know, options and junk.

*I don't know what it would take to get Linden back from Japan. Also, he's from Edmonds, WA.