SB Nation User Blog: 2632

Angels 7, Orioles 5: A game that made you want to watch hockey.

2632 — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 02:51:21 -0000

Baltimore Orioles manager Dave Trembley gives home plate umpire Angel Hernandez the business after Hernandez called a balk against pitcher Jamie Walker during the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Angels in a baseball game Tuesday, April 28, 2009, in Baltimore. Trembley was ejected from the game. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

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I only "saw" parts of this game (thanks, MLB.tv), but I'll give the 'ole recap business a shot.

Adam Eaton was servicable at best in his first game since duping a few pollyannas into thinking he might have talent. I predict this will become a pattern in which, like so many other scrap heap pitching projects we've had, he is "surprisingly decent" once a month or so, selling false hope to anyone who wants it. The majority of his starts will range from mediocre to downright awful.

Melvin Mora made his triumphant return from the DL tonight and with 3 hits, 2 RBI and a nice backhanded stop at 3rd, played like he was happy to be out of the house (you would too, if you had 6 kids). It was intended for this to be his AAA rehab start, but he got stuck in traffic, so he played for the Orioles instead. Not to imply that he's not a playoff hero or that he didn't have a good game, but - if there is a precedent in team philosophy of letting guys play for the big league team just because they got stuck in traffic somewhere near Baltimore, well...I think we may have found the root of our problems.

It wasn't textbook game all around for either team, with uncharacteristic errors on both sides and a combined 16 runners left on base, but when it came down to being BAD AT YOUR JOB, no one had any game on home-plate umpire Angel Hernandez tonight. O's had a ballgame going until the 7th, when Hernandez called an inexplicable balk on our man, Jamie Walker. I mean, really. It was a straight up bad call. The man was wrong.

Dave Trembley got tossed for the first, and certainly not the last time this season after taking it to Hernandez in what MLB.com describes as an "extended on-field dispute" or what I would alternatively describe as "giving him the business".

In short, F#@k yeah, Diamond Dave.

The "balk" extended the inning, we coughed up the runs, and we never came back. Adam Jones hit a home run in the 9th that was far enough and fast enough to prompt a round of Bull Durham quotes from the Camden Chat community, but it was too little, too late. Shoddy umpiring won the day.

Poll

Who was tonight's Most Birdland Player?

Melvin Mora, numbnuts. (3-5, 2 RBI, triumphant return)

76 votes

Adam Jones, Son. (2-4, 2 R, 1 HR)

35 votes

Diamond Dave Trembley

109 votes

220 votes | Poll has closed

Extensions, etc.

2632 — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:58:13 -0000

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-orioles107,0,425492.story

Warehouse vs Roberts:

Orioles have offered a multi-year deal worth about $10 million per season, but the sides are still significantly apart in terms of both years and money.

The article goes on to quote Andy asserting that he has had no trade talks regarding Roberts in over a month and that he is focused on the free agent market, trying to feel needs without giving up the team's existing talent assets.

Warehouse vs Markakis:

Both sides would like to get a multi-year deal secured this year. An industry source confirmed that the Orioles offered Markakis a six-year, $60 million deal earlier this winter and, at the time, the sides were believed to be about $10 million apart.

Nick's agent says discussions were tabled in December to see how the market trend evolved.

Warehouse vs My Heart

At this time, the club does not appear interested in re-signing veteran Kevin Millar...

Instead they are pursuing such exciting targets as Rocco Baldelli, Ty Wiggington and Camden Chat Fan Favorite, Richie Sexton.

Orioles Warehouse Magic, feel it happen.

For those who are truly starved for baseball...

2632 — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 04:39:49 -0000

itunes has a half dozen or so Orioles games from 2008 available for purchase and download. Unlike last year's selections, we only lose to the Yankees in 25% of the available games, which is nice. For the rest of the games posted, Os' fans can relive our walkoff-filled glory days from April, May and June.

At the moment, for a buck ninety nine, I'm revisiting an April game against our favorite whipping boys, The Seattle Mariners. Good times!

Gamethread: Birds at Blow Jays 9/17/08

2632 — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 23:13:31 -0000

I don't remember how to make gamethreads. But this is the first game I've seen in months, so I'm taking a crack at it. It's already 1-0 O's in the first.

Go O's!

Belated Gamethread: MFY @ O's (in progress)

2632 — Mon, 26 May 2008 18:19:29 -0000

Happy Memorial Day, y'all. Go O's.

NYC is Birdland. (Updated with meetup location)

2632 — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 17:28:09 -0000

I'll be in NYC for business next week (possibly the first and only perk I've ever gotten in this job). Our friend, zknower and I were thinking we'd watch the O's vs. Jays game over a few beers at a local drinking establishment Monday night, the 14th.

So, do you live in the New York area? Do you dig the Orioles? Do you at least like beer? If you answered yes to any of those questions, this is the event for you!

Markakis Mohawk Nick Markakis emerged from the clubhouse bathroom yesterday sporting a Mohawk...

2632 — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 13:35:53 -0000

Markakis Mohawk
Nick Markakis emerged from the clubhouse bathroom yesterday sporting a Mohawk haircut.

Markakis shaved one side of his head, and Luke Scott took care of the other. Markakis figured he would eventually have to get rid of the thick middle strip of hair, but he wasn't in a rush to do it.

"I thought I'd switch it up, have a little fun, get some looks from people," he said.

Trembley described the style as "brutal" and suggested Markakis shave the rest of his head.

Asked whether a Mohawk violated a team policy, Markakis said, "I'm not sure. We'll find out."

"I just relish this opportunity," said center fielder Adam Jones, 22, the key man in the Bedard...

2632 — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:07:03 -0000

"I just relish this opportunity," said center fielder Adam Jones, 22, the key man in the Bedard trade. "Millar keeps telling us there are seven billion people in the world and only 750 of us get the chance to be in the big league. So play like it."

He might be old. He might be fat. But I think Millar's brand of veteranacity is the kind you might actually want on a young, rebuilding team.

Orioles reliever Jamie Walker will donate $200 to the U.S. Army Emergency Relief Fund for each...

2632 — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:44:28 -0000

Orioles reliever Jamie Walker will donate $200 to the U.S. Army Emergency Relief Fund for each relief appearance and strikeout during the 2008 season.

Another reason to love Jamie Walker, boy.

I need some advice, y'all.

2632 — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:51:04 -0000

I'm trying to bust out of my current job, into a new career. Problem is the way into the career involves starting off with a job that involves me having to pay for my own health insurance and facing unemployment in the fall. Most importantly, it means sacrificing an entire summer to lunatic hours. No trips home to B-More, no weekends at the lake in Maine, no baseball live and in person. I love summer, and I don't take the sacrifice lightly. I worked 80 hrs a week on a campaign cwithout thinking twice over the winter, but man - baseball and all that summer business is important to me. Seriously.

Then of course those practical, economic concerns. MA has a health insurance mandate, so I've got to shell out $250/month for some minimal ghetto insurance on a slim salary and face unemployment in a shitty economy when the campaign is over.

The job, in case you're wondering, is running a state Senate campaign here in MA. As some of you may have noticed, I've got the politics bug.

Thoughts? Advice? Ridicule?