Hey guys and gals! As some of you know, I spent the weekend visiting my friend Jill and her husband Tristan in San Diego. I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to catch a Padres game while I was there, particularly since Tristan got free tickets from his boss. There were only two tickets and he's not much of a sports fan, so he dropped Jill and me off outside the gate and enjoyed the afternoon to himself. Meanwhile, I got to feel smart by explaining things like double switches and the significance of the batters' eye to Jill, or supplying helpful bits of trivia about Padres history.

We were there for the Sunday afternoon game vs. the Milwaukee Brewers, and it was a beautiful day (in San Diego - go figure): 75 degrees, sunny, no clouds. They were giving away Padres insulated lunch bags to the kids, but at 6'1" with a goatee I couldn't really pass for 10 years old. Oh well. The stadium was nice enough from the outside, but I'm not much of an architecture guy so I couldn't give you details. There was a waterfall and some hanging plants, neat little touches to distract from the sterility of a monolith of a building. The sandstone was something different, since most new ballparks are all about the brick. It's definitely a good fit for the city. 

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Hey folks, I'm heading to Camden Yards for Thursday's game against the Mets and for once it looks like I'll be there a bit early. Let me know if anyone's interested in meeting across the street to have a few beers and pregame. We can do the Diamond Tavern at the Hilton or Pickle's, depending on what works for people. Not sure about time (I still have to get my ticket), but I'm going to shoot for 6:15. It'd be great to see some of you, and I'm sure the O's would appreciate it if we help drown out the large Mets crowd that will likely be there!

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Okay, no one's done a game recap recently, and this one actually merits it, so let's dig in. For six and a half innings, this game followed a familiar script. After two batters, the O's had a 2-0 lead courtesy of a Brian Roberts single and a 2-run homer by Adam Jones, Son! Kenshin Kawakami looked turrible in the first inning, and we lost a chance to knock him out early when Matt Wieters struck out on a 3-2 curveball to leave the bases loaded. I'm convinced that he did so as an act of mercy; he doesn't want Gregg Zaun to get too discouraged by his inadequacy in relation to Matt.

While Kawakami settled down (with the assistance of the still-frozen Birds, who stranded nine total runners in the first six innings), the wheels came off again for Mr. Rich Hill. He loaded the bases with two walks wrapped around a blooper that fell between B-Rob and Nick Markakis, and promptly coughed up four runs on two-strike hits by Matt Diaz and the horrible Jeff Francoeur and a Kelly Johnson sac fly. Nate McLouth singled with two outs, but Nick saved Hill's ass from further damage by nailing Francoeur at home. Matt Wieters' sweep tag may or may not have gotten Frenchy, but he sold it beautifully to the ump and got the call.

Once again, Brian Bass was beastly in relief, restoring order with three innings of scoreless relief. He would earn the win to improve to 4-1. Way to go, Fish Pump. So how did he become the pitcher of record? It was still 4-2 entering the bottom of the seventh...

Enter Eric O' Flaherty.

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Perhaps the past few games - really, the young season at large - have broken my brain, but I'm oddly excited about tonight. Adam Eaton starting in Yankee Stadium (2009 edition)? If Guts can give up three straight HR to the bottom of the MFY batting order, there's no telling what Eaton will do. Factor in the almost universal knowledge that this should be the last time he befouls an Orioles uniform before the club finally gives up and moves on to David Hernandez/Chris Waters/other, and we could be looking at the flameout to end all flameouts. Oh, and Joba the DUI Artist is the opposition, so there's that wacky subplot to deal with as well. Let's look at Adam's performance to date, shall we?

For the record, the only quality start came against a White Sox team that's dead last in the A.L. in runs scored (150), and 13th in AVG (.245) and 12th in OPS (.701).

I can feel it in my bones. This should be the horrible start to end all horrible starts. Predictions? I'll say 3 IP, 11 H, 8 ER, 4 HR, 1 BB, 2 K.

According to the Schmucker, the Kangaroo Court is back:

The Orioles are putting together a Kangaroo Court this season, with catcher Gregg Zaun set to preside as judge when it is called to order later this month.

Lots of teams have held court over the years, but one of the most famous Kangaroo Courts was here in Baltimore in the early 1970s, with Hall of Famer Frank Robinson perhaps the most famous Kangaroo magistrate in baseball history.

The Kangaroo Court concept is meant to be fun -- how else do you explain Frank fining Brooks Robinson for "showboating" in the 1970 World Series -- but the courts also have a practical purpose. They allow players to call other players on fundemental errors and lapses in baseball etiquette in a non-confrontational setting.

The money collected either goes to charity or is used for some kind of late-season team meal or party...or both.

"It's just a way to keep people accountable,'' said Zaun. "It's also a good excuse to raise some money and get everybody together for dinner."

 

This is just awesome.

For all of those looking for a brief, amusing distraction from the Mark Teixeira madness, Dean Jones, Jr. reports that Eider Torres (White Sox) and Freddie "Boom Boom" Bynum (Nationals) have found new homes. As near as I can tell, both were inked to minor league deals. Man, the Nats would look awesome with Danny Cabrera on the mound and Freddie at SS next year!

This of course means that of the six horrifying creatures that started at shortstop for the Birds in 2008, only Brandon Fahey (who played an inexcusable 248 innings there) still remains with the organization. When the apocalypse comes, only Brandon Fahey, the cockroaches, and Waffle Crisp cereal will remain.