Heading into this weekend series with the Oakland Athletics, the Baltimore Orioles have won 4 games in a row, including a sweep of Toronto. At 12-7 overall, the O’s are tied for the lead in the American League East. The A’s arrive in Baltimore at 10-10, tied for 2nd in the American League West.
1) Tomorrow night is Frank Robinson Night. The O’s will unveil his statue, and give out a replica statue to all fans. The ceremony starts at 5pm. Robinson’s arrival in Baltimore elevated the O’s from a good team, to a World Champion. I’m too young to remember his playing career, but I do remember him as the Manager of the ’89 Orioles. The ’88 O’s started 0-21, and were truly abysmal. The ’89 O’s are celebrated for contending until the final weekend of that season in Toronto. Besides the unexpected results, one of the reasons people loved that ’89 team was that they played the game the right way. They played hard, they scrapped, they were fundamentally sound. Robinson did some unconventional things which worked. He demanded accountability, and his fire for the game was obvious. He is one of the greatest players of all-time, and this is probably the last chance for Baltimore to thank him for what he meant to the O’s, and this City.
2) Starting Monday in New York, the O’s will have a difficult 15 game stretch against NY, Boston, Texas, Tampa Bay, and New York again. No slip-ups against the Athletics this weekend. You need to win the series at the minimum.
3) Jake Arrieta had 3 very solid starts, and looked excellent for 4 innings in LA last Saturday. Then the wheels came off in the 5th. I think it is important to see him get right past that stumble, and provide another quality outing tonight.
4) Chen will be making his 4th start tomorrow. There have been some real positives in his previous outings. My primary knock to-date, would be that he has seemingly falling off a cliff right around 85 pitches. In his 3 starts he has gone 5.2 ip (101 pitches), 5.1 ip (99 pitches), and 6.1 ip (96 pitches). I’d like to see him get to the 7th, and finish strong.
5) With homers the last two days, Chris Davis now has a .834 OPS. He is 17 for 60 (.283), with 5 doubles, 3 hr’s, and 7 rbi. He also had his 3rd walk last night, but has had 16 k’s. Growing comfortable with everyday ab’s, does he start to take off?
6) Jim Johnson has been hospitalized this week with a bacterial infection. I understand he has (or could) be released this morning. Will it be too much for him to be available tonight? Does he get into a game this weekend?
7) It was good to see Nolan Reimold get back into the lineup last night. The question is how did he feel this morning? Is that neck spasm going to be behind him, or is this something that is going to linger?
8) Betemit was 2 for 5, with a hr, and a bb against the Jays. Reynolds was 3 for 7 against the Toronto. Signs of life from those two?
8a) Hardy had 2 doubles in the Toronto series, but those were his only hits in 12 ab’s. His on-base is currently .247, which is a drag on the top of the lineup. His bat will come around at some point, but you have to think about moving him down until that happens.
8b) Markakis is 5 for his last 14, with 3 bb’s. He had a great approach, and beautiful swings last night. He raised his OPS 56 points with his 3 for 4. What is interesting, is that his OPS is currently .758, with a .349 OBP, and a .408 SLG. His OPS in ’11? It was .756, with a .351 OBP, and a .405 SLG. That is a pretty consistent 712 ab’s as a whole. Is he going to take off from here, and reach his prior career averages (.817 OPS, .452 SLG), or is this the new normal for Markakis?
9) I didn’t think Hunter had his best stuff Tuesday against the Jays, so I was pretty impressed with what he accomplished over his 6 innings of work. Let’s see what happens Sunday, and if Hunter is able to keep the ball lower.
10) Paulino figures to start Sunday. With Andino rejoining the lineup, will Flaherty get in at 3rd? Will Andino coming back, send Berken back to the Minors, or will it force a move with Gregg? Nick Johnson is now 0 for 26. If he gets another start over the weekend, is that his last opportunity?
Projected Pitchers:
4/27: McCarthy (RHP) vs. Arrieta
4/28: Ross (RHP) vs. Chen
4/29: Colon (RHP) vs. Hunter
McCarthy 2012: 0-3, 3.38 era, 32 ip, 40 hits, 3 hr, 7 bb, 18 k’s, .784 OPS against, 0.93 G/F
Pitch F/X:
http://pitchfx.texasleaguers.com/pitcher/435221/
Ross 2012: 1-0, 2.13 era, 12.2 ip, 11 hits, 0 hr’s, 5 bb’s, 7 k’s, .618 OPS against, 2.00 G/F
Pitch F/X:
http://pitchfx.texasleaguers.com/pitcher/475115/
Colon 2012: 3-2, 2.62 era, 34.1 ip, 27 hits, 10 er, 2 hr’s, 5 bb’s, 21 k’s, .572 OPS against, 0.77 G/F
Pitch F/X:
http://pitchfx.texasleaguers.com/pitcher/112526/
Depth Chart:
C: Suzuki .538 OPS, 66 ab’s
1st: Barton .583 OPS, 44 ab’s
2nd: Weeks .594 OPS, 85 ab’s
SS: Pennington .508 OPS, 71 ab’s
3rd: Sogard .489 OPS, 39 ab’s
RF: Reddick .660 OPS, 78 ab’s
CF: Cespedes .904 OPS, 67 ab’s
LF: Crisp .397 OPS, 48 ab’s
DH: Smith .619 OPS, 50 ab’s
Bench: Recker, Gomes, Hughes, Ka’aihue
Rotation: McCarthy, Ross, Colon, Milone, Godfrey
Bullpen: Balfour, Fuentes, Cook, Blevins, Norberto, Miller, Figueroa
Current Ranks:
Oakland
Runs: 29th
Batting Average: 30th
On Base: 29th
Slugging: 30th
ERA: 5th
Quality Starts: 6th
WHIP: 7th
BAA: 9th
Baltimore
Runs: 17th
Batting Average: 16th
On Base: 22nd
Slugging: 6th
ERA: 7th
Quality Starts: 21st
WHIP: 14th
BAA: 12th
Owner
Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.