vs. BLUE JAYS, 4/23

[Rex Thunder]

Nick is NOT a leadoff hitter. Doesn't see enough pitches. Not enough speed.

Way to work the count, Nick.

I have to disagree. Nick was a pretty solid leadoff hitter last year until he gets hurt. I believe he goes thru phases. He's normally a very patient hitter- but after a while pitchers catch on, and he starts falling behind in the count. Therefore, he'll go thru a phase where he swings early and often for a while, forcing pitchers to change their approach to him.

On a somewhat similar parallel, I also feel that despite his great eye, he's never been given respect by the Umps, and rarely gets call- which could tend to force him to switch it up this way.

[PaulFolk]

They only made him throw 13 pitches. He got two outs with the first five pitches. That's just...not OK.

Well, Markakis was called out on a ball, so I'm giving him a pass on that.

[scOtt]

HOO boy! 10-9 game tonight?

[Ori-Al]

Your choice on MLB.TV: Hunter... or Buck Martinez.

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h367/isestrex/Gifs/larrydavid.gif" border="0" alt=" photo larrydavid.gif"/></a>

Yes, Buck Martinez. The man who, as he Orioles TV color guy, reported that Terry Crowley's instruction to the hitters was to expand the strike zone on 2-0, and enthusiastically agreed with that approach.

Great to see Mr. Davis smack one.

[Rex Thunder]

Nick is NOT a leadoff hitter. Doesn't see enough pitches. Not enough speed.

They only made him throw 13 pitches. He got two outs with the first five pitches. That's just...not OK.

Exactly how we beat Red Sox in game one of that series vs John Lackey. I think Buck follows tendencies and isn't afraid to let his players swing away, especially if a scouting report says a pitcher likes to attack the zone early. Just poor execution.

[calmunderfire]

Velocity........

[scOtt]

Good pitch! STRAIGHT downhill!

[OFFNY]

o

STRIKE FOUR.

Sit down, Bautista.

[scOtt]

Bordick: Bugs Bunny change

[isestrex]

Chris looks fantastic tonight. It's been so long since I've seen an Ace come out every 5th day, I almost don't know how to react.

[waroriole]

Bordick: Bugs Bunny change

Tillman with a plus change is scary.

[scOtt]

Sawed TF off! Out of it no damage.

[MrOrange82]

Normally I agree, but the crushed some pitches. Don't take a pitch you can hit hard.

Eh...Cruz and Jones got some air under theirs, but I wouldn't say they were crushed. They certainly weren't hit on a line, and the OFers got to them easily (i.e., had plenty of time to track them down). Plus, given where they're playing...can't exactly blame a breeze for keeping the balls in the yard.

[OFFNY]

o

STRIKE FOUR.

Sit down, Bautista.

I have an idea.

Whenever the Orioles are playing the Yankees, Red Sox, or Blue Jays, let's change the lyrics to the song .......

...... "And it's one, two, three, four strikes you're out at the old ball game" .....

[scOtt]

Eh...Cruz and Jones got some air under theirs, but I wouldn't say they were crushed. They certainly weren't hit on a line, and the OFers got to them easily (i.e., had plenty of time to track them down). Plus, given where they're playing...can't exactly blame a breeze for keeping the balls in the yard.

72^o, no wind, 33% humidity.