vs. RAYS, 9/05

[WEAVERMAN]

Just a real bad night for the Bats.

Good pitching by TB unfortunately.

[MrOrange82]

I'm just glad that the O's are in a position where they can afford to do something like this. A 10-game division lead is quite a luxury.

Truer words...

[brooks1083]

I don't like "chase everything" Adam.

[OFFNY]

I think Jones just wanted to whiff 3 times and get out of Dodge

Yeah, that pretty sums up Jones' attitude when he plays.

[Guest]

Boston man on 1 and 2 no outs.

[O's84]

This umpire sucks.

[MrOrange82]

Yeah, that pretty sums up Jones' attitude when he plays.

Yeah, when he plays. Of course, he takes himself out of the lineup so often it's easy to forget how lackadaisical he is.

[PaulFolk]

Apparently the home plate ump is also anxious to get out of Dodge.

[allquixotic]

Yeah, I can see both sides. I just don't like handing the Rays an easier path after Chen (and the defense, mostly) gutted out a strong 7+ innings. If it refreshes the "real" bullpen for more important games going forward, fine. But it's just a little irksome tonight.

That's the thing. Losing tonight, or resting our "good" pen pitchers for a week, or two weeks, or three weeks, doesn't necessarily "refresh" them. If they're hurt, or sick, or mentally downtrodden, or forgot their mechanics, or have a blister on their thumb, or preoccupied with family emergencies, or just sick and tired of playing every day, no amount of rest is going to fix them.

We had this exact same thing happen to parts of our pen in 2012. Remember how Pedro Strop couldn't throw a strike if you quadrupled the area of the strike zone? Remember how Jim Johnson was terrible in the playoffs?

I have zero confidence in our pen right now for the playoffs except for Zach Britton, who seems mostly immune to the team-wide bullpen torpor. All I can say is, if you have any hope of us winning the ALDS, then you better pray that Tillman, Miggy and Chen can go at least 8 IP each in their starts.

[scOtt]

Easy Nelson. We still might need you.

[OFFNY]

Yeah, when he plays. Of course, he takes himself out of the lineup so often it's easy to forget how lackadaisical he is.

Yep.

The guy has no fire.

Always begging out, and it shows.

[Moshagge3]

The only thing that bothers me about losing this game (because every team loses games) is that the loss falls squarely on the Orioles' "B" squad. Webb and Meek were in the minors for most of the season for a reason.

I'm a little surprised that Matusz didn't make any appearance at all, especially to face Loney. The outcome might have been the same but at least Matusz is somewhat competitive. With Miller on the shelf that should translate to more work for Matusz but it hasn't shaken out that way.

[scOtt]

That's the thing. Losing tonight, or resting our "good" pen pitchers for a week, or two weeks, or three weeks, doesn't necessarily "refresh" them. If they're hurt, or sick, or mentally downtrodden, or forgot their mechanics, or have a blister on their thumb, or preoccupied with family emergencies, or just sick and tired of playing every day, no amount of rest is going to fix them.

We had this exact same thing happen to parts of our pen in 2012. Remember how Pedro Strop couldn't throw a strike if you quadrupled the area of the strike zone? Remember how Jim Johnson was terrible in the playoffs?

I have zero confidence in our pen right now for the playoffs except for Zach Britton, who seems mostly immune to the team-wide bullpen torpor. All I can say is, if you have any hope of us winning the ALDS, then you better pray that Tillman, Miggy and Chen can go at least 8 IP each in their starts.

Opinions vary.

[WEAVERMAN]

This bum is just throwing strikes, let's get something started.

[WEAVERMAN]

This umpire sucks.

Most of them do.