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Reputation:99
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Since:Apr 7, 2007
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Coming off a disappointing series loss (for now) against Chicago, we come back home for three games against the red hot Rays. The probable pitchers for us are still up in the air, but here are some guesses. The TB probables seem accurate and it at least looks as though Burres will pitch Thursday against Garza.
Baltimore Orioles (14-11) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (14-11)
Garrett Olson (0-0) 0.00, 0/0
vs.
Jason Hammel (2-1) 4.32, 15/8
Garrett Olson will most likely be called up to make either today's start or Wednesday's start, but this seems to be the most likely matchup here. I am still concerned about Olson's control and Hammel has been pretty solid so far for the Rays. I'm not counting on much from Olson especially against this offense, so advantage Tampa Bay.
Matt Albers (2-0) 1.65, 10/3
vs.
Andy Sonnanstine (3-1) 5.28, 16/6 (L2: (2-0) 1.76, .784 WHIP)
Matt Albers seems to be the fresher of him and Jim R. Johnson, so I'm going to guess Albers gets the start here. Albers has been less successful in his last few outings than he was previously and I think he has a shaky start here if he is in fact pitching Wednesday. Sonnanstine is two starts away from his complete game three hit shutout against the very same White Sox we just faced. He has won his last two starts and gives Tampa Bay the advantage here as well.
Brian Burres (3-1) 2.49, 13/10 (L2: (2-0) 0.00, .909 WHIP)
vs.
Matt Garza (0-0) 7.62, 6/8
This looks to be the only sure thing as far as the matchups are concerned and fortunately, it is a good one for us. Garza has struggled mightily with control for the most part this year so far. He did OK in his last start against Boston, but not great. Burres has been great in his last two starts. I don't think he'll extend that scoreless inning streak too much, but he will post a quality start and I don't have too much trouble saying he will be better than Garza in this game. Advantage Orioles.
I think we drop two in this series. The Rays are extremely good this year and are red hot as of late. They have won six straight games sweeping both Toronto and Boston during their home stand. The Rays are on a roll plus our bullpen is not in good condition especially after last night's 11 inning game and it's not even finished yet. It will be interesting to see how the bullpen holds up because I think Olson is going to make them work again.
Also, I will start including WHIP with pitcher's stats at some point soon. It's easy enough to calculate and it's an important stat, so why not?
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Nov 18, 2007
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Good i would like to see Matt Albers continue to start i have been impressed so far lets hope he keeps up the great work.
I think we can take 2 of 3 in this series with our 1 loss being when possibly Olsen pitches but should be a good series to maybe dare i say it but get us back alone atop the AL East
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Jan 15, 2007
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Here's hoping we get lucky and take one of the spot starts. I can't decided if I'd rather have Garza going in one of those so we could shell him, or have the guarnteed edge in game 3. Moot point. I think it's a 2-1 split either direction.
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Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Dec 31, 2007
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Sorry that I may be overly optimistic here , but we are back home after a tough 7 game road trip from the upper West coast of Seattle to the Mid west of Chicago and played damn good ball. The Rays are definitely HOT right now and there confidence is growing , but I think we get 2 or 3 wins and bring them back to reality. GO O's.................lol not that this hasn't been a dream start for us this season that nobody expected !
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Sep 26, 2006
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"but I think we get 2 or 3 wins and bring them back to reality"
I couldn't agree with you more. I think if Garrett Olson pitches well, the Orioles can get the sweep. Matt Albers and Brian Burres will be solid, if not completely dominate
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Reputation:93
Level:All-Star
Since:Aug 11, 2007
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well, it's been an OUTSTANDING 6 innings so far from Olson, and Hernandez just scored on Mora's sac fly, so I think we may just have the makings of win number 1 in the series...
That is, if the bullpen can hold on to the lead...
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Apr 7, 2007
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Yeah looks like it. Who knew Olson would be this good? He's never threw this many pitches even in the minors and is about to finish up the seventh inning. First time he has even remotely had his command in the majors.
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Reputation:93
Level:All-Star
Since:Aug 11, 2007
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Guess I hexed the whole thing with my bullpen comment...sonofa...
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Nov 1, 2006
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Well, a 7-0 laugher turned into a 7-4 nailbiter in the end. Notch another Save for Sherrill. Nice win.
Let's get a victory tomorrow.
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Reputation:93
Level:All-Star
Since:Feb 8, 2008
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Olson was tearing it up in AAA, it was just a matter of time before he got called up. I think he has good potential, and I hope he's called up for good now.
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 31, 2006
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CBS has Steve Trachsel penciled in for the start against Andy Sonnanstine. Let me make clear that the following comments are not a retraction of my defense of Trax...just a current observation, whose application could end at any time.
Here's hoping the Orioles offense keeps it up!
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Reputation:99
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Since:Apr 7, 2007
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Yeah well the thing is Olson was tearing it up at AAA last year too when he was called up and it was a disaster. His performance at AAA meant nothing this year. He had to come up and prove that he could replicate that success in the majors and he did that today.
Trachsel on short rest? Great. If that's the case, that's very bad. Trax did make an early departure from his last start, so maybe he'll be average. However, I thought I heard today during the telecast that whoever didn't have to be used today in relief between Albers and Johnson would get the start. Neither one of them did and going by innings over recent days, Albers is the most rested. Johnson has been better especially lately. Albers hasn't been as dominant lately. His line over his last three appearances is a 6.00 ERA and a 2.33 WHIP. I was just going by the fact that Albers is fully rested while Johnson may not be for at least five innings.
We had good offensive production today, but that was a hitter's umpire too.
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Apr 7, 2007
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By the way, some news on Adam Loewen. He is going to consult with Dr. James Andrews about the results of his MRI, CT scan and bone scan. Andrews is the one that performed Loewen's surgery last year. Doesn't look good, folks. We may be missing Adam for another full season if this is how it looks. When a player has to consult with Dr. James Andrews, it usually means season ending injury.
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