Baseball 2016 (2 Viewers)

[sammy719]

The Giants continued their post All-Star Game hang over today with another loss to the Reds. They are now 2-11 since the break.

Looks like most of the Division leaders are struggling at the moment, my O's bats have been in hibernation since thec break but some solid pitching for a change...Sammy

 

[lancer]

The Giants continued their post All-Star Game hang over today with another loss to the Reds. They are now 2-11 since the break.

Nats just scuffling along as well, at 5-6. Half the losses directly attributable to the bullpen. We'll see if either the Giants or Nats get well as they play 4 against each other starting tonight.:wink2: -- Al

 

[sammy719]

Tough sledding coming up for my O's, after a make up game tonite against the Twins, we play in Toronto (which the O's play terribly lately) for 3, come home for 3 against Texas then another 9 game away swing against White Sox, A's and the Giants!!{eek3} this is going to be the toughest part of the 2nd half schedule if the Orioles can keep the pace and win a few series that will be ok by the later part of August, but this will be a be a true test on how good this team really is...Sammy

 

[lancer]

Tough sledding coming up for my O's, after a make up game tonite against the Twins, we play in Toronto (which the O's play terribly lately) for 3, come home for 3 against Texas then another 9 game away swing against White Sox, A's and the Giants!!{eek3} this is going to be the toughest part of the 2nd half schedule if the Orioles can keep the pace and win a few series that will be ok by the later part of August, but this will be a be a true test on how good this team really is...Sammy

A lot will depend on the cobbled together starting rotation. I like Tillman, Gausman, and the way Bundy has pitched. Unfortunately, the O's are forced to keep putting Jimenez on the mound. One more decent starter would make a world of difference to the O's. -- Al

 

[sammy719]

A lot will depend on the cobbled together starting rotation. I like Tillman, Gausman, and the way Bundy has pitched. Unfortunately, the O's are forced to keep putting Jimenez on the mound. One more decent starter would make a world of difference to the O's. -- Al

That's the issue with Ubado, he has 2 or 3 terrible games and everyone is calling for his head, Buck saves him from the gallows and sends him back to the hill and he throws a great game!!!! now watch tonite he's tosses a 5 hitter gives up maybe 1 run, but then next week he won't be able to get out of the 2 inning why in the world Buck doesn't stick with Tyler Wilson is beyond me the guy is proven he can play as a starter, yea he drops a occasional bad start but nothing like Jimenez, but like you mentioned Tillman, Gausman, Bundy look solid, now if the offense can score more then 1 run a game we'll be fine...Sammy

 

[Panzer ace]

Nats just scuffling along as well, at 5-6. Half the losses directly attributable to the bullpen. We'll see if either the Giants or Nats get well as they play 4 against each other starting tonight.:wink2: -- Al

Al:

I am looking forward to the series, Cueto versus Roark should be a good pitching match-up tonight.

-Jason

 

[lancer]

Al:

I am looking forward to the series, Cueto versus Roark should be a good pitching match-up tonight.

-Jason

Jason, I will be up watching the games. It's going to be a tough series for us with the bullpen being a little rough and 5 of our main hitters under .250. Roark is the unknown rock of the rotation. Not flashy and with workman like numbers, but he's almost as good as Scherzer and Strasburg and he is steady and I think a bit more dependable than Scherzer in terms of knowing what he will do on any given outing. He will have to be at his best against Cueto tonight. Play ball! -- Al

 

[sammy719]

That's the issue with Ubado, he has 2 or 3 terrible games and everyone is calling for his head, Buck saves him from the gallows and sends him back to the hill and he throws a great game!!!! now watch tonite he's tosses a 5 hitter gives up maybe 1 run, but then next week he won't be able to get out of the 2 inning why in the world Buck doesn't stick with Tyler Wilson is beyond me the guy is proven he can play as a starter, yea he drops a occasional bad start but nothing like Jimenez, but like you mentioned Tillman, Gausman, Bundy look solid, now if the offense can score more then 1 run a game we'll be fine...Sammy

Wow!!! Anyone want the lotto numbers ? I called Jimenez numbers exactly!! 5 hits and 1 run!! Should have left him in as soon as he left we're getting killed...Sammy

 

[lancer]

Wow!!! Anyone want the lotto numbers ? I called Jimenez numbers exactly!! 5 hits and 1 run!! Should have left him in as soon as he left we're getting killed...Sammy

It's Murphy's Law. UJ pitches well enough to win but leaves because of pitch count and then the usually reliable bullpen implodes. Go Figure. Sammy, I would play 5-5-1 if I were you.:wink2:^&grin -- Al

 

[lancer]

Roark was his usual steady self and got his 10th win, but something has to be done about that bullpen. They've blown 2 of the last 4 games in the 9th inning and made the other 2 games an adventure in the 9th even though they hung on for the wins. I thought SF was going to tie or win the game for sure with the way Pimplebum has been pitching.:rolleyes2: -- Al

 

[Panzer ace]

Roark was his usual steady self and got his 10th win, but something has to be done about that bullpen. They've blown 2 of the last 4 games in the 9th inning and made the other 2 games an adventure in the 9th even though they hung on for the wins. I thought SF was going to tie or win the game for sure with the way Pimplebum has been pitching.:rolleyes2: -- Al

Al:

Baker made all the right moves in the 9th inning, credit him and the bullpen for that win.

-Jason

 

[lancer]

Al:

Baker made all the right moves in the 9th inning, credit him and the bullpen for that win.

-Jason

Jason, IMO, the 9th inning is for a shut-down type closer, not for a save by committee like we got last night. I credit Baker with pulling Pimplebum, but it was too close for my comfort. If the Nats are going to go anywhere post-season, they need to deal for that shut-down closer. We've had enough bullpen drama in 2012 and 2014. They wanted Chapman but wouldn't trade their top prospects for him. This team is built to win now, let the future be what it is. They have to get a closer. -- Al

 

[lancer]

Nats win another one in SF, 4-1. Another close game with excellent starting pitching but also the Nats bullpen once again made the game exciting, letting SF load the bases with 0 out in the 8th inning and only a freak triple play (the first 3-3-5 triple play in MLB history; freaky enough?) allowing the Nats to escape unscored on. The 9th was also an adventure as SF put 2 more runners on before the final out. Our starting pitching is superb but that bullpen is a mess... -- Al

 

[lancer]

Hate to say it, but it looks like Lincecum is close to being finished as a starter in MLB. Got absolutely flamed in today's game against the Astros, leaving him with a 2-4 record, but, more telling, an ERA of 8.70 in his 7 starts. He has only managed 30 innings, yielding 9 Hr's and has a WHIP of 2.30 with a .391 BAA. Numbers like this don't lie. Too bad. I was pulling for him to make a successful comeback. -- Al

Timmy L got another shot at starting last night and the results were the same as before. He got lit up, losing and giving up 4 runs in 5 innings, leaving him with a 2-5 record and an 8.49 ERA. He has allowed 59 hits in 35 innings (including 10 Hr's and 21 BB's, as well) in 8 starts. May be time to investigate a change in career. -- Al

 

[lancer]

Rizzo strikes again. The Nats have acquired closer Mark Melancon from Pittsburgh, sending LH reliever Felipe Rivero (and minor leaguer LHP Taylor Hearn) to the Pirates. Melancon wasn't the high profile closer that had been mentioned but he is very effective and will help to solidify what has been a big problem for the Nats. He has 30 saves, an ERA of 1.51, and a WHIP of 0.96, good numbers. No mention of what happens to Papelbon but it would not surprise me if he is DFA'ed. So Rizzo gets his closer and holds on to his coveted prospects. -- Al

 

[sammy719]

I said it a few weeks ago and that is how your team responds to a bad streak, well my O's are in a free fall bad streak which I don't know if they'll recover from, since the break they forgot how to hit, the starting pitching which was somewhat improving has reverting back to the 5-6 runs a game and the relief pitching has falling on hard times mostly due to being over used, so with all that bad baggage going on as well as the toughest part of the schedule happening right now, if they can't find some way to win a few series this is where the 2016 Orioles can look back and see where the decline of a good team took place, as this point I'm not even thinking of winning the East, more like a Wild Card team at that, as always the trading deadline comes and goes without Baltimore even attempting to make a positive move, "83 was a long time ago for a Championship, toss in years and years of losing seasons until just recently the team finally got back to the tradition of winning in Baltimore and you would think someone, anyone be it owner, management would want to make a move to finally give this team a shot to get back to the World Series, but no, let's just keep the same 'ol same 'ol routine year in and year out, maybe we're the new version of the old Cubs?? sorry about the rant, I love my O's for the good or bad, but man, the bad sure out weighs the good in the last 20 plus years or so, I'm optimistic this team will rally and be there come September, the next few weeks will decide that fate for sure...Sammy

 

[lancer]

I said it a few weeks ago and that is how your team responds to a bad streak, well my O's are in a free fall bad streak which I don't know if they'll recover from, since the break they forgot how to hit, the starting pitching which was somewhat improving has reverting back to the 5-6 runs a game and the relief pitching has falling on hard times mostly due to being over used, so with all that bad baggage going on as well as the toughest part of the schedule happening right now, if they can't find some way to win a few series this is where the 2016 Orioles can look back and see where the decline of a good team took place, as this point I'm not even thinking of winning the East, more like a Wild Card team at that, as always the trading deadline comes and goes without Baltimore even attempting to make a positive move, "83 was a long time ago for a Championship, toss in years and years of losing seasons until just recently the team finally got back to the tradition of winning in Baltimore and you would think someone, anyone be it owner, management would want to make a move to finally give this team a shot to get back to the World Series, but no, let's just keep the same 'ol same 'ol routine year in and year out, maybe we're the new version of the old Cubs?? sorry about the rant, I love my O's for the good or bad, but man, the bad sure out weighs the good in the last 20 plus years or so, I'm optimistic this team will rally and be there come September, the next few weeks will decide that fate for sure...Sammy

I agree Sammy. The biggest problem, as I have harped on time and again, is the inadequate starting pitching. Everything follows that. Either they give up too many runs and bury the team, or they don't pitch enough innings and the bullpen gets burned out because of it. Other teams make moves and find starting pitchers, why can't the O's. It is frustrating. I'm not throwing in the towel either, but the O's just keep taking the hard road. You have to ask, how do teams like the Nats, Mets, Cubs, Giants, and other contenders, keep putting 3-5 good starting pitchers out on the field, while the O's are lucky to find 1 or 2, year in and year out. O's have the hitting and fielding covered in aces, but someone has to address the biggest key, the starting pitchers. -- Al

 

[Warrior]

I agree Sammy. The biggest problem, as I have harped on time and again, is the inadequate starting pitching. Everything follows that. Either they give up too many runs and bury the team, or they don't pitch enough innings and the bullpen gets burned out because of it. Other teams make moves and find starting pitchers, why can't the O's. It is frustrating. I'm not throwing in the towel either, but the O's just keep taking the hard road. You have to ask, how do teams like the Nats, Mets, Cubs, Giants, and other contenders, keep putting 3-5 good starting pitchers out on the field, while the O's are lucky to find 1 or 2, year in and year out. O's have the hitting and fielding covered in aces, but someone has to address the biggest key, the starting pitchers. -- Al

And to your point, the LET'S GO O'S!! got shelled today 9-1 and are now out of first place having lost 5 in a row.

That said, baseball is a marathon, not a sprint, so hang in there..................there are too many contenders with pitching issues and not enough quality arms available, that's the real problem.

 

[Panzer ace]

Timmy L got another shot at starting last night and the results were the same as before. He got lit up, losing and giving up 4 runs in 5 innings, leaving him with a 2-5 record and an 8.49 ERA. He has allowed 59 hits in 35 innings (including 10 Hr's and 21 BB's, as well) in 8 starts. May be time to investigate a change in career. -- Al

Al:

I think you are right, opposing hitter have him figured out and it is time to call it a career. I am sorry to see him go out like that as I appreciate all he did for the Giants.

-Jason

 

[lancer]

Al:

I think you are right, opposing hitter have him figured out and it is time to call it a career. I am sorry to see him go out like that as I appreciate all he did for the Giants.

-Jason

I was really hoping to see a comeback work out for him. Right now, it's a disaster and time to pull the pin, for pride if nothing else. -- Al