Total Perfection + 5⅔ More!

Can you believe it?! Tonight, Mark Buehrle continued his terrific success by staying (almost) perfect!! Just one game removed from throwing the 18th Perfect Game in major league history, he took the mound in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, and calmly dismissed the first 17 batters in the Twins' lineup. Yes. You are reading this correctly. Mark Buehrle registered 45 consecutive outs. He stayed perfect for 5⅔ innings, after throwing a perfect game!This is unparalleled stuff folks. Never before has a pitcher been able to record such a beautiful streak. Never before, has someone been this perfect. Not even the Cincinnati Reds' beloved Johnny Vander Meer who pitched two consecutive no-hitters in back-to-back starts on June 11 and June 15, 1938.

As incredible as this feat is though, I would be willing to wager that years from now, people will fail to see the big picture — they often do. As time rolls by, the numbers start to lose their meaning, and they become just that... numbers. But this is an incredible achievement — this ranks right up there with Joltin' Joe's 56 game hitting streak. And would you believe it? Dimaggio ripped right into another 17 game hit streak the day after the Cleveland Indians held him to a hitless game on July 17, 1941 — hitting on all but one day of a 74 game span! Unfortunately though, years from now, people will be just as oblivious to Buehrle's start tonight as they are to the Yankee Clipper's extraordinary exploits after his record setting 56 game hitting streak came to an end in the summer of '41. And it's really a shame. Because we may never see something this amazing again...

The Orioles' Second Half Swoon Begins....

We all knew it was coming, it was just a matter of when. I'm worried that the slide has begun, a month earlier than usual. The inconsistent offense, the struggling and depleted starting rotation along with a recently faulty bullpen will combine to hurt this young team heading into the rough months of August and September.

You may be wondering why I am so quick to proclaim that this team is doomed. Well hear this: The O's are currently embarking on a 40 game stretch with only one off-day, yes, only one, thrown somewhere in the middle. 7 of the 12 series the Orioles play during the stretch are against teams with a record over .500. I've heard 'baseball experts' explain how this stretch is arguably the hardest stretch for any team in all of baseball during the entire season.

Since the All-Star break, the O's are 2-7. In addition, they've only one two games on the road in the AL East. However, there will be things to cheer about as the birds enter the home stretch. Chris Tillman's major league debut, projected for Wednesday at home vs. the Royals, is fast approaching. I have to assume that Jake Arrieta will be the next O's prospect to get the call sometime in the next month or two.

Seriously??

This is what james was talking about...Notice, this guy never even played for the Orioles. He also hasn't even played a single game since the 2003 major league season:He doesn't even look like Jeremy Guthrie!Seriously?? Come on ESPN, get your act together!!

Sometimes ESPN Makes Me Angry

Check out this preview for the first game of the upcoming Orioles-Yankees series. Now I know the Orioles are far from interesting on a national standpoint, but, come on espn.com! At least get Jeremy Guthrie's name right! Take a look at the third-to-last paragraph of this stupid piece of writing: http://espn.go.com/mlb/preview?gameId=290720110

Quick O's, Ravens Stuff

Orioles

Topic: Danys Baez.
Time to trade this guy before he falters even further. Someone who was seen as a good trade chip a month ago has done very poorly out of the bullpen since then. His ERA on June 22 was 3.22. His ERA coming out of the All-Star break was 4.26. And just before I started to write this blog, he came into a tough situation; first and second, one out. He hit Jermaine Dye in the head, so the bases were loaded. Then he allowed a home run to Jim Thome. So his ERA is now much higher than 4.26. Trade him and get what you can out of him before other teams notice he's going back to the Danys Baez of two years ago.

Topic: Nick Markakis and Adam Jones.
Is it a sign of a good second half to come for these two? Both of these guys came into the second half on homer-less streaks, and both have hit a homerun so far tonight, which is good to see from these two. Hopefully they can keep it up, especially Markakis, who has really disappointed me with his patience at the plate. It seems that every time he comes up he bounces a ball to the right side of the infield when he should have taken the ball the other way, swings at too many pitches early on in the at-bat, or takes strike three. Markakis needs to go back to what brought him success last year: being patient. He walked 99 times last year, and batted .306 with 20 homers. He's on pace to barely break 60 walks this season. Going into the second half, his batting average was .291 with 8 homers. Before tonight, he hadn't hit a homer since June 16th.


Ravens

Topic: SUGGS.
Great to see the Ravens give up a lot of money to get this guy signed. A six year, $63 million-dollar deal is rare in the NFL, but is a great idea to give to Suggs. The Ravens needed to get this guy back for a while. Having already lost Bart Scott and Jim Leonhard (Ray Lewis, too, will be gone sooner than we know it), we needed to keep this guy, who has really become the centerpiece of this tough, Ravens defense.

Topic: Derrick Mason.
After Derrick Mason's surprising announcement of his retirement, John Harbaugh will meet with Mason, and discuss his future. This retirement took Ravens Nation by complete surprise, considering there was no discussion of a possible Mason retirement. If Mason does not end up coming back to this team, the Ravens are in trouble. The duo of Mark Clayton and Demetrius Williams is nowhere close to a playoff-calibur one. The Ravens need to sign a big-name receiver if Mason truly retires. Marvin Harrison, Anquan Boldin, Plaxico Burress, Brandon Marshall. Those big names are all out there, and they all wouldn't mind playing for a contending team, I'm sure. Check them out if Mason truly retires.

Orioles Midseason Awards

In an up-and-down first half full of disappointing losses, but many exciting wins (as Brad mentioned in his latest post), the Orioles ended up with a 40-48 record. This record stands out, though, because it is the best of the last-place teams in the majors, which is saying something in the AL East. Let's hope the Orioles don't make an August-September downhill dive, which has become commonplace in recent years. Here are my first-half Orioles awards, which I'm sure everyone has been waiting for with baited breath:


Orioles' First-Half MVP: Luke Scott

Who thought at the All-Star break Luke Scott would be leading the team in home runs, on-base percentage (of people with over 100 AB's), and slugging percentage (of people with over 100 AB's)? This could be Scott's career season, his numbers resembling Aubrey Huff's of last season. As long as he keeps it up, Scott could hit 35 homers, with over 100 RBI's, and have a batting average over .300. Right now, he's batting .305, with 18 homers, and 51 RBI's. No doubt this guy is the MVP of the first half. Even with a stint on the DL, he's put up these great numbers. Plus, he hasn't had a major slump, which it seems like every Oriole hitter has had once or twice here in the first half. What a great first half for LUUUUUUKE. Hopefully he can keep it up. At 31 years old, I hope he does not get traded before the deadline, for he could help us out at DH for years to come.
Sorry to: Brad Bergesen, George Sherrill, Adam Jones

Orioles' First-Half Pleasant Surprise: Brad Bergesen

This guy kind of fell off the radar for a lot of Orioles fans before the season, considering other, bigger names were getting all the publicity, like Chris Tillman, Brian Matusz, and Jake Arrieta. But there is no doubt this guy has had a huge impact on this team. After starting off relatively shaky, he has become the Orioles most consistent pitcher, and is the definite ace on this revamped pitching staff. In his last nine starts, eight have been quality starts. Overall this season he is tied for the team lead in wins with six, with an ERA of 3.54 and a team-best 104.1 innings pitched. This rookie looks like he has a bright future ahead of him. Great season for this little-known rookie prior to his call-up.
Sorry to: Adam Jones, Nolan Reimold, Robert Andino, Mark Hendrickson (out of the bullpen), Danys Baez

Orioles' First-Half Disappointment: Jeremy Guthrie

The team's "ace" has not pitched like one all season long so far. Granted he has not had enough experience in the majors to really be a team's ace, but he has never pitched this poorly in the majors. He can still eat up innings like the best of them, but he has given up a major league leading (i could be wrong about that) 20 home runs. His stats for the first-half are not stellar, either: 6-8, with a 5.35 ERA. We've seen how good Guthrie can be in past seasons, so here's hoping he can turn it around in the second half. As for now, though, it's looking like it could be a long second half.
You're welcome to: Koji Uehara, Chris Ray, Jamie Walker, Rich Hill, Melvin Mora

Orioles' Rookie of the First-Half: Nolan Reimold

Yes, I think Brad Bergesen actually deserves this honor, but because Reimold kept a good streak going up until recently, and Bergesen got the first-half surprise award, we'll give Reimold this prestigious award. Before his recent slump, Reimold was consistently hitting above .280. He has hit nine home runs, most among rookies, and has a solid 23 RBI's since being called up. He has been a major surprise. He was doing great at AAA Norfolk, and his success there immediately translated to the majors. His homers have always been exciting, whether their coming off of Mariano Rivera or winning a ball game in the twelfth inning. He has been exciting to watch, and completes the trio of a great future outfield in Reimold, Jones, and Markakis.
Sorry to: Bergesen, Matt Wieters

So, there are my first-half awards. Hope you agree. If you don't, well, you're probably wrong.

Best Games of the First Half

In this supposed 'rebuilding' year for the O's, there have been a handful of thrilling games with spectacular performances from the young guys and veterans. While their record was 36-45 at the half-way mark, the majority of fans agree that this team is on the right track. Here is a list of the 5 most memorable games from the first half.

Opening Day, April 6th. Orioles 10 vs. Yankees 5.

The Orioles kicked their season off on the right foot by beating the Yankees and their prized off season acquisitions. Mark Teixiera was properly greeted by tens of thousands boos hollered by bitter O's fans. C.C. Sabathia allowed six runs as Roberts, Jones, and Markakis combined for 8 hits and 7 runs between the three of them. This game was more than just a win but rather a benchmark for where this team was fostering hope for the future.

Reimold's Heroics, May 27th. Orioles 12 vs. Blue Jays 10 in 11 innings.

Nothing was in the Orioles favor for this game. For one, it was a day game, they were facing the American League's best pitcher at the time in Roy Halladay, and it was the final game of a series in which they won the first two games. Despite all of those pieces in the Blue Jays favor, Orioles Magic returned to Birdland. Halladay was bumped from the game after 7 solid innings and the O's had there chance. The Orioles were down by 5 runs entering the 8th but battled back with a merry-go-round of hits to tie the ballgame. In the top of the 12th however, Danys Baez gave up a two run homer to Aaron Hill to break up the tie. In the bottom half of the inning, up stepped Nolan Reimold playing in just his 13th career major league ballgame. With the score 10-9 and two runners on base, the rookie jacked the 1-1 pitch over the left field fence, game over, O's win 12-10!

Wieter's Debut, May 29th. Orioles 7 vs. Tigers 2.

This potentially historic game drew national attention as the #1 prospect in baseball was called up. However, Matt Wieters' debut in front of a packed house at the Yard was overshadowed by Luke Scott's two home run performance and Bergesen's gem. Luke's grand slam onto the flag court and Brad Bergesen's 8 strong innings helped the O's win their 7th game in 8 days.

Roberts Silences Citizens Bank Park, June 20th. Orioles 6 @ Phillies 5.

In the midst of interleague play, the Orioles stunned 40,000 Phillies fans at Citizens Bank Park by taking the lead after trailing by two entering the top of the ninth. After a Ryan Howard bomb off Danys Baez in the 7th to give the Phils a two-run lead, the O's used a Gregg Zaun solo shot and a Brian Roberts two out, two strike, two-run home run to overcome the Phils. The Orioles went on to sweep the World Champions the following day.

Historic Comeback, June 30th. Orioles 11 vs. Red Sox 10.

What really is there to say about this one? Wow! Everyone who was at or watched this historic game was speechless. This is perhaps the most memorable game of the past decade for the O's. The Birds overcame a nine run deficit, yes a NINE RUN deficit, to beat the first place Red Sox. With five runs in the 7th and five more in the 8th, the Orioles set a franchise record for largest comeback in team history. This win is a testament to the team's heart and persistence regardless of the situation, the two qualities winning teams must have in order to succeed. Unfortunately, Orioles fans will always remember the 4-run lead the Orioles blew in the 9th the following day. That's baseball.

Honorable Mentions

Battle of the Beltways part 1, May 22 @ Nationals. 4-2 in 12 innings.

The Orioles kicked off their interleague schedule by taking a trip down 95 to play in the 'Battle of the Beltways' versus the Nats. This was a very well played game by both teams and it took a fluke play to split the 2-2 tie. In the top of the 12th, Danys Baez was forced to hit because the O's ran out of bench players. He swung at the second pitch he saw and the ball dribbled down the left field line as Baez reached first safely to keep the inning alive. Roberts and Jones followed with consecutive doubles as Baez scored what ended up being the game winning run. Take that, 12-29 Nats!

K-Rod's Collapse, June 18 vs. Mets. 5-4.

Trailing 4-3 entering the bottom of the 9th, the O's were in line to add another loss to their 0-34 record when trailing after 8 innings. With arguably the best closer in the majors on the mound primed to record another save, the Orioles stood no chance right? Nope, the O's defied the odds and scored two runs of Francisco Rodriguez, aided by a game winning single by Aubrey Huff, to win the series against the Mets.

First Road Trip

Okay while BK is right in the fact that this blog is going to be more than a travel log, our various road trips are going to be one of our main discussion points (one of many!). So here's a little recount of my first roadtrip, and what it meant to me:

I'm sure many of you fans out there know what it's like to go on the road and support your team. However, there's just something about that first trip that really gets you... You always remember it. You always will! It's the first time in your life as a fan when you take a stand for your team, and follow them into someone else's house to defend your city's pride. In fact, it's not just your city's pride — It's your pride too.

That withstanding, there's always something that keeps you sitting on your nerves, or for that matter — The edge of your seat. You have all this emotional energy pent up inside your body. It's not just because you're watching your favorite team... But it's because you're investing a lot more of yourself than most — You have more at stake. After you step outside your own city limits, it's true — It really is an 'us against the world' mentality. Well my first sports road trip, to see the Orioles play at least, was one that I'll always remember. It was a real spur of the moment type of deal. And those are the best, aren't they? Something about the free-spirited, go-anywhere type of mindset really appeals to me — And I think I'm not alone in that...

This little venture came on a Friday night — May 19, 2006. I had just finished up a pretty long week at school, and was ready for the weekend. Talk about a good mood! After getting a quick bite to eat, we swung by my Uncle's place downtown, and headed for the road.

Destination: RFK Stadium, Washington D.C.

For a team that is notorious for playing well below .500 baseball, the Orioles were in a surprising earshot, sitting at 19-22 (.463 winning percentage). The Washington Nationals of course, were orbiting much closer to the real world, with a dreary 14-27 record and a dismal .264 winning percentage — Can you say... Win? At least... That's what we were hoping for! The Baltimore/D.C. traffic was pretty bad as usual, and we were left feeling pretty good about our early departure time. Undoubtedly the traffic woes were caused by the large percentage of Baltimore fans who were making the trip as well. When we got to the New-Carrollton metro stop, we decided it would be the best place to park. From level 3 of the garage, we made our way into the station and bought our metro passes, and awaited the next train. There were quite a few Nationals fans there, and it was obvious it was going to be an exciting night. The ride to RFK took only fifteen minutes (the Stadium-Armory exit is on the Orange line as well), and before we knew it — The stadium was in sight! Walking towards that stadium gave me a great feeling. For once, I truly felt like a die-hard fan. Now, I'm not suggesting that I wasn't a huge fan before that... But there was something just a little more daring about walking into the lion's den sporting my hometown colors. It was some type of an epiphany — I felt as if I had broken out of my shell.
RFK Stadium sure was a throwback. In fact, I loved it! It felt like a time warp... The drab marble-clad insides really reminded me of the dull-colored tiled insides of Baltimore's old Memorial Stadium. Not only that, but the more I walked around RFK, the more I felt like I was back in Memorial. There were many striking similarities:

• They had similar names! (RFK is actually short for Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium)
• They were both from the 1950s/60s era (one which was a fairly quiet time in the history of stadium building)
• The concourses were tight
• There were numerous ramps (which were quite narrow in size)
• They were both multi-purpose stadiums (RFK was originally built for the Senators and the Redskins)
• They both had wooden seats (watch out for splinters!)

The feeling I got just being there was one that I loved. Camden Yards is nice and all... I consider it to be the most beautiful ballpark in the big leagues. But just give me a summer night in Memorial — I wouldn't trade that for anything. But this visit to RFK... This was as close as anyone could ever get to having that feeling again. And I loved every second of it, believe me.As for the game itself, it was never really in doubt. I think the first clue came when during the Star-Spangled Banner, the entire stadium yelled "Oh!" — Including most Nationals fans! It really was something... To think that you could go to a visiting ballpark, and feel like you were at a home game! That must be what those countless droves of New York/Boston fans feel like when they swarm down Eutaw St. every single season... With the overwhelming amount of Orioles fans there, tourists would have had a hard time figuring out that they were actually in Washington, D.C. One of the only clues probably would have been a scoreboard gimmick that they ran, involving animated former U.S. Presidents (George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt) racing each other around the bases — If memory serves me correctly, I believe Thomas Jefferson won.The starting lineup for the Orioles was delightfully suspect, as was the case for most lineups pre-Andy McPhail. However, this didn't deter the visitors from eventually wearing out their welcome... It took awhile, but the Orioles finally cracked Mike O'Connor's code. Kris Benson on the other hand, was in total control for the entire night. Not only did he come with the complete stuff — And I mean complete (game) stuff, but he even managed to throw an RBI in the mix. Corey Patterson made the play of the game however, ripping an RBI triple in top of the sixth inning. This opened the scoring for the night, allowing for Benson to drive home his previously mentioned run.During the middle innings, I walked around the upper deck promenade to try and get a feel for the place. Camera in hand, I made it a point to document my day's travels. I wanted proof — Proof that I had seen my own team play on someone else's turf. Much to my surprise, I took quite a bit of ribbing during my walk. The funniest part was, the majority of the people who were giving me the hardest time were mostly guys in their mid 20s/early 30s. These were guys who had rooted for the Orioles (MY TEAM) their entire lives! They weren't even alive when the Senators left for Texas back in 1971!! AND THEY WERE GIVING ME GRIEF?!I just laughed every time someone said something... Here I am, being told to "go back to Baltimore," by a bunch of people who used to make the 35 mile trip north every baseball season to see and root for MY Baltimore Orioles. Give me a break people. I might have been a pretty young kid... But even I was aware enough to realize how hypocritical they were being. It was ridiculous — And you know what? That just made the win all that much sweeter! They never even got close to staging a comeback... Alfonso Soriano, it appeared, was the only one who took exception to the Orioles dominance. But not even his towering home run could stop the bleeding. The Nationals were done.
Looking back on it, I was quite glad we had decided to make the trip. It was pretty neat seeing my favorite team play in another city. Also — It was cool seeing RFK before they did the complete overhaul... Just a little over a month later, under new ownership in Ted Lerner, the Nationals staged a "Grand Re-Opening" of RFK Stadium. Part of the changes included the now famous presidential race (involving people dressed up as presidential mascots), and a new terrace food court (where an empty marquee once silently sat).
All in all, it was a good experience.

Atmosphere: A (Despite all the ribbing, I thought the atmosphere was great. Hometown fans are supposed to rag on opposing fans. That's part of what being a fan is all about...)
Stadium: A+ (Many people consider RFK to be a dump, but I love throwbacks... Especially this one. However, this grade is based more so on principle. Considering the Yankees aren't even playing in the real Yankee Stadium anymore, pretty soon there won't be a stadium in Major League Baseball that was even standing before the 1990s. This time warp type effect is one that many kids being born now will never know. No matter what venue you're talking about, there's something to be said for going to a game in a stadium that's stood the test of time. You can buy amenities, you can buy luxury boxes — But you can't buy history. Unfortunately, there are many people who just don't understand that.)
Food: B (I don't remember anything sticking out too much. As I said, I visited before the overhaul, so better food was still 1-month away.)
Transportation: A- (The D.C. Metro has had a pretty clean record up until their recent blunder.)

Overall Grade: 92.5/100

Orioles Away Record: 1-0

Some shots of the group:Uncle Chuck, Mom

We are family.

We'll Always Remember...

We'll always remember you Steve. You were a real gamer. You might not have been the best quarterback to ever play the game... But there was never any doubt, that if you were given the chance — You would give everything you had. And I mean, everything. With absolutely no regard for your body, you put it all on the line. Every single play, we knew you'd either come through — Or die trying.

I can honestly say I'll miss it Steve — I'll miss you.

When you came into the league, I was just a little guy... But I was around — I was alert. My early memories of you might be pretty hazy, but they're still there. I saw you play twice on 33rd Street... Man did you have a cannon back then! I saw your last game as a member of the Houston Oilers. It was actually the last game the Houston Oilers ever played... December 22, 1996. You guys beat us 24-21. In fact, the winning play was your 24 yd. scramble on the first drive of the third quarter. I remember the disappointing groan that the crowd let out as you came right through the middle. You made our spirits just as damp as the weather that day. We left the stadium in a bad mood. Not only did we sit through a cold and rainy game only to watch our Ravens lose, but we had been out-gutted by a rookie quarterback! And to think that was only your sixth career start. You still had your whole life in front of you...
One year later, I sat at the very same spot — Seat 3, Row 4, Bleacher Section 18. You were with the Tennessee Oilers then... Remember that? You guys played the Ravens in the final game ever in the history of Memorial Stadium. What a nail-biter that was! We ended up winning that one... Our cornerback, John Williams knocked down your last ditch pass to Frank Wycheck, preserving a 21-19 win. You could at least let us have that one... Right? In the overall scheme of things, it didn't really matter. It made up for the game we had lost to you the previous year — And besides, your 8-8 record looked a hell of a lot better than our measly mark of 6-9-1.

The next year you guys came back, in '98 — It was to play in our new house. But you were still wearing your old uniforms... It was your last year as the Oilers. Even with the old threads though, you guys came back as rejuvenated as ever. It was incredible. Once again, you came up with the game winner... We couldn't believe it! The only touchdown scored all game, came on a broken play — And you were the one who picked up the pieces and ran them down our throats... All 40 yds. worth. You really did give it your all...

In '99, you came back again. But this time, things were different. You were injured... But your newly christened Titans squad was on fire. It was week 13 of the season, and you guys were 9-2. We knew what we were up against, and we didn't let up. As time expired, we had pulled away with a resounding 41-14 win. But you could stand to lose one... You still went on 13-3 and advanced to your first Super Bowl.

A year later however, the tables would turn. We would in fact be the ones who were on fire, and you guys would come away with the consolation win. Did it bother you? No... Not at all. Within the context of the season, you guys were the more polished team. Still riding on the waves of the year before, you won your second straight AFC-Central crown. But despite your spoils, we had the stronger build — We were the ones who were destined for January.

After that season, the fire was gone... In fact, by 2002, we weren't even in the same division anymore — And without playing you twice a year... Where a red-hot rivalry once burned, only ashes remained.

Just when we thought you were done, just when we thought you had ridden off into the sunset — You came storming back just like you always had. In 2006, you became our quarterback. After more than a decade of commanding the enemy, you came here, to show us a little of that old magic. And boy what a ride it was! I even came to see you play — The Browns were in town, and you hurt your hand on the sixth play from scrimmage. That's the last time I saw you on the gridiron in person, but that wasn't important. It was still a memorable year. We had the second best team in the American Football Conference, and we advanced all the way to the divisional round in the playoffs — What a season we had! At 13-3, it's still the Ravens' best record to date. And even though you came back the next year to try and do it again, we really only had that one good season together... But you know what Steve? I'll never forget it.

The very last time I saw you, was at an Orioles game. It was a student night, and my friends had taken me out to the ballpark for my birthday. You threw out the first pitch. Just one day after you announced your retirement, you stood on the mound exactly like it was the pocket. And I can tell you — When that arm came back in a cocked position, thousands of Orioles fans saw the past flash right before their eyes. For one more split second, you were our quarterback — You were our hero.
I'll never forget it Steve — I'll never forget what you gave us.

R.I.P. - Steve McNair (1973-2009)

Orioles' Play Sends Message: Coaching Staff Needs Overhaul

Something with these Orioles needs to change. It doesn't have to be now, necessarily, but judging by the Orioles' recent play, it has to be soon if they want to contend in the near future. This Orioles game tonight, an 11-4 loss to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, puts everything into perspective for me. I did not watch the whole game, but I managed to catch the Orioles giving up the lead on the radio, and then completely blowing it on television. Tonight wasn't just a blip on the radar screen; tonight was the continuation of a recurring theme for a young, Orioles squad. Mental mistake after mental mistake killed them in this game, from the pop up that dropped in between Roberts and Markakis that gave the Angels the lead, to the poor throw by Andino to Mora that allowed the Angels to lead off the eighth with runners on first and third and nobody out.
These mental errors have been a constant in this Orioles season, leading me to believe coaching changes should be on the horizon. They will not happen tomorrow, and they may not happen within the next month, but, if things continue the way they have been, they may happen by the end of the season. Most of the mental errors the Orioles have made have come on the basepaths, with runners trying to extend singles to doubles (Melvin Mora) and getting picked off of third base (Aubrey Huff), but tonight was a sign that the Orioles have more mental problems than just on the basepaths. In their last four losses, the Orioles have committed five errors. The defense was supposed to be a strong suit on this ballclub, but it certainly has been having its troubles recently.
The mental errors haven't been occurring in spurts, nor are the Orioles just in a mental funk; it has been a season-long problem. Dave Trembley has been mentioning to reporters that the Orioles need to stop making these mental errors, but has he been doing anything to change it? Day in and day out we see this team make mistakes that ultimately lead to a loss, and Trembley sits idly by, complaining, but not changing.
Along with this, there have been many other problems I have noticed with this ballclub that, if this team wants to contend within the next couple of years, need to stop. Here are two positions on this ballclub that Andy McPhail and Peter Angelos might want to look in to tweaking in the coming months.

Manager: Dave Trembley
Dave Trembley is a very likeable guy. He has a solid personality, and obviously loves the game of baseball, but here are things I do not like about his coaching style (other than the mental error problem that he cannot control). He doesn't know how to deal with pitchers. I often am frustrated by how long he leaves pitchers in, and by how quickly he takes them out. Rarely do I find myself going, "Yes, this is a good time to take this pitcher out" when Trembley goes to the mound. In the game on Wednesday, Brad Bergesen had pitched a gem of a game against a strong Red Sox ballclub (8 innings, 4 hits, 0 walks). The score was 5-1 Orioles, and it was the top of the ninth inning, with the Sox coming to the plate. Bergesen had just pitched a 3-up, 3-down eighth inning, but Trembley goes to the bullpen. Trembley should have trusted Bergesen, who has become the staff ace since coming to this ballclub. Do not take him out of this ball game until he allows another base runner. Let him pitch his way through the ninth until he shows signs of a struggle. But, no. Trembley can't put that much trust in a young pitcher, so he goes to the bullpen, which conveniently gives up four runs, and the O's lose the game in 11 innings. There are many more, worse, situations with pitching that Trembley has been somewhat at fault, but this one is fresh in Orioles fans' minds.
Another problem is Trembley puts too much trust in players who have done poorly this season. Chris Ray started the season off terribly, so he was sent down to the minors. After doing "great" at AAA for, I don't know, a week and a half (that's what it seemed like), he comes up and fails immediately. Rather than complain to the front office and say, "Get Ray out of here. He is not good," he sticks with him, and puts him in ball games in crucial situations, when the Orioles are up or down a couple of runs. Jason Berken is another example of a player who should be down at AAA, yet Trembley sticks with him. After having two solid starts to begin his major league career, he has had one outing where he has pitched five-plus innings and allowed less than four earned runs. Time for him to get some more work in the minors. BRING UP CHRIS TILLMAN.

Hitting Coach: Terry Crowley
Terry Crowley has been a solid hitting coach since coming to this ballclub, but this year has gotten me worried. Certain players on this team have gone cold at the plate far too often on this ballclub. Nick Markakis had a month-long slump, Adam Jones has been cold of late, and veteran Brian Roberts has been up and down all season long. Yes, Markakis and Jones will be solid all-around players in the coming years, but it's frustrating to see them stay in slumps when all Crowley needs to say, repeatedly, to them is "be patient." I have had people tell me, "Well, there is so much a hitting coach can do. After a while it's on the player to do well," but if the hitter isn't listening to his hitting coach, it may be time to install a new one. It's frustrating seeing veteran Brian Roberts get into a long slump where part of it is, obviously, that he's trying to pull pitches on the outside corner of the plate. It's frustrating to see Nick Markakis take an upper cut at every pitch, and not try to serve one down the left field line. It's frustrating to see Adam Jones swing and miss at three breaking balls in the dirt in three straight at-bats. All you need to do as a hitting coach is watch some tape with the player, show them what they're doing wrong.
Tell them to change their stance if they have to. Change something. Someone needs to get these players out of these slumps, and while most of it is on the hitter, the hitting coach needs to fire them up, also.

These are the major cuts I would make as the young prospects continue to make their way up. If they want to contend, they need coaches who want to win, and not coaches who are waiting to get through the rebuilding process.

RIP Steve

While he only played two seasons for our Baltimore Ravens, I consider it an honor to have watched Steve McNair play in a Raven uniform. He'll always be remembered as a Tennessee Titan, as he should be, but he'll also go down as one of the toughest and grittiest players in NFL history.

During his time in Baltimore, it seemed like he was always on the injury report with a strained back, sore shoulder, or bruised ribs, among many more injuries. Regardless of the ailment, he persevered and led the Ravens during the 2006 season when they went 13-3 and won the AFC North. At the end of his career, it appeared his injuries finally caught up with him as the perennial hall of famer was forced to call it quits after 13 seasons.

However, his past statistics and achievements take a backseat to today's news that McNair, 36, was tragically shot and killed in Nashville. It is unclear exactly what happened but when it comes down to it, a young man and woman lost their life due to an act of gun violence.

On my way home today, I heard a piece of the Sporting News radio show during which they were discussing the link between professional athletes and violence. As of now, it does not appear that Steve McNair put himself in any danger. However, professional athletes, especially NFL players, seem to find themselves in the middle of dangerous situations. Sean Taylor, Darrent Williams, and Steve McNair are just a few of the athletes who have recently been killed or involved with gun violence. Their deaths give creedence to the notion that high-profile athletes are targeted more often than average joes. I've got to believe that professional athletes are going to feel more inclined to protect themselves.

Would you feel comfortable with more athletes wielding firearms for protection? Occasionally, professional athletes are the danger as seen through Tank Johnson's and Plaxico Burress' off the field gun-related problems. It is a very complicated issue that may never be fully resolved. As for now, our prayers go out to the McNair family as they mourn the loss of a true competitor.

RIP Steve

Hello

I will also be contributing to this blog. I will probably make less obscure maryland sports references, but I will surely be the big complainer. There's a lot to complain about when you are a maryland sports fan. with that, i say, 11 straight years of orioles losing! (and counting)

p.s. i also have a blog on thisisaboutanything.blogspot.com

Hey Y'all!

Well, J-bigs and Brad certainly covered the basics of our blog, but I thought I would chime in as well. I am Andy and I recently started a blog, though I'm not sure mine is as well known as Brad's. Not only will we cover all the wonderfully random sports references Brad came up with (Ikene Ibekwe!) we will tell all the crazy things we experience and say, and trust me there will be plenty of both. Also, I will probably continuously provide sports references so esoteric they probably should never be uttered. So with that I say Ryan Kohlmeier.

This Is More Than Just a Travel Log

First off, I would like to officially welcome myself as a contributor to this blog. Just to let you know, I am very well know sports blogger (at least within my household). While the first post by j-bigs tells you about our short-term plans for this blog, we will write about much more than just the Orioles and our road trips. Who really cares about a few random Oriole fan's expeditions?

We'll be covering the Orioles, Ravens, Terps, the Baltimore Blast, Monsterball (the best game ever), Jamie Walker, Brandon Fahey (pictured-yes, he is a professional athlete), Paul Bako, Ekene Ibekwe, Travis Taylor, Abe Vigoda, that random guy who yells into the microphone at Tropicana Field, the zoo that is the Oakland Coliseum, those stupid horns in South African soccer matches, you get the picture.

Enjoy! And remember, Something Magic Happens, even though it hasn't for 11 years...

Welcome.

Welcome!

In the coming days (and months), we will be recounting our various experiences revolving around our baseball road trips.

I look forward to giving you a little glimpse into our wonderfully wacky world! For an even more detailed look at mine — You can visit my personal blog.

Yes, we'll talk about the wins of course, but we won't leave out the losses. As i'm sure many of you know... the life of an Orioles fan certainly includes a few of the latter.

I can't wait to begin!

T-minus nineteen days until NYC.

P.S. - As all things are, this blog is a work in progress. I'm sure there are many changes to come. Some will be sooner than others, but make no mistakes about it — change will be a constant. They're a part of life — and accordingly, they'll be a part of this too!