The Birds took an early 2-0 lead on Tuesday night, only to watch Chris Tillman, in his first start since July 29, cough it up (and then some) in the bottom of the first inning. The team stormed back with back-to-back homers from Adam Jones & Chris Davis to tie it in the 8th, only to lose their second maddening extra-inning game of the road trip. If they can salvage today’s rubber match, I’ll still call it a successful – though not a resounding one, mind you – swing out west. Come on, Kev.
To the linkage:
The Good, the Bad, & the Ubaldo
Speaking of maddening, there is Ubaldo Jimenez, who has been just that to every team that has employed him over the last half-decade. He’s great, he’s awful, he’s great, he’s awful. Ben Lindbergh of Grantland set out to write a piece on Ubaldo’s resurgence after his great first half, but his interview with the pitcher kept getting delayed, during which time “Bad Ubaldo” returned. The result is a very interesting look in the things that make Ubaldo…well, Ubaldo.
Machado Dazzling at 3B Despite Still Getting Used to It
On the other hand, we have things that are not at all inconsistent, and Manny Machado tops that list. Emma Span of Sports Illustrated talks to Buck Showalter, Bobby Dickerson, Manny, and his teammates about the young phenom’s move from SS to 3B, how he’s still getting used to it, and how he’s just happy to be healthy again while, by the way, enjoying his best offensive season to date. Hakuna Machado.
Blame Game: The Bullpen Situation
Scott Magness of Bird’s Eye View (writing at Baltimore Sports Report) dives into the current debacle that is the Orioles’ bullpen. Last night, the team had Darren O’Day warming up and could have really used him to replace T.J. McFarland in the 10th inning…however, O’Day was being saved to be the closer if the O’s were ever able to take the lead, because Zach Britton was unavailable after throwing over 30 pitches on Monday. Oh, and by the way, Jason Garcia sits out there twiddling his thumbs. So, who’s to blame for the taxed ‘pen? Dan, Buck…or somebody else entirely?
Baseball America asked every major league manager to vote on a variety of categories, and our Orioles were extremely well represented. Winners included:
Buck Showalter (Best Manager, AL)
Manny Machado (Best Defensive 3B, AL; Best Infield Arm, AL; Most Exciting Player, AL, 2nd place.)
Zach Britton (Best Reliever, AL, 2nd place)
Adam Jones (Best Defensive OF, AL, 3rd place)
J.J. Hardy (Best Defensive SS, AL, 3rd place)
Gerardo Parra (Best OF Arm, NL, 2nd place) (he was on MIL when the votes were made)
History was made in MLB last night, as home teams went 15-0 for the first time EVER. O’s/Mariners was the last game on the slate, and the Birds were the final hope for road teams. Alas, they didn’t come through.
