In the top of the eighth inning against Oakland last Friday night, Baltimore pitchers walked in four runs before allowing a hit in the inning. The word pathetic does not do justice to that notorious accomplishment. Walking in four runs in a single game – let alone a single inning – is unheard of once ballplayers graduate from Little League. It should come as no surprise that the A’s hitters are patient enough to make Orioles pitchers look bad (think Moneyball), but that is just Bad for Ball.
O’s Notes
Last week ownership announced that Orioles manger Dave Trembley would return for the 2009 season. My only question for the head honchos is a simple one: why? The reason the team is in last place this season is in large part because the competition in the AL East is tough, but it hasn’t helped that Trembley has done an awful job with the pitching staff (and of course, Jay Payton). Granted, he was given limited resources to work with – Jeremy Guthrie has been the team’s only reliable starter – but Trembley has given too many opportunities to pitchers who have proven unworthy of starting games: Garrett Olson (6.43 E.R.A. and 1.73 WHIP to go along with opponents’ .310 batting average), Dennis Sarfate (four games started, never made it through five innings), and frankly, the mysterious Daniel Cabrera (5.26 E.R.A. – nearly a full run higher than it was two months ago). To make matters worse, the bullpen has been a disaster since starting off strong. George Sherrill looked like a dominant closer during the first half of the season, but really lost his edge before suffering an injury last month, and Trembley has failed miserably to find anyone to fill in – not that there have been very many save chances anyway. Being a slightly better manager than his predecessor – Sam Perlozzo – does not make Dave Trembley worthy of a contract extension.
