Thursday, April 06, 2006
Streaks
I would like to pay homage to two streaks at this time.
Neither one of them is Jimmy Rollins current 38-game hitting streak.
No, I am speaking, of course, of Ramon Hernandez's current streak at the plate in which he has yet to record an out and leads the team with 5 RBI.
Hernandez is 5 for 5 with three walks and a sac fly so far in his short Orioles career. Way to go Ramon. Keep it up.
The other, more fun, streak is one the Yankees are currently sporting. Yes the Axis of Evil is currently mired in a two-game losing streak, well on their way to finishing the season with a sub-par 1-161 record. If the Yanks do manage to lose 161 straight games I think that would be some kind of record.
Isn't that just typical of the Yankees? Even in defeat they always have to be in the spotlight.
Neither one of them is Jimmy Rollins current 38-game hitting streak.
No, I am speaking, of course, of Ramon Hernandez's current streak at the plate in which he has yet to record an out and leads the team with 5 RBI.
Hernandez is 5 for 5 with three walks and a sac fly so far in his short Orioles career. Way to go Ramon. Keep it up.
The other, more fun, streak is one the Yankees are currently sporting. Yes the Axis of Evil is currently mired in a two-game losing streak, well on their way to finishing the season with a sub-par 1-161 record. If the Yanks do manage to lose 161 straight games I think that would be some kind of record.
Isn't that just typical of the Yankees? Even in defeat they always have to be in the spotlight.
Congratulations to the Future
Let it be known.
Yesterday, the 5th day of April in the year 2006, a star was officially born.
Cooperstown can wait however, because Nick Markakis is just getting started.
During last night's 16-6 thumping of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays Markakis batted in the #2 hole in the order, which begged the question, can such a young hitter thrive so high up in the order?
Duh.
With patience well beyond his years, Markakis held back the jitters that must have been running rampant through his body and managed to stay well within his game. He took pitch after pitch waiting for his perfect one, and in his first three at-bats, he didn't find it.
I wonder. Check the record books. Has any player, in their major league debut, ever walked in their first three plate appearances before? Seems highly unlikely.
In his fourth at bat he worked a count in his favor and ended up being robbed of a double for his first major league hit. 0-1.
No matter to Mr. Markakis. Get 'em next time. And get them he did.
In what could end up going down as the first home run in one of the most prolific home run hitters of our children's time, Markakis crushed a shot to deep right field.
Congrats Nick. Keep it up.
Yesterday, the 5th day of April in the year 2006, a star was officially born.
Cooperstown can wait however, because Nick Markakis is just getting started.
During last night's 16-6 thumping of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays Markakis batted in the #2 hole in the order, which begged the question, can such a young hitter thrive so high up in the order?
Duh.
With patience well beyond his years, Markakis held back the jitters that must have been running rampant through his body and managed to stay well within his game. He took pitch after pitch waiting for his perfect one, and in his first three at-bats, he didn't find it.
I wonder. Check the record books. Has any player, in their major league debut, ever walked in their first three plate appearances before? Seems highly unlikely.
In his fourth at bat he worked a count in his favor and ended up being robbed of a double for his first major league hit. 0-1.
No matter to Mr. Markakis. Get 'em next time. And get them he did.
In what could end up going down as the first home run in one of the most prolific home run hitters of our children's time, Markakis crushed a shot to deep right field.
Congrats Nick. Keep it up.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Home runs, Chris Ray and those Standings
Starting off with the negative aspects of Monday's game since there were far more positive ones.
Rodrigo Lopez struggled. He did pitch seven innings, but he labored through most of them and gave up six runs. He didn't have his good stuff and hopefully he can correct that as the year goes on. With that being said...
On to the good stuff.
Brian Roberts
Leading the season off with an infield single up the middle and then diving head first into first base is a hell of a way to come back from a career-threatening injury.
Aside from scaring Sam Perlozzo half to death, Roberts also proved he is tough as nails and isn't going to let a minor thing such as a gruesome injury where his arm was almost detached at the elbow stop him from playing hard all the time. There isn't one single team in the league that wouldn't trade their second baseman for Roberts.
The Dodgers would happily hand back Jeff Kent for B-Rob. The Nationals would give up Jose Vidro AND Alphonso Soriano, and so on.
Luis Matos
Luis came out and had an opening day performance rivaled only by the likes of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
After B-Rob reached in the first, Matos spent his first at bat in the #2 hole bunting him over. Only he bunted way to firm and the Rays were able to get Roberts at second.
To make up for that, Mr. Hyde then stole second base, cutting his nose on his helmet in the process. Later in the game he would homer and become only the second Orioles player to homer on back to back Opening days for the O's.
He looks confident batting in that #2 spot, but he still needs to learn the finer points.
Melvin Mora
I don't have anything bad to say about Mora. He is the consummate professional and the ultimate Oriole. His home run to follow Matos' homer was a line up drive bullet off his bat and he should be given anything he wants.
Miguel Tejada
Miggy slammed his first home run of the season to deep left field and it was a monster shot. Nice to see Tejada swinging a good bat again. We missed you Miggy. Continue that for the rest of the year and our MVP is back. Add some nice plays in the field and Tejada had an excellent game. Sam Perlozzo and O's fans can breath easier. I am actually sleeping better because of it.
Jay Gibbons
Gibbons doubled for the O's, a good sign that Tejada will finally have the protection behind him in the order that will allow him to go for big numbers this year. With a little help from the Gods, Gibbons can stay healthy and have one of his finest seasons as an Oriole. I am thinking 25 home runs and 100 RBI.
Kevin Millar
I could not be more estatic that Kevin Millar is an Oriole. If he didn't go 2-4 with a double on Opening day I would still have been happy, but he did, and if he continues to swing a good bat for the O's, that coupled with his infectiously good attitude will really help the Orioles through tough times. He could easily become the Orioles best offseason acquisition.
Jeff Conine
Honestly, I would rather not have Jeff Conine starting on Opening day in left field. That being said, thank God he did. His home run late in the game solidified the win for the Orioles and showed he could be a highly useful piece to the Orioles puzzle.
Javy Lopez
Only Tejada's game made me happier. Lopez, after having such a horrid spring at the plate, laced a shot to left for an RBI triple. If he snaps out of the slump that held him throughout the spring and can hit well, the O's can have an exceptional offense from top to bottom. Personally, and I don't care how much he complains, I would leave him at the #8 spot in the lineup and at DH. I think he can have a great year at the plate in that combination. He will see loads of good pitches and will turn the lineup over with power.
Ramon Hernandez
He went 3-3, all clutch hits. Like Lopez he had a terrible spring, he busted out of that slump rather nicely. He claims he must have gotten lucky. Let us hope that is just modesty because if Hernandez can continue to hit than every spot of the order can produce and produce with power. What was supposed to be a rather weak offense is shaping together extremely nicely.
Chris Ray
You're the man now, dog. Chris Ray's nickname should be Bulldog because that is what he reminds me of. He bears down, throws hard and works quick. Ray earned his first big league save on Monday and it should be the first of many. All hail the Bulldog.
Standings
Just look at them, so pretty. O's in first. Yankees and Red Sox both lost last night. So pretty.
Markakis Watch
Look for the Greek God of Baseball to be in the starting lineup in center for the O's Wednesday night against the Devil Rays. Hopefully he will bat second.
In my opinion here is Wednesday's line up:
1) Brian Roberts--2b
2) Nick Markakis--CF
3) Melvin Mora--3b
4) Miguel Tejada--SS
5) Jay Gibbons--RF
6) Kevin Millar--1b
7) Javy Lopez--DH
8) Ramon Hernandez--C
9) Corey Patterson--LF (or David Newhan)
Rodrigo Lopez struggled. He did pitch seven innings, but he labored through most of them and gave up six runs. He didn't have his good stuff and hopefully he can correct that as the year goes on. With that being said...
On to the good stuff.
Brian Roberts
Leading the season off with an infield single up the middle and then diving head first into first base is a hell of a way to come back from a career-threatening injury.
Aside from scaring Sam Perlozzo half to death, Roberts also proved he is tough as nails and isn't going to let a minor thing such as a gruesome injury where his arm was almost detached at the elbow stop him from playing hard all the time. There isn't one single team in the league that wouldn't trade their second baseman for Roberts.
The Dodgers would happily hand back Jeff Kent for B-Rob. The Nationals would give up Jose Vidro AND Alphonso Soriano, and so on.
Luis Matos
Luis came out and had an opening day performance rivaled only by the likes of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
After B-Rob reached in the first, Matos spent his first at bat in the #2 hole bunting him over. Only he bunted way to firm and the Rays were able to get Roberts at second.
To make up for that, Mr. Hyde then stole second base, cutting his nose on his helmet in the process. Later in the game he would homer and become only the second Orioles player to homer on back to back Opening days for the O's.
He looks confident batting in that #2 spot, but he still needs to learn the finer points.
Melvin Mora
I don't have anything bad to say about Mora. He is the consummate professional and the ultimate Oriole. His home run to follow Matos' homer was a line up drive bullet off his bat and he should be given anything he wants.
Miguel Tejada
Miggy slammed his first home run of the season to deep left field and it was a monster shot. Nice to see Tejada swinging a good bat again. We missed you Miggy. Continue that for the rest of the year and our MVP is back. Add some nice plays in the field and Tejada had an excellent game. Sam Perlozzo and O's fans can breath easier. I am actually sleeping better because of it.
Jay Gibbons
Gibbons doubled for the O's, a good sign that Tejada will finally have the protection behind him in the order that will allow him to go for big numbers this year. With a little help from the Gods, Gibbons can stay healthy and have one of his finest seasons as an Oriole. I am thinking 25 home runs and 100 RBI.
Kevin Millar
I could not be more estatic that Kevin Millar is an Oriole. If he didn't go 2-4 with a double on Opening day I would still have been happy, but he did, and if he continues to swing a good bat for the O's, that coupled with his infectiously good attitude will really help the Orioles through tough times. He could easily become the Orioles best offseason acquisition.
Jeff Conine
Honestly, I would rather not have Jeff Conine starting on Opening day in left field. That being said, thank God he did. His home run late in the game solidified the win for the Orioles and showed he could be a highly useful piece to the Orioles puzzle.
Javy Lopez
Only Tejada's game made me happier. Lopez, after having such a horrid spring at the plate, laced a shot to left for an RBI triple. If he snaps out of the slump that held him throughout the spring and can hit well, the O's can have an exceptional offense from top to bottom. Personally, and I don't care how much he complains, I would leave him at the #8 spot in the lineup and at DH. I think he can have a great year at the plate in that combination. He will see loads of good pitches and will turn the lineup over with power.
Ramon Hernandez
He went 3-3, all clutch hits. Like Lopez he had a terrible spring, he busted out of that slump rather nicely. He claims he must have gotten lucky. Let us hope that is just modesty because if Hernandez can continue to hit than every spot of the order can produce and produce with power. What was supposed to be a rather weak offense is shaping together extremely nicely.
Chris Ray
You're the man now, dog. Chris Ray's nickname should be Bulldog because that is what he reminds me of. He bears down, throws hard and works quick. Ray earned his first big league save on Monday and it should be the first of many. All hail the Bulldog.
Standings
Just look at them, so pretty. O's in first. Yankees and Red Sox both lost last night. So pretty.
Markakis Watch
Look for the Greek God of Baseball to be in the starting lineup in center for the O's Wednesday night against the Devil Rays. Hopefully he will bat second.
In my opinion here is Wednesday's line up:
1) Brian Roberts--2b
2) Nick Markakis--CF
3) Melvin Mora--3b
4) Miguel Tejada--SS
5) Jay Gibbons--RF
6) Kevin Millar--1b
7) Javy Lopez--DH
8) Ramon Hernandez--C
9) Corey Patterson--LF (or David Newhan)
