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Chris Tillman took a no-hitter into the seventh inning in his last start. He took a beating tonight.
Tillman gave up a run in the second inning and six more in the third before leaving the game with two outs. He allowed seven hits, walked four and hit a batter.
The Rays loaded the bases with no outs in the second after Matt Joyce's RBI double, and B.J. Upton walked to force in a run and increase their lead to 3-0. Jason Bartlett followed with a two-run single, and Upton scored on Sean Rodriguez's bunt.
Matt Albers began to warm with the Rays ahead, 6-0.
Carl Crawford delivered the knockout blow with a triple that scored Bartlett.
Instant update: Tillman is charged with eight runs after Crawford scored on Evan Longoria's single off Albers.
Tillman threw 76 pitches tonight, 41 for strikes. His outing is a huge disappointment, to say the least, and more disturbing when attached to Brian Matusz's start yesterday.
Can Jake Arrieta make us feel a little better tomorrow night?
The Orioles also have batted tonight. Six up, six down.
Down at Triple-A Norfolk, left-hander Michael Gonzalez tossed a scoreless first inning, walking one and striking out two. He threw 19 pitches, 11 for strikes.
Chris George is pitching the second inning, so Gonzalez's rehab assignment has ended.
Update II: I'm told that Gonzalez's fastball topped out at 92 mph. He pitched the first inning because of the rain delay.
The Orioles will decide later tonight or tomorrow whether to activate him.
Can we get Norfolk or Bowie games televised on MASN instead of the O's for a couple of days? These last two games have been horrendous!
Will someone please shoot me and put me out of my misery?
If Mcphail is going to sit on his tail and not see the need for a firm hand at the helm, why not just call off the rest of the season for real. This is a total embarrassment for this team, the city, and the fans. Andy is doing a wonderful Nero impersonation.
Tillman has just bought another ticket to Norfolk with Millwood due back this week.
Wow... nothing else to say but just, wow...
I think what's happening is Bergy, Matusz, and Tillman have all been affected by the long layoff over the all-star break. Eight or nine days between starts for them has been difficult.
This may be nitpicking also, but with runners on first and second to start the third and a 2-0 count, Tillman came back to even the count with two low fastballs to Joyce. He then threw a third one knee high, down the middle and he lined it for a double. People were raving about Tatum's abilty to call a game. But three straight fastballs, none of which changed the eye level of the hitter is asking for trouble.
The next batter was Jaso. Tillman goes 2-0 in the count. He was clearly upset with the umpire and had clearly lost his command. I'm screaming for a mound visit from Kranitz. But no, we wait for two more balls, neither of which were close, to load the bases. Then Kranitz comes out. It's called managing and damage control. Get out there and help the young guy, while it still matters!
Tillman didn't have his stuff tonight plus when he pitches his best he gets ahead and throws strike early and often like roy halladay. Not saying tillmans that good just that he pounds the strike zone when he's on. Mcphail better things better be comin this offseason!
New strategy: Start a rain dance so we can pretend none of this ever happened.
Remember, Alex...MacPhail has no timetable, so get used to this suffering.
Somehow the message is either getting lost from coaches to players, or no one is listening to the message.
Roch,
My season tickets were for tonight's game. I decided not to go because I had a bad feeling. Probably the best decision I'll make all week.
Gonzalez, 19 pitches in the first. Sounds about right for our staff.
Addendum to strategy: Since it's hard to watch this game, call up Dayton Moore and ask if he's still interested in Felix Pie. Inquire on Kila Ka'aihue while you're at it.
Addendum II: Ask the Padres if they're willing to trade a couple of kegs for Tejada.
Hey Roch,
Can we please hire Buck, trade Wiggy, Miggy and Scott.. We know now why Wiggy is a part player and Scott can't hit with runners in scoring position. Wiggy batting cleanup is a joke for any team. I'm getting sick watching them both. Please hire Buck so we can see some real changes. I hope!!
If Michelle Obama throws it anywhere near the plate, can we just leave her in to start tomorrow's game?
The most frustrating part is that I'm not sure what else Tillman has left to prove in AAA. 176 IP, 1.09 WHIP, 2.71 ERA, 159 Ks, 43 BB. There's no point in sending him down - he just has to learn at this level.
The biggest crisis for the organization has been the scuffling of young players at the big league level. I don't mind them not signing the big free agent, and I don't mind them raiding the farm system for Prince Fielder. But McPhail's #1 job right now has to be to figure out how to stop the bleeding/beating from the young players once they hit the majors. If getting Showalter in is the answer, then it needs to happen now. Either way, there is zero confidence at the big league level from these guys, and some of that has to come from the current culture in the clubhouse.
Now playing: The theme to M.A.S.H. (Suicide is Painless)
2-3 for Roberts. He has turned a double play. FC 4-3 in his third AB.
Looks like I chose wisely. I am not missing much in Bmore. 1 to 5 here.
I just heard Gary Thorne say that Wednesday afternoon's Orioles' game is "foam finger day." I think it would be fitting that instead of the traditional extended index finger, the O's picked a finger more apropos of their season. We could all proudly waive them at the owner's box.
So are we still impressed by how much better the team is playing under Samuel? This team will continue to stink until there is accountability for their play. This organization seems content holding onto players that play horrible baseball day after day because once every blue moon they show a fleeting moment of potential. Hopefully this will start to change if they ever get the deal done with Buck Showalter. Don't screw it up Andy!
The Orioles are going to have to do something with that bullpen. Too many one inning guys - Uehara, Simon, Berken, Ohman and Hernandez. Throw in Gonzalez and you have a big mess unless you are going to make Hernandez and Berken back into long men.
Is the barn on fire yet?
I see we're still taking names and kicking some serious _ in the AL East. good grief.
Roch, I see Tillman's outing a little differently. He sure made some mistakes, but by-and-larhe, I think he once again had good stuff tonight. He was painting the outside corner with some unhittable fastballs. In addition he threw some good curveballs and changeups on which he got squeezed. I'd be interested in seeing what Tillman has to say about his outing tonight.
Looks like Albers has closed the "barn" door...
Put Izturis in the fifth spot. Bring up Zach Britton. There's still hope for next to last place. On second thought, there's still hope to win 40 games.
It's happened again---game over early, not much effort from the home team and I'm looking for another game on the dish. OK--be honest Roch, would you watch this team (let alone spend hard earned money to buy a ticket) if it wasn't your job to update us on the blog?
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I might skip a few innings :-) Roch
Chris, since it rains every time I'm in Baltimore... I'll throw it out there that I will likely be at the entire Twins series. Bring an umbrella. Or stay home and hope for a rain out?
Bringing the good luck everywhere I go, that's what I do.
Interesting question you asked there, old bird fan - my brother and I were going to go to the game tonight, but after this start to the second half of the season - no way. I'd rather spend my money elsewhere. This team is not deserving of our support, and that's sad to say, coming from a diehard fan since 1966.