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The official scorer exercised his right to award the win to Alfredo Simon, judging that Jim Johnson and Michael Gonzalez were too ineffective in brief appearances. Once Johnson was skipped, you pick the guy who was the most effective out of the remaining group. It's not real common, but it happens.
Simon turned in a perfect eighth, and Koji Uehara did the same in the ninth by retiring Ben Zobrist, Carl Crawford and Evan Longoria.
"We were all joking, everybody kind of turns when Koji strikes out Longoria and goes, 'It's over. That's it. There's no more outs,'" manager Buck Showalter said. "The eighth inning was probably the key inning of the game, but I'm not going to sit here and tell you Zobrist, Crawford and Longoria weren't pretty key, also."
Here's what Showalter thought about Chris Tillman's start:
"It was a good initial outing, keeping in mind he's a 22-year-old young man, six or seven weeks from his last start up here. Had a successful outing and that was good to see. I know I was probably putting myself in his shoes a little bit and I'm sure he had a lot of emotions running out there. Obviously, a really good offensive team. He gave us a really good chance to win."
Showalter removed Tillman after 5 1/3 innings, allowing him to leave on a high note.
"Like I said, he's a 22-year-old young man who's had a successful outing and starting to show a little bit of signs that it might be getting away from him. I'd rather he come out of there, regardless of what happens, with a win or a no-decision. Being a little protective of him in that situation, looking at his situation a little bit, how it's a little different than others. We had a full bullpen today.
"You knew the way that ball was flying around. I got a full feel for Camden Yards in a day game. I'm sure you all know what I'm talking about. I've already turned two or three times to people and gone, 'That ball went out of here?'"
The Orioles have their first series win over the Rays since April 2009.
Showalter isn't real excited with the term "spoilers."
"What's the opposite of spoilers? Something's not spoiled, it's...ripe? I don't know," Showalter said.
"I like to think more along the terms of what's best for the Baltimore Orioles, and if that happens as a result...The priority is the first part. It shouldn't matter whether or not somebody's in it or not in it.
"As tough as it is, I hope it doesn't happen, but there is something to be said for our guys watching guys have a game that gets them in the playoffs. I hope it isn't against us, but if it is, I want them to watch it because that's where we want to be one day. There's nothing like fall baseball. As Bill Parcells says, it's why you lift all those weights."
And put up with Lawrence Taylor.
As the Skipper said, Tillman had a good outing. He kept his team in the game, giving it a chance to win. It's easy to forget that he's just 22. I don't know about all the naysayers and doom-and-gloomers out there who think Tillman is a bust, but at 22 years old, I was in my first year of teaching high school English, and while I had plenty of enthusiasm and a good "minor league record" (i.e. I did well in college), I really had virtually no idea what I was doing in front of real kids in a real classroom. I now have been retired for three years after a 37-year career, and I can say it took my 5 years before I was really a good teacher. Patience!
Buck's totally right about disdaining the "spoiler" label. Using it puts the emphasis on the other team, when he's obsessed in improving his own team.
For the Orioles, the only thing good about winning series against teams in contention isn't hurting someone's playoff chances, but knowing that your club is getting better, because it's not until the O's can hold their own against the four tough teams in their division will that they start making strides towards contending themselves.
Great win by the O's, good outing by Tilman. I hope Andy will bring in a good FA, someone who is not over the hill, and who has Bucks passion for winning to lead this team. The youn kids are really starting to play a lot better (Matusz, and Wieters especially) This is a really importatnt offseason for the O's hopefully Andy will make wise decisions. In the past the O's would be folding, and I would do what I could to watch something else about now, but with Buck this team is fighting and is playing good ball right now. Thanks Roch for your hard work this season.
That 6th inning today was great to watch. I was thinking how long Qualls would stay in the game which was fine with me.
I want to thank MASN for having Sunday Night Baseball on. This Giants/Dodgers game is fun to listen to. Uh, Huff is up. Wish he could of done for the O's what he's doing with San Fran now. So he gets a base hit.
Are they talking about Huff's "lucky thong?" I'm not sure who they are talking about.
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Funny you mention Huff. I was in Canton bar tonight and Giants game was on one of the TVs. Someone pointed out that Huff was batting, so I shot him a text saying congrats on the numbers he's put up and letting him know we just happened to be watching him. Wasn't even sure I still had the right number. About 30 minutes later, I get a text from him saying, "Thanks buddy." - Roch
But the REAL story of the day...
The Brooks Robinson replica jerseys are ready! They can be picked up @ the Fan Assistance Center in the warehouse.
Hip Hip... Hooray!!!
Roch,
Showalter is really a remarkable manager. The effects he has had on the game from player, to fan, to front office is far more than I thought was possible. He's the kind of change that fans like me have always hoped we get but never did. He reminds me of the effect Sean Payton had with the Saints. And you know what - he wants the Orioles to win. It's personal for him. And that makes all the difference in the world.
A while ago, maybe it was you and if not, my apologies, someone mentioned Brian Cashman's ominous words of the Oriole future being bright, and he wasn't merely being polite. I don't have the knowledge that he does about the sport, but it sat with me that a man of his aptitude would make such a insightful statement. He saw what Showalter saw, and I bet seeing the Orioles finally fight back made Cashman smile a little bit because a man with his background didn't get where he is by shying away from a good fight, or being a bully.
The Orioles are really doing it - they're certainly respectable right now and it won't be long before they're feared. I ... I just never thought it could be this good, this fast.
Thank you Buck.
Jay in Northern Virginia.
And go by the name of "Tuna."
Wow, I've never heard of the whole not awarding the ineffective reliever the win thing before. Well... good for Simon, I guess. Nutsooooo.
I also love how Buck speaks in fragments. Lol @ "the opposite of spoilers"
I love "Showalter Time" almost as much as Miller Time!!! Great job Roch, keep up the good work!
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Thanks Josh. - Roch
...having said that... I hope we continue to spoil games in September! Chicago hasn't been quite right since we beat them 3/4. We jolted Anaheim out of their race, exposed the Rangers, and now showed Tampa Bay that we're no pushover. The key will be tomorrow in NY. Let's continue being a spoiler in the AL East!
I hate the Yankees...
Buck wasn't nearly this entertaining on BBTN.
OBSERVATIONS FROM THE LAND OF FLAT SCREENS & HI-DEF
* Evan "Langorio" Buck at today's post game press conference.
* Pretty sure that Stan the Fan did not sound obnoxious today; he seems to lower his voice, intentionally,during the press conference, to provide "gravitas" to his image. When STF interviewed the Director of the Lottery on "PressBox," -- he was so bubbly -- I thought he was going to go airborne.
* Brady's eyebrows do not match his jet-black hair color -- ά la Jim Palmer.
* "There's nothing like fall baseball." Buck Showalter, 9/5/10. Amen, brother!
* Monotone, expressionless delivery by Buck -- as if he's been botoxed
* At Oriole Park, because of the relatively low walls in left and center, should we not, if possible, make sure that our left and center fielders have the wherewithal to soar high enough to deprive the opposition of more home runs than we are currently doing? [right field seems to be less of a problem because of the scoreboard beneath the Flag Court.]
* I have noticed, on several occasions, that our left and center fielders track fly balls to incorrect the wrong locations at the wall; anyone else?
* Defensive runs saved are immense!
*In profile, do Wieters and Tillman resemble each other?
*GEICO'S parody of "Antiques Roadshow" is a grand slam -- "a bird in the hand is worth at least two in the bush."
Here's a tribute, Roch -- I can envision you presenting this proposal on behalf of your advertising agency Kubatko & Associates, which will boast of its/your talent by using the following slogan: "Let He Who Is Without a Grin, Call the First Roch."
* Roch,
Has Jim Palmer done fewer games this year than last year? If so, does it have anything to do with the guest commentators? I realize this is one area, where you are clueless like Arrieta; but, I'm throwing caution to the wind in the hope that you can venture an educated, or lucky guess.
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It was my understanding that he was doing half the games and Flanny the other half, like he used to do with Buck Martinez. - Roch
In baseball lingo, the opposite of spoiling or ruining is fixing or improving (our chances of being a playoff contender). Buck is on the right track. I'd like to see 12 more wins( at least) so the O's don't hit the 100 loss mark this year.
Did anyone else think Crawford looked like he was having a hard time in LF? There were several balls this series that I was surprised got past him. Is it something with Camden Yards, or just a tough stretch for a phenomenal fielder?
Hey Roch. While the fans were so into it yesterday because it was an exciting game, I think that the O's also fed off of the crowd. That was nice to see as opposed to the visiting players feeding off of their fans in our yard for once. Yesterday's game was probably the best one I've seen at the yard all season. On the way home I was listening to the postgame show on the radio, and Dave Johnson said that in his opinion Jimmy Johnson could be a starter next season. When we heard that my baby sister almost choked on her soda and I almost drove off the road. I can respect Dave Johnson as a former MLB pitcher, but I have to disagree. While Jim Johnson is a good reliever, I don't think he has the endurance to be a starter. That's not a knock on Johnson, but only an opinion. I think he can be a very effective reliever, and I don't hold yesterday's mishaps against him because he's been injured. Going into next year I'd like to see Guthrie be the veteran presence in the rotation, and have Matusz, Arrieta, Bergesen, and Tillman all as starters.
While Tillman's struggled this season, I saw a different pitcher out there yesterday than from earlier in the year. Not to mention that I felt he should have been in the rotation from the beginning, and I think that definitely hurt him when he eventually did come up early on. One thing I did notice was that Tillman went right after Carl Crawford on a 1-2 count, and Crawford ended up at third base. 1-2 is a great pitcher's count, and personally I'd rather see a breaking pitch low and away. Instead Tillman threw what appeared to be a fastball on the upper inside corner (that's what it looked like from where I was sitting), and it got hammered. While I applaud Tillman for going after a hitter like Crawford, if you can get him to chase on 1-2 you might end up with a K, and if not then you can come back inside on 2-2. Ultimately it didn't matter because we won the game, but if Crawford comes into score the game's tied at the end of nine (all other things being equal). But as Buck said, Tillman's 22 years old; and that aside I thought he pitched a great game yesterday.
Roch, new ref===I alwats say their is no such thingt as a stupid question, and the only stupid question is the one not asked, so I am asking you one...since I do not.. WILL YOU BE COVERING FOOTBALL during football season, as you do baseball.
Johnny in Chesapeake, Va
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I'll chime in when it comes to the Ravens and stuff happening around the NFL, but it's still going to be primarily Orioles. That seems to be the preference around here. - Roch
Buck Showalter's final comment about the Yanks: " I wanna figure out a way to beat 'em " says a heck of a lot about his approach.
And he will. Maybe not right away , but sometime.
Music to my ears.
Roch, when did that 'official scorer' rule that awards a win other than the 'pitcher of record' start? I don't remember that from the 60's and 70's. Is that something recent, like in the last 10 years, or has it always been there?
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Don't know the origin, but more than 10 years. - Roch
I just noticed the the Padres who had a comfortable lead in the NL west have lost 10 straight- you know, the kind of streak the O's were no stranger to prior to Tejada's departure. So where am I going with this? I am not sure what compelled me to look at the Tejada effect but it seems that TEAMS are simply not that productive with the guy in the lineup despite his considerable baseball talent. The O's and Astros from 2004-2009 were 482-590. That includes some monster years with the O's but some truly bad Orioles and Astros rosters. However, I do remember a nice little rebound during Tejada's wrist injury (playing .500+ ball for a month) in 2007 before returning to a horrific late season swoon upon his return. On the way to another disastrous late summer in 2010, the O's dealt Tejada and have played good ball since whereas the NL west leading Padres who had been doing just fine before his arrival are now 16-19 and currently riding a 10 game losing streak.
In all likelihood, the Tejada effect has very little to do with the man himself, but rather, the organizations that appraised his value in building their teams. Valuing Tejada as a middle of the order bat has been a critical error by previous regimes. Placing him high in the order also created problems. His declining fielding skills + range, terrible OBP and questionable baseball IQ at times may also be part of the equation. I don't think Tejada is a "bad" teammate. I think his passion and caring could be a huge asset on a great team. I have always felt like the Orioles all but lied to him and he had every right to complain in 2006. But it has been a long time since he substantially contributed to a team's victories.
But without Tejada we would not have Luuuuke and that guy could be a monster guy in the 6 or 7 spot for a great team. That is how we have to think if we want to join the playoff hunt. We finally need to pull the trigger on a Matt Holliday type FA this offseason. I think Buck convinces the FO to sit at the big boys table this winter.
Roch there was talk about Izzys batting average in day games compared to night , is it possible he may need glasses? I know they play way fewer day games but the numbers were kinda out of this world. Thanks for keeping the Orioles interesting all year,it wasnt an easy task.
When was the last time that an Oriole pitcher of record did not get credit for the win?
Also, how many times has a pitcher of record not got credit for the win in the Major Leagues in the last year?
I would be surprised if it happens no more than 5 times a season for all of MLB in a season? Am I correct?
Thanks,
I'm a Redskins fan primarily but also follow the Ravens, I would love if you covered the Ravens and the rest of the MD sports scene during the off-season.
I don't think so highly of Tejada but I highly doubt he's a primary factor in the Padres recent cold spell. The team has overachieved IMO, I think they'll bounce back.
A few quick questions...
Who is the current official scorer? Many years ago, I seem to remember that the official scorer was a member of the print media with either The (Morning) Sun, The Evening Sun or the News American. [Sad that two of those papers don't exist any longer.] I also seem to recall that the official scorer representative from each paper worked 1/3 of the season. I think Jim Henneman from the Sun performed the job for awhile. Perhaps Lou Hatter and Jim Elliot earlier.
What are the qualifications to be an official scorer? Does the person need to be a member of the Baseball Writers Association of America?
Does the person work for the Orioles or Major League Baseball?
Does the job still rotate among a number of people or is it one person's job on a recurring basis like the P. A. Announcer's position?
Thanks.
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Henneman and Mark Jacobson are the official scorers. - Roch