masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgWhile wondering why Major League Baseball insists that teams celebrate Memorial Day by wearing ugly caps…

Matt Wieters commits his first error and Jack Cust triples.

So it’s going to be that kind of a day?

Jake Arrieta threw 24 pitches in the first inning while surrendering two runs to the Mariners and putting the Orioles in an early hole.

Arrieta receives a lot of run support. He’ll need at least three today.

Arrieta gave up two hits, including Cust’s first three-bagger, and…While wondering why Major League Baseball insists that teams celebrate Memorial Day by wearing ugly caps…

Matt Wieters commits his first error and Jack Cust triples.

So it’s going to be that kind of a day?

Jake Arrieta threw 24 pitches in the first inning while surrendering two runs to the Mariners and putting the Orioles in an early hole.

Jake-Arrieta_White-LookingIn-OD2011-Tall.gif

Arrieta receives a lot of run support. He’ll need at least three today.

Arrieta gave up two hits, including Cust’s first three-bagger, and walked a batter. None of the Orioles’ starters completed six innings in the Oakland series. Manager Buck Showalter, despite having Chris Jakubauskas as an extra reliever, would appreciate if Arrieta could go a little deeper.

Arrieta has gone at least six innings in eight of his 11 starts. He’s gone more than six only once, when he completed seven innings in a May 4 start in Kansas City.

Showalter knew he’d need a solid bullpen this season to provide a safety net for his young starters. Two of them, Brad Bergesen and Chris Tillman, were shipped to Triple-A Norfolk because they couldn’t provide enough innings and control their pitch counts.

Arrieta isn’t going anywhere, but he’s another example of a young starter who needs to become more of a strike thrower. There are no rules against working quickly and pounding the zone.

I think we’ve all had our fill of full counts.

Update: Showalter almost had to go to his bullpen in the third inning after Ichiro Suzuki’s shot up the middle nailed Arrieta on the left shin. Arrieta stayed in the game after being checked by head athletic trainer Richie Bancells and throwing a few warmup pitches.

Update II: Arrieta issued back-to-back bases-loaded walks with one out in the third, giving him a season-high four free passes, and he’s out of the game. Yes, it’s another bullpen day.

Arrieta was squeezed badly on the last pitch to Adam Kennedy. It appeared that he caught the inside corner and didn’t get the call.

Arrieta limped to the dugout after turning in his shortest outing.