masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe reality must be setting in after a scoreless weekend in Boston that the Orioles are now on the brink of official elimination from the 2015 playoff race. Their elimination number is 2 as they begin the final homestand tonight against Toronto.
Another reality is also at hand – some players may be playing their final week in an Orioles uniform. Pending free agent catcher Matt Wieters is on that list of players. Has he thought about that yet?
“I’m trying to embrace it and enjoy this last bit…

The reality must be setting in after a scoreless weekend in Boston that the Orioles are now on the brink of official elimination from the 2015 playoff race. Their elimination number is 2 as they begin the final homestand tonight against Toronto.

Another reality is also at hand – some players may be playing their final week in an Orioles uniform. Pending free agent catcher Matt Wieters is on that list of players. Has he thought about that yet?

“I’m trying to embrace it and enjoy this last bit of the season,” Wieters said this afternoon. “I’ve been very fortunate being able to be here as long as I have and would love to stay here. But that is all stuff that will be controlled and talked about in the offseason. What I can control now is just enjoying this last week and taking it for what it is.”

Wieters said he has loved all his time wearing an Orioles uniform.

wieters-finished-swing-white-sidebar.jpg“Oh yeah. That is the only thing I’ve ever known. This is a great franchise. And the guys I’ve been around in this clubhouse and that have come up with me are really great guys and fun guys to play with. I’ve had an amazing tenure here and hopefully it continues. But that will be something to discuss in the offseason,” he said.

Wieters’ immediate task tonight is to try and help Chris Tillman finally pitch well against Toronto. Tillman is 0-4 with a 15.50 ERA in five starts against the Blue Jays this year, giving up 31 runs and 35 hits including nine homers over 18 innings.

“Tonight, he needs to just make his pitches,” Wieters said. “The hardest part about struggling is somebody remembering his struggles. The only way to get over it is to forget the past and go out there and make pitches. He has had games he has thrown well against them, so it’s in there.

“Timing is big with this team. You better have multiple off-speed pitches and be able to locate your fastball. Hopefully, Tilly will have that tonight and we go from there.”

Tillman has had a year where he is 10-11 with a 5.16 ERA in 29 starts. His ERA has been above 5.00 all but one month this year and is is 8.39 in September.

“In this clubhouse, we still love having him go out there every fifth day. Even though this year probably hasn’t been numbers-wise what he expected. Just his presence and attitude on the mound makes us feel like we have a chance to win that game,” Wieters said.