Official 2012 Baltimore Orioles Thread

[Fight4RGIII]

Johnson has looked shaky recently so the blow up didn't surprise me at all. I knew it was going to happen soon. Just happened at the worst time. We get this one tonight and go to NYC and do what we have done all year in NYC, take 2/3.

I was there last night, got home at 2 am and now guzzeling coffee at work. Time to do it all again tonight and continue to lose my voice. Tuesday night, I might go to sleep around 7pm to catch up on sleep.

[KingGibbs]

Well that certainly sucked. Johnson just got completely deflated when he gave up the dinger. After that, he couldn't get his sinker or fast ball down in the zone.

Let's do what we've done all year. Wash our hands and get back to business. Chen scares me though.

Yesterday was one of those "My life sucks" days when it comes to my teams.

[TD_washingtonredskins]

Well, you want to shoot your bullets, but shoot them when it's proper.
Could have kept squeezing off shots with Matusz in that situation, IMO.

~Bang

Sure, but at home it is tough to predict when you will need your closer once you get to the 9th and it isn't a save situation.

---------- Post added October-8th-2012 at 12:58 PM ----------

I've re-thought my initial opinion on how the 8th went after Hardy led off with a double. I originally thought we should have bunted Jones but realize now that Buck probably did the right thing. You use a bunt to get to the situation we were in...runner on second, no outs, and your 3, 4, and 5 hitters coming up. They just failed in that inning.

---------- Post added October-8th-2012 at 12:57 PM ----------

I've re-thought my initial opinion on how the 8th went after Hardy led off with a double. I originally thought we should have bunted Jones but realize now that Buck probably did the right thing. You use a bunt to get to the situation we were in...runner on second, no outs, and your 3, 4, and 5 hitters coming up. They just failed in that inning.

[Warhead36]

You can't bunt a hitter like Jones. He's your 3 hole hitter, he's paid to drive in runs. Against a lineup like the Yankees you don't give away outs, even if it's late in a tie game.

[Fight4RGIII]

You can't bunt a hitter like Jones. He's your 3 hole hitter, he's paid to drive in runs. Against a lineup like the Yankees you don't give away outs, even if it's late in a tie game.

Not to mention, even if you bunt him, the Yanks more than likely walk Wieters to set up the DP for Mark Reynolds. Mark isn't the greatest Sac Fly guy and he K's/grounds out a lot.

[DjTj]

Well, you want to shoot your bullets, but shoot them when it's proper.
Could have kept squeezing off shots with Matusz in that situation, IMO.

~Bang

Buck has been using Matusz for lefty-lefty matchups, and has very rarely pitched him more than one inning. He was brought in to get out Cano and left in to finish the inning. If Granderson had been leading off the ninth inning, I think it's possible that Matusz would have stayed in, but with the right-handed Russell Martin leading off, Buck had probably already decided he was going to Johnson after the top of the 8th. I think that Buck goes with Johnson just about every time in that situation. He doesn't want Matusz to throw too many pitches because he needs him to be available for a late game situation the next day if he really needs to get an out against Cano or another one of the Yankees' left-handed bats.

Our bullpen roles are pretty clear: Johnson is the closer. O'Day and Matusz are the setup guys with O'Day matching up against right handers and Matusz against left handers. Tommy Hunter is used for longer relief. Ayala, Patton, and Strop are there for the middle innings or if we really get stretched. Johnson had an off night, but the bullpen has been our strength all year, and Buck has managed them very well.

Maybe we can just score a bunch of runs early, and make it easier tonight?

[Ellis]

Thome back in the lineup.

[fullnelson9999]

I'm definitely more fond of the O's lineup against right handers.

[TD_washingtonredskins]

Thome needs to pay off TONIGHT.

[Fight4RGIII]

Weets, Mark, and Thome are going to go back to back to back tonight and Orioles Magic will reign.

[DM72]

Thome needs to pay off TONIGHT.

I'm expecting more from Jones than Thome. Whatever Thome does is a bonus. Jones is supposed to be the closest thing to a superstar that we have. It's time for him to step up.

[TD_washingtonredskins]

I'm expecting more from Jones than Thome. Whatever Thome does is a bonus. Jones is supposed to be the closest thing to a superstar that we have. It's time for him to step up.

That would be nice too!

[abdcskins]

Tonight is it. We must win, or the season is over. And that's the truth. I am not ready for this ride to end. We need to come out and show these bastards what we are made of. ORIOLES NEVER DIE.

[TheDoyler23]

Let's Go O's!

[DM72]

Another rain delay.