dc.

I got one hell of a burn too, Millz... down in sec 28, right by the dugout. Sun was scorching us all day - just no protection. But soooooooooooooooooo worth it. 1-4 this season. haha

Well... you never should get too ahead of yourself... but if you do bat Wieters there, you have to make the switch at catcher right then (end of inning)... or you can't pitch hit for Tatum later because Wieters would not be allowed out of the DH role. But again, plenty of options, even Montanez, when all we need is contact. Luke needs some serious time off like Gonzalez to get his stuff right.

I disagree... I mean, if I am Trembley I may have done a FEW things differently... but not many. I was right behind the O's dugout and yelling at him when he seemingly wanted to take Ohman out, but he left him in. Good move. He pinch hit for Tatum at the right time. The only switch I would have made would be to pinch hit for Scott in that dismal 8/9th inning at bat.

While pick-ups like Atkins, Wigginton, Millar, etc have consistently bugged me... that doesn't mean that every vet we've grabbed is a bad move. Tejada and Izturis are worth their salt. Additionally, I don't think you can contribute the power problems of Markakis, Jones and Wieters to the guys around them... Markakis especially is notorious for awful Aprils and Wieters is still approaching 162 games (full season mark). This team is bad. They will remain bad. And thanks to this start they will probably struggle to win more than 70 games. But I'm not sinking the investment in our young players because of the older players around them.

Hahahhaa... Our seniors are done next week, I think. Luckily, I don't teach any.

0-4 this season at home with me. Then again, just 1-8 right? Pathetic.

Im still holding my breath...

Well, in my time at MD I earned a double degree in Politics and Secondary Ed. Unfortunately, because of some timing issues, I wasn't able to do the kind of fast-track masters I wanted. Hoping to start that next year when I'm a bit more settled. I think my aim is admin, but who knows... (the dark side?) The co-teaching with your friend sounds great. I am still learning names in my school even, but trying to find some connections. In history, I use literature resources so frequently anyway that I wish I could collaborate/align more with the English department - but again, that's a project for next year. I guess I'm still in that super-optimistic mode (at times... at times I want to pull my hair out) and want to do so much with my classes, really 'embrace' the material in new ways. One of my biggest challenges this year has been coming in later in the year - the students were already used to certain styles of lessons and learning. At times I just want to blow it all away!

Yikes. That is a crazy course load indeed. In answer to your questions from the other thread - I started in early November of this year (right on start of 2nd quarter almost). I had actually been at the school as a sub prior (was unable to find a full-time position 08-09). Anyway, I teach social studies. Multiple sections of 9th grade World History (On-level and Honors). And one section of AP Euro - only teacher in the school teaching it too... ah! No HSAs, thankfully. I did have to deal with them in student-teaching experience a few years back (Howard Co). They weren't as brutal as I thought they might be; compared to now, I was actually pretty pleased with having a guideline of what to teach. Right now I sometimes feel like there is too little structure around instruction at times (never hear anyone say that, eh?) Anyway... Yes, it has been brutal (but fun) and I am feeling some sense of pride in having made it this far. Between coming in late and unscheduled February snow break, it's been pretty interesting. And of course the kids are starting to bounce off the walls. I can't wait to be really start fresh next year and 'make it mine.' By the by; I was a math-lete of sorts in high school. AP Calc AB, BC and Stat. It was nice - never had to take math again in college. Which of course has made all of my HS math teachers furious; "you were supposed to be an engineer, not a history teacher!" hahaha

Actually, technically Jim Johnson got the win - not Hernandez, because the O's never took the lead until the 10th. Still... take anything at this point. Rhyne Hughes is my new favorite Oriole.

That is definitely something to be proud of, Millz, and not just because of the standard "city schools are awful." Obviously some can be extremely difficult, but others are extremely impressive. And, of course, lots of good things have started to happen there in recent years - even if not Alonzo is a bit of a ego. I'm in my first full year at a local Catholic high school. Started mid-year, even... and my AP class takes its exam in just two weeks. AH!

I didn't know you were teacher... same here. Certainly part of why I bite my tongue when others my age don't seem to concern themselves with it. haha. Meanwhile..... ARGH. Ty Wigginton gets 4 hits tonight... but can't put it in play when it actually matters. Sigh. TY SWING BAT!

They were actually showing some life while I was cursing... but I didn't want to jinx it. Two on, one out... gotta get another run across. Unacceptable.

F'n right, dee!

Millz, sorry if you don't like the language. It comes out occasionally. As for patience... I think most around here will tell you (those who have seen me post at my peak) that I am about as patient as it comes with sports. Not too many highs or lows or blow-ups. But even I'm at my breaking point. It's just insane - I can't even wrap my head around it. And to top it off, I'm just beyond tired of listening to the Peter Angelos/Orioles PR machine that is the announcing crew. I said it preseason with the addition of Garrett Atkins (the 2010 version of Aubrey Huff, Ty Wigginton, Kevin Millar, Luke Scott, Marty Cordova, etc etc)... I can't handle having these guys shoving the "upside" down my throat. Ty Wigginton's having a decent two week stretch. Producing some runs, but simultaneously hitting into as many DPs and whatever else to kill rallies. But Ty Wiggington is not a solid baseball player. And Ty Wigginton is not going to be a part of this team's success long-term. But all April (and likely for the remainder of the season), we'll get to hear about "just what Ty can do" when he's on his game - and if only he can get that back. Just like we're hearing it right now about Scott and how "if he can find the zone he was in last May." And Garret Atkins finding his "2008 form." Guess what? It doesn't exist. Stop telling me that it's just unlucky that they aren't producing. Stop telling me they are good players who just need to find a groove. No. They are streaky, inconsistent players. That's why the Orioles were the only ones willing to sign them. And that's why this team is not going to succeed.

Well, he broke one bat... then took too much time getting his next bat cleaned up. Rookie mistake, but he seemed to be okay with the umps anyway. In other news: Fuck this baseball team. I don't know if I'm going to make it out of April as a fan of this team. And that's saying a lot. I may even demand a refund for my season tickets. This is pathetic.

Well, certainly not scoring enough is always a part of losing. ;) But we should be able to win tight games. We should be capable of (on occasion, at least) winning a game 3-2. Or 4-3. On tonight: I like Rhyne Hughes already.

I love me some accordion. And that's actually true... part of the reason I love Counting Crows so much is that they can do so many interesting things. But you can add accordion to rock... but you cannot simply rock accordion.

I like at the end of the video... "And we know who it is... Tebow." And then they all smirk. As in, "really, we just traded and got all this... and they wanted to move for Tebow?"

I agree. I mean, every night when I head upstairs and my girlfriend asks me "if they won," I just chuckle. And it is both sad and amusing... sad that we keep losing, amusing that we find new ways to do it and it ever surprises me. Sigh. A coworker reminded me of a good line in the original (1957) 12 Angry Men: "You follow a team?" "Yeah, the Baltimore Orioles." "The Baltimore Orioles?? That's like waking up and getting hit with a lead pipe every morning." Found actual quote, finally: .... yes, yes it is.

Seriously... I amazed at the ways we find to lose, still. Errors early in the game. Weak bats. STILL we manage to tie it, STILL we have a great chance to win... And we walk three straight batters to send in the go ahead run? What the fuck? I don't often do the "If I'm the manager..." ... but that IS a situation where I say "JUST THROW A FUCKING STRIKE." You know, you can't always get on a hitter for taking a bad hack or watching a pitch go by ... but when three straight hitters see nothing but balls? Blow your fucking stack. Meanwhile... Wieters was safe at second.

Fanatic, you're going to have to explain this "draft value" number thing to me... what is 40 points in draft value? Who assigns points? To players? To pick spots? How does two spots in the first round = 40 points? It's all psuedo science... something tells me Bryant's going to bust. Clayton was a 1st round pick too, remember? There are goods and bads and lots of in the middle... and numbers can't solve the draft.

Are we forgetting that "trading up" requires, um, TRADING SOMETHING. What do you give up to get that pick? Which later round pick? We're already short on picks. Meanwhile... "Scouted as Top 15!!!" or "40 points in draft value!!" ... what does that even mean? When Dez busts, when Dan busts... we'll know. Why would a guy "rated top 15" still be there at 25? Apparently no one else was ranking him top 15.

I agree... in fact, I was thinking all week... I'm hearing way too many names surrounding the Ravens... and most of them are either "if he makes it..." or "if they reach..." Well... Oz won't reach. And none of them made it. When Dez and Demayrius were gone, the bow out seemed like a smart move... JMHO. I'm sure we'll find plenty later.

I believe so. Until our second win, I was hearing "worst start since 88" all the time and I don't know any time we've been worse. Perhaps 55-57, but would have to check.