Ongoing Orioles thread.....

[cravnravn]

Only 6 1/2 back. Tampa can't keep this pace up.

 

FYI price is a free agent at seasons end, I want him bad on our staff

[dc.]

Fading - certainly a bit of a struggle at the moment. But compared to last year? Still half a game better / faster to 61 wins than last year.

 

Last July we actually posted a losing record before going 18-9 in August and 19-9 in September. Do I think that is going to be this year's reality? Not necessarily, but "compared to last year" is bull. We are better than last year and have been all season long.

[dc.]

Als0 - we have 16 games against just the Sox and Rays in the remaining months. We've been outplaying the Sox all season, so step one is to simply re-up against them. Step two is to up it against the Rays.

[vmax]

They have to start gaining ground now.

[cravnravn]

We kicked ass this afternoon

[dc.]

The 5.5 back today is the same exact as it was on this date last season - and we are actually 3 games better. It's just a better division around us.

 

I am just more stating that this "not as good" or "fuming" talk is ... bull.

[Spen]

That's a good win there....

[cravnravn]

Looks like we have a Ray on the line, Reel em in O's

[cravnravn]

1 1/2 games behind Tampa, 1 1/2 game out of the Wild Card

[Spen]

I think Johnson needs a break from closing for a week or so.......

[dc.]

I just hate that he keeps getting beat on dink and dunk ball. I hate the phrase - but it sometimes doesn't seem fair. Guys are just putting balls in the right spots, but not always hitting it well. I am giving him too much credit. But I still don't know our other options (obviously KRod to close - but JJ still has to pitch somewhere!)

[varaven45]

I think Johnson needs a break from closing for a week or so.......

Yep !

[cravnravn]

Ugggggggh

[varaven45]

Last year JJ was absolute lights out. What's happened to him this year ? Don't tell me he's just having a couple of bad games.

[cravnravn]

No, the fact is he is on pace of last years..

 

Alarming stat, JJ leads the majors in saves, and also leads the majors in blown saves..Maybe Buck is over using him? I dont know.

[varaven45]

Really ? He had 9 blown saves last year? I must have been watching the Yokishima Orioles

[dc.]

On pace meant to get the same number of saves... which obviously means that he's pitching more... which isn't as easy at his age.

 

He's also struggled with his command a bit. Palmer had a good line on it... if his fastball misses, players won't chase the sinker. His fastball is missing a lot - producing either walks or hittable pitches.

 

As I said, the sad thing to me is that he's not getting killed on the 'big hit' in most cases - he's getting killed with walks and with singles. His fastball is still nasty and not many will hit it out. But they can do more with it than with the sinker.

 

Overpitched, definitely. Poor command, of course. And "not being a strike out pitcher" is hurting as well.

[cravnravn]

Interesting, a closer look at his 9 blown saves

 

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-orioles-closer-jim-johnson-blown-saves-in-2013-pg,0,111200.photogallery

[varaven45]

Just went to Os game. Watched the JJ meltdown continue as he serves up a 9th inning tater to 39 yr old Todd Helton.

[deeshopper]

Yikes.

[dc.]

In a game we were already losing 5-2, right? Isn't that exactly where you wanted him to pitch?

[varaven45]

Yeah, what's up with the mop up role business ?

Either way, the guy just ain't right. Homer to Todd Helton !

[cravnravn]

Only silver lining, Boston is also in a funk..

 

We are only 5 1/2 back

[Spen]

No runs after bases loaded with one out is going to come back and hurt us.....

[cravnravn]

Im kkeping the faith Spen