Another week, another string of losses for the O’s. The 2010 O’s, at 17-47, have the same record after 64 games as the epochally awful 1988 Orioles–remember the 0-21 start? But, believe it or not, there is some good news that came out of this week.
Youngsters Chris Tillman, Brian Matusz, and rookie Jake Arrieta all pitched extremely well this week. Tillman was a hard luck loser against the Yankees, pitching 6 innings and giving up only two earned runs. Arrieta, making his major league debut against the Bronx Bombers, threw six innings of four hit ball and yielded only three earned runs to pick up the victory. Brian Matusz pitched great against the Mets, but got the loss despite his solid eight innings and only three earned runs (only two if you saw Lugo’s throw to first on a relay). Hopefully things can get turned around this week as the O’s travel to the West Coast to face the Giants and Padres. Oh, and it looks like Alfredo Simon will be back on Tuesday to help out with the closer’s role. (Thank goodness!!)
WHO’S HOT: The aforementioned Big Three of Tillman, Matusz, and Arrieta. Hopefully they can continue to grow and improve. Come next year, these guys will be at the front of the rotation, so the rest of the season will be fun to watch! Nick Markakis had a great week for the O’s. Markakis hit .400 on the week, going 10 for 25 with five doubles and four RBI. Another good sign was Adam Jones hitting .292 on the week with a home run and five RBI.
WHO’S NOT: Middle infielders Julio Lugo and Cesar Izturis. For the week they hit .190 and .143 respectively, which prompted Scott Moore to be thrown in the mix. Kevin Millwood as also been way off lately. On the week, Millwood was lit up by the Yankees, allowing six ER in only 5.2 IP. Then on Sunday against the Mets, Willwood laid a total egg, pitching (if that even qualifies as pitching) 5.1 IP and allowing eight ER. Hopefully Millwood can right his ship and get back to how he was pitching earlier in the season (so we can trade him and get some good young talent of course!)
—by Andy Mindzak
