A Good Time to be an O's Fan

Oh boy, the air is electric in Baltimore today. I would like to echo the sentiments of Baltimore Sun writer Peter Schmuck in wishing all a Happy Wieters Day, as all of us can look forward to his arrival tonight against the Detroit Tigers. Not only this but the Orioles have won four in a row (six of their last seven), recent call-up Nolan Reimold has taken a hold of the left field job, and young pitchers like Jason Berken and David Hernandez have held their own in their first major league starts.

The recurring theme in all of these pieces of good news is youth. The exemplary play of the Orioles rookies this season -- all of whom came up through this system -- has been the biggest reason to hope and the biggest reason the Orioles have gone on their recent tear. Not too long ago, Nolan Reimold was a forgotten prospect; he had been hampered by injuries and seemed to be losing the window to make it to the bigs as a full-time player. Fast forward to this season, and Reimold was not only able to reaffirm prospect status but has solidified the every day left field position with the O's. Reimold's swing looks far better than it looked in Bowie last year, as he still has the raw power but has improved his plate coverage considerably. The last key for him was in making adjustments, and he seems to be doing just that.

The young pitchers have to give O's fans a ton of hope, as Bergesen, Berken, and Hernandez have all won their major league debuts and all have shown the flashes of ability that they could stick for awhile here. And the best news with these three is that they aren't close to the best that the organization has to offer when it comes to pitching talent. The big guns are still on the way in Tillman, Arrieta, Matusz, Patton, et al. David Hernandez is the most intriguing of the pitchers in the majors right now, because there is significant conversation over whether or not he'll be a starter in the long term. Based on his debut, I believe there is some more credence to the idea that he could be a starter, because his changeup was used very effectively and he flashed the curveball. If he can regularly throw all four pitches (fastball, slider, change, curve) for strikes and go 100+ pitches as he did yesterday, I don't see why he can't make it as a starter with the adjustments he's made. Brad Bergesen was the earliest of these to come up, but he's fallen on a rough patch and looks to reassert himself tonight.

Bergesen will be throwing to his Bowie battery-mate Matt Wieters tonight, which is easily the biggest point of excitement for O's fans today. It's hard to argue with all of this excitement, because there have been so few reasons for Orioles fans to be happy recently, and Matt has been touted universally by baseball people to be the real deal. I'll be fascinated to see just how he handles the pressure; it's alot to ask a kid to be the savior of a franchise, and one has to hope that it doesn't cause him to press too much at the plate or behind it.

Reimold Rocks Blue Jays World

Normally leading eight to three against the Orioles is a sure thing win. After all, the Birds had never won a game this season when trailing into the eighth inning........until today.

The O's rallied back to tie the game at eight, and despite a home run by Aaron Hill in the 11th to give the Jays a 10-8 lead, Nolan Reimold capped off a second rally with a three run blast to win it for the O's 12-10, giving them their first three-game sweep of the season, coming against Cito Gaston's Blue Jays. Dave Trembley said this is a win he will remember for a long time.

Before this season started, Reimold was not expected to be a big part of the Orioles this season. The left field options were between returning Luke Scott, new acquisition Felix Pie, and Lou Montanez, who was the big contact hitter in Norfolk. But with injuries and/or lack of production from the above three, up comes Reimold after tearing up the Tides. He has not been a dominant player, but in just 13 games played he has hitting .265 with four home runs, including one dinger off Mariano Rivera.

It just goes to show that no matter what the situation, there is a place for those people that play well. Reimold in no way was expected to be an important part of the Orioles this season, but has likely earned a roster spot for a good while.

Another Baby Bird, David Hernandez, will take to the mound on Thursday. He'll be the second player from Norfolk to have their premiere this week, and third will be Matt Wieters on Friday. Should be a fun couple of days for Orioles fans.

(Photo credit: Baltimore Sun)

Rolling out the Orange Carpet for Matt Wieters

Windsor is off on yet another vacation, and while I am still technically on sabbatical from ATH for the rest of this week I couldn’t in good conscience leave it with only one writer for the week.

Well folks, it is time. There has been a great deal of debate over whether to bring up Chris Tillman or David Hernandez, whether it is time to release Felix Pie or any of the underperforming pitchers, this move was never in debate and predicted long before the season started. That’s right, Matt Wieters is coming to Baltimore starting. The team was waiting for Wieters to sit out the first month of the season so that he would have an extra year under team control before he would reach free agency (a very sound decision in my opinion), and for him to go on a hot streak to ride into his time in the majors. After a seemingly torturous wait, he is taking over on Friday against the Detroit Tigers.

It couldn’t come at a better time, either. I have enjoyed watching Gregg Zaun, believe it or not, and have really rooted for him to succeed. He truly enjoys the game, and his struggles remind me a lot of Kevin Millar, another lighthearted veteran who was long past his prime by the time he got to the Orioles. However, Zaun’s smile won’t make up for a pathetic appearance on both sides of the plate. His .216 average is his worst since 1998 and second worst in his career. His throws to second to gun down runners have been wild, and there is a chance that part of the struggles of the O’s pitching staff has been a product of his calling of games. Zaun will still be able to serve as an excellent mentor for Wieters, but he is not and has not been a true starting catcher in a long time. Baltimore fans should be grateful for his time, enthusiasm, and energy, but not for his play.

However, I am not going to join the chorus of sportswriters and fans who think that Wieters will dive right into the 3 spot in the order and start giving Joe Mauer a run for his money as best catcher in the American League. Matt Wieters will have his struggles, if only at first. The Georgia Tech standout took a while to get going in AAA, only recently going .391 in his last 46 at bats to pull his batting average to .305. This rookie has never seen major league pitching, and his adjustment time to Norfolk will only be exacerbated at the major league level, particularly against the pitching staffs of the AL East. Additionally, it is a lot tougher to call a game in the majors than in the minors. The hitters know all the tricks, and Wieters needs to gain the knowledge and skills that only experience can teach. He will be great, but it could take time.

Nor can this move be used as an excuse to bring up the other youngsters, particularly in the pitching staff. Wieters was a known commodity, and he has nothing more he can learn at the minor league level- I will leave the arguments for not spoiling pitching prospects to Falco and Windsor, but Wieters is a unique case. He is not being brought up in desperation or for lack of any other option (though the organization doesn’t really have any other good options at catcher). This move won’t turn the O’s around, but it will definitely give fans another reason to watch and could add a few wins here and there by September.

I will be in town to see the game on Saturday, and perhaps get a glimpse of some historic event in the young catcher’s career. It certainly won’t be the last one.

Here He Comes: Matt Wieters Coming Up, as is David Hernandez

Andy MacPhail has made the move; Matt Wieters will be brought up from Norfolk for his major league debut on Friday against the Tigers. Also coming up for Thursday will be David Hernandez according to the Baltimore Sun, as Koji Uehara will be heading to the DL.

For Orioles fans, Wieters coming up is big. The best prospect in the entire minor leagues has been hyped up the last two years, and will play in Camden Yards Friday. He has done well with the Tides, batting above .300.

What is important to know is that Wieters is not going to be a savior this season or next season. For all of his talent, it is very unlikely that he will have a great season. He could have a decent one, this will not make the Orioles a winning team this season. But it is exciting to finally see him in the orange and black. The Orioles had been waiting to bring him up because of arbitration issues, but now he is ready to go.

But also, David Hernandez is coming up. There had been rumors that he might be the next person, and for the Orioles the hand is forced due to Uehara's injury. Check out Windsor's Prospect Report on him here. So far numerous pitchers from Norfolk have been needed. To name them, Brad Bergeson, Jason Berken, Radhames Liz, Matt Albers, and now David Hernandez. Let's just hope that Chris Tillman is not added to that list anytime soon.

(Photo credit: MASN)

To Orioles Fans: Be Patient

It has been a while since we've posted here, but don't worry, we are back. We all are just busy, but hopefully once things get a little more steady we will be back in full force.

With this, it has been nice for the Orioles lately. They won two out of three in the Battle of the Beltway with the Nats and they won the Memorial Day matinee with Toronto. But, with people are getting hurt and with the release of Adam Eaton, more rosters moves are being made. Jason Berken has been called up and will start today for the Birds. For info on him, check out Windsor's Prospect Report on him. Berken has done very well in his five starts with Norfolk this season, going 2-0 with a 1.05 ERA and 16 strikeouts to six walks.

But one thing that has been occurring is the fans are getting more impatient. Attendance for the Orioles is down, and many people want to see Matt Wieters and the big three pitchers in the majors. 11 losing seasons about to be 12 is upsetting fans. Many were wondering and hoping if Chris Tillman was coming up in the roster, one of the big three pitchers. Especially with the initial successes of Brad Bergeson and Nolan Reimold, who were not the highly touted people, we should bring up the bigger names, right?

But to all Orioles fans, we need to be patient, and wait this out.

In this day and age, we have all come to a "football mentality" of we want things happening sooner rather than later. It is especially frustrating when the Orioles have had losing seasons numerous years and the AL East is routinely beating Baltimore. But Andy MacPhail is right not to rush anyone that is very important, mainly Matt Wieters, Chris Tillman, Brian Matusz, and Jake Arrieta. Bringing them up now will not make the Orioles a competitive team when they are not ready will only hurt their chances to reach their potential.

In the past, the Orioles have had issues bringing up farm system players too quickly. Daniel Cabrera and Jeff Fiorentino come to mind. Cabrera had all the potential in the world to be a dominating fastball-changeup pitcher, even many opposing general managers felt so, but was brought up from Bowie in 2004 after less than a full season there. He had some bright spots, but he never established control and is now off the roster. Jeff Fiorentino was another player with great potential as an outfielder. In 2005 when the team needed outfielders, he was brought up from single-A Frederick, and although he played all right, he never got to his potential. After bouncing to a couple teams in 2008 he landed back on the Orioles, but he is not expected to be a major part of the Orioles future. He is currently in Norfolk batting .254.

The Orioles will not be competitive if they bring up any of the four above players, and they can't waste their potential. Bring them up when they are ready. Likely Wieters will be up this year and at least Tillman will join be the start of next season. But MacPhail is doing the right thing and being patient with these players.

We need to be as well. It is hard, but being patient with the young Birds is the way to go. But for now, let's celebrate the successes of the ones that have come into the majors, and good luck to Berken today.

(Photo credit: Baltimore Sun)

Congratulations to Windsor and Falco!

In a shameless and cliche move, I have to congratulate my two compadres on this blog on graduating from the University of Maryland. They have worked so hard on their studies, the radio, this blog, and way more than any of our readers know to make this possible. These guys have been close friends of mine for years, and I have never met people with stronger characters than these guys.

As they continue off in their professional careers in different parts of the country (though Windsor will certainly be staying in-state), we will continue to post and continue to share our opinions on this blog (though possibly with a few more interruptions from time to time). These guys are consummate professionals, and I look forward to keeping this little world of ours alive for years to come.

Congrats again guys!

Prospect Report: Jake Arrieta

Welcome to a special Tuesday edition of the Prospect Report, and today we’ll take a look at one of the finest young pitchers in the Orioles’ system. Jake Arrieta was much acclaimed out of college and has lived up to the hype in his first two professional seasons. This year he has certainly not disappointed, particularly in his most recent start for the Bowie Baysox on May 16th. In that start, Baysox fans were treated to an exceptional performance in which he pitched seven innings of one-hit ball in which he struck out ten batters while walking three. In this he tied a career high in strikeouts and went the deeper into a ballgame than in any other start this year.

So, who is Jake Arrieta? Jake Arrieta is entering his second professional season at the age of 23. The right-handed starter has a solid frame at 6’4” and 225 pounds. Jake was drafted in the 5th round of the 2007 MLB Amateur Draft out of Texas Christian University. At TCU he was the staff ace, going 9-3 with a 3.01 ERA in 17 starts and struck out 93 batters in 98.1 innings. After his junior year there were significant signability concerns which caused him to drop as far as he did in the draft, but Joe Jordan and the Orioles took the risk and were willing to pay him far out of slot to join the organization. Thus far this has paid off greatly, as he burst onto the scene last year as he went straight into Advanced-A ball where he was named the Carolina League pitcher of the year with his league leading 2.87 ERA and striking out batters at a rate of over 1 for each inning pitched. He also pitched six shutout innings for Team USA in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Arrieta had a brief stint with the major league club in spring training, and most likely is headed up to Triple-A Norfolk at some point this season.

Strengths: Without a doubt, Jake’s greatest strength is his dominating fastball. His fastball has been clocked as high as 97 mph, and uses it to set up his breaking pitches exceptionally well. At his most recent start (according to the Baysox stadium radar gun), Jake regularly hit between 89-94 mph, occasionally touching 95 mph. When Arrieta varies speeds and locates effectively, there are very few minor leaguers who can touch his stuff. His off-speed pitches are improving, particularly his hard slider which has an excellent late break. Jake Arrieta’s delivery is smooth, and he conceals the ball well as he doesn’t expose it to the hitter until the last moment. He has also fielded his consistently well, which will certainly serve him well in the majors.

Weaknesses: While his fastball can be dominant, Jake Arrieta has issues with consistency in his location. Even in his dominant Saturday start, Arrieta inexplicably lost his command during the second inning in which he threw around 30 pitches. This not only leads to high pitch counts, but it bodes poorly for the future in that upper-level hitters will not chase so many pitches out of the zone. While his slider is getting to be a plus pitch for him, his curveball and changeup need significant work. If Arrieta is to become an accomplished major league starter he will need to find a third pitch that can keep hitters honest.

Projection: There have been some rumblings amidst O’s fans that Arrieta might end up in the bullpen because of his fastball-slider combination (including myself to some extent late last season), but I see no reason that Arrieta should be pegged as a bullpen pitcher. First and foremost, Jake has shown the endurance required to make it as a starter despite his recent issues getting deep into games. For proof look no further than Saturday’s start in which he was still throwing 94 mph after he had cleared the 100 pitch mark. Jake Arrieta has a sound delivery and an ideal frame for a starting pitcher, and with some refinement in his control he should transition very well to the majors. The Orioles have long said that Arrieta’s on the fast track and his progression has given them no reason to alter that philosophy. Many scouts think Arrieta has the potential to be a staff ace, but I see his ceiling as more of a number two starter for this team. Jake will be in Norfolk later this season and should make the starting rotation by mid-season next year at the very latest.

(Photo Credit: Rob Tringali/Getty Images)

Johns Hopkins, Maryland Done in the NCAAs

For the first time in quite a while, the men's lacrosse NCAA Tournament Final Four will not have a representative from the state of Maryland. The two remaining teams from the state, Hopkins and Maryland, were taken down over the weekend in the quarterfinals.

For Hopkins, the defensive issues finally gave in, as Virginia lit them up in the rematch 19-8. The Wahoos were up 12-4 at halftime and always had control. Hopkins had a great season, earning the 8-seed thanks to some closely fought games. Brian Christopher had a couple game winning goals against Loyola and Brown to push them farther into the season, and they had a good run.

Maryland fell at the hands of defending national champion Syracuse 11-6. The Terps were close at halftime 5-3, but could not beat the ride or the defense. Not only that, goalie Brian Phipps tore his ACL protesting a no-call, and became the laughing stock of the sports world for a day. But the year had huge expectations, and even though it was disappointing, they got through the first round and reached the quarterfinals again.

Navy and UMBC fell to Duke and North Carolina respectively in the first round. So every team is out from the state of Maryland. The Final Four will make up Virginia, Syracuse, Duke, and Cornell.

This was a great year for these four teams; all had their strengths. Navy had a shutdown defense, Hopkins always won the close ones, Maryland had a solid attack core, and UMBC had one of the best first midfields. Even though it is over, all four squads should be proud of their season. We won't forget the great Hopkins-Maryland matchup in the Day of Rivals, the defensive battle between UMBC and Princeton, or the thrilling overtime game between Hopkins and Loyola. This year was a great one.

Free Kicks

Well while Windsor and Falco get ready for their last finals, yours truly has to prepare for work on Monday- which will require me to take a couple weeks off of the blog to get acclimated to the new job. However, I am looking into a possible guest writer once a week, and I am certain that Falco and Windsor can put some things together to cover the rest of the days that I am off. So, for the last time until June, let’s line up for the kick…

The Hill Overlooking Baltimore
The way has been cleared for a rejuvenated and (hopefully) repaired Rich Hill to start tomorrow for the Orioles as they take on Kansas City on the road. Hill, the high risk high reward acquisition from the Cubs (one of several so far in 2009) has had his mechanics completely rebuilt by pitching coach Rick Kranitz and other members of the Orioles coaching staff, some of whom helped him establish himself in the minors- and so far it has paid off. After going on the DL in late March with shoulder problems. Hill has made 3 minor league starts on his way back to the starting rotation. After giving up a run in three innings at Frederick, he has only allowed two earned runs in 13.1 innings at AAA Norfolk, including not allowing a run in his last 2 starts.

More importantly however, is that is walks are way down from last year, when he handed out about a free pass every inning as his pitching motion broke down and injuries took their toll. At Norfolk, he gave up only 9 bases on balls and started to recover some of the command that made him one of the best strikeout pitchers in the majors in 2007 with 14 Ks in Norfolk (including 7 in 6 innings in his last start). Hill knows that his best opportunity to succeed is here in Baltimore where he has a supportive coaching staff, patience from the front office, and a decent offense to work behind. He will be expected to go 6 or 7 innings and give the bullpen some semblence of rest, which should be bolstered by Hendrickson’s move to a long relief role.

Here’s hoping that a Michigan Man can get it done in Baltimore.

Amazing is Happening
The Rockets didn’t dominate the game after the first 10 minutes of the 1st quarter. But they didn’t have to. Houston simply hung with LA and made shots when they had to once the Lakers cut the lead to 2 in the second half. However, as much as I would love to give all the credit to Houston, Kobe’s team simply did not show up last night. There is no way that the Lakers go down 21-3 to start the game if they actually took this one seriously going in. Their dominating victory in Game 5 shows what happens when they play tough to the hole and use their size with Gasol, Odom, and Bynum underneath to match up with Scola, Houston’s lone rebounding threat with Mutumbo and Ming out. The fact that the Rockets were only outrebounded by 6 is incredible given the small lineup that they have to play, and is indicative of a lack of heart by the Lakers. I will be rooting hard for Houston to pull this one out in Game 7, but I don’t expect the Lakers to allow a repeat of last night on their home court.

Orlando should have won this series in 5 games. Now they will have to do it in Boston, where they choked away the opportunity to take a commanding lead in the series. As I said before, Orlando is the better team but Boston will win the series. Whenever you give a talented, veteran squad like the Celtics chances to get back in a series, they will eventually win enough legitimate games to take it away from you. Given the dissention in the lockerroom and inconsistent playing styles that the Magic are coming out with every game, expect Ray Allen to do better than 0-7 from three point range and take the Celts to Cleveland.

Finals Week > Prospect Reports

... apparently. Basically I just wanted to put up this note because I have been unable to put up Prospect Reports this week or last week. For some reason this whole "final exam" thing decided to scuttle my plans... But! It will be made up. Next week I'll be profiling two of the Orioles' up and coming prospects, one on Tuesday and one on Thursday. I appreciate everyone's patience and Go O's (... and Tides, Baysox, Keys, and Shorebirds)!