I really don’t even know where to start with this game. The game itself wasn’t really the problem – although Tommy Hunter giving up home runs is clearly still an issue – but with the umpiring crew. There’s just so much we need to talk about regarding them right now since, although their call didn’t affect any runs scoring during the actual game because Wieters threw out a runner, they made a mockery of baseball tonight.

Here’s what happened: Jhonny Peralta grounded out to third. Manny Machado stopped the ball and threw it wide to first, but Mark Reynolds stretched and made the play. Peralta, in a rare fit of anger, protested that Reynolds’s foot wasn’t on the bag. Video replays clearly showed it was, but MLB doesn’t use expanded replay yet, so the umpires had a conference and astoundingly overturned the call.

Mark Reynolds then did this (.gif via Twitter user @itschadlol):

Naturally, Reynolds was ejected for this sort of behavior, and Showalter soon followed when he came out to argue the overturning of the call. Rumors then swirled around regarding whether or not the Orioles were playing the rest of this game under protest. Games being played under protest are covered by MLB rule 4.19:

4.19
PROTESTING GAMES.
Each league shall adopt rules governing procedure for protesting a game, when a manager claims that an umpire’s decision is in violation of these rules. No protest shall ever be permitted on judgment decisions by the umpire. In all protested games, the decision of the League President shall be final.
Even if it is held that the protested decision violated the rules, no replay of the game will be ordered unless in the opinion of the League President the violation adversely affected the protesting team’s chances of winning the game.

• Rule 4.19 Comment: Whenever a manager protests a game because of alleged misapplication of the rules the protest will not be recognized unless the umpires are notified at the time the play under protest occurs and before the next pitch, play or attempted play. A protest arising on a game-ending play may be filed until 12 noon the following day with the league office.

The problem for the Orioles tonight is that the manager was ejected from the game, so now we have no idea whether or not the team was playing this game under protest. Since they lost, if they were playing this game under protest and their protest was accepted, the game would be replayed starting from that play at first base.

The funny bit regarding all of this is that the play didn’t even matter in the end since Matt Wieters threw out Peralta trying to steal second base. In the end, it became a game about bullpens, and ours was the more tired one.

There’s a bigger issue underlying all of this, though, and that’s the umpiring in MLB right now. In the past few years, umps have become far more outspoken, overstepping boundaries that we didn’t even realize existed until they started complaining about things (like Joe West) and overruled correct calls. In an ideal world, MLB would step in and investigate all of this, but that’s not happening here. It’s depressing, but it’s the truth.

I wonder if this’ll at least prompt MLB to really try out that expanded replay they’re supposedly testing this weekend.

The first half of the season as a meme.

Don’t worry, there are just 77 games left to go.

Actually, it’s really odd to come into the All-Star Break with a 45-40 record. I’m not used to the idea of success around here, so to finish the first half playing so well is surprising as all hell.

I really don’t have much to say about this game. Wei-Yin Chen has seen better days, certainly, and so have the Orioles – but we managed to take two games this season from the Angels, a team that’s pretty stacked compared to us, and considering that the odds are completely against us we’ve ended the first half with a winning record and in second place. Second. Place. Keep saying that over the All-Star Break and see how it feels. It’s kind of like a new pair of trousers that you have to wear in, I know, but you’ll get used to it.

I’m hoping the Orioles address the needs they have, namely starting pitching and some offense, in the next few days, but the fact that Showalter has achieved what he has so far with the players he currently has to work with is a massive accomplishment, one that shouldn’t go unnoticed. He’s the hero of the first half for me. Well, him and the bullpen. They’ve been astonishingly good, especially considering that Kevin Gregg is in there. We’re definitely going to have to take care of this offense issue so that we can actually get on the scoreboard, since it seems to be the most pressing problem we have (it’s too hit-or-miss), but I wouldn’t mind if this team added a starter, as well. Even calling some of my little prospects up would work since I’ve been looking forward to seeing some of them for some time.

For now, though, let’s take some time off. Enjoy the All-Star Break, everyone, and we’ll see you back in Birdland on Friday! (Until then, I’ll probably draw All-Star Orioles cartoons or something. I like that idea, actually.)

Artist’s sketch of the offense in this game.

You think this game would have happened yesterday since both starters seemed so determined to create fireworks.

Seriously, at one point Jake Arrieta was stoked to a 7-3 lead and he managed to completely obliterate it for the Orioles in the fourth inning. Although it was not Arrieta who got the loss – that was tagged on poor Luis Ayala, who was in doing mop-up duty – it was still quite evident that Buck Showalter had seen enough, because at one point he just went out to yell at Arrieta on his own.

In the end, the solution was to send Arrieta to AAA Norfolk, where he can be Bad Arrieta every five days out of the team’s way. It’s probably for the best for him and for us – he’ll be somewhere where he can work out his issues, whatever they are, and the Orioles will be able to try out new pitchers in his spot. Tomorrow – or really, later tonight – it’s going to be Miguel Gonzalez starting in the Majors for the first time. I’m going to keep my fingers crossed here.

Oh, but there is some good news and it’s not the Dacia Sandero – Joe Mahoney was called up yesterday, filling Tillman’s spot on the roster (at least for now). Believe me when I say I am SO UNBELIEVABLY EXCITED to see him finally arrive. Tonight will be a good night, I think. EEEEEE PROSPECTS.

But for now…sleep. Yes. For all of us.

I really don’t want to do this.

There are few days I hate more than the end of the season. Even though the Orioles pulled out an amazing ninth-inning win, coming from behind to ruin the Red Sox’s chances of making the playoffs, I’m still completely crushed. It’s because I have to say goodbye to everybody now. I guess I should start with that.

• Robert Andino: That walkoff you hit in the ninth should hopefully solidify the #freerobertandino hashtag’s existence on Twitter. You deserve it.
• Brian Matusz: Please, please, PLEASE fix whatever’s wrong with your pitching this off-season. I can’t bear to watch someone I adore as much as you struggling like this. It really hurts.
• Nick Markakis: Keep on balancing strange objects on your chin, buddy. I know you’ll be back next year.
• Adam Jones: You were the absolute MAN this season. I’ll miss you big-time this offseason. If you want any more drawings, just let me know!
• God Matt Wieters: Your cat looks like my cat. Well, one of your two cats looks like one of my four cats.
• MATT ANGLE: COME BACK ALREADY. I MISS YOUR DWEEBISH EARS. I LOVE YOU, FAVORITE ORIOLES PROSPECT.
• Kyle Hudson: You kind of look like a dweeb too, and it’s adorable. I can’t wait to see you next year, either.
• Nolan Reimold: YOU ARE FREE, NOLAN. FELIX PIE IS GONE. With that said, welcome to being a regular-ish player. Except now it’s October so you have to wait until February.
• Jeremy Guthrie: Get better taste in music. Oh, and go Stanford!
• Kevin Gregg: PLEASE LEAVE.
• Alfredo Simon: I’m sad that I can’t put any more Shutdown Sauce on my food until February. This crushes me in a strange way.
• Zach Britton: We both have cats, so you’re cool in my book. (Thank you, Orioles Pet Calendar. Mine arrived in the mail yesterday. Expect a post.)
• Chris Tillman: I’m going to miss the adorable gap in your front teeth. It makes you look so endearing.
• Jake Arrieta: You’re hot.
• Buck Showalter: I’m really going to miss your outbursts this offseason. They made my days so entertaining.  And you know what? In the end, you did the best with the team you had. I’m not sure why you keep getting them to play so darn well in September, though. Can they do this the rest of the season, too?
• Willie Randolph: I’m sorry if last night brought back bad memories of your tenure with the Mets. It kind of did for me.
• Jim Johnson: You’re better than I thought! It’s nice to see you pitching well.
• Troy Patton: OH, YOU’RE ALIVE.
• Chris Davis: Sorry you’re on a team that loses now.
• Tommy Hunter: I could say the same to you, too.
• Mark Reynolds: You walk far more than people notice. Must be the strikeout numbers blinding them. At any rate, I’ll even miss you this offseason.

I’m going to miss everyone, not just the people named here, of course. I just can’t deal with the offseason. Be prepared for a ridiculous number of Arizona Fall League updates from yours truly because I just can’t let go of baseball. Ever.

Oh, and one more thing: good luck in the playoffs, Koji. I miss you to death. がんばれ!

That’s the Orioles’ recent loss record. They’ve also lost nine of their last ten. That’s just not okay.

Fake Terry Francona basically says it better than I did. The team is absolutely falling apart at the seams. One wonders where the early optimism went.

I like to imagine Buck Showalter chewing the boys out in the clubhouse. I’m sure he does, and I’d absolutely love to be a fly on that metaphorical wall listening in on what he tells them. The team needs to actually play baseball if they want to win. They’re not doing anything right at the moment. It’s painful to watch. Extremely painful.

I suppose until then, we just have to accept that the Orioles aren’t very good at baseball, thanks.

Here’s an interesting one – two managers with two different opinions on the same pitcher.

NBC’s Hardball Talk ran a story just now about how Showalter and Rays manager Joe Maddon saw two different Brian Matuszes on the mound yesterday. Matusz struggled severely and couldn’t even escape the second inning, which broke my heart because he’s my favorite.

Here are the quotes from the two managers.

Showalter: “He had a good statistical return but he just wasn’t able to defend himself today–running game and stuff-wise. He’s telling us he feels fine. Just not a whole lot coming out right now.”

Showalter on Matusz’s four stolen bases allowed: “He keeps telling us he can read them. It’s been a challenge for him. Maybe we’ll be able to get his attention a little bit more.”

Maddon: “I think there may be something not quite right with Matusz. I’m certain he’s not feeling 100 percent.”

So who’s right, exactly? Joe Maddon’s noted that Matusz is still likely feeling the aftereffects of his intercoastal muscle injury, which makes a lot of sense. Showalter, on the other hand, sees that Matusz is certainly trying and putting out an effort, but he’s really having trouble with baserunners and needs to figure out a better way to control them at the risk of possibly being moved out of the rotation until he can figure things out. I personally don’t think Matusz in the bullpen would be a good idea, so I want to see him and Matt Wieters sit down together and really work together on better methods for eliminating baserunners.

You see, the key to every good pitcher is his or her catcher, and we’ve got a lovely one in Matt Wieters. He’s smart, has a gun on his shoulder, and really knows how to guide a pitcher through an opposing lineup. Matusz has been gone for some time now, and he’s only just easing back into facing Major Leaguers. He needs to really come up with strategies that work for him, and Weets is just the man to help him along with it. I’d love to see the two of them strategize together and figure out what to do before it’s too late.

And with a man like Showalter at the helm, you really never know when it’s going to be too late.

And we all know what happened in 1997, right? Riiiight?

Now, I’m not one to get overly-optimistic when it comes to baseball right away, but I’m really, really liking the way this team’s starting off their season. They’re confident, and it really shows.

Arrieta looked pretty good today, continuing the string of good starting pitching that the O’s have been getting, although he’s given up the most hits of any of them, with six. Hey, he still only gave up one run, so he basically kept things going. And Brian Roberts had a 3-run homer, too, which was extremely encouraging considering his back woes as of late.

Also, the park was full of people. That completely warmed my heart.

In honor of Earl Weaver, who threw out the first pitch today to Buck Showalter and effectively changed the guard, I am going to post this lovely song for you today.

It turns out Forbes says we’re the 18th most valuable club in the Majors. We’re currently worth $411 million and we went up in value by 9% from a year ago. You can check this information out right here if you’re a financial type.

Don’t pass Go just yet, though, because there’s more to look at, like this awesome article on Buck Showalter that Forbes did, too. Apparently Showalter makes sure the players even meet the people in the front office. I honestly like it – he’s reminding them that it’ll take more than just them to make this team work, and they’re more aware of how the team actually functions now. They’re part of a bigger whole. They’re not insignificant, but they’re just one cog each in the machine. It’s a bunch of people working together to achieve something, after all.

There are going to be cuts today, I hear. No word on those yet, but I’ll let you know as soon as I do. Until then, stay tuned – tonight’s a night game.

An annual tradition of baseball fans is to eagerly await their team’s photo day, then mock how their players look in their photos. I will now proceed to uphold this proud tradition here at Charm City Yakyuu. All images are from Zimbio (the album is here).

A preview, with the rest under the cut, because everyone should see this photo of the future staff ace:

I’m normally not shallow, but Matusz looks utterly ADORABLE this year. I think it’s the hair and the random cut on his nose, but he looks like an excited kid who can’t wait to start playing baseball. And that makes this picture way, way too cute.

More after the jump! Let’s go check this out!

» Continue reading “PHOTO DAY!”