One hundred games left in the season. That’s actually really sad to think about because now the season’s going to go by even faster and we’ll be depressed. I guess I should stop counting.

Every so often, I get to use this.

Today Good Arrieta pitched, so I get to post this for the first time in a while. Arrieta wasn’t even supposed to pitch tonight, but Brian Matusz bunted a ball into his own face and was pushed back until Friday (he’s okay, but that’s a classic Players Steph Likes Injury). It turned out for the best for once – Arrieta went seven innings and only gave up one run, rising to the occasion after spending a total of two days in the bullpen. Patton and Strop each pitched a scoreless inning (with Strop making a great play at third base in the ninth).

Offensively, the team totally came together again, putting up seven runs overall (the only innings they didn’t score in were the third, the fifth and the eighth). Wilson Betemit in particular had a heck of a game, with three hits, two runs scored and three RBI (including a massive homer out to right field). J.J. Hardy matched him in number of hits, but he didn’t pad his stats as much as Betemit did tonight.

Basically, tonight was good. Now we can’t have less than a series split, too. I’m enjoying this very much. (Oh, and the Rays lost – thanks, Mets! – so we’ve got second place all to ourselves! Everyone root for Atlanta so we can be tied for first!)

We missed you!

I honestly forgot what it was like to have Brian Roberts in a game. He reminded me by going 3-for-4 tonight and driving in a run, so I guess that clears that little issue up!

Steve Tolleson was optioned back down to Norfolk and Nolan Reimold was moved to the 60-day DL, but at least we have one of the cornerstones of the organization back. (Also, Matusz didn’t break his nose – it’s just bruised. Phew!)

For the most part, this game went pretty well – Roberts returned, Wei-Yin Chen returned to consistency (he scattered four runs over 6.1 innings, with two of those runs scoring at the end in the seventh), and Kevin Gregg got to try to close the game out and gave up a two-run homer to make the score 8-6. Buck had to bring in Jim Johnson because it became a save situation. Fortunately, Jim Johnson closed it out with ease, swiftly eliminating two opposing batters.

To be honest, if we didn’t beat the Pirates, I would have been a little sad since this is a great test for the Orioles – an opponent on their own level. With the teams sporting almost-identical records before the game, I thought that this series would be well-matched, but I was naturally hoping the Orioles would win just so that they could continue to convince the fanbase that they’re going to be a consistently good team this season. So far, they’ve done that except for Kevin Gregg, who is pretty consistently bad, but we don’t have to use him that much.

I rather like the way the Orioles looked tonight – they were able to soundly outperform a team with a record similar to theirs, which boosts my confidence in them even more. I’m still not entirely used to this success, but it’s starting to become something I expect out of them more and more, and I’m finding myself disappointed instead of complacent when they lose. That’s the number one reason I wanted them to especially win tonight, with the return of Brian Roberts – I wanted to see them win for him, for us, and for themselves and know that they could do it.

It’s June 12th. They’re a game out of first place behind the Yankees (and tied with the Rays – thanks, Mets!). I think I officially believe in this team.

This might be the most unfortunate Major League debut in ages.

Blake Davis made his first MLB start today. He was at second base. Throughout the day, the Orioles and Pirates continually traded the lead back and forth, so nobody particularly did anything of significance.

Until Blake Davis Bucknered a ball in the fifth inning. Two runs scored for the Pirates, and that was it. 5-4 was your final.

I reiterate: poor Blake Davis. Nobody deserves that in their debut. That’s just painful.

I’m writing from just outside Boston, by the way – I’m on a ten-day road trip all around New England. (I spent today getting drenched at Fenway in my first trip to the ballpark in six years.) Don’t worry – there’ll still be Orioles coverage here, so keep on checking in!

Hello from the National Archives in D.C.! I’ll be here today and tomorrow doing historian-like things (research, mainly), but don’t you worry – you’ll get your updates! I’ve got internet access here and I’m ready to play. As I read and write about Civil War soldiers, I’ll also be reading and writing about our beloved O’s.

Speaking of those kids, they’ll be playing the Pirates today at home. Here are your lineups!

Orioles:
Randy Winn, LF
Felix Pie, CF
Nick Markakis, RF
Vladimir Guerrero, DH
Luke Scott, 1B
Mark Reynolds, 3B
Matt Wieters, C
Robert Andino, 2B
Cesar Izturis, SS
Jake Arrieta, RHP

Pirates:
Ciriaco 2B
Bowker 1B
McCutchen CF
Alvarez 3B
Diaz LF
Pearce RF
Rodriguez SS
Jaramillo C
Correia RHP

Your pitchers today besides Arrieta and Correia (lots of double Rs!) are Jeremy Accardo and Jason Berken for the O’s and Evan Meek, Scott Olsen and Joe Beimel for the Pirates. Major thanks to my co-G9er Kristy Robinson for the Pirates lineup!

Also of note: Derrek Lee successfully hit off a tee today. This is a good sign for general humanity. Or, you know, first base.

As of writing this, I do not have the lineup for the Pirates, but I’ll get that to you as soon as I can. What I do know is that Paul Malholm is slated to start tonight’s game.

Here’s the Orioles’ lineup, at least!

J.J. Hardy, SS
Adam Jones, CF
Mark Reynolds, 3B
Vladimir Guerrero, DH
Jake Fox, LF
Nolan Reimold, SP
Brandon Snyder, 1B
Craig Tatum, C
Ryan Adams, 2B
Brad Bergesen, SP

Rupe and Accardo will be following Bergesen today.

Today is the first official game of Spring Training for the Birds, so let’s get a little game thread going here! Everyone feel free to comment – this is an interactive website, after all!

Lineups:

ORIOLES
J.J. Hardy, SS
Felix Pie, RF
Mark Reynolds, 3B
Vladimir Guerrero, DH
Adam Jones, CF
Nolan Reimold, LF
Brandon Snyder, 1B
Craig Tatum, C
Cesar Izturis, 2B
Brad Bergesen, SP

PIRATES
Jose Tabata, LF
Josh Rodriguez, SS
Andrew McCutchen, CF
Pedro Alvarez, 3B
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Garrett Jones, RF
Ryan Doumit, DH
Chase d’Arnaud, 2B
Jason Jaramillo, C
Paul Maholm, SP

Via Jeff Zrebiec, the pitchers scheduled to follow Bergesen are Ryan Drese, Koji Uehara, Kevin Gregg and Jeremy Accardo.

For Pirates coverage, go check out Kristy Robinson’s G9 site, Pirate Tales. It’s good to have your opponent’s perspective when you’re playing, after all!