Another season has come and gone. Baseball is still being played, but not in Baltimore. The Orioles suffered through a 12th consecutive losing season, and just barely avoided losing 100 games for the first time since 1988.
The powerhouses of the AL East proved to be too much for the O's once again, as the New York Yankees ran away with the division crown and the Boston Red Sox entered the post-season with the Wild Card. The Orioles finished the season with a 24-48 division record, and placed last for the second straight year. The Birds (64-98) had the worst record in the AL, and only two teams in all of baseball lost more games than the O's in 2009.
The season wasn't a total flop, though. The Orioles grew as a team, and a multitude of young kids got a chance to show their stuff in the Majors. There's still a lot to look forward to in 2010 and beyond.
Like we say in Baltimore..."We'll get em' next year!"
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
O's Finish 2009 with a Sweep of Toronto
It took eleven innings, but the Orioles ended the season on a high note after sweeping the Toronto Blue Jays with a 5-4 win on Sunday afternoon at Camden Yards.
Starter Jeremy Guthrie (10-17) pitched into the eighth inning but took a no-decision. Guthrie allowed three solo home runs and finished the season with 35 taters allowed, the most in the league. It was the first time Guthrie pitched 200 innings in his career. He finished with the most victories on the team, but the most losses in the league...
The Birds played small-ball in the 11th inning to win the game...after a lead-off single, the next two batters bunted to move the runner up...the Jays committed two costly throwing errors to give the O's a walk-off win with just one hit in the inning...hopefully Dave Trembley will try this more often in 2010.
Nick Markakis hit a two-run bomb in the first inning, his 18th, and finished the season with a team-leading 101 RBIs.
I'll be back for one more post this season...the "O's Year-in-Review"...later this week.
Starter Jeremy Guthrie (10-17) pitched into the eighth inning but took a no-decision. Guthrie allowed three solo home runs and finished the season with 35 taters allowed, the most in the league. It was the first time Guthrie pitched 200 innings in his career. He finished with the most victories on the team, but the most losses in the league...
The Birds played small-ball in the 11th inning to win the game...after a lead-off single, the next two batters bunted to move the runner up...the Jays committed two costly throwing errors to give the O's a walk-off win with just one hit in the inning...hopefully Dave Trembley will try this more often in 2010.
Nick Markakis hit a two-run bomb in the first inning, his 18th, and finished the season with a team-leading 101 RBIs.
I'll be back for one more post this season...the "O's Year-in-Review"...later this week.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
O's on a Roll
The Orioles won their third straight game on Saturday night, beating the Blue Jays 6-3.
The pitching has been solid, the bats have come to life and the team is winning...it almost makes you wish that the season wasn't coming to an end. Almost.
The Birds won three straight for the first time since mid-June, when they swept the Philadelphia Phillies in three games after taking two of three from the New York Mets...I can't believe it's been that long! Wow...
Mark Hendrickson got the start on Saturday and looked impressive again. Hendrickson (6-5) allowed three runs on six hits, three walks and a balk through 6 1/3 innings...he also struck out three, and appears to be making a bid to return to the starting rotation next season.
The bullpen held the Jays scoreless through the final frames, and Jim Johnson picked up his tenth save...
The O's picked up 11 hits, and used a four-run fourth to take a lead they would never relinquish.
Jeremy Guthrie (10-17) takes the mound Sunday afternoon for the Birds final game of 2009. Guthrie has pitched well lately but leads the A.L. in losses, home runs allowed and earned runs allowed. Here's hoping he ends the season on a high note...Go O's!!!!
The pitching has been solid, the bats have come to life and the team is winning...it almost makes you wish that the season wasn't coming to an end. Almost.
The Birds won three straight for the first time since mid-June, when they swept the Philadelphia Phillies in three games after taking two of three from the New York Mets...I can't believe it's been that long! Wow...
Mark Hendrickson got the start on Saturday and looked impressive again. Hendrickson (6-5) allowed three runs on six hits, three walks and a balk through 6 1/3 innings...he also struck out three, and appears to be making a bid to return to the starting rotation next season.
The bullpen held the Jays scoreless through the final frames, and Jim Johnson picked up his tenth save...
The O's picked up 11 hits, and used a four-run fourth to take a lead they would never relinquish.
Jeremy Guthrie (10-17) takes the mound Sunday afternoon for the Birds final game of 2009. Guthrie has pitched well lately but leads the A.L. in losses, home runs allowed and earned runs allowed. Here's hoping he ends the season on a high note...Go O's!!!!
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Back-to-Back Wins for the Birds
The O's put on quite a show on Friday night, crushing the visiting Toronto Blue Jays 13-7 at Camden Yards.
The O's now need to win one of the remaining two games to avoid the team's first 100-loss season since 1988.
Starter Jason Berken (6-12) gave up a few runs but was backed by an amazing offensive outing by the Birds. Berken gave up four runs on five hits through five innings while walking one and striking out one. The bullpen shut the Jays down for the rest of the game, with the exception of Chris Ray...Ray gave up three runs on three hits and a walk in the ninth inning before Alberto Castillo came in to record the final three outs.
The Birds scored 13 runs off 14 hits, and nine of those runs came via the home run ball. Michael Aubrey led the team with two homers (including a grand slam) and six RBIs, and Matt Wieters launched a three-run shot in the fourth inning to give the O's the lead. Nick Markakis went 3-for-4 and knocked in another two runs.
The two teams go at it again Saturday night...Mark Hendrickson takes the mound...Go O's!!!
O' Yeah...
The O's now need to win one of the remaining two games to avoid the team's first 100-loss season since 1988.
Starter Jason Berken (6-12) gave up a few runs but was backed by an amazing offensive outing by the Birds. Berken gave up four runs on five hits through five innings while walking one and striking out one. The bullpen shut the Jays down for the rest of the game, with the exception of Chris Ray...Ray gave up three runs on three hits and a walk in the ninth inning before Alberto Castillo came in to record the final three outs.
The Birds scored 13 runs off 14 hits, and nine of those runs came via the home run ball. Michael Aubrey led the team with two homers (including a grand slam) and six RBIs, and Matt Wieters launched a three-run shot in the fourth inning to give the O's the lead. Nick Markakis went 3-for-4 and knocked in another two runs.
The two teams go at it again Saturday night...Mark Hendrickson takes the mound...Go O's!!!
O' Yeah...
- The big story today? The O's decided to keep skipper Dave Trembley for the 2010 season...thanks to all my readers that voted on the poll: "Should Trembey Come Back in 2010?" Of the 15 votes, 46% of you said that Trembley should not return, 33% said he should and 20% of you weren't sure...
Friday, October 2, 2009
The Orioles Win! The Orioles Win!
The O's head back to Baltimore with a win under their belt after defeating Tampa Bay 3-2 on Thursday night. The 13-game losing streak finally came to an end...
Starter Chris Waters (1-0) gave the lifeless offense some help, going five innings and allowing just one run on two hits and three walks. The offense remained consistent (the O's have averaged just three runs per game during the losing streak) but this time the pitching held up...
The bullpen held the Rays hitless until the ninth...Jim Johnson allowed a run on three hits but picked up his ninth save after stranding the tying run on third...
The Birds (61-98) take on the Toronto Blue Jays over the weekend, and need to win the series to avoid a 100-loss season. Jason Berken (5-12) takes the mound Friday night...Go O's!!
Starter Chris Waters (1-0) gave the lifeless offense some help, going five innings and allowing just one run on two hits and three walks. The offense remained consistent (the O's have averaged just three runs per game during the losing streak) but this time the pitching held up...
The bullpen held the Rays hitless until the ninth...Jim Johnson allowed a run on three hits but picked up his ninth save after stranding the tying run on third...
The Birds (61-98) take on the Toronto Blue Jays over the weekend, and need to win the series to avoid a 100-loss season. Jason Berken (5-12) takes the mound Friday night...Go O's!!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
The Nightmare Continues...
The Orioles dropped their 13th consecutive game on Wednesday night, falling 5-3 to the Tampa Bay Rays.
The O's (60-98) have one game left in St. Petersburg before the team returns to Camden Yards for the final home stand of the season. They need three wins in the final four games to avoid the first 100-loss season since 1988. Good luck...
Starter David Hernandez (4-10) wasn't able to make it through five innings on Wednesday night. Hernandez allowed all five of Tampa's runs on seven hits and two walks in just 4 1/3 innings...that turned out to be more than enough for the Rays.
Once again, the offense stalled. The Birds scored three times in the eighth (two runs came on Ty Wigginton's pinch-hit homer) but were shut down through the rest of the game.
Chris Waters makes his first start of the 2009 season Thursday night...Go O's.
The O's (60-98) have one game left in St. Petersburg before the team returns to Camden Yards for the final home stand of the season. They need three wins in the final four games to avoid the first 100-loss season since 1988. Good luck...
Starter David Hernandez (4-10) wasn't able to make it through five innings on Wednesday night. Hernandez allowed all five of Tampa's runs on seven hits and two walks in just 4 1/3 innings...that turned out to be more than enough for the Rays.
Once again, the offense stalled. The Birds scored three times in the eighth (two runs came on Ty Wigginton's pinch-hit homer) but were shut down through the rest of the game.
Chris Waters makes his first start of the 2009 season Thursday night...Go O's.
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