The New York Yankees won again and swept the Baltimore Orioles in their three-game set up in the Bronx, 7-2. Well, the game started ugly and Adam Eaton gave up seven runs in the first two innings to pretty much put Baltimore out to pasture. The Orioles did chip away at the lead, thanks to Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis both hitting solo home runs and a Ty Wigginton two-run double, but they were out done by the Yankee offense again, but this time early. I’m just glad Baltimore is out of there and don’t have to face the resurgent New York juggernaut for a while.
Eaton took the loss, while his opponent, Joba Chamberlain left the game in the first inning after being hit on the knee by Adam Jones. There was no huge rematch between Huff and Chamberlain, though the first baseman did single off the demonstrative pitcher.
Speaking of our forlorn Baltimore starter (Eaton), the experiment needs to come an end — now.
I respect that the Orioles wanted to give Eaton a shot to perhaps shield the young arms from coming up too soon; however, most anyone in their right mind knew Eaton — who still is being paid a lot of money by Philadelphia — probably would not be able to hake it in the AL East after his struggles for the past few years. Aside from his great start against the White Sox a month ago, he was who I thought he’d be — a mediocre to bad starter who is just hittable.
It just didn’t work for Eaton in Baltimore, and now it’s time to hand of the ball to someone else — David Pauley, Chris Waters, or David Hernandez. As I see it, the season is lost, so now let’s give the arms down on a farm a shot and give them a chance to sink or swim at the major league level — it’s not like the alternatives are any better right now.
Oh yes, I really like Nolan Reimold. We might as well keep him up with the Orioles for a while and see what he can. He looks polished, and now let’s see if his talent comes together at this level.
Finally, I was listening 105.7 while driving to Annapolis yesterday morning and there I guess have been a few people calling for Dave Trembley to be fired. As much as we are a “win now” society, and like to be part of a champion, there’s no way the Orioles this season were going to win. In fact, in a sense, they are setup to struggle until the young pitching is ready — and that’s if they succeed. If anything, I’d rather have a guy like Trembley as part of a rebuilding team, than let’s say a Lou Piniella or Dusty Baker.
The team’s struggles are not due to Trembley — ulimtately, he’s captain of the ship — but that the team as constructed has no chance to compete now. Honestly, the Orioles could have hired Joe Girardi, or perhaps Joe Torre, or perhaps unearthed Casey Stengel when he was with the Yankees, but the bottom line is that this team as it is will not win unless there’s a talent infusion.
Simply, the rebuilding of the Baltimore Orioles is going to take time. As I see it, nothing else has worked for a decade, why not let things settle and develop?
