Well, the Orioles got swept in Florida by the upstart Marlins in three straight games. While the opening game was thrilling, the next two contests — um, not so much. I’m most know what happened in the next two games, but there’s been a lot of ire focused on two players, both incidentally former Cubs.
Rich Hill and Felix Pie.
While the offense has come not through in the last two games, the attention on Wednesday was focused on Felix Pie’s perhaps inadvertent delay in throwing the ball back to the infield that allowed speedy Emilio Bonifacio to basically score from second after an attempted throw by Matt Wieters sailed into the outfield.
Well, the next day, there was nothing short of a firestorm on local talk radio about the incident and pretty much every call wanted Pie excommunicated from the team. Ok, I know a lot of players make mental mistakes, but I guess Pie got hammered because of his less than impressive display in Birdland so far.
Really, at this point, the guy just needs to play and see the field on a regular basis. The problem is if the team wants to send him down to the minors, he’s going to be put on waivers — as he’s got zero options left. I’m sure a team would take him; however, at this point — if Pie is indeed a stud — he needs to go somewhere he can play without pressure.
That may be Norfolk.
Moving onto Rich Hill — I want to just let him go out and do his thing, but his lack of consistency from start to start on the mound is a little concerning. Now, I have no idea if he’ll be a short timer in Baltimore, but he’s still intriguing in my eyes.
The Marlins tagged Rich Hill for six runs in four innings and the game on Thursday has fit a pattern — the southpaw struggling with the strike zone and leaving earlier than expected. While a lot of people want Hill moved out for someone younger (ahem, the studs on the farm), I still have hope for him because he’s left handed, throws an amazing curveball and has shown flashes of brilliance. He just needs to be consistent, but promise will only take you so far if you continue to struggle.
What do you all think?
