It’s fairly evident that the Orioles are not packing it in with a week now to go in the regular season. Right now, they are making the lives of the Red Sox miserable and adding some intrigue to the wild card race.
As it is, the Red Sox right now are not the same team that they were from May to August, and now injuries, guys breaking down and suspect pitching may do them in.
Baltimore emerged victorious over Boston, 7-5, thanks to Robert Andino’s three-run double in the eighth inning and Jim Johnson’s seventh save in the ninth. You’ve got to be impressed with the role Robert Andino has played this season, despite being pegged as a utility guy. However, with the injury to Brian Roberts, Andino has filled in quite nicely and has made most of his chance to play every day.
I’m not sure what his role on the team will be next year, but there has to be a spot for him on the roster.
They had to grind out their 64th win of the season by making Red Sox starter and former Oriole pitcher Erik Bedard work.
In addition, they did an excellent job at chipping away at Boston’s bullpen – most notably, fireballer Daniel Bard, who has been struggling in the 8th inning role. Meanwhile, the Orioles got themselves in a hole early as Rick VandenHurk struggled again, but Jo-Jo Reyes pitched three scoreless innings in a relief role, and the rest of the bullpen followed thereafter.
At this point, you have to wonder if Jim Johnson will be closing games from here on out in 2011. The obvious answer based on his use as of late — is yes.
Johnson was rumored to have been inked into a starting role heading towards the end of season; however, that has changed with Kevin Gregg’s struggles. I would think that Johnson may work on being a starter in the off-season, but he’s proven himself indispensable to the organization right now.
Gregg can obviously save games and shutdown a lineup from time to time, but not with the same consistency as some of the elite closers in the game. We all know that some relievers can be volatile from year to year and he is certainly that.
As for Gregg, I guess he’ll have an opportunity to close again next season – or whenever in 2011, just for the contract he signed alone. Personally, I was kind of against signing Gregg because I had seen him quite a few times in the National League – especially with the Cubs – and he frankly was not all that good.
I do wonder if the team – in a way, now – regrets this deal.
