Saturday Night Game Thread: O's-Red Sox 5-31-08

Jon Lester 3-3, 3.55 vs. Garrett Olson 4-1, 4.09

BOSTON
1. J. Ellsbury, RF
2. D. Pedroia, 2B
3. D. Ortiz, DH
4. M. Ramirez, LF
5. M. Lowell, 3B
6. K. Youkilis, 1B
7. J. Varitek, C
8. C. Crisp, CF
9. J. Lugo, SS

BALTIMORE
1. B. Roberts, 2B
2. N. Markakis, RF
3. M. Mora, 3B
4. K. Millar, 1B
5. A. Huff, DH
6. R. Hernandez, C
7. J. Payton, LF
8. A. Jones, CF
9. A. Cintron, SS

The Red Sox (33-24) had lost nine of previous 10 road games but now looks to win back-to-back road games for only the second time this month. Boston, which has won just six of its last 20 road games, hasn't notched consecutive road wins since its first two road games of May. They've scored only 19 runs and been shut out twice in seven games on their current trip, with Manny Ramirez among their struggling sluggers.

Ramirez is batting just .214 with one home run and 10 strikeouts in his last 11 games as he approaches the milestone. Kevin Youkilis' problems have been even worse, but he did snap an 0-for-18 slump with a 13th-inning single.

Jon Lester (3-3, 3.55 ERA) will hope for better support as he takes the Camden Yards mound for the second time in his last four starts. The left-hander, who threw 130 pitches in the no-hitter, struggled Sunday at Oakland, losing after lasting just five innings and giving up four runs.

Pitching against the Orioles (26-27) will help. Lester is 3-0 in four career starts against Baltimore, allowing just two runs in 13 innings in a pair of wins last September. He did not factor in the decision in Baltimore on May 14, allowing two runs in six innings.

Garrett Olson (4-1, 4.09) has never beaten the Red Sox, going 0-2 with a 7.63 ERA in three starts. But Olson is coming off the best start of his career, scattering three hits and striking out seven in seven shutout innings of a 6-1 win over the New York Yankees on Monday.

baseball007 wrote:

Jon Lester 3-3, 3.55 vs. Garrett Olson 4-1, 4.09

BOSTON
1. J. Ellsbury, RF
2. D. Pedroia, 2B
3. D. Ortiz, DH
4. M. Ramirez, LF
5. M. Lowell, 3B
6. K. Youkilis, 1B
7. J. Varitek, C
8. C. Crisp, CF
9. J. Lugo, SS

BALTIMORE
1. B. Roberts, 2B
2. N. Markakis, RF
3. M. Mora, 3B
4. K. Millar, 1B
5. A. Huff, DH
6. R. Hernandez, C
7. J. Payton, LF
8. A. Jones, CF
9. A. Cintron, SS

The Red Sox (33-24) had lost nine of previous 10 road games but now looks to win back-to-back road games for only the second time this month. Boston, which has won just six of its last 20 road games, hasn't notched consecutive road wins since its first two road games of May. They've scored only 19 runs and been shut out twice in seven games on their current trip, with Manny Ramirez among their struggling sluggers.

Ramirez is batting just .214 with one home run and 10 strikeouts in his last 11 games as he approaches the milestone. Kevin Youkilis' problems have been even worse, but he did snap an 0-for-18 slump with a 13th-inning single.

Jon Lester (3-3, 3.55 ERA) will hope for better support as he takes the Camden Yards mound for the second time in his last four starts. The left-hander, who threw 130 pitches in the no-hitter, struggled Sunday at Oakland, losing after lasting just five innings and giving up four runs.

Pitching against the Orioles (26-27) will help. Lester is 3-0 in four career starts against Baltimore, allowing just two runs in 13 innings in a pair of wins last September. He did not factor in the decision in Baltimore on May 14, allowing two runs in six innings.

Garrett Olson (4-1, 4.09) has never beaten the Red Sox, going 0-2 with a 7.63 ERA in three starts. But Olson is coming off the best start of his career, scattering three hits and striking out seven in seven shutout innings of a 6-1 win over the New York Yankees on Monday.

Elsbury seems like a good acquisition for the Red Sox and their Lineup.

Elsbury gets on.

Palmer says Millar should have caught that ball from Olson that allowed Elsbury to advance.

Big Papi has no reason to complain about the strike 3 call as bad as he has been at the plate.

During the commercial maybe someone can answer a question I should probably know:

On the scoreboard, a forward K means a strikeout swinging, a backward K means a strikeout looking so what does a hollow K (forward or backwards) mean?

1 2 3 again,what a horrid offense we have....

BMONJ wrote:

1 2 3 again,what a horrid offense we have....

Hey, Birdman, it's hard to pay much attention to your comments with that video running next toi them. I keep watching it hoping it will go a little bit further next time!

I'm watching the yankee game and following the O game on cbssportsline.com.
I'm going with a 4-3 O's game tonight but don't know who will win.
Millar in the lineup.What's with Trembley?

baseball007 wrote:

BMONJ wrote:

1 2 3 again,what a horrid offense we have....

Hey, Birdman, it's hard to pay much attention to your comments with that video running next toi them. I keep watching it hoping it will go a little bit further next time!

Sorry to distract your postings...

Me likey your avatar,Birdman.

bronco wrote:

Me likey your avatar,Birdman.

Yeah it caught my eye for some reason... and thanks glad you like it

bronco wrote:

I'm the yankee game and following the O game on cbssportsline.com.
I'm going with a 4-3 O's game tonight but don't know who will win.
Millar in the lineup.What's with Trembley?

Trembley likes all his "saves" at 1st base and his spirit in the clubhouse. What I can't figure out is why he keeps putttng him back in the clean-up spot in the line-up.

Orioles take steps to return 'Baltimore' to road uniforms
Source: Team has filed paperwork with MLB to make change for '09 season
By Jeff Zrebiec

Sun reporter

7:21 PM EDT, May 31, 2008


After 36 years, it appears as if the city's name will make a return to the Orioles' road uniforms.

The Sun has learned that the Orioles are in the process of filing the required paperwork with Major League Baseball to add "Baltimore" to their road jerseys, replacing the nickname of the club that has adorned the away uniforms since 1973, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. The uniform change would go into effect for the 2009 season.

Several Oriole officials declined to comment the past couple of days when asked about the development. Because of its potential effect on current jersey sales, the league encourages organizations not to discuss potential uniform changes until after the season. However, teams are required to notify MLB of their plans to make changes by the end of May, and the Orioles have done that.

"Even if there was a change and we had wanted to announce it, MLB rules would prohibit us from doing so," said Orioles director of communications Greg Bader, who declined to confirm or deny the Orioles' uniform change.

The organization has not had "Baltimore" on their road jerseys since 1972, when then owner Jerold Hoffberger had it removed in favor of the team's nickname. The decision, which came about a year after the Washington Senators moved to Texas, leaving the nation's capital without a professional baseball team, was widely viewed as an attempt to cast the Orioles as a more regional entity, and attract the Senators' fan base.

Even before the Montreal franchise moved to Washington after the 2004 season, fans were calling for the return of "Baltimore" to the road jerseys. They contended the Orioles' failure to make the change was proof that the club had lost touch with its most ardent and local supporters.

Current owner Peter Angelos, who bought the club in 1993, has been sharply criticized for not addressing the issue. However, he was the driving force behind the decision, according to the source. Neither Angelos nor his son, John, the Orioles executive vice president, returned calls this week seeking comment on the team's uniform plans.

The Orioles considered making the change last year, notifying the league last April of their considerations. However, they didn't file the necessary paperwork.

Of the 30 professional baseball franchises, the Orioles are one of five who don't have their city or state name on the front of their main road jersey. The others are the Los Angeles Angels, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays. However, the Rays, who changed their uniforms for this season after removing Devil from their nickname, have said publicly that plans are in motion to add "Tampa Bay" to one of their alternate road jerseys.

jeff.zrebiec@baltsun.com

Jay Payton: The Red Sox Killer!

It's not a grand slam but we'll take the RBI.

wooo hooo we scored a run Yipeee...can we score more?

BMONJ wrote:

wooo hooo we scored a run Yipeee...can we score more?

Two runs may be enough the way Olson is pitching! Very impressive.

Right after I say that he gives up TWO home runs...fiigures.

baseball007 wrote:

Orioles take steps to return 'Baltimore' to road uniforms
Source: Team has filed paperwork with MLB to make change for '09 season
By Jeff Zrebiec

Sun reporter

7:21 PM EDT, May 31, 2008


After 36 years, it appears as if the city's name will make a return to the Orioles' road uniforms.

The Sun has learned that the Orioles are in the process of filing the required paperwork with Major League Baseball to add "Baltimore" to their road jerseys, replacing the nickname of the club that has adorned the away uniforms since 1973, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. The uniform change would go into effect for the 2009 season.

Several Oriole officials declined to comment the past couple of days when asked about the development. Because of its potential effect on current jersey sales, the league encourages organizations not to discuss potential uniform changes until after the season. However, teams are required to notify MLB of their plans to make changes by the end of May, and the Orioles have done that.

"Even if there was a change and we had wanted to announce it, MLB rules would prohibit us from doing so," said Orioles director of communications Greg Bader, who declined to confirm or deny the Orioles' uniform change.

The organization has not had "Baltimore" on their road jerseys since 1972, when then owner Jerold Hoffberger had it removed in favor of the team's nickname. The decision, which came about a year after the Washington Senators moved to Texas, leaving the nation's capital without a professional baseball team, was widely viewed as an attempt to cast the Orioles as a more regional entity, and attract the Senators' fan base.

Even before the Montreal franchise moved to Washington after the 2004 season, fans were calling for the return of "Baltimore" to the road jerseys. They contended the Orioles' failure to make the change was proof that the club had lost touch with its most ardent and local supporters.

Current owner Peter Angelos, who bought the club in 1993, has been sharply criticized for not addressing the issue. However, he was the driving force behind the decision, according to the source. Neither Angelos nor his son, John, the Orioles executive vice president, returned calls this week seeking comment on the team's uniform plans.

The Orioles considered making the change last year, notifying the league last April of their considerations. However, they didn't file the necessary paperwork.

Of the 30 professional baseball franchises, the Orioles are one of five who don't have their city or state name on the front of their main road jersey. The others are the Los Angeles Angels, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays. However, the Rays, who changed their uniforms for this season after removing Devil from their nickname, have said publicly that plans are in motion to add "Tampa Bay" to one of their alternate road jerseys.

jeff.zrebiec@baltsun.com

I can never understand the big deal about the Baltimore thing on the away uniform.

Palmer said it right (about Cintron's bad throw) "You have to make that throw. The Orioles are still looking for a shortstop."

BMONJ wrote:

God damn it Ramon can't you even move the friggin runner.The worst fucking catcher in MLB

C'mon, Birdman, quit holding back! Tell us how you really feel about Ramon..rofl

Lead off double and Huff remains on 2nd.

I hope Jones learns to start hitting the breaking ball or it may be a short carreer for him in MLB

bronco wrote:

Lead off double and Huff remains on 2nd.

Same old same old with RISP

BMONJ wrote:

bronco wrote:

Lead off double and Huff remains on 2nd.

Same old same old with RISP

The Four Tops had a Song about this stuff, it was "The Same Old Song."