Camden Chat

Orioles 8, Royals 2: Bruce Chen is who we thought he was

2012-05-26T03:00:35Z

Jason Hammel wasn’t the best we’ve ever seen him, but he worked through some jams without allowing a run in six innings, which was more than the Orioles needed by the time their offensive explosion was over. It at first looked like the Orioles would let Royals starter Bruce Chen off the hook, but that all came to an end in the fifth inning.

After an easy first inning by Hammel, the Orioles loaded the bases with no outs against Chen thanks to a walk (Robert Andino), a single (J.J. Hardy), and a HBP (Nick Markakis). Great start! Adam Jones came to the plate to a thunderous ovation (Birdland is excited about the impending extension, it seems) and knocked in the first run of the game on a sacrifice fly. Not the best possible outcome, but good enough. Matt Wieters popped up for the second out, and a single by Wilson Betemit loaded the bases again. But Chris Davis did what Chris Davis does against left-handed pitchers and struck out to end the inning.

Chen threw 28 pitches in the first inning, and it looked like the Orioles had him on the ropes. But they came out hacking in the second inning and Chen only threw eight pitches. Really. The third and the fourth innings featured more of the same as the frustration grew among the Orioles fans. We know the Orioles are better than this! It’s Bruce Chen! Well, in the next inning, the Orioles remembered both of those things as well.

In one of the crazier half-innings I’ve seen in awhile, the Orioles scored five runs in the fifth inning, knocking Chen out of the game before he recorded even one out. He walked Xavier Avery leading off, then it looked like Avery was picked off. Chen threw to first as Avery took off for second, but he is just SO fast! He beat the throw. From first! That brought Andino to the plate, and he hit a ball towards third that died in the grass for an infield single. Xavery moved to third on the play and then, with Hardy at the plate, Chen threw to first as Andino took off for second. AGAIN? This time the ball beat the runner to the bag but Andino performed a contortion act as he slid to avoid the tag. It was an amazing job by Andino and a great call by the umpire.

So thanks to a walk, an infield single, and two failed pickoff attempts, there were two runners in scoring position for Hardy, who knocked an opposite-field double off of the scoreboard in right field. That made the score 3-0 for about five seconds before Markakis knocked Hardy in on a double of his own. An RBI single from Adam Jones was the nail in Chen’s coffin, and he left having faced five batters without retiring one.

Kelvin Herrera replaced Chen and immediately struck out Matt Wieters and Wilson Betemit. Herrera was quite a bit different from Chen, throwing his fastball about 99 mph. With two outs and Chris Davis at the plate, Jones decided to join in on the base stealing shenanigans. The throw beat him to second but it deflected off of shortstop Alcides Escobar’s glove and went into center field. Jones went to third where he was able to score on Davis’ seeing-eye single into right field. That brought Avery up to the plate for the second time in the inning, but he grounded out, mercifully sending the Royals back to their dugout.

The O’s added on two more runs in the seventh inning thanks to a Chris Davis two-run homer, which made the score 8-0. After all of the close games the Orioles have played of late, this blowout was a breath of fresh air.

While Hammel was throwing zeros on the scoreboard, he did have his troubles. Although he only walked one, his control wasn't what we grown used to seeing from him and he needed a lot of pitches to get through his innings. It kept seeming like he might crumble, but he got out of every inning unscathed. For a guy who clearly didn’t have his best stuff tonight, Hammel’s effort was admirable.

With Hammel’s pitch count 104 after six innings and the game well in hand, Buck Showalter turned to the newly promoted Stu Pomeranz. Stu wasn’t as good tonight as he was when we last saw him. He got through the seventh allowing just a single, but gave up a two-run HR to Jeff Francoeur after Frenchy worked him for a twelve-pitch AB. Dana Eveland came on to pitch a 1-2-3 ninth to secure the win for the Orioles.

Orioles 8, Royals 2: Most Birdland Player Poll and Friday Night GIF Party

2012-05-26T02:14:01Z

Poll

Who was tonight's Most Birdland Player?

Game 46: Royals (17-26) @ Orioles (28-17), 7:05pm

2012-05-25T22:30:10Z

Well, it's been quite a day around here, hasn't it? Possible Adam Jones extension looming (at what seems like a fair price for both sides), and a number of rehabbing stories to look forward to in Bowie over this Memorial Day Weekend: Brian Roberts is in Bowie tonight, leading off and playing at DH; we heard earlier in the week that Zach Britton would be starting in Bowie tomorrow. Today we found out that Mark Reynolds and Endy Chavez, too, would be heading to the Baysox tomorrow for some rehab. Although there's not much exciting about Chavez being closer to playing again, since at this point he's probably just going to take playing time from someone younger who sucks less than he does.

With all that going on, there's still baseball to be played tonight. The Royals are in town for a three-game series. It's another one of those signs of how deeply the Orioles have damaged me that the Jones extension reminds me of another recent time that the Orioles extended someone. There's a world of difference between those days and now, or so I keep trying to tell myself.

The Orioles will be up against former Camden Yards laughmeister Bruce Chen. Bruce, I'm sorry to say it, but Andino at the Movies is better than your Joke of the Day ever was, and as a bonus, Andino is better at baseball than you were at pitching when your Jumbotron segment aired. That same Andino will be leading off against Chen tonight, as he has led off against every lefty recently. Chen. Andino. The battle of the billboards. WHO WILL OWN IT?

In his first six starts of the year, Jason Hammel did not allow more than two earned runs. Since pitching after his turn was skipped due to right knee soreness, he's allowed four earned runs while failing to get through six innings in both starts. If that knee is still bothering him, he might run into difficulty at the same point in the game tonight. If he's starting to get well again, then hopefully he can return closer to the form we'd seen from him over the first month.

Though they have an abysmal home record, the Royals are 12-9 on the road so far in 2012. The O's took the two games they played in Kansas City, and if they want to keep showing to the world they belong up top, then beating the fourth-place team in what seems to be a weak division is something that they need to be doing.

Lineup

BALTIMORE ORIOLES	KANSAS CITY ROYALS
Robert Andino - 2B	Jarrod Dyson - CF
J.J. Hardy - SS	Eric Hosmer - 1B
Nick Markakis - RF	Billy Butler - DH
Adam Jones - CF	Mike Moustakas - 3B
Matt Wieters - C	Jeff Francoeur - RF
Wilson Betemit - 1B	Alex Gordon - LF
Chris Davis - DH	Brayan Pena - C
Steve Tolleson - 3B	Irving Falu - 2B
Xavier Avery - LF	Alcides Escobar - SS

Orioles call up Stu Pomeranz and Ronny Paulino

2012-05-25T19:54:58Z

The Orioles today recalled RHP Stu Pomeranz and C Ronny Paulino for their second tours with the O's this season. Pomeranz only pitched in two games last time he was here but was impressive. And he's been fantastic in the minors, pitching a total of 23 1/3 innings between AA Bowie and AAA Norfolk without allowing a run and just three walks.

Paulino has only played in 12 games at AAA Norfolk since his demotion, but word was that he was working on his defense.

To make room for the two players, the Orioles have optioned Luis Exposito back to AAA and have designated Bill Hall for assignment. That leaves one less bench player on the roster but when the spot was being taking up by Bill Hall, does it really matter?

Paulino vs. Exposito doesn't mean much to me, but I'm happy to see Pomeranz back up for another try.

Baltimore Orioles, Adam Jones Nearing Extension

2012-05-25T14:54:00Z

Update: Ken Rosenthal is reporting the deal will be six years and in the "$85 million range."

Sources tell me and @jonmorosi that Adam Jones deal with #Orioles will be six years in $85 million range.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) May 25, 2012

First-place O's Set to Extend Their Best Player

The Baltimore Orioles are nearing a long-term extension with center fielder Adam Jones, according to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports:

BREAKING: Sources tell me and @jonmorosi that #Orioles are close to signing Adam Jones to a long-term extension.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) May 25, 2012

Per several tweets from Rosenthal, Jones completed a physical yesterday and now the two sides are hammering out the final details of the contract. According to his sources, the deal is "well north" of Miguel Tejeda's six-year, $72 million free agent deal and Nick Markakis' six-year, $66 million extension.

He's earning $6.15 million this season as a second time arbitration eligible player, and any extension would buy out the rest of his arbitration eligibility -- as well as making him the highest paid player in Orioles history.

Jones, 26, is hitting .311/.357/.601 on the season, something of a breakout from his career .278/.322/.449.

Pick 6 Contest Update - Day 5

2012-05-25T14:14:48Z

My apologies for not posting an update yesterday, but I had internet troubles at home and an long day ahead of me at work. I'm sure you were all heartbroken! But congrats to Wednesday's daily winner, tjk! His 80 points put him in first place in the daily contest, but it was a short reign.

Yesterday, bigdaddyb00 scored 83.3 points and is not is first for the daily contest. Check out the full leaderboard here.

Tonight's games don't start until 7:05 so you have plenty of time to get your picks in. Yesterday was the first day since Pick 6 started that I forgot to make my picks before the noon deadline, but given my recent history I probably just saved myself another day in the Hall of Shame.

Top ten for the week:

1 Nome -- 236.2
2 bigdaddyb00 -- 230.9
3 birdbrain.8 -- 217.1
4 Mayne_Event -- 205.1
5 tflach2 -- 193.0
6 WestcoastO'sFan -- 189.5
7 Brotz13 -- 189.0
8 JimIsBored -- 185.4
9 Gromm -- 184.2
10 zsiv -- 183.1

Full weekly leaderboard.

Adam Jones and Robert Andino turn NYC into Birdland

2012-05-25T01:29:23Z

When Adam Jones and Robert Andino visited the MLB fan cave a few weeks ago, some pictures surfaced of them walking the streets of New York in their jerseys and a giant cartoon bird. Well now we have video of them putting birds on things, Portlandia style. It's official: these guys are awesome. Check it out!

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The View From Zeke McGeek's Seat

2012-05-25T01:14:33Z

Zeke McGeek snapped this shot during last Wednesday's game between the Rochester Red Wings and the Gwinnett Braves at Frontier Field in Rochester. You may have heard (but probably you didn't, because it isn't exactly big news), that former Oriole Felix Pie is currently playing for the Gwinnett Braves and Zeke, knowing how much I adored Felix at one time, took this picture with Pie at the plate. I recognize the leg lift!