The 40-48 Baltimore Orioles start the 2nd-half tomorrow night in Chicago, against the 45-43 White Sox.
The O’s enter the last 74 games of 2009, with a dismal road record of 14-27. Chicago is 22-21 at home.
The scheduled pitching match-ups are:
7/17 Berken vs Buehrle
7/18 Guthrie vs Danks
7/19 Bergesen vs Contreras
Buehrle often seems somewhat under-appreciated for what he has achieved.The 30 year-old has 131 career wins, 8 consecutive seasons of 200+innings, and a life-time era of 3.79. He does allow a ton of hits, andhas never racked-up a ton of K’s, but his results have been consistent for so-long that it would be hard to write them off as a fluke.
Buehrle finished the 1st-half at 9-3, with a 3.66 era. In 118 innings,he allowed 114 hits, 17 homers, 26 walks, with 66 k’s. Lefties actually have a higher OPS against (.793) vs Righties (.718).
Berken lost his last start, but pitched well. In 5.2 innings, Berken allowed just 5 hits, 2 er, 2 bb’s, with 1 k. Berken and Hill will make each of their successive starts with the knowledge that Chris Tillman has basically knocked the door down.
Berken can only control what he cancontrol, and if he can build off his last start, he can stay in the Majors; albeit in the bullpen.
The O’s face another lefty on Saturday night against John Danks. The 2003 1st round pick continues to emerge as one of the best young arms inthe AL. In 101 innings of work, Danks has allowed just 90 hits, and has 89 k’s.
Overall, Danks has held hitters to a .679 OPS against, but like Buehrle gets hit harder by lefties. (.754 OPS vs lefties, .652 OPS vs righties).
Guthrie missed his last scheduled start vs Toronto, with a viralinfection. Maybe missing that turn through the rotation, will helpprovide a little extra life on the fastball. (movement, not velocity)
On Sunday, 37 year-old Jose Contreras will start against 23 year-oldBrad Bergesen. Contreras won his last two-starts of the 1st-half, as he allowed just 3 er in 14.1 innings, with 17 k’s, and only 2 walks. Bergesen made his Major League debut, and earned his first career win against the White Sox in April. Starting the 2nd-half off with astrong-start would be great to see.
Star White-Sox OF Carlos Quentin has been out since the end of May with plantar fasciitis. He has been rehabbing, and was scheduled to be reviewed during the All-star break.
The O’s will get their first-look at 2008 1st-round pick Gordon Beckham.
Owner
Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.