O’s Sweep Boston

The Baltimore Orioles completed their first 3 game sweep of the Boston Red Sox with their 2-1 extra-inning win yesterday.

The win moved the O’s to just 7-18 overall, but gave Baltimore their 5th win in 7 games.

A min-review of the three games:

Friday:

The O’s gave up 10 walks, and 3 homers and found a way to win a game they probably should have lost.
This is an example of how things balance out over the course of a 162 game schedule. Meaning at some-point you are going to lose games you should win (the blown saves during the opening week), and at some-point you are going to get the breaks.

Markakis is the best overall hitter on this team.
Wieters has the greatest overall ceiling.
Jones probably has the best overall physical abilities.
Tejada is the Oriole I still want up to the plate in a crucial situation. His 8th inning homer was crushed, and seemingly breathed new life into the team. Without that homer, you could have easily seen Papelbon close things down in the 9th, and a weekend of vastly different results evolve.

Jones had 3 hits, including a double in the 10th. While he had trouble locating the ball, and was not quick out of the box – it was great to see him go opposite field. Everyone has seen him be pull happy, and get consistently beat with junk on the lower-outside corner. When he commits to going the other way, Jones becomes a very dangerous hitter with his ability to hit for power to all fields.

Perhaps this was the wake-up call Jones needed, as he had 7 hits in the series, hitting a number of balls very hard.

I went into the year willing to give Atkins a couple of hundred regular at-bats, and believing he would rebound to be a lower .700 OPS contributor. I went into the year thinking I was not looking forward to hearing him become public enemy number 1 if he struggled early. That as 1-year deal, it was a deal with limited risk, and potential to provide some minimal help. To date, I have been very wrong. I do not want to kill the guy on 67 at-bats, but he has been brutal. Most disturbing to me is his approach with runners on-base. He simply does not have good team at-bats. This was evident again with the bases loaded, and the ball he chased. I think he is considerably better than the .530 OPS he is sporting, but I’m pretty sure I would not be willing to give him more at-bats to figure it out.

Johnson earned a demotion to AAA, as he allowed an earned run for the fifth-time in his ten 2010 outings. Hopefully he can have some quick success for Norfolk, get his head right, and get back.

Saturday:

With a brutal April behind them, the O’s started May off by beating the Red Sox in homerun derby, and claiming their first series win of the year.

After 1 start in the Minors, Bergesen returned to the Oriole rotation. The ball was obviously flying out of Camden Yards, but Bergesen had too many balls up in the zone. If there was a bright spot to his pitching line, it was that he did not allow a walk for the first time in 2010.

Wigginton pounded out 2 more homers, and finished the weekend with his OPS standing at 1.157. Obviously he is not going to stay there, but his performance is dictating that he is going to have to stay in the lineup when Roberts returns. The logical spot for him being 1st.

Markakis had 3 hits, and 5 rbi and finished the weekend with his OPS above .900. The perfect illustration that stats for players will normalize during a season.

I enjoyed seeing Wieters’s opposite field shot. His .287 batting average is solid enough, but he still only has 5 extra-base hits. He is due for a run of sustained power. When that occurs, he has the bat capable of carrying a team for several weeks.

Getting some production out of Hughes has helped the lineup. Not very hard to envision Snyder eventually helping in a similar fashion.

What a difference having Simon’s power arm available to the team at the end of the game.

Sunday:

Another good effort from Millwood, who is giving the O’s exactly what they needed, while exceeding expectations. You knew Millwood would take the ball every 5th day, and provide consistent innings. I have been a bit surprised by just how well he has pitched. 3 outings already of at-least 7.2 innings, and the most earned runs allowed in any of his 6 starts is 4. His hits per IP, K/9, and walk-ratios are all solid enough. He showed some leadership by going back and completing the 8th yesterday.

Very nice inning of work from Ohman yesterday, as he struck-out the side in the 9th. When Uehara returns, it will be interesting to see who leaves the O’s pen. Still do not think you need both Castillo, and Ohman.

I know the O’s would have lost their DH, but I would have had to pinch-hit for Scott in the 8th. I just felt Wieters was more likely in that situation to get the sac-fly that was needed.

The walk Markakis earned off of Papelbon in the 10th was impressive.

Albers earned his 2nd win of the series, with his 4th consecutive scoreless outing. He got in trouble when he got away from his sinker, and was attempting to use his slider. He got out of the inning, when he returned to his sinker. He has lowered his era from 9.35 on 4/24 to 6.23. I am curious if Trembley will use Albers in crucial situations on the road in Yankee Stadium.