Orioles Beat Blue Jays, 8-5; The Rundown and More O's Drug Stench...
The Orioles won yesterday against the Toronto Blue Jays, 8-5 as the kids from the farm contributed in a huge way. With the win yesterday, Baltimore avoided the sweep by Toronto.
Jeremy Guthrie came back to pitch and close out the season, which I give him major props for doing so. He was on a pitch count due to his injury; however, he was decent as he went 5 innings and gave up runs (but Jay Payton made some miscues in the field that nearly cost the O’s early).
Luis Hernandez, J.R. House and Jay Payton all homered for the O’s.
Jim Hoey got the win last night.
Sorry, I have training today, so there will not be much in terms of analysis of the team or the game last night.
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Heathir Irvin of Oriole Magic has a preview of the final series of the year.
Meanwhile, Jamie Walker could see less action in ’08, as will Chad Bradford. Simply put, both men are specialists and they lose their effectiveness if they are over exposed. The duo appeared in way too many games because of the thinning of the pitching staff. It is critical that this changes next season.
Roch Kubatko has his thoughts of last’s night game, along with some stuff that is taking place at the Yard for “Fan Appreciation Weekend”.
Like I have said time and time again, expect big changes this offseason. Dave Trembley has alluded to some of it, but the lack of response or words by Andy MacPhail publicly just says that we all expect a lot to happen in the winter.
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As the whole steroid era in sports and the subsequent investigations rear their ugly head, the Baltimore Sun today has a huge article about the Orioles and their link to it. Most fans know the story of Rafael Palmeiro, Jay Gibbons, Jason Grimsley and Davis Segui, and the Sun’s Dan Connolly interviews former and current Oriole players and front office members about the issue.
Personally, I don’t know if there’s a clique of guys on the staff who meet up and chat about drugs; however, I don’t think there is.
I just think that the use of PED’s in sports is a personal thing, done out of the view of the locker room and public eyes. Like I have said before, with the amount of money being offered today in sports, the need to stay employed, and just basic human nature – there will always be a segment of guys who will do what they need to do to get ahead.
Do I agree with PED use and cheating, of course not – however, it is what it is. I am sure that over time, there will be more names unleashed and exposed. Reputations and careers may be ruined, but for right now, after one serves a punishment, they can come back and play.
In some cases, like Jason Giambi, if they are still productive, no one cares and things go back to the way they were.
I don’t think the Orioles condone or illicit a culture of drug use, but it is alarming that key names keep popping up in the whole debate and it is not helping the team’s image.
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