Anytime you blow so many opportunities to win a pivotal game against an inferior opponent it is painful to reflect. But in the Orioles 11-8 loss to Texas we will try to start with THE GOOD.

THE GOOD:

• Tejada’s defensive gem to bail us out of the first inning jam was an immediate momentum shift in our favor (but there would be lots more shifts after that one)
• Jumping out to a 5-0 lead should normally be a comfortable situation.
• It was nice to see Sammy get a homerun on his bobblehead night.
• My kids Rick and Julie actually made money on the game – getting in for free on Wendy’s Value Meal coupons and then buying up some bobbleheads for resale. The net profit of $150 was somewhat tainted by somehow misplacing $20 in the men’s room – a nice find for someone else.
• Javy Lopez came up with the clutch two run game-tying homerun in the bottom of the ninth to breathe a little life into the Orioles.

THE BAD:

• Bruce Chen – enough said (I had been advocating him as the poster child for our Christian Home Educators Network but after this woeful performance I think we need to go a different direction)
• Giving up 18 hits to the Texas Rangers
• Leaving 15 men on base – it seemed like every inning for the second half of the game ended with the Orioles leaving the based packed. The heart of the lineup was pitiful after that opening barrage – too many outs in the clutch. We just can’t seem to get the big hit with men on base.
• I thought I told Mazzilli earlier not to pitch B.J. Ryan unless it was a save situation. He just is not effective coming into a tie game.
• The loss drops Baltimore into a tie for third with Toronto – 4 1/2 games behind Boston . . . is fourth place our perpetual destiny?

THE UGLY:

• No rain delay is pretty – having to wait over one and a half hours for the game to start did give the kids a chance to solicit some bobbleheads and make some cash.
• The Rangers made enough ugly plays in the field to give the O’s every opportunity to recover . . . but it was not to be
• Sammy Sosa’s dirty slide into home plate with his cleats up in the chest of the catcher to try to dislodge the ball from the glove wins the booby prize here. After this embarrassment you felt it was inevitable that the Orioles would crash and burn. Couple that with Sammy’s lack of hustle on the bases earlier and you have to wonder on bobblehead night whether his head is even attached.
• Jorge Julio’s cursing expression as he watched Gary Matthews take him deep to win the game was pretty ugly.

Related posts:

1. “Top Ten” – Reasons Acquiring Sammy Sosa Would Be A Sad Case Of Mistaken Identity For The Hapless Orioles
2. Sweep of Astros Good Sign for Team that has Struggled Closing out Series
3. “It’s a lousy night to be an Atheist”
4. Monday Night Football Needs To Demand Money Back Guarantee
5. Ragged Play… Bad Breaks… Increasing Injuries