ORIOLES NOTEBOOK
Trembley Stays With His Starters
|
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
Thursday, May 15, 2008
BALTIMORE, May 14 -- Baltimore Orioles Manager Dave Trembley has maintained a firm line this season: He makes his decisions based on feel, not on pitch counts or other statistics.
So when right-hander Jeremy Guthrie took the mound for the seventh inning against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night even though he had thrown 107 pitches, Trembley remained consistent on two fronts: He went with his gut, and he challenged his pitcher.
"I will probably continue to stay with starters as long as I possibly can," Trembley said. "We're here to develop starting pitchers, not guys that are going to be looking over at the bench in the fifth and the sixth inning to take me out."
Trembley's preference to stick with his starters has exposed Orioles relievers to tough situations. Baltimore's bullpen entered Wednesday leading the major leagues with 90 inherited runners this season. Orioles relievers had stranded 30 percent, which ranks 17th.
But Trembley hasn't hesitated to present a challenge to his relievers.
"The bottom line is: Can they get it done or can't they," Trembley said. "It's not any of that other stuff. It's: Do you get the job done or don't you?"
Rookie reliever Jim Johnson responded to the challenge Tuesday, when Trembley sent him into a bases-loaded, nobody-out jam. But Johnson got out of the jam without allowing a run. Of Johnson's 11 inherited runners, he has allowed none to score, which is tied for the American League lead.
Mora Sidelined
Third baseman Melvin Mora was out of the lineup Wednesday for the second straight game after he received his second cortisone shot of the season for soreness in his right shoulder that has lingered since spring training.
Mora said the soreness worsened after he took a ground ball off his bothersome shoulder during infield before Tuesday's game. Trembley said he expects Mora to be ready by Friday's series opener against the Washington Nationals.
"The doctors say let it work, don't do anything today and tomorrow," Mora said of the shot. . . .
Catcher Ramón Hernández was originally penciled into the starting lineup but was pulled after he suffered soreness in his troublesome left wrist during batting practice.
UP NEXT Tomorrow vs. Nationals7:05 p.m. Olson (2-0) vs. Hill (0-0) MASN Saturday vs. Nationals7:05 p.m. Burres (3-4) vs. Pérez (1-3) MASN UP NEXT Tomorrow vs. Nationals7:05 p.m. Olson (2-0) vs. Hill (0-0) MASN Saturday vs. Nationals7:05 p.m. Burres (3-4) vs. Pérez (1-3) MASN
