O-o-T-S -- Wed/Thurs Edition (5/2-5/3)

[Frayed Knot]

Just because our game sucked and was essentially over by mid-afternoon doesn't mean all baseball was boring and frustrating yesterday.

* Jered Weaver tossed a no-hitter vs the Twinkies.
Only a 2nd inning K/passed ball and a 7th inning walk separated him from a perfecto.
Albert had a hit, just one and it was a single. Still HR-less through nearly a month with five - count 'em - five RBI

* Orioles - that would be the currently 16-9 Baltimore Orioles - shut-out the Yanx to take the series. Jake Arrieta (8 IP/5 hits) was the author. O's took two of three as the Yanx were lucky to get the one win considering that they scored all of 3 runs total in the 3 games.

* He didn't get tagged with the loss, but the Royals beat Verlander yesterday 3-2. That's two straight non-wins for Justin Brooks Verlander as the highly touted Tigers sit at a very mediocre 12-12

* Tampa completed a sweep of Seattle (I know, big deal, right?) but that's now 10 of their last 11 in the win column which pushes them to a tie with Texas for the AL's best record. They may need the cushion as Evan Longoria is out for the next 6-8 weeks with a hammy. Also former #1 overall draft pick Tim (Suspend 'em like) Beckham got hit with a 50-game suspension for a 2nd positive for "recreational use" substances. So if I have this straight, you're already under-achieving as a 1/1 pick and you get caught smoking dope ... so you go out and do it again?!?!

* Dodgers get a two-run double with 2-out in the top of the 9th to tie their game in Colorado ... only to lose it on a 3R PH walk-off HR by Jason Giambi. Jamey Wright (two walks to lead off the inning) and Scott Elbert (the LHP brought in specifically to face Giambi) are your LAD culprits.
The game was 2-1 Rox after 7 before the Dodgers scored two in their half of the 8th & 9th only to see the Rox answer with three each.
Giambi becomes the oldest player ever to hit a walk-off HR

* ... speaking of blowing leads, the Phils were up 6-0 in the 5th with Halladay on the mound - and wound up losing 15-13 on a Chipper walk-off in the 11th. 8 earned on 12 hits in 5.1 was the final line for Roy (a McCann GS did him in). The Philly pen (mostly Contreras) gave up 5 more in the Braves' 8th forcing the Phils to get a 2-out run in the 9th just to send it into extras.
Phils back below .500 at 12-13

* Marlins won in SF in the 10th on a [fill-in name] Stanton HR. Reyes 0-3 and sitting at .216/.307/.316 Odd to see that his walks are up while his hitting is down.

* Nationals also won on a walk-off: Ian Desmond with 2-outs down by one with a man on. That man on was Bryce Harper following his 3rd hit of the day; 2 screaming doubles to go along with a swinging bunt. The win stopped the Nats' five-game losing streak - a stretch which had seen them score just 7 runs.
Old friend JJ Putz was the victim in this one; following a lead-off 2B by Harper in the 9th he K'd Ramos & Ankiel before getting beat by Desmond on a 1-1 pitch.

[Ceetar]

Crazy baseball day yesterday. and to think people were watching hockey. (joking)

MLB tweeted this last night:

Carlos Beltran has 2 homers and 7 RBIs and IT'S THE FOURTH INNING

he didn't add too much more, just a couple hits. 4/5 on the night, but that's pretty neat. (off A.J. Burnett)

[Frayed Knot]

* The best part about the Philly-Atlanta marathon yesterday (11 innings, 14 pitchers, 28 runs, 36 hits, 4 hours even) is that they get to do it again today ... at NOON !!
Blanton vs Delgado

* Marlins & Nats also play today so we're the only East squad sitting out.
Marlins finish up their series in SF (3:45) with Sanchez vs Vogelsong
Nats have one more at home with Arizona (7:05) Kennedy & Detwiler

[Ceetar]

rooting for the Nats to beat up on the Diamondbacks and wear out the bullpen( but still lose)

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I'd take Halladay blowing a 6-run lead (not to mention scoring 13 runs and losing) as a signal the Phils really don't got it in 2012. That's the kinda thing the 2009 Mets would do.

[Ceetar]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I'd take Halladay blowing a 6-run lead (not to mention scoring 13 runs and losing) as a signal the Phils really don't got it in 2012. That's the kinda thing the 2009 Mets would do.

I've long since decided none of it means anything and there are no 'signs' of a team that's going to be a 'winner' or a 'loser' and I just take solace in that the Mets sent Schwinden to the mound, the Tigers Verlander, and the Phils Halladay and all three teams got the same result out of the game.

[Edgy MD]

You know, if a game started by Roy Halladay can lead to 15 runs allowed including a 6-0 lead yielded by Halladay, that's real good news. He's the key to this whole division.

[Ceetar]

Edgy DC wrote: You know, if a game started by Roy Halladay can lead to 15 runs allowed including a 6-0 lead yielded by Halladay, that's real good news. He's the key to this whole division.

Well, if he's going to make a habit of blowing 6-0 leads, Tim Hudson might become the key to the whole division.

[Frayed Knot]

2-0 Phils top 8

Thome, btw, is now on the DL

[Edgy MD]

Ceetar wrote: Edgy DC wrote: You know, if a game started by Roy Halladay can lead to 15 runs allowed including a 6-0 lead yielded by Halladay, that's real good news. He's the key to this whole division. Well, if he's going to make a habit of blowing 6-0 leads, Tim Hudson might become the key to the whole division.

If Halladay falters, the division is anybody's and any number of guys could become the key.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Ceetar wrote: Carlos Beltran has 2 homers and 7 RBIs and IT'S THE FOURTH INNING he didn't add too much more, just a couple hits. 4/5 on the night, but that's pretty neat. (off A.J. Burnett)

Selected stats for Beltran and NL rank. He's MVP caliber, so far.

HR's 7 (2nd T)
RC27 8.03 (6th)
RC 19 (6th)
OPS .933 (10th)
OBP .398 (8th)
BB's 16 (7th)
Power-Speed 5.8 (1st)
Off. Win % .759 (8th)
RBI 18 (7th)

[Guest sharpie]

Halladay falters but then Joe Blanton throws a shutout today.

[batmagadanleadoff]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Ceetar wrote: Carlos Beltran has 2 homers and 7 RBIs and IT'S THE FOURTH INNING he didn't add too much more, just a couple hits. 4/5 on the night, but that's pretty neat. (off A.J. Burnett) Selected stats for Beltran and NL rank. He's MVP caliber, so far. HR's 7 (2nd T) RC27 8.03 (6th) RC 19 (6th) OPS .933 (10th) OBP .398 (8th) BB's 16 (7th) Power-Speed 5.8 (1st) Off. Win % .759 (8th) RBI 18 (7th)

Beltran's hit five more HR's since I wrote the quoted post above. If Beltran keeps it up, this Wheeler kid better turn out to be a good one.