First off, I love Dave Trembley and believe he is a good coach. He always sticks up for the players, and is willing to get into a umps face. But, his decision making on taking out starters the last two seasons have been horrible. I remember towards the middle of last season a lot of us were questioning why he is taking out starters so early.
Tonight, Koji pitched a great game only giving up one run off a Teixeira blast in the first. So what does Trembley decide to do, pull him. He said at the press conference after the game that he didn’t believe Koji was tired, just done. Trembley needs to stop going off his gut instincts and look at what we got. Our bullpen is not that good, and even worse without Sarfate. Trembley always preaches that pitchers should go late into games, but at times he takes them out to soon. True, Koji pitch count was getting high and his velocity may have gone down some, so I do understand that aspect. But, on the other hand, at least let him go back out in the 7th and see if he can get a few quick outs, if not than yank him. What do I know though, reason why I am watching the game, and he is coaching it.
Another thing that really ticks me off is the organization selling Yankee products in our stadiums. The store inside Norfolk Tide stadium sells Yankee hats, shirts, and other memorabilia. Even though that really makes me mad, I understand that more than the team selling Yankee products inside Camden Yards. We are the Baltimore Orioles, we should in no way be selling Yankee products at the store inside our own stadium. It’s bad enough that every stand outside the stadium, and every sports store in America sells basically nothing but Yankee products.
Call To the Pen
FanSided
The Ebony Bird
The last few times we left Koji out there in the 7th he got hit pretty hard, so it’s understandable that Trembley decided to shut him down after the 7th. Both Walker and Johnson had been pitching pretty well for us, there was no reason to believe they’d blow it so bad for us. If you think about it, Johnson only really made one really terrible pitch (the home run ball) because he just got really unlucky on those 2 infield singles.
I understand that side of it, and I believe that in almost any other game that it would of been the right move. But against the Yankees, with the high potent offense they have, you have to ride the hot pitcher long as you can.
Our bullpen was supposed to be a strength. Tah.
Michael have you been paying attention to what Nolan Ryan is doing with his team in where??? (Jeez, i forgot) he is trying to leaving in starters longer.
Sometimes, I think these roles have become so specialized that it dilutes the already diluted pool of talent out there!
I hear ya on the Yankee crap but unfortunately it is the old supply and demand thing. Don’t other stadium stores have smaller lines from other teams- now that I think about it? I’ve not ever paid attention.