Birds Watcher » Koji Uehara

The Myth of the Designated Closer

Randy Buchman — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 22:18:52 +0000

As a newer writer for this network, I am posting this article as one I will refer to from time to time about my annual frustration with what I call “the myth of the designated closer.” I don’t find anything in the game of baseball quite so frustrating as spending several hours watching my team play a good game – doing all the little things to win games with situational hitting and solid defense, taking a lead into the 9^th inning, etc. – only to have the “designated closer” obligatorily marched in (whether the match-ups are good or bad) and blow the whole thing apart with just a few stupid pitches!

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A closer look at Matt Wieters

Olivia Witherite — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 04:29:53 +0000

By Olivia Witherite

It’s February, so you know what that means: only 17 days until Orioles pitchers and catchers report. I’m honestly thinking about breaking out the orange and black construction paper and making a countdown paper chain, but I diverge.

In somewhat of a more mature way to get excited about Feb. 18, let’s take a closer look at one of Baltimore’s core players, former first-round pick Matt Wieters. While his bat has been solid, what he is obviously most well-known for is his defense. In 2009, Wieters made his debut with high expectations in a longtime, suffering organization. Fans were excited for Wieters and what his appearance could mean: redemption. Although I, along with most everyone, can be an advocate for saying that one man does not make a baseball team, we do know this: Wieters has had a huge impact.

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Baltimore Orioles: Free Koji!

Domenic A. Vadala — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:13:49 +0000

We hear so much about guys wanting to get out of Baltimore, or players potentially not wanting to sign with the Orioles due to the stigma that comes with 14 straight years of losing. In a sense, “one of the Orioles’ own” is sitting deep in the heart of Texas begging to be “traded back home.” The O’s traded Koji Uehara to the Texas Rangers last July in a deal that sent Chris Davis and Tommy Hunter to the O’s. Uehara was originally signed to a two-year contract by the Orioles (later re-signed) before the 2008 season, and has been a solid but injury-prone reliever for the Orioles.

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