The Orioles and Boston both listed Tim Wakefield as tonight's starter for the Red Sox, which could only mean that Julian Tavarez would pitch instead.
Is anyone really surprised that manager Dave Trembley got tossed tonight? He's shown remarkable restraint when leaving the dugout in past games, but his last "discussion" with an umpire on the homestand was much more heated. And the losing streak is nine games. And players aren't hitting the cutoff man or running the bases wisely.
It was just a matter of time.
Keep running Radhames Liz out there every five days. Same with Garrett Olson. That's the only way to salvage the final month – to evaluate players who could factor into the 2008 plans and perhaps get a head start.
I know it's easier to do this when your losing streak isn't longer than the years it took for me to get my college diploma.
As for the Steve Trachsel trade, the Orioles gave up a veteran pitcher with a cheap option for 2008 who was their most consistent starter early in the season, and one of their most effective once he was healthy again. But I won't argue it.
If they had gotten a low-level prospect in return, I'd gripe. But third baseman Scott Moore is only 23 and already has cracked the majors, appearing in 18 games with the Chicago Cubs over the past two seasons. He hit 19 home runs this year at Triple-A Iowa. Baseball America rated him as the Cubs' seventh-best prospect. And he's a former first-round pick of the Detroit Tigers.
He's not Jose Leon. At least as far as we know.
That alone could be worth it. Now factor in a pitcher who also has some major league experience, posting a 3.00 ERA in 12 relief appearances this season and holding opponents to a .224 average, and it's difficult to find fault with the deal. If nothing else, he'll give Trembley another bullpen option in September. The guy is desperate for arms.
Trachsel allowed three earned runs or fewer in 17 of his 25 starts. He wasn't a bad substitute for Kris Benson. But his biggest contribution could end up being the players the Orioles got in return for him. And how his absence allowed the Orioles to more easily evaluate pitchers like Olson and Liz.
