What has happened to Brad Bergesen during his first three starts is, for lack of a better way to put it, just sad. He clearly is not the same pitcher he was before taking that nasty comebacker off his leg last July and hurting his shoulder during that December commercial shoot.
He probably deserved a better fate tonight, since the double play that should have been made in the third likely would have kept the game close, but it was still his responsibility to minimize the damage in that seven-run inning.
Is it too soon to wonder about his job security?
Unfortunately, no. I think he'll get a chance to bounce back, but the Orioles are in no position to be particularly patient right now. I'm rooting hard for him to turn things around his next time out, because he doesn't deserve this, but I just don't know how long Dave Trembley can stick with him in the rotation with the team off to such a horrendous start.
Update: After the game, Bergesen was sent down to Triple-A Norfolk. "I think he's searching, to be honest with you," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "I think he's trying to find a comfortable arm slot, I think he's trying to get the ball down. He's just not able to do it."
Mea culpa dept.: Hey, how stupid do I look for questioning Doug Fister's mechanics during the first inning? Since he hit Ty Wigginton with a pitch and walked Nolan Reimold, he hasn't allowed a baserunner through the fifth. If he ends up throwing a no-hitter, I might have to turn in my blogspot.