Orioles manager Buck Showalter took starter Jake Arrieta out after five innings tonight despite the fact that the right-hander had thrown 87 pitches and the Orioles led by five runs. His explanation was that it was a hot and sticky night, and he pointed to the fact that Arrieta had sweated through his jersey and was a little taxed.
Arrieta acknowledged that he wasn't feeling great physically, though he maintained that he's not injured. Just one of those nights, he explained.
"It wasn't a great day for me physically today," Arrieta said. "I went out there in the first and felt pretty sharp, and then after that, things went south physically. I didn't feel great, but that really doesn't matter. If you're out on the mound, you have to find ways to get guys out."
Arrieta, by the way, is tied for the major league lead with nine wins.
Showalter also explained why normal third base coach John Russell was on the bench tonight and Willie Randolph was coaching third. Because Russell was both coach and manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates, this development had the press box buzzing.
If you believe Showalter, the decision had nothing to do with Russell's poor send that got pitcher Chris Jakubauskas nailed at the plate Sunday against the Washington Nationals.
Instead, Showalter said, Russell's knees were bothering him again and the manager wanted him close in the dugout because Russell knows so many of the Pirates hitters and pitchers.
And finally, Tuesday's first pitch will be thrown at about 7:15 p.m. The Pirates are playing host to a pre-game ceremony celebrating the 40th anniversary of the 1971 World Series championship team that beat the Orioles in seven games. Both current teams will be wearing throwback uniforms from the 1971 season.
