News
Orioles' lineup is unpredictable
Baltimore (60-88) vs. Boston (88-59), 1:35 p.m. ET
By Matt Palmer / Special to MLB.com
09/20/09 12:36 AM ET
BALTIMORE -- Red Sox starter Daisuke Matsuzaka doesn't stand a chance of knowing what kind of lineup he will face Sunday, mainly because Orioles manager Dave Trembley is trying to figure it out himself.Injuries have ravaged the Orioles' lineup in recent weeks, as outfielders Adam Jones (severely sprained left ankle) and Nolan Reimold (left Achilles tendon fraying) each have seen their seasons end prematurely.
The two had combined for 34 home runs and 115 RBIs.
Trembley had rookie catcher Matt Wieters batting third during Saturday's game with the Red Sox, while second baseman Brian Roberts returned to the leadoff spot.
Nick Markakis, who is in a 5-for-36 slump, was in the fourth slot.
Roberts has been at the top of the Orioles' lineup for a number of years, but he has been forced into batting third recently.
The second baseman led off the bottom of Saturday's game with a double and scored on Wieters' single.
Wieters, the Orioles' 2007 first-round Draft pick, has largely hit near the bottom of the lineup since being called up in May.
"I envision him as a guy that will probably hit somewhere in the middle of the lineup eventually," Trembley said. "I see him on the same course as what I did for Jones last year. I batted Jones eighth and moved Jones up and put Jones where [it would] not only would be best for him, but for the club. I did the same thing with Wieters when he first came, try to break him in slow, let him have some success, get him comfortable and then move him to a slot where eventually they're going to be."
Wieters has impressed Trembley with his growth.
"I think eventually -- I don't know about next year -- he'll be guy that will hit in the middle of the lineup somewhere," the manager said.
Markakis has 48 walks this season after getting 99 a year ago.
Trembley said Markakis is seeing more breaking balls and changeups, but few inside fastballs. Most pitches are going away from the right fielder.
Trembley said Andy MacPhail, the team's president of baseball operations, wants to address the problem.
"I think Nick is the one guy in our lineup who, per at-bats, gets more tough pitches than anybody on the club," Trembley said. "And that's why we've expressed through Andy, and I believe Andy understands it as clear as anybody else, you need somebody who's going to hit behind Markakis. That's a real big need here, and I think it's got to be a right-handed hitter and not a guy who's a doubles hitter. [It has to be] a guy who can whack it, a guy who puts fear in people over there."
Trembley compared Markakis to former Oriole Fred Lynn.
"That's who he is for me," Trembley said. "Smooth. He's a [No. 3] hitter, but everybody's been bumped to different slots because of things that have happened. It's just like guys get out of their roles, whatever their roles are, because guys get hurt or can't go. There's always reasons why things happen and don't happen."
Pitching matchup
BAL: RHP Jason Berken (5-11, 6.08 ERA)
Berken didn't earn a win Tuesday vs. the Rays, but he did manage to record his fifth consecutive start without a loss. The right-handed rookie allowed Tampa Bay four earned runs in the first inning but settled down to pitch into the seventh and leave with a lead. Berken has successfully rebounded from a poor start that saw him lose nine consecutive decisions but will likely pitch in relief next season.
Making his first Major League appearance since June 19, Matsuzaka worked six-plus shutout innings of three-hit ball Tuesday in a victory over the Angels at Fenway Park. The 29-year-old right-hander did not allow a hit through four frames and fanned five during the 93-pitch outing. Dice-K is 2-1 with a 4.72 ERA in five career starts against the Orioles. Tidbits
The Orioles are 4-8 when Berken starts at home. ... With two long balls on Saturday, Ty Wigginton notched his second multihomer game of the season and ninth of his career. ... The Orioles are 2-15 against the Red Sox this season. Tickets
Buy tickets now to catch the game in person.
On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio• Gameday
• Official game notes On television
• MASN HD On radio
• 105.7 The Fan Up next
• Monday: Orioles (Chris Tillman, 2-3, 4.50) at Blue Jays (David Purcey, 0-2, 6.32), 7:07 p.m. ET
• Tuesday: Orioles (Mark Hendrickson, 5-5, 4.47) at Blue Jays (TBD), 7:07 p.m. ET
• Wednesday: Orioles (Jeremy Guthrie, 10-15, 5.05) at Blue Jays (TBD), 7:07 p.m. ET
Matt Palmer is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
