Let the record show it is the morning of September 5, 2012, and the Baltimore Orioles are tied for first place in the American League East. Go ahead, sports fans, name five players on that team!!
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Jimmy Rollilns stroked his 2,000th hit last night, a double, to move into fourth place all time on the team. He needs a few hundred more to become the all-time leader.
Earlier in the evening Rich Hoffmann, one of the best newspaper writers in town, noted how Jimmy had always been a "red light" player who knows to and more to the point rises to the occasion. And so he did last night in Cincinnati.
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Kyle Kendricks, savaged in this space as much as anywhere, pitched another good game last night and deserved to win...or at least not lose. He has solidified his spot in the rotation, ahead of Vance Worley, who may have struggled because of floating bodies in his elbow or because he just isn't that good and the league caught up with him.
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Chase Utley continues to take ground balls at third base. Says here is ain't never gonna' happen. He doesn't have the arm for the position and, frankly, he doesn't have the instincts for the hot corner. It's one thing to charge a ball and flip it to first with your glove hand and quite another to charge a topper at third and throw across your body. That scenario doesn't even begin to discuss screamers hit to your right or left. No way. Admirable, perhaps, but no way.
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John Mayberry is much bashed in the blogosphere, usually by meatheads who condemn him for playing cold most of the year and heating up at the end. Funny how it always seems he gets more playing time at the end, thus giving him a chance to get into some kind of rhythm. The meatheads don't seem to care about that.
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Speaking of outfield hopefuls, it now appears the biggest question about Dom Brown is not his glove or his bat. It's his health. Brown has missed a lot of time due to injuries throughout his career. If he can't stay on the field it doesn't really matter how good he might be.
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Kevin Frandsen has hit well during his stint at third base. Fielding is another matter. Has he earned a chance to start next season? The Phils' alleged brain trust keeps saying he hasn't. There aren't too many free agents out there who would replace Placido Polanco, whose career is over...at least in Philadelphia. Frandsen might get substantial playing time next season by default.
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Everyone with the exception of Mr. and Mrs. Papelbon agrees the Phils overpaid big time to sign the closer. His numbers may not look too shabby, but his performances, especially lately, have been. Moreover, watching his little act on the mound is tiresome to someone in front of a tv screen; I cannot imagine how the eight guys wearing the same uniform on the field view it, but I'll bet they'd like him to pick up the pace. Papelbon has served up a few game-losing dingers of late, but his walks and deep counts are what really drive me nuts.
