Insult To Injury

Tonight’s game sucked on so many levels. It’s almost impossible to know where to start. How about the fact that the Orioles lost a tough, hard-fought game against a division rival, and put themselves in a position to where it will take a win one a short turnaround 11:00 game just to salvage a series split.

Then there’s the fact that J.J. Hardy left the game with a hamstring issue. Losing Hardy puts a hole in the lineup, and reduces the defensive flexibility that this club needs to win ballgames. Is there anything worse than seeing an infield full of utility fielders?

Oh, then there’s the presentation.

Is there anything worse than watching the Orioles play on ESPN? The lack of balance was appalling. No, internet, I didn’t say it was surprising, but it was certainly unpleasant. Did anyone count how often John Kruk called for a Red Sox home run? This is the reason I gave up on the four-letter-network. They cater to the large markets they’ve gotten so fat off promoting, and covering sports became secondary. The Orioles were an after thought in that broadcast.

But the worst part was that the Orioles – literally – threw the game away. After getting posting a 5-run lead over the first five frames, the Orioles started pissing it away in the bottom of the fifth. Ubaldo Jimenez, who had turned in a pretty solid performance to that point, did exactly the WORST thing he could have with his last batter: served up a 3-run home run to bring the Red Sox back into the game. From there, it was an error on that universally hated Transfer Rule, and an inability to close the door in the 9th, punctuated by David Lough’s errant throw which allowed Dustin Pedroia (of course) to score from third.

Photo Credit: Jim Rogash/Getty Images

All self-inflicted wounds.

Yes, the strike zone was a complete sham. Yes, the transfer rule sucks. But the Orioles had the game in hand, and then let it slip away. They shrank in the big moment on the big stage, which really, might be the worst thing. Baseball at large was treated to another installment of the same old story: the Red Sox are the best ever, and the Orioles are an embarrassment.

Baseball was not fun tonight. Maybe it’s time that I go back and heed my own advice.

Sleep fast, and get ’em tomorrow, Orioles.