Buck's O's

Who will be the next Oriole to reach the Hall of Fame?

With the success that the current generation of Orioles has accomplished, it’s probably correct to think that it’ll be awhile before the next Oriole is inducted into the Hall.

There are a couple of Orioles who played here, but also played elsewhere who may make the Hall. Along with Roberto Alomar, who was just elected to the hall, the names Harold Baines and Raphael Palmero.

Each of these players had Hall of Fame careers and may one day reach the Hall, but many of their glory days were with other teams. As was Miguel Tejada, who still needs to have a few more good years before he can lay a claim at being one of baseball’s best. And he probably won’t make it.

But there are two players currently on the Orioles that I can foresee possibly having Hall of Fame careers and both of these players have been signed to long term contracts to play as Orioles.

Nick Markakis is still a young player. His first few years in baseball have been good ones. Even though his numbers were slightly off last year, a lot of that had to do with teams pitching around him. He is turning out to be that good. It’s a good move for the Orioles to build the team around him.

The other player is the much talked about, although more as trade material than as a key player, Brian Roberts. While I’m not sure that he’ll ever be considered for Baseball’s Hall, he sure will become an Oriole Hall of Famer. And if he continues to play as he has the past couple of years, he may even be mentioned as one of the best lead-off hitters and 2nd basemen of his generation. When spoken as one of the best, that gives one claim.

There’s also the new crew of young pitchers. Some of these may become great and someday make the Hall of Fame.

Go Orioles!!

Are the Orioles lucky or the White Sox very unlucky?

Very seldom does a team score a run on a strikeout, but that happen last night for the Orioles.

Robert’s struck out with Andino on 2nd base. The ball got away from the catcher and by the end of the play Andino had scored.

A good team tends to take advantage of mistakes by others. The O’s have taken advantage of mistakes by both the Red Sox and the White Sox.

A “W” is always good. Take them every way you can.

Not a whole lot more to say. The starters are looking good, but the relief not so much so.

And then there’s the offense.

Maybe a change will help out every one. I don’t think that Chicago or Kansas City are as good as most of the teams the orioles have played in April.

Or maybe the question is should Fox be traded?

If I was asked this during the closing weeks of Spring Training, my answer would have been a very quick and resounding YES.

He had a hot spring. He really didn’t have a spot on the team. He had value and it is always better to get something. He has to clear waivers, which would seemed unlikely to happen.

Now I’m not sure.

He may still not have a defined spot on the team. He may be good as a third catcher. But then again do you need to have a true backup catcher if Weiters catches 5 or 6 games. Fox could be that backup. Although it may be best to tie him to one of the starters and have him as their catcher. It seems to happen all of the time.

Fox could be used as that spot pitch hitter late in the game. But who in the line up would you pitch hit for. Iztauris I suppose until Hardy gets back. But using him as a pitch hitter also takes away the back up catcher. That is unless you remove Weiters as well, to give him a break.

Then again all of this would depend on the status of the game.

Reports are that the Bird’s new Short Stop J.J. Hardy will most likely go on the disable list. Yesterday he had an MRI which revealed a left oblique strain.

Moves will have to be made. With both Iztarus and Andino already on the roster, it would appear unlikely that an infielder will be needed to replace Hardy. Last year’s SS Iztarus would be my choice to take Hardy’s place.

Many are feeling that Bergesen will be recalled from the minors, he can because of Hardy’s injury, and will perhaps pitch Wednesday’s game. Usually after a demotion a player has to remain in the minors for 10 days before being eligible for recall.

After the performance of Jakubauska on Saturday this might be a good idea.

When Pitching, Offense and Defense come together the Orioles are a pretty good club, but yesterday’s game showed that the three need to come together.

Then again last year when Sunday came, it was usually a lost.

Let’s not do it this year.

One thing about the game it was only a hit or two away from a win. A couple of key two out hits probably would have had a different out come. Then again we were playing Texas, who is a favorite to win the West.

And where do we go now. Up to New York to play the dreaded Yankees.

It could be a long week. Or it could turn out to be a great one, especially if they can win two of the three against the Yanks.

Does anyone else hate this schedule. We are starting our fourth series and all four are teams that have a shot at the Playoffs. Not to mention that we won’t see Texas in Baltimore any more this season. That is unless we both end up in the Play-offs, facing one another.

At the beginning of yesterday, saying that one would be satisfied with a split of yesterdays Double Header would have been natural.

But as I sit here this morning, the split was less that satisfying.

As well as the Orioles played in the first game, all three areas (pitching, offense and defense) seemed to connect, in the late game it was gone.

Is this evidence that the team can get tired or isn’t deep?

Time will time

Maybe you missed it, I know I did, there was a roster change today.

Brad Bergensen was sent to AAA Norfolk while Chris Jakubauskas was promoted to take his place on the active roster.

Chris Jakubauskas is a Right Handed pitcher who was born on December 22, 1978. He has played for a number of ball clubs in his career including the Mariners and Pirates.

He signed a minor league contact with the Orioles in February of 2011 and was playing for Norfolk when the Orioles purchased his minor league contract to place him on the active roster on April 9, 2011.