491 replies to this topic

[BSLChrisStoner]

Chen vs. Hellickson

Hellickson 2012: 10-11, 3.10 era, 177 ip, 163 hits, 25 hr's, 59 bb's, 124 k's, .710 OPS against, 0.77 G/F

[BobPhelan]

Win tomorrow then think about the sweep.

[Matt]

Hellickson has a career 2.30era in 12 games against the O's. He's also thrown 2 complete games against the O's.

Going to need to work the count like they did today vs Price and will also need Chen to keep Tampa under 3 runs.

[Coker]

This is going to be a LONG day.

[You Play to Win the Game]

This is going to be a LONG day.

Tell me about it - but isn't it great? I love the pain. Can't wait until tonight.

[Mackus]

This is going to be a LONG day.

Better than a day off. Monday was far less painful for me than the old day-off-after-Opening-day usually was.

[You Play to Win the Game]

Better than a day off. Monday was far less painful for me than the old day-off-after-Opening-day usually was.

Yep, agree with this completely. Good 'ole Tuesday blue balls I call it.

[Mackus]

Any guesses as to tonight's lineup?

I'm going with:

RF Markakis
LF McLouth
CF Jones
DH Wieters
1B Davis
SS Hardy
DH Reimold
3B Machado
2B Roberts

I don't think Machado will be the everyday #2 hitter, just against lefties. So he moves down, McLouth moves up (and into to field for Reimold). That does leave open the potential for a lefty killer late to take down Roberts-Markakis-McLouth or a right-killer to face Hardy-Reimold-Machado. Leaving McLouth down at #8 and moving Machado or Reimold up to #2 would alleviate some of that concern, but I still think this is what we'll see tonight.

[BSLChrisStoner]

I'm agreed with Mackus about the lineup. That makes sense to me.

[Bosibus]

I'm not worried about LHP there with Markakis, he hits lefties.

[Mackus]

I'm not worried about LHP there with Markakis, he hits lefties.

Agree, and I'm not particularly worried about the RHP with Reimold either at the bottom as he doesn't have any significant L/R splits (actually has hit RHP a tiny bit better). So both of the areas where you'd worry about a specialist having three straight favorable matchups, the middle guy isn't someone who is typically troubled by same-side pitching.

[Bosibus]

Yeah I agree. Just let them put Jake in there again. I still can't believe three 0-2 counts and he couldn't put any if them away.

[The Epic]

Any guesses as to tonight's lineup?

I'm going with:

RF Markakis
LF McLouth
CF Jones
DH Wieters
1B Davis
SS Hardy
DH Reimold
3B Machado
2B Roberts

I don't think Machado will be the everyday #2 hitter, just against lefties. So he moves down, McLouth moves up (and into to field for Reimold). That does leave open the potential for a lefty killer late to take down Roberts-Markakis-McLouth or a right-killer to face Hardy-Reimold-Machado. Leaving McLouth down at #8 and moving Machado or Reimold up to #2 would alleviate some of that concern, but I still think this is what we'll see tonight.

Precisely why I'm saying:

Markakis
Machado
Wieters
Davis
Jones
McLouth
Hardy
Flaherty (maybe Reimold)
Roberts

I know that Nick's splits shy away from him being prone to the LHP, but having the Roberts/Markakis/McLouth triple-team vs McGee would spook me a bit. Just a bit. That said, any sort of rightie is going to have significant trouble getting through the lineup above for more than two batters unscathed.

Also, I'm including Flaherty because I think (correct me on this if I'm wrong) I remember Buck trying to get all position players to start over the first five, six games or so last season. Just to get everyone's blood going, and whatnot. I think this would be a great time for Flaherty to get his chance.

[bnickle]

Any guesses as to tonight's lineup?

I'm going with:

RF Markakis
LF McLouth
CF Jones
DH Wieters
1B Davis
SS Hardy
DH Reimold
3B Machado
2B Roberts

I don't think Machado will be the everyday #2 hitter, just against lefties. So he moves down, McLouth moves up (and into to field for Reimold). That does leave open the potential for a lefty killer late to take down Roberts-Markakis-McLouth or a right-killer to face Hardy-Reimold-Machado. Leaving McLouth down at #8 and moving Machado or Reimold up to #2 would alleviate some of that concern, but I still think this is what we'll see tonight.

Davis in the #4 hole Wieters in the #5 is my guess. Hardy also might be pushed down a spot or two. I don;t think Buck wants to mess with too many guys in the lineup so I could be wrong. The only thing that would really surprise me is if Manny is in the #2 hole vs RHP.

[SportsGuy]

I kind of wonder if Manny is just the #2 hitter...allowing him to get a lot of fastballs.

[Chris B]

O's lineup:

McLouth 7

Machado 5

Markakis 9

Jones 8

Davis 3

Wieters 2

Hardy 6

Reimold DH

Roberts 4

 

Chen SP

 

Rays lineup: Jennings cf, S-Rod LF, Zobrist rf, longoria 3b, Duncan DH, Escobar SS, Roberts 2b, lobaton c, Johnson 1b, Hellickson p

[Coker]

Only an hour and a half left!

Interesting to see Machado stay in the two hole. I really thought he'd be dropped tonight. 

[bnickle]

Ugh. Keep Nick in the 1 or 2 hole.

[Chris B]

Ugh. Keep Nick in the 1 or 2 hole.

 

Yeah I agree. I really hope Buck doesn't rotate Markakis at the 1 and 3 holes depending if it's a righty of lefty. I know that the statistics say otherwise, but players have said they alter their approaches depending on where they are hitting in the lineup. 1 and 3 is a big difference.

[tpjs1]

I like this lineup...I see strength from 1-9...best lineup in many years...