ell, the wait is up. Matt Wieters has finally hit the majors, after
about a month longer of waiting than most baseball fans anticipated. A
few fun facts going into the game:
1. In AAA this year, Wieters is hitting .305, with 5 home runs, 30 RBIs,
and a .890 OPS.
2. Against lefties this year, Wieters had an OPS of 1.017, and Dontrelle
Willis was on the mound.
3. In his last game at Norfolk, Wieters went 4-4.
On the very first pitch of the game, Josh Anderson of the Tigers tried
to bunt for a base hit, testing the arm of Wieters. Wieters pounced on
the ball, and fired down to first to nail the speedy Anderson. Message
received and sent right back to the Tigers.
Wieters stepped up to the plate in the 2nd inning with Melvin Mora
standing on third place. With a chance to do some real damage, Wieters
took a hard cut, and lined the ball… to right field, where it was
caught and then thrown to third to double off Mora. Not a great way to
begin his major league career. He then got three chances to redeem
himself and… grounded out, grounded out, and struck out looking. All
in all, Wieters ended up 0-4, with a strike out. Baltimore fans, don’t
worry, Wieters will be here to stay.
******
Brad Bergesen, also playing in his rookie season for the O’s, pitched a solid game, lasting 8 innings and only yielding 2 runs to Detroit. The decision evened his record at 2-2, and he finished the night with an ERA just under five.
The O’s are just three games under .500, and last night’s was their fifth straight win. The youth movement is underway and the team is continuing to win. As Manager Dave Trembley told MLB.com “the excitement is at its highest peak since I’ve been here.”
– Myles Nelson, Special to Baseball Digest
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It was a good game for the O’s. I’ve swallowed as much of the hype and orange kool aid as anyone, but still realize that Wieters is going to need some time. He is just an exclamation point on the long-awaited youth movement for Baltimore.
I thought Mora was on second and got thrown at third after he tagged up. I might have been too busy with my camera to remember correctly though. Out come is just the same.
Good post…Go Orioles