sOrry we pwned u guys

Last night ruled! Blog will blog about that in second but first Wayward O is proud to say that he has a very fancy sponsor for next few weeks or so and everyone should visit MASN's excellent Web Page where, among other thing, Roch Kubatko and Amber Theopolis ply their trade with informative reports and insighful comments!

And where fancy Hollywood Catcher Richard Q. Dempsey says Team is on right track!

But, back to last night .... see? Give Felix Pie room and he can fly around bases. Pie joins Mr. Aubrey Huff in recent hit-for-cycle in semi-meaningless game against Los Angeles Greater Area Angels of Topanga Dept.

Back in June blog chided wild young cheetah for performing six-clap maneuvre in close play at third. It was, as noted, a MAXIMUM two-clap situation. Probably one clap.

But Felix does not read blog!!! Just like Gary and Buck!!! So he got (maybe a tiny little bit) too excited last night and drew ire of Tubby McFirecracker aka Angels' manager. By the way, it was smart of Angels Manager to leave Weaver out there into mid-game despite giving up 6-spot in first. It's a long road trip. Might as well let him eat some of game.

Team's pitchers tend to get pulled once they give up six ... but of course they are mostly young guys.

So anyway Pie was very gracious to say he was sorry, saying:

I showed too much emotion on the field. I apologize to Mike Scioscia and the players on the other team. It's part of the game, emotion, but I showed too much.

Especially since, really, display at third was hardly over top. In doing so Pie may have helped Team avoid brawl with Angels tonite. Very nice Win for Mr. Chris Tillman too. And Pie and Weet both made nifty defense plays too ... Weet threw out Fancy Chone Figgins in first and Pie made nice diving catch in third.

the new wOrld

Wayward O came home to U.S. American homeland, last evening, narrowly dodging midair crash. Two weeks in fjords and Sweden and Amsterdam is more than enough to get nice and relaxed. But many Eurokidz in Holland sport the Yankee hats and that was sort of annoying. But not really. After all they think it means "New York" when everybody else knows it means, "Big-Butted, Overpaid, Traveling All-Stars."

Also did you know Eric the Red had trouble with hitting change-up? That's why his son went to New World and Eric stayed in Greenland where it's all about fastball. Wayward O learned that at the Nutisk Hustomskische Flamskmuseum in Uppsala where also some guy named Linnaeus was first man to rub pine tar on boat oars.

Also did you know that cows in Sweden live in forest? That is no lie. Ask anybody. That's why Swedes eat mostly fish. Did you ever try to find a cow hiding in stand of 500-year-old oaks guarded by trolls? That's. What. Wayward O. Thought.

Apparently there was some baseball news over last two weeks, some involving other teams and some involving Team. Here is what Wayward O has managed to cobble together based on what little he has heard:

• David Ortiz is cheater and Red Sox have joined Chemical Bankees in tainted champ dept.
• His "Brady" year behind him, Josh Hamilton is reverting to form, sadly
• The Mets and Royals have collapsed and the Brewers aren't far behind
• Erik Bedard hurt himself or something and can't pitch
• If the Giants sneak in, watch out!
• There are now two guys in MLB named Jhonny
• The Nats are good or something
• Memlo had a Memlostic Meltdown
• FlatBrim got traded to Dodgers for some guys who can play
• Team has kids pitching and many fans are complaining about manager

Guess that's about it. Looking forward to watching Mastusz today! Oh and not too late to submit pithy caption entry (see below...)

tell 'em, trembO

Lots of people saying Manager can't lead Team to October. You might be one of 'em. Trembley hears it too, and he says:

I'm the holding tank, I'm here until it gets real good. I've heard all that stuff. I don't think I work for people like that. ~ Balzmo Sun

Wayward O's translation:



Don't doubt me! Yer outta here!

Wayward O contends that Trembley has the special sauce, the X-factor, the Je ne sais Quois, to help Team make noise once hitters get some pitchers to help hitters!

The scary part, presumably, is, what if much-ballyhooed young pitchers aren't, you know, good?

Well then we're right here anyway. So who cares?

did trembO have a dinner date?

Manager sure got run early last night. OK so ball was in camera well and Umps constantly **ck us over. Relax already!


Oh Yeah? YEAH! Oh Yeah?? YEAH!!
Here are several observations about team we call Team:

OBSERVATION 1: Mr. Luke Scott made contact on spiffy curveball, driving in two runs with two strikes in first inning. Even Wayward O must tip cap on that. Wayward O may end up having to revoke proclamation that Luke is unable to hit curveball. He certainly has been able to make good contact in recent weeks. Wayward O is still wary and calls for Scott to be traded immediately for future All-Star.

OBSERVATION 1a: ErkDard is like 17-year locust: He doesn't show up often, but when he does, it's impressive. Of course when you're on low pitch count you are pretty useless. Bedard = still useless.

OBSERVATION 2: Team is basically exhibiting traits of young squad; more or less holding own at home and getting whipped on road. When you start to see road series wins you will know Team has shot at October. You may never see that, but when you do ... you'll know.

OBSERVATION 3a: Jeremy Guthrie gives up longballs when he pitches up in Zone.

OBSERVATION 3b: Jeremy Guthrie continues to pitch up in Zone.

OBSERVATION 3c: See observation 3a.

OBSERVATION 4: If Team can eke win today, that would put Team 3-4 on road trip. That would work.

FINAL OBSERVATION OF DAY: Fans of Team will be watching Team to see if Team wins!!!

triple mega reverse sOckawhammy re-massacre

Oddly enough, Wayward O doesn't feel like he was kicked in face too bad after today's result. It's going to happen. It just is.

But if he was going to thrOw somebody under bus, it wouldn't be George Sherrill; it would be Jim Johnson, who couldn't get anybody out and who forced manager's hand. Sherrill was pitching on 2/3rds of a day's rest and it would have been nice if Young Houdini could have, you know, gotten somebody out. Sherrill was thrust into a really tough spot and some credit may also go to Sox manager for playing some head games when he asked ump to inspect baseball that Flat Breezy was using. After that happened, Georgie couldn't get it over.

And what are you going to do about Rocco Baldelli's hit that could just as easily have been a groundout? Nuthin.

BUT. Wayward O has been so thrilled with young JJ's outings over last two years that it's hard to criticize him too hard for one subpar performance. Guy takes role seriously and it's clear he's extremely valuable for Team.

Team is 12-12 over last 24 6-6 over last 12 and despite some humiliating losses Team has handed out some pain as well. It's clear we're real Team now and as young pitchers come along things are going to steadily improve.

And while Red Sox and their invading fans continue to slowly eclipse Yankees fans in Rude Department, you still cannot but tip cap at how resilient BoSox are and how they hate to lose baseball games!

Wayward O isn't gonna lie: He's enjoying the ride. At least we know that, if we're going to get there, we have to go through flames to do it.

wayward jiwOn

Wayward O helps translate Tremblese for Koji!!!

what manager told balt. sun:

"I talked to Koji [Saturday], and I know it's difficult to have a dialogue with him unless you get through his interpreter, but this guy feels like he's let me down, feels like he's let us down. And I had to tell him that's not the case. There is a lot of baseball to be played. What we want to do is get him 100 percent healthy and get him out there to pitch. He feels better today physically, and I hope that continues so we'll get him back as soon as possible."

what manager meant:

"david hernandez gets three cracks, starting today, to win a job in rotation."

Arigato and have nice day! GO TEAM USA BEAT BRAZIL. Hahaha. Yeahp.

rOad trip

so much for all that talk about owning the NL East ... Wayward O is guessing most fans saw that sweep coming ... just you know because.

nevertheless, a .500 road trip.

if Team can win at home and manage not to get annihilated on road, that's all we can ask for really.

get shOrty

Wayward O always thought an Andino was something scientists in first Bush administration made in GIANT PARTICLE COLLIDER.


Look ma, I'm on the TeeVee!

But apparently Andino actually is Major League Ready short stop!

Oh Mr. Andy MacPhail you are a clever, clever devil.

Blog was very worried about Andino back in late May when he crapped pants booted ground ball against Yankees. But in recent weeks these fears have faded. Now we're just wondering where Cesar Izturis will wind up at trade deadline.

OK, OK that's a stretch but it sure is nice having guy who is developing into spark plug. And Yes, Wayward O still kind of misses Freddy the Bee. So there!

Does Team own NL East? So far Team has series wins against Nationals, Braves, Mets and Phillies. But let Team hold own against unpredictable Marlins and then finish job against Nats at home before proclamations are made.

gOnna watch weetyweet in tha suitey-suite

last night, super prospect-turned-rookie backstop matthew q. wieters commanded rainbow to appear right before luke scott hit grand slam home run!

true story!


Image via Baltimore Sun, aka best pape ever
wayward o isn't sure what divine catcher will do tonight. maybe he'll get a hit or something.

see you at the yard! or at pickles! buy me a round and you can be on blog!! (except for gary and buck. they do not read blogs!!!)

ps. was it just may 21 that Team was utterly shtoonked by fat rich Yankees and it was bleakest of times? what a difference a few days makes...

weetyweet liveblOg

7:06 p.m.: matty orders rain to stop. rain complies

7:31 p.m.: weetweet makes first big league play, fielding bunt and throwing out detroit's josh anderson

7:52 p.m.: comes up to roaring applause, bats right-handed with mora and scott on base

7:53 p.m.: takes huge cut at first pitch for first strike; Os radio announcer joe angel fights off case of goosebumps

7:54 p.m.: slaps fly ball out to right fielder clete thomas; mora fails to advance to 3rd, running into an out

8:18 p.m.: luke scott kills rally with grand slam, and weetweet grounds out 1-3 to dontrelle willis

8:37 p.m.: wieters is so intimidating that detroit's players don't even want to get on base

8:47 p.m.: scott goes yard again! wieters runs night to 0-3 with ground-out to third base but game is turning into laffer

9:17 p.m.: nothing wieteriffic has happened for last 30 minutes. which is strange

9:21 p.m.: manager stretches weet's buddy "three e" bergesen into 8th inning. bradley is cruising, completing 8th in about three minutes

9:27 p.m.: weet looks at called third strike from nate robertson in bottom 8th; it looks like he'll take the collar with an 0fer four and Team ahead by five runs

9:43 p.m.: after giving up two hits to start 9th, young houdini bails out "three e" as wieters era begins with a 7-2 win, Team's fifth in row!

can yOu smell it?

Yesterday Wayward O caught WHIFF OF OCTOBER...


MASN via MLB.tv
Outfield Is Complete
Yard Won't Be Empty Long
In SUPERPALOOKA DOUBLE OT COMEBACK BLUE JAY MASSACRE.

Don't know when.

Don't know how.

But it's out there...

For first time in years it's really out there.

It won't be easy.

But Team is shaping up as 2009 Season of Change hits its stride!

spring training extendO jam

technically it is still spring for three more weeks!

luke scott ---> nolan reimold
fettucine simon ---> bradley "three e" bergesen
mark hendo ---> rich hill
adam eaton ---> ????

two bona fide rotational upgrades have occurred. a third is in works.

luke, who in the opinion of this blog is basically jay gibbons + 10 BA points, is well on way to being wally pipped by young nolan, who along with adam jones and nick markakis could complete Team's starting OF for next four or five years.

felix pie ---> perfect 4th OF

and there is a little bit of hype over this catching guy, weet, or whatever kids call him these days. by mid-June Team should have its look. future is nOw. and we'll see what's up.

lOl

look at amber's wikipedia entry...

hOwever...

Team has been worst team in baseball last couple weeks except for stupid Nats. so last night's win was balm for souls of shrinking, beleaguered nation of fans.

and yet Wayward O must this rainy tuesday morning chide manager for not inserting pinch runner for ZAUN when ZAUN hit double in eighth inning.

with nasty losing streak eating away at Team's last shred of dignity, a two-run lead and a very shaky, flat-brimmed closer about to take hill for ninth ....


you have to put in a speedy runner there
as we now know, the situation was mooted when brian roberts crushed home run, making score 8-4 and helping assure win.

nevertheless, pie was inserted as defensive replacement in ninth inning. that, of course amounted to stroke of genius by trembo, as felix made following catch:



FS Florida via MLB.tv
with two men on and heart of Rays' order on deck.

so my man trembley got pie into the game albeit a half-inning late for Wayward O's taste. what's done is done.

but allow wayward o to elaborate for a moment. let's go back in time to top eight. let's say b-rob singles to right instead of going big fly. if pie is pinch running from 2nd there is a 84.57% chance he scores. as the game stood, there was a 13.87% chance of ZAUN scoring in same scenario.

Wayward O is not statistician but single to right scenario is far more likely there than home run.

of course sherrill did not give up any runs thanks to pie's great defensive play but the fact, as they say remains. moreover, if you're going to bring in pie for ninth there's no reason to leave him on the bench in eighth.

maybe it's all just peeay in the skeeay.

MORAL OF STORY: trembo has modeled himself after earl weaver. he does not like small ball. and of course you could argue that he kept his powder dry by not pulling all levers at once

OTHER MORAL OF STORY: it's PeeAYYYYYyyyyyyyy too early to "give up" on felix

march takes fOrever ... april lasts five minutes

well it's been over a week since last post. Team got owned by tough Red Sox. then team bounced back for series win against weird White Sox. now team is going for series split against dumb Rangers. Rangers' manager looks like he should be in sitcom. overall we're starting to see some real threads emerge on season:

• ty wigginton is fat and grounderballs clank off his mitt like pachinko machine
• danys baez, he of so many curse words last year, is having a decent bounceback so far
• team has lots of minor league talent -- some of it in majors! (ba Da bing)
• roberts and markakis rule and trembO wants them to be leaders but they don't care
• Team is pitcher or two away ... pitcher or two away ... but it appears we may NOT forever be a pitcher or two away with possible emergence of bergesen and a couple four more guys coming along
• memlo is coming back to team friday-ish to bring super in-game effort and emotional output
• we will finish about .500 thinks wayward O

also adam jones blew out his pants

Equipment guy, please
and hit super game winner home run!!!


The Troof

sO, that happened

Team has made delicious art form out of losing baseball games at Fenway Park. And now entire swaths of diaspOra are ready to commit ritual disembOwelment!

If you're on that sad jag ... you might consider getting it over with before tonite's much anticipated Beckett-Eaton matchup.

But is this not kind of game we expect from team this year? No?

Wayward O can honestly say he knew they would lose once Mr. Jeremy Guthrie lost his bearings, squandering most of 7-0 lead immediately. Five ERs in 4.2 IP is not going to get it done against Red Sox.

Don't worry about it too much. There will be many bright spots in coming summer!

PS. Oh and Matty Weet Weet kind of got hurt. But not too bad.

kOji making excited fans!

he seems to be good pitcher. is he good pitcher? if he is good pitcher then team will win baseball games!!!



WE NEED NICKNAME FOR KOJI PLEASE SUBMIT IN COMMENTS.

also ..... look how famous Wayward O is .... nice lady at Schmap made super custom widget for site now you can track team location, schedule and results in one handy spot!

better find yOur hard hat....

UNDER CONSTRUCTION season is about to begin. right now as wayward o types manager david q. trembely esq. is meeting with either rick kranitz or andrew macphail -- or possibly both depending upon which gossip you believe -- sipping hot cup of coffee and trying to figure out his starting five.

mostly, upon information and belief, trembO probably is praying to Jeebus that guthrie doesn't turn out to be teh suck as so many annointed no. 1 starters for Team have in recent years.

meanwhile our very optimistic diaspora voted for a "miracle in prOgress" in the much-participated-in SOBRIQUET SEARCH. but dear miracle workers, wayward o is afraid you chose with your hearts, not your rational minds.

wayward O hearby dubs this season a year of transition; a year of frustration; a year of construction as we move toward a fully rebuilt and competitive squard. some will win. some will lose. some are born to sing the blues.

oh sorry. that's journey. this is A JOURNEY.

a long and winding journey back to october. and it is very possible that some of the day-in day-out guys you see on field this year will not be on that magic bus as it makes the final glorious stop atop AL EAST STANDINGS and jeannie zelasko and pineapple face break down Team's chances in front of national audience.

so we retire this poll -- sort of -- knowing you voted for miracle. but knowing also of course that you can't just VOTE FOR MIRACLE.

miracles sneak up on you when you're not looking. no this is clearly a hard hat mandatOry situation.