Pence homers twice, Hamels has strong start in
win (Yahoo! Sports)

post from MLB News Blog on 06 May 2012 11:45:12 PM. © MLB News Blog

WASHINGTON (AP) Cole Hamels gave up five hits over eight innings and Hunter Pence hit a pair of two-run home runs to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a 9-3 win against the Washington Nationals on Sunday night.

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Show 182: Amazing Comebacks Mark the Braves Week

post from Atlanta Baseball Talk on 06 May 2012 11:17:32 PM. © Atlanta Baseball Talk

The sweep of the Rockies, the comeback against the Phillies and the uninspired losses.[...]

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k/

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DH Davis gets win, Os outlast Bosox in 17 innings
(Yahoo! Sports)

post from MLB News Blog on 06 May 2012 09:40:10 PM. © MLB News Blog

BOSTON (AP) Chris Davis had a much better day as a designated pitcher than as a designated hitter.

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What should we make of the 2012 Orioles

post from Baseball In-Depth on 06 May 2012 09:29:00 PM. © Baseball In-Depth

Orioles first 28 games, since 1997
1997: 19-9 (98-64)
1998: 15-13 (79-83)
1999: 11-17 (78-84)
2000: 15-13 (74-88)
2001: 13-15 (63-98)
2002: 13-15 (67-95)
2003: 15-13 (71-91)
2004: 16-12 (78-84)
2005: 19-9 (74-88)
2006: 14-14 (70-92)
2007: 12-16 (69-93)
2008: 16-12 (68-93)
2009: 11-17 (64-98)
2010: 7-21 (66-96)
2011: 13-15 (69-93)
2012: 19-9

The Orioles currently (and shockingly) have the best record in baseball after 28 games, with a 19-9 record (the Nats could tie them with a win tonight). Since their last winning season in 1997, they have generally overperformed over the first 28 games, although they usually weren't exactly setting the world on fire.

The one notable exception was 2005, when they jumped out to a great start and were leading the division by 4 games on June 11 before beginning their decline. The 2005 collapse is undoubtedly on the minds of people connected with the Orioles, but this is a different type of team. In 2005, they were 16-7 in April despite being ranked #23 in ERA.

They overcame their awful pitching by scoring the most runs of any team. They had some talented hitters (Miguel Tejada, Melvin Mora, Javy Lopez), but that wasn't sustainable. Sure enough, their offense dropped off in May and they ended up 15th in runs scored at the end of the season.

This year, they are 2nd in ERA and 10th in runs scored. It is a more balanced attack, but the main concern has to be that their excellent pitching isn't sustainable (they were 27th in bullpen ERA last year, and 1st this year).

Can they sustain this (or stay somewhat close)? The bullpen seems solid, anchored by Jim Johnson, who has been lights out. They probably won't be the best, but it should remain a big improvement over previous years. The starting rotation won't scare anyone, and it remains to be seen if Jason Hammel can continue his torrid start.

Even if the Orioles don't make the playoffs, it's possible that they're like the 2001 Twins, who came out of nowhere with a bunch of young players but struggled to compete against the mighty Indians and trailed off as the season went along. They came back and won the division the next 3 years and remained a contender for years after.

They could also be the 2005 Orioles, but it doesn't feel that way, especially after seeing them win a 17 inning game at Fenway that they almost certainly would have lost at any other point since 1997.

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Nats rookie Harper steals home against Phillies
(Yahoo! Sports)

post from MLB News Blog on 06 May 2012 09:14:14 PM. © MLB News Blog

WASHINGTON (AP) Washington Nationals rookie Bryce Harper stole home in the bottom of the first inning against Philadelphia on Sunday night.

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Another Lost Weekend for Eric Hosmer, Should the
Royals Demote Him to AAA

post from Royals Review on 06 May 2012 09:01:28 PM. © Royals Review

The struggles continued for Eric Hosmer over the weekend, and his season line is now down to .185/.261/.370. At what point do the Royals consider sending him down to AAA?

As we wrote last week, there are good fundamentals to Hosmer's offensive game. He'll see some pitches, take his walks, and he is good for a home run once a week. (Though Hosmer's low doubles total, 3, is surprising. Getz has 4.) Nevertheless, his batting average has been so low for so long, that he's really hurting the Royals' offense. Dude's got a .261, even with one of the better walk rates on the team.

Hosmer was promoted exactly one year ago today, appearing in the Royals's 31st game of the season. It was earlier than many expected, and, relatedly, made it extremely likely that Hosmer reach "Super Two" status after this season. It's hard to know just where the Super Two line will be, but needless to say, a month or two in AAA could put Hosmer in line to not reach Super Two status, which would save the Royals millions of dollars, barring a long-term contract deal.

On that timeline, avoiding Super Two isn't likely to happen. So we're talking about a demotion strictly for instructional/change of scenery/psychological reasons. (You can see how last season's super early Hosmer promotion and the new Super Two schedule has put the Royals in a tough situation here/possibly made the whole discussion last season irrelevant."

Now, I don't think that will happen either. The team's approach to its young players seems mostly to be "everyone is awesome extensions for everyone!" The team's 2012 marketing slogan is "Our Time." The 2012 All-Star Game is in Kansas City. Things are supposed to be getting better.

However, Hosmer has probably earned a demotion. We know he'll be back. This isn't the Kila situation, where the Royals are giving him 100 PAs to prove himself. Hosmer would have to hit .025/.025/.025 for like three straight years for the Royals to give up on him.

In his last season plus at AAA, Clint Robinson has hit .319/.400/.524. He's 27 years old and not likely to be a star in the waiting. He can probably adequately fill time however. Moreover, the Royals can create additional franchise value by seeing if he can at least be the next Chris Davis or something.

Poll

Should the Royals demote Eric Hosmer?

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Orioles Sweep Red Sox; The Unbelievable Keeps
Happening...

post from Oriole Post - Baltimore Orioles Analysis & News; The World of Baseball and Beyond on 06 May 2012 09:01:22 PM. © Oriole Post - Baltimore Orioles Analysis & News; The World of Baseball and Beyond

The Baltimore Orioles beat the Boston Red Sox, 9-6, in 17 innings. This game was the most bizarre I've ever witnessed. I can't even recap this. If there was a game that needed a combined team effort -- this was it. Well, it only took six-plus hours to decide a winner, but this game was so fun to watch on TV.

Chris Davis tosses two scoreless innings and wins? Craziness. He actually looked very good, struck out two and mixed up his speeds on the pitches. I'm not sure if he even knew what he was doing, but hey it's a win and he got the ball over the plate. For a guy who struck out five times in eight at bats, Davis sure came up big in a unexpected moment. Yes, folks, Chris Davis is a hero. Thank goodness he didn't get hurt.

Every reliever was used. Even Kevin Gregg came in the game and threw two scoreless innings. I'm not sure if Buck Showalter planned things out this way - of course he didn't - but it was a miracle that Baltimore won today.

The Orioles are making a joke of their so-called rough patch of the schedule. They are 5-0 in May, and won five out of six from the Yankees, plus the Red Sox.

Baltimore is winning games now that they would have lost years ago.

>>> Read More

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Chipper Jones denies Moyers sign stealing claims
(Yahoo! Sports)

post from MLB News Blog on 06 May 2012 09:01:19 PM. © MLB News Blog

DENVER (AP) Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones is still fuming over claims by Colorado pitcher Jamie Moyer that he was stealing signs.

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Sanchez lifts Giants over Brewers in 11 innings
(Yahoo! Sports)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Pinch-hitter Hector Sanchez singled over a five-man infield with the bases loaded in the 11th inning, lifting the San Francisco Giants to a 4-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday to take the three-game series.

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Sunday Pebble Report: Losing Epidemic Takes Over
Farm

My deepest apologies for the tardy Pebble Report today. I was suffering from a hangover from my first attempt at making ribs last night and spaced it. So to be clear, these are Saturday's games:

AAA Colorado Springs, L 4-7 - (14-16, L5)

The Sky Sox continued their tumble Saturday night. Rob Scahill (2009, 8th round) continues to strike people out, as his 6 in 5 innings push him to 36 total in 30 innings on the season. Scahill walked five though, and three of the five hits he allowed went for extra bases. Matt McBride (2011, trade) doubled and homered, and DJ LeMahieu (2012, trade) singled three times.

AA Tulsa, L 1-2 - (20-9, L1)

#9 PuRP Josh Rutledge (2010, 3rd round) hit his 6th home run, tops in the Rockies' farm system, but that was the only hit the Drillers managed until Tim Torres (2012, MiLB FA) singled in the eighth inning as Royals prospect Jake Odorizzi handcuffed Tulsa. Rutledge added a single in the ninth, but that was it for the offense. An 0-for-4 day dropped #2 PuRP Nolan Arenado (2009, and round) to a .283 average. Parker Frazier (2007, 8th round) was the victim of the lethargic offense, as Frazier took the L despite allowing just two runs in seven innings pitched to raise his ERA to 2.43.

High-A Modesto, L 6-7 - (14-16, L1)

#19 PurP Corey Dickerson (2010, 8th round) hit his 3rd and 4th home runs of the season, and Jared Clark (2009, 12th round) continues to see the ball well, as he followed Dickerson's 7th inning blast with one of his own to tie the Nuts home run leader. Christian Bergman (2010, 24th round) allowed five runs in five innings for the loss, his first uneven outing since his Modesto debut.

Low-A Asheville, L 1-5 - (17-12, L4)

Jordan Ribera (2011, 21st round) hit his first home run in Asheville in the ninth inning to stave off a shutout. The Tourists managed just four hits in the game, none by #12 PurP Trevor Story (2011, sandwich pick), who was out of the lineup both today and Saturday. Chris Jensen (2011, 6th round) allowed five runs in five innings for the loss.