For some reason I thought Rich Hill had somehow become the closer for the Baltimore Orioles. Why Rich Hill? He’s another pitcher who insisted that physically he was fine until after he started pitching poorly, and then suddenly went on the DL with an injury none of us had heard anything about. He then bounced up and down from the DL to the starting rotation, never getting “healthy” enough to show us his real arsenal. When I see someone like Mike Gonzalez suddenly and mysteriously wind up on the DL after insisting he was just waiting to show his stuff, excuse me for being suspicious.
Mike Gonzalez was relieved of his closing duties after blowing his second save in three attempts and giving up hits at will. Even then he insisted that he would bounce back, but the coaches saw something different. Trembley sent the reliever to work with Rick Kranitz to refine his delivery and release point the last we had heard, and now suddenly he is injured. Given Gonzalez’s confident, almost flippant attitude to blowing his saves, I doubt he would conceal an injury like this and tell the media and his manager that his health was beyond question.
However, we can’t necessarily jump to conclusions about this being a phantom injury. If you notice in the Luke Scott interview that appeared on BSR, Luke mentioned that Gonzalez was having some health issues, though he didn’t specify much. This was the first I had heard about a possible injury- could it be that the story broke on BSR and we didn’t even know it? Gonzalez’s velocity was down 3-4 MPH this spring and while he told reporters that nothing was wrong, his spring outings show something different. I saw enough of Mike Gonzalez’s games for Atlanta to know that he was never this wild of a pitcher, and perhaps he had been throwing incorrectly or tweaked something in trying to fix his delivery.
Whatever the case, someone is going to have to answer the bell. Kam Mickolio is out of options and after being almost handed a job in the bullpen proceeded to walk 7 batters and allow 7 hits in 9 1/3 innings of work. That is not the makeup of a possible closer, and the bullpen can’t afford another liability out there. Given his lack of options, I would prefer to give Mickolio more time in the minors before bringing him up and having to rely on him every 3 days, because if he is sent back down he will not clear waivers. A better option might be the left-hander Alberto Castillo, who only allowed 10 hits and no walks in 8.2 innings of work. He pitched well in 12 innings last season, and the club would not be risking as much in the long term in bringing him up. Additionally, having another lefty would help offset the loss of Gonzalez’s arm for matchup purposes.
The Orioles don’t want to have to replace their closer and dip into AAA a week into the season, but they are fortunate to at least have options to work with.
This is definitely a weird situation. I know that Gonzalez was dealing with shoulder stiffness, he told BSR in our interview with him last weekend.
However, I was at the yard yesterday and saw him warming up in the bullpen in the 8th inning. I was hoping to see the Orioles put him in a situation position while they were on the west coast.
A really disappointing story indeed.
Trembley needs to go. I watched that game last night, Matusz threw 100 pitches going into the 8th, its his 2nd game of the season so he's not in complete game shape but Trembley leaves him in to get rocked.
Now today, Trembley sits his two best hitters, Pie & Wieters, has Jones batting 1st and Wiggington 2nd? WTF???? Jones is an RBI guy and should be batting 3/4/5 not 1/2!!!
This is a joke and Trembley is the clown. Its pitiful watching this garbage and this is on McPhails head to fire him.
Jones is slumping right now. I agree that he should be a 3,4,5 guy eventually…but not now when he's slumping.
This line up just isnt' performing at the moment.
Wait wait. Last season fans like us were ripping Trembley for pulling his starters too early. We cannot now go back and rip him for leaving them in. Hindsight is 20-20, so if Matusz retires the next 2 batters then we have no problem with the move. At the time you had no idea how it turned out- all he knew was that the bullpen stunk and that his pitcher had thrown a great game to that point. Looking back it is easy to criticize.
What exactly should Trembley do to get his players to hit? The order of the lineup doesn't change the fact that the players aren't getting hits, and any player will tell you their spot in the order doesn't affect how they approach the plate. I am not saying he is a good manager, but some things are out of his hands. In basketball or football the coach has a big impact on the game. In baseball the difference between the best and worst manager is maybe 5 wins a season. The manager is NOT the biggest problem on this team.
Finally, what does your comment have to do with this article?
I agree with Shelia. If Trembley would've pulled him before the 8th and Albers blew the lead the fans would be ripping him for over managing. He couldn't win. The players lose the games and they've lost 6 in a row now.
Time out.
Trembley should've had someone warming as soon as Matusz gave up the first single. But no, he waited and waited.
Then in the 10th he brought in Albers for the THIRD night in a row. You know why he deserves heat? Because there was no reason in the world he should've put Albers in on Monday night with one out in the 9th inning in a 5-1 game!
He used Albers 3 nights in a row before using Berken once.
You defenders of this guy as the manager are baffling.
He should have NEVER been brought back. Add to that the fact that is a lame duck with his contract status and you can easily tell these players could give a rat's ass about what he says.
It's not about hindsight at all.
It's about calling a spade a spade.
This whole thing is an absolute disaster and it starts with the owner then the GM then the manager then they players.
Hell, I forgot to talk about Gonzalez.
Did everyone see ST? You know, when his velocity was clearly down. All we heard was that everything is fine and don't worry about it.
Then he comes in and gets shelled and blows games.
Of course, we get the BS of "his mechanics are off". The guy was warming up last night and now all of a sudden is on the DL?
You can't make this stuff up.
Ok Zach & Sheila, so you want to keep Trembley all year? The Manager is a motivator and Trembley is not motivating…
Yes Sheile, Trembley the manager is the biggest problem on this team because he is in over his head. He is not managerial material. He's clueless with a pitching staff, a batting order, letting a player tell him how he will play (Jones being told to play deeper and he basically said screw you I'm not).
Look at other managers and you will see them into the games, talking, yelling, up on the dugout steps but not Trembley, he sits like a rock on the end of the bench saying nothing.
And Sheila you said "Finally, what does your comment have to do with this article?". What are you the comments police? You scan comments looking for out of place thoughts? You going to fine me? Look, next time, don't waste space worrying about what belongs where. I don't have time to read your "this doesn't belong here" dribble…
I never said anything about the whole year. I understand the concerns fans have. I was simply stating that Trembley couldn't win in that situation.
Trembley is a complete dud. He has no gut instincts, has no clue how to manage a bullpen, he's never held anybody accountable for poor play. baserunning, etc. Remember when Maddon benched Upton during the WS year for his "lack of hustle"? Could you sire "Captain Kirk" benching anybody or even getting in somebody's face? Not going to happen. Trembles wants a team full of friends. While I may defend some of McPhail's moves, bringing back "Mr. Concede the last game of every series with my B-team" Trembles was bar far his worst move.
STG
You nailed it.
All you have to do is watch Maddon on the bench and Trembley to see who connects with his team.
It's pretty obvious.
I think the DL for Gonzalez was more of a "You just had a kid and you suck, so get your head straight" move by the front office. I can't believe i've watched these 9 games, attended two at the park. I think tonight, instead of watching, I'm going to smash my hand with a hammer as i know whats coming and can get it over with. Or better yet, I'll watch Grey's Anatomy with my wife ..
Last train to Clark's ville…you nailed it. There is more wrong with Gonzo's head than his arm. Get him outta the spot light, let him come to grips with failure and Fatherhood. Hopefully he'll come back ready to prove those who booed him wrong. In the mean time Cla will audition as the closer.
See our Luke Scott interview. I know what fans are saying, but Scott mentioned the injury before Gonzo landed on the DL.
A BSR exclusive? I think so.