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[url=http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2008/02/24/gal_endzone-4.jpg]Mets[/url]-Orioles [url=http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VOja3X_XfIo/SaMDiARzNPI/AAAAAAAAAnk/mmCVIvkie40/69+Mets+Cleon+Jones.jpg]History[/url]:
This week, the Mets return to Camden Yards for their first series since June of 2001. Since that time, the Mets have visited every other MLB team (aside from Tampa). The Mets have a very respectable .632 all-time winning percentage against Baltimore (12-7), and it's even better if factoring in the 4-1 [url=http://www.newsday.com/media/photo/2009-04/46488526.jpg]postseason[/url] record.
In their last meeting with the Orioles, the Mets dropped 2 of 3 to Baltimore at Shea in June of 2006. Only a few players from that series are still on their respective teams, including none of the pitchers involved, save Pedro Feliciano.
Baltimore in 2009:
This year Baltimore is 27-36, last in the AL East and 11 games back. Tough division when everybody else is over .500. The Orioles just took 2 of 3 from Atlanta but dropped 2 of 3 to Seattle.
Interesting side note: that series involved the first video replay which resulted in a home run being turned into an out. Our old friend Melvin Mora's home run became an out due to a fan interfering with our old friend Endy Chavez's attempt to catch the ball. (Video can be seen [url=http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090609&content_id=5229310&vkey=news_bal&fext=.jsp&c_id=bal]here[/url]).
On the west coast road trip immediately preceding that series, the Orioles went 1-5 against powerhouses Oakland and Seattle.
The Orioles did put up 11 runs on Sunday but before that had a streak of 15 games in which they had 4 runs or fewer. Not so good when your pitching staff has an ERA of 5.15 (yes, that's the worst in the American League and better only than the Nationals).
Pitching Matchups:
Tuesday: Jeremy Guthrie (R) vs. Mike Pelfrey
Guthrie is 4-6 with a 5.52 ERA. 16 Homers allowed leads the AL. Guthrie trivia: Was originally drafted by the Mets out of high school but didn't sign and went to Stanford instead. He wound up being a first round pick of the Indians in 2002.
Wednesday: Koji Uehara (R) vs. Tim Redding
Uehara is 34 years old and in his first season in the majors. 112-62 with a 3.01 ERA in ten seasons with the Yomiuri Giants. Signed to a $10 million, two-year deal with the Orioles in the offseason. Uehara is 2-4 with 4.37 ERA (57 H, 41 K, 12 BB in 55 Innings) this year.
Thursday: Jason Berken (R) vs. Livan Hernandez
Rookie making his fifth big league start. 1-3 with a 7.32 ERA in the first 4. 26 H, 9 BB and 8 Ks in 20 innings. Supposedly is a Pelfrey-type -- not many Ks, but lots of groundballs. Throws a Fastball, Slider, Curve and Change.
Also in the Orioles rotation is rookie Brian Bergesen, who pitched a nice complete game on Sunday (2R, 5H, 2BB). Too bad we miss him this series.
Orioles Lineup:
C - Top prospect Matt Wieters (S). Baseball America's 2008 minor league player of the year. .355 AVG, 1.054 OPS with 27 HR and 91 RBI last year in A/AA combined. Called up on May 29 and hasn't done much yet: .233 with no homers or RBIs in 43 ABs. They're not rushing him and he may only play two of the three games this series.
1B - Aubrey Huff (L), 8-41-.261, .324 OBP. Slumping lately with 0 HR and only 3 RBI since May 27.
2B - Brian Roberts (S) 6-27-.299, .366 OBP. 13 for 17 in stolen bases.
3B - Melvin Mora (R), 2-16-.267. Melvin's [url=http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/tools/med/2008/05/ipt/1210491308.jpg]quintuplets[/url] turn 8 years old next month.
SS - Robert Andino (R), 9-6-.257 with a .291 OBP. I know he did something while with the Marlins in either 2007 or 2008 to make me dislike him but I can't remember what.
LF - Nolan Reimond (R), another rookie. 7-17-.287, .356 OBP. Was hitting .394 at Norfolk in 100 ABs this year before he got called up.
CF - Adam Jones (R), the big prize in the trade that sent Erik Bedard to Seattle last year. Jones fouled a ball of his shin on Saturday but is expected to start on Tuesday. 12-41-.324 with a .938 OPS this year. This is his second big league season and he's only 23 years old. Also a superior defensive outfielder.
RF - Nick Markakis (L). Young stud who the Orioles locked up on a long term deal this past January. 7-40-.284, .351 OB.
DH - Luke Scott (L). The Orioles' best hitter this year, 14-36-.314, 1.020 OPS. Also plays some first base when Huff is DH.
Bench:
Ty Wigginton (R) has 5 HR and 18 RBI in 162 ABs (.647 OPS).
Felix Pie (L) is a backup outfielder who can't hit (.598 OPS and 24 Ks in 94 ABs).
Gregg Zaun (S) is now the backup catcher with Wieters called up and he can't hit either (.610 OPS in 129 ABs).
Oscar Salazar (R), backup infielder, AAAA player.
Bullpen:
George Sherrill (L) is the closer, 12 for 14 in save opportunities with a 2.55 ERA, 21 H, 8 BB and 23 Ks in 25 innings.
Danys Baez (R) (a $5.5 M setup man) was tried out as a starter in spring training but got kept in the 'pen. His numbers aren't bad: Free agent at the end of the year; may well be traded before July 31.
Brian Bass (R), 4-1 wth a 3.53 ERA in 43 Innings. 44 H/13 BB/29 H. His 4 wins ties him for the team lead. 7 Homers allowed.
Jim Johnson (R), 2-3, 3.07 ERA in 29 Inings. 27 H/11 BB/20 K.
Matt Albers (R), 0-2, 4.18 ERA in 24 innings. 23 H/11 BB/15 K.
Mark Hendrickson (L), the long man. 1-4, 5.70 ERA in 43 Innings (7 starts).
Who's Hurt:
Cesar Izturis, the regular shortstop, is on the DL. Had an appendectomy on June 8.
Ex-Mets:
Melvin Mora
Ty Wiggington
Juan Samuel is their third base coach.
Ex-Orioles:
John Maine
Fernando Tatis had 56 ABs for Baltimore in 2006.
EDIT: Omir Santos, too.
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