Johnson to 15-day DL

Jim Johnson was placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to September 1st. He was placed on the DL with an impingement on his right shoulder. This will likely bring his 2008 season to a close.

Johnson pitched 68 and two thirds innings with a 2-4 record and a 2.23 ERA. With him going down it leaves a bigger question who is going to fill the closers role in the bullpen? Do not ask me because all of the pitchers have been terrible the past couple weeks and some all season.

An interesting side note ESPN has him making 0 dollars this season.

Guess who's back

The Orioles announced today that they activated Adam Jones of the 15-day disabled list. The 23 year old outfielder was hitting .279 with 7 home runs, 50 RBI, and a .320 on base percentage.

As rosters expand from 25 to 40 we will finally be able to see many of the players at triple-A Norfolk that have some promise, but we will probably not see anyone from Double-A Bowie or only a few players with the Orioles not wanting to rush them along. With the rotation and bullpen the way it is though they need somebody that can throw strikes and can get guys out. The rotation is in shambles with us only having one good starter and he showed signs in his last start of fatigue and starting to feel the pressure of being the only reliable starter.

GEorge Sherrill hopefully will rejoin the team soon, but Chris Ray will not be with the team this season.

Losing

Back in Black

It is finally official that Radhamez Liz will start to day for the Orioles. He is returning from Norfolk to start his second stint with the o's this season.

It's Friday so that means black alternate jerseys.

Liz was 2-2 with a 2.67 ERA(27IP) since being sent down on July 27, and was named the International League player of the week for August 11-18.Liz is 4-3 with a 7.47 (47.0IP, 39ER) in 10 starts for the orioles this season.

Potential 2009 Free Agents

Using various sources i have compiled a list of the possible 2009 free agents. This means that all of the following players have contracts expiring or have the six years of service necessary to become free agents after the 2008 season. The players have the team they last currently played for after their names and are in alphabetical order in each position.
* - have an 09 option

First Basemen
Rich Aurilia-SF
Ben Broussard-TEX
*Carlos Delgado-NYM
Nomar Garciaparra-LAD
*Jason Giambi-NYY
Wes Helms-PHI
Kevin Millar-BAL
Richie Sexson-NYY
Mark Teixeira-LAA
Frank Thomas-OAK
Jim Thome-CWS
Daryle Ward-CHC

Second Basemen
*Jamey Carroll-CLE
Ray Durham-MIL
Mark Ellis-OAK
Marcus Giles-COL
Mark Grudzielanek-KC
Orlando Hudson-ARZ
Jeff Kent-LAD
Felipe Lopez-WAS
D’Angelo Jimenez-STL
Pablo Ozuna-LAD
Nick Punto-MIN
Jose Valentin-NYM
*Jose Vidro-SEA

Shortstops
Orlando Cabrera-CWS
Alex Cintron-BAl
Alex Cora-BOS
*Craig Counsell-MIL
Adam Everett-MIN
Rafael Furcal-LAD
Cesar Izturis-STL
Ramon Martinez-LAD
*Edgar Renteria-DET
Juan Uribe-CWS

Third Basemen
*Hank Blalock-TEX
Joe Crede-CWS
Morgan Ensberg-NYY
*Chipper Jones-ATL
Corey Koskie-MIL
Greg Norton-TB

Catchers
Rod Barajas-TOR
*Henry Blanco-CHC
Johnny Estrada-WAS
*Toby Hall-CWS
Adam Melhuse-TEX
*Mike Redmond-MIN
Ivan Rodriguez-NYY
*David Ross-CIN
Javier Valentin-CIN
Jason Varitek-BOS
Vance Wilson-DET
*Gregg Zaun-TOR

Outfielders
Bobby Abreu-NYY
Moises Alou-NYM
*Garret Anderson-LAA
Rocco Baldelli-TB
Willie Bloomquist-SEA
Emil Brown-OAK
Pat Burrell-PHI
Endy Chavez-NYM
*Carl Crawford-TB
Adam Dunn-CIN
Jim Edmonds-CHC
Cliff Floyd-TB
*Brian Giles-SD
*Ken Griffey Jr.-CWS
*Vladimir Guerrero-LAA
Raul Ibanez-SEA
Jacque Jones-DET
Mark Kotsay-ATL
Rob Mackowiak-WAS
Kevin Mench-TOR
*Jason Michaels-CLE
Craig Monroe-MIN
Jay Payton-BAL
Scott Podsednik-COL
*Manny Ramirez-LAD
Juan Rivera-LAA
Rondell White-MIN

Starting Pitchers
Kris Benson-PHI
A.J. Burnett-TOR (may opt out)
Paul Byrd-CLE
Ryan Dempster-CHC
Jon Garland-LAA
Tom Glavine-ATL
*Mike Hampton-ATL
*Rich Harden-CHC
Orlando Hernandez-NYM
Jason Jennings-TEX
Randy Johnson-ARZ
*John Lackey-LAA
Esteban Loaiza-CHW
Braden Looper-STL
Derek Lowe-LAD
Pedro Martinez-NYM
Mike Mussina-NYY
Jamie Moyer-PHI
*Mark Mulder-STL
Carl Pavano-NYY
*Brad Penny-LAD
Odalis Perez-WAS
Oliver Perez-NYM
Andy Pettitte-NYY
Mark Prior-SD
Horatio Ramirez-KC
C.C. Sabathia-MIL
Ben Sheets-MIL
*John Smoltz-ATL
Julian Tavarez-ATL
Steve Trachsel-BAL
Brett Tomko-SD
Claudio Vargas-MIL
Randy Wolf-HOU

Relief Pitchers
Jeremy Affeldt-CIN
Tony Armas Jr.-PIT
Luis Ayala-WAS
Joe Beimel-LAD
Joe Borowski-CLE
Juan Cruz-ARZ
Brendan Donnelly-BOS
Scott Downs-TOR
*Alan Embree-OAK
Scott Eyre-CHC
Kyle Farnsworth-DET
Casey Fossum-TB
Brian Fuentes-COL
Aaron Fultz-CLE
*Tom Gordon-PHI
LaTroy Hawkins-HOU
Mark Hendrickson-LAD
Trevor Hoffman-SD
Bobby Howry-CHC
Jason Isringhausen-STL
Steve Kline-SF
Brandon Lyon-ARZ
Damaso Marte-NYY
Tom Martin-COL
Julio Mateo-PHI
Guillermo Mota-MIL
Will Ohman-CHC
*Hideki Okajima-BOS
Darren Oliver-LAA
John Parrish-SEA
Chris Reitsma-SEA
Dennys Reyes-MIN
Juan Rincon-CLE
Francisco Rodriguez-LAA
Brian Shouse-MIL
Rafael Soriano-ATL
Jorge Sosa-NYM
*Mike Stanton-CIN
*Salomon Torres-MIL
Derrick Turnbow-MIL
Oscar Villarreal-ATL
David Weathers-CIN
Dan Wheeler-TB
Dave Williams-NYM
Matt Wise-NYM
Jay Witasick-TB
Kerry Wood-CHC

O's call up Mickolio

Rumor has it that the Orioles called up Kam Mickolio from Norfolk. The corresponding roster move has yet to be announced.He will be apart of trying to fill the viod left by George Sherrils injury. Thoough with Chris Ray returnings in a few weeks and gEorge Sherril being healthy the bullpen looks pretty good for next season.

Mickolio, who has been compared to a shorter John Rauch, had a 1.50 ERA spawning 18 innings and 15 appearances with 11 holds.

Scouting Report
Born: May 10, 1984
Bats: R
Throws: R
Height: 6' 9"
Weight: 255 lbs
High School: Belgrade High School had a 2.9 GPA
College: Utah Valley State College, College of Eastern Utah

Drafted:Selected by Seattle Mariners in 18Th Round (531st overall) of 2006 amateur draft

Traded by Mariners with George Sherrill, Chris Tillman, Adam Jones and Tony Butler to Orioles for Erik Bedard

Minor League Career Stats(3 Seasons):
9Wins, 5Losses, 3.18ERA, 88games, 133+innings, 1.29WHIP, 9saves

Sherril to DL

The orioles today announced the move of George Sherril to the 15-day disabled list. This leaves a big void in the back end of the O's bullpen and with Chris Ray weeks from returning who will take his spot? The answer is quite obvious Jim Johnson.

The bigger question is who will get the call up. There are a few players in Triple A that might get the call.
Bob McCrory:Has a 3.43 ERA over 61+ innings and has 10 saves

Kam Mickolio:So far at Norfolk he has 1.50 ERA over 18 innings

Scott Chiasson: The Orioles signed him not a week ago and so far has not allowed an earned run over 3 and 2/3 innings

Ryan Bukvich: 8-2 with a 3.87 ERA over 76 and 2/3 innings, has 7 starts and 23 appearences from the bullpen

Underated

Despite amassing a 3.44 ERA over 345 and 1/3 innings with 229 K's, 17 wins, and 58 appearances Jeremy Guthrie is still underrated. Guthrie, despite having a 3.15 ERA, is still not owned in nearly 40% of all ESPN fantasy leagues. He has given up one earned run in nine of his last 14 starts and in his last four consecutive starts.

The bigger question is why is he very underrated. The only two theories that I could think of only partially answer the question.

1. The first theory is that he is still a relative newcomer to the game. He only has 52 starts so far not even two full seasons as a starter. Also he was not a highly touted prospect when he came to the orioles by a 50,000 waver claim.

2. He is playing on a team that has not had a winning record in ten years and is overlooked. This is probably not the case this season where the Orioles have garnered more positive national media attention than the past couple years.

Arrieta shines in Beijing

The Orioles fifth round pick in last years draft has had a busy year. He was part of the futures game and also is currently on the USA Olympic team.

Arrieta started his first game in Beijing today. He went six scoreless innings in team USA's win over the host country China 9-1. Arrieta gave up just two hits and struck out seven to earn the win for his team. Mike Koplove, Casey Weathers, and Blaine Neal all threw one inning with Neal closing it out in the ninth. Team USA combined to give up just one run on four hits in the victory. The team improved to 3-2 in round robin play so far at this years olympics.

Arrieta would go on to say "I think the reason I was successful was because I had pretty good command of my fastball.In the later innings, I was throwing breaking balls for strikes, and I think I could have done a little better job of throwing more off-speed pitches earlier on in the count. The big thing that helped me today was the command of my fastball to overpower hitters with it and using the off-speed when I had to."

Team USA continues play Tuesday August 19Th against Chinese Taipei and on Wednesday August 20Th against Japan. Both games are at 7am Eastern time at the Wukesong Main Field.

Warning! Contents Hot

After Melvin Mora lead the orioles to a 16-8 win over Detroit Sunday and gave the Orioles a winning road trip for just the third time this year. Mora is leading MLB in most offensive categories.

He is surprising many of us, I thought that he almost did not even deserve to be in the major leagues earlier in the season, but i was wrong. he is on a streak which some analyst say could be one of the greatest ever. The only player that had a similar streak was George Brett.

Mora adds to the Orioles team hitting this season in which they had a very balanced attack. The Orioles are tied for the lead in the league with five players having 17 or more home runs. Three players have hit 20 or more home runs this season tripling the total from last season. If we only were able to have some starting pitching we could be contending right now.