NumerOlogy

Two weeks into the season, the Birds have already made five roster changes. The latest pair of moves came yesterday and paid immediate dividends. First, the outgoing O’s. Gone back to Norfolk is unstable pitcher #62 Radhames Liz, who thus far seems like an even worse reliever than he was a starter. He retired 4 out of 16 batters in two disastrous appearances on the recent road trip. Outfielder #2 Ryan Freel seems to be wearing out his welcome mighty quick. Given his early grumbling about playing time, and his sub-par performance in his rare starts, the club seemed almost eager to dump him onto the disabled list when he got pegged in the head with a pickoff throw on Monday.

As I said, the newest members of the 2009 Orioles made a good impression. Outfielder Lou Montanez, the AA Eastern League’s 2008 Triple Crown winner and the champion cause of numerous passionate Baltimore fans, had an RBI single last night while wearing #14. He had worn #3 during a two-month audition with the O’s last year, but Cesar Izturis trumped him this year. Lou wore #12 this spring, but backup infielder Robert Andino took it when he made the Opening Day roster via a last-minute trade.

The big story, however, is Brad Bergesen.  The organization’s Jim Palmer Minor League Pitcher of the Year winner in 2008, he had an impressive spring and threw just two games at AAA Norfolk before being called upon to fill a hole in the big league rotation. Brad was a winner in his MLB debut, allowing just one earned run (three total) in five and two-thirds innings while striking out four White Sox. One of the less-heralded of the young arms in the farm system had a strong debut, which is certainly encouraging, particularly since manager Dave Trembley pointed out that the kids are going to keep coming over the next two seasons. Bergesen became the third-ever Oriole to wear #64, and all three have been B’s: Bruce (Chen), Bernie (Castro), and of course Brad. If he can last longer than six weeks, he’ll be the longest-tenured Oriole to ever wear this oddball number. I like his odds.

Now that I have some time off for the holidays, I’ve got a lot of catching up to do here. This Hot Stove season hasn’t been an exciting one for the Orioles, but there has still been plenty of movement. Let’s review:

Going

#2 Luis Hernandez (Royals), #3 Freddie Bynum (Nationals), #13 Alex Cintron (free agent), #14 Eider Torres (White Sox), #15 Kevin Millar (free agent), #16 Jay Payton (free agent), #29 Adam Loewen (Blue Jays), #35 Greg Aquino (Indians), #40 Daniel Cabrera (Nationals), #54 Lance Cormier (free agent), #55 Ramon Hernandez (Reds), #57 Rocky Cherry (Mets), #63 Omir Santos (free agent)

Coming

Utility player/reckless nut Ryan Freel is the major league return from Cincinnati in the Ramon Hernandez salary dump. He wore #6 with the Reds, but Melvin Mora has occupied that number since 2000 and isn’t likely to budge. Freel wore #11 in Toronto, but would have to pry it from third base coach Juan Samuel. We’ll wait and see.

Defensively-gifted shortstop Cesar Izturis should be an upgrade from the five-headed monster that the O’s tried at the position in 2008. The free agent acquisition has worn #3 for most of his career; he’ll probably keep it in Baltimore, since Lou Montanez doesn’t exactly have seniority and isn’t a lock to make the team in the Spring.

Yesterday, the Birds reached an agreement with tall, mediocre-at-best lefthanded pitcher Mark Hendrickson, most recently of the Marlins. I understand that we’re desperate for veteran arms, but he seems likely to be the second coming of Steve Trachsel (the 2008 vintage). I’ll reserve total judgment until the rest of Andy MacPhail’s offseason moves shake out, I suppose. Anyway, Mark has worn #30 since 2004 and was in #43 prior to that. Those numbers are currently the property of Luke Scott and Jim Johnson, respectively. It sounds like Hendrickson will also be in the market for a new number.

I’ve updated the site to close the book on all of the outgoing players listed above, and made one correction to a past Oriole. I recently came across a 1996 Upper Deck card of Rick Krivda, which has a photo of him pitching in Camden Yards while wearing #62. Based on my other sources and photographic evidence, it seems that he debuted in #62 before switching to #37 for the remainder of the season.

I’ll be back soon (honestly!) to talk about the other Oriole-centric news items this offseason: the new uniforms and Mike Mussina’s retirement. Happy New Year!

As of Monday, the roster limit has expanded from 25 to 40. The Birds’ roster currently stands at 31 *ahem* strong. So how did we get there?

• #19 Oscar Salazar recalled from AAA Norfolk. (Since he was needed on 8/30 after Melvin Mora’s hamstring injury, #62 Radhames Liz was “demoted”, but traveled with the team until rosters expanded anyway.
• #10 Adam Jones activated from the 15-day disabled list. Welcome back, Dr. Jones.
• #18 Garrett Olson recalled from Norfolk, because somebody has to start these games.
• #25 Jim Miller recalled from Norfolk. The reliever is the forty-third Oriole player in 2008, and the eighth to make his major league debut this season. He’s also number twenty-four in the #25 jersey, the most recent being pitcher Kurt Birkins (2006-2007).
• #31 Kam Mickolio recalled from Norfolk. I told you he’d be back!
• #41 Bob McCrory recalled from Norfolk. He’d worn #31 during his cup of coffee in April and May. But with both he and Mickolio getting the call at the same time, something had to give. He’s the twenty-second Oriole to don #41, which was previously the property of the dearly departed Steve Trachsel.
• As previously mentioned, #62 Radhames Liz was recalled, but not really.

Now I’m going to wrap this up before one of the gopher balls that the weary O’s pitching staff keeps tossing lands on my keyboard. It’s gonna be a looooong month, folks.

…At least when it comes to the Orioles’ starting rotation. Over the weekend, the Birds farmed out #18 Garrett Olson in favor of #62 Radhames Liz, who had regained his form in AAA Norfolk. Of course, he seemed to lose it again in Friday’s start vs. the Yankees, which I had the misfortune of seeing in person. Tonight’s starter is also a familiar face who’s back from a brief exile to Norfolk: #56 Brian Burres will try to keep his momentum going against the White Sox. He replaces #31 Kam Mickolio on the roster, but don’t cry for Kam. He’s all but assured of a return to Baltimore after the rosters expand on September 1. Hopefully he’ll be less prone to overthrowing by then.

A brief update in the aftermath of the Birds’ first Sunday win in nearly four months…yes, four.

Lefty specialist and good ol’ boy #32 Jamie Walker was recalled from a minor league rehab assignment; he had spent a month on the disabled list with elbow soreness. He took the place of #62 Radhames Liz, whose next start was to be skipped anyhow. “Rad” had a strong first month in Baltimore, but he’s been putrid in July. He’ll get to spend the dog days of August in Norfolk trying to remember how to throw strikes. Now I’m off to catch the end of the Orioles’ Monday night pasting of those filthy Yanks. How sweet it is…

The young man pictured on the left made Orioles history tonight. Recalled from AAA Norfolk to make the start against the Twins, Radhames Liz became the first O’s player to ever suit up in #62. The number was previously worn by ex-bullpen catcher and batting practice pitcher Rudy Arias. Liz wore #58 in his first exposure to big league hitters in 2007. The photo on this card shows him in the #74 that he wore last Spring. He becomes lucky player number 33 on the O’s MLB roster this season.

The corresponding roster move brought an end to the illustrious Luis Hernandez era in Baltimore. The former #2 was designated for assignment. Barring any desperate moves by another team, he should pass through waivers and take his rightful place on the Tides roster.

I’ve updated the usual (All-Time Roster, #60-#99 biographies) and as soon as I get this posted, I’ll go back to crossing my fingers so that the Birds might nail down Radhames’ first major league victory!