I understand that Buck is a great manager and certainly the Orioles franchise turned around with his hiring, but I can’t understand how he could send Johnson in to close the game today after all that has happened. When the bottom of the 9th started, and Johnson came in, I had to turn off the tube and leave the house. It is becoming unbearable to watch him. His confidence is gone and he only seems to pitch well when he really bears down after he blows the save. Why not try Hunter, or FRod –it can’t get any worse. The season is drifting away. The O’s are 4 games behind Tampa and Oakland in the loss column. Yes there is plenty of time left —42 games but ………………………………..
freddy from boca
the sweep by the dbacks hurt but there are still 6 weeks left in the season. that’s a long time. one good weekend and you’re right there for the playoffs, one good winning streak of 8 or 9 games, something the o’s have yet to do this year, and your battling for first place. most relief pitchers can’t pitch in the 9th inning. there is a big difference pitching for those last 3 outs then pitching in the 6th or 7th. buck stays with jj because of johnson’s overall past performance. i don’t think things are going to change though i wouldn’t mind giving krod a shot. at least he has closed before but i haven’t been that impressed with the way he has pitched since coming to baltimore. overall the bullpen has not done a good job. the key is the starters going deeper into games so you don’t over use the pen. baseball always comes down to pitching, particularly starting pitching.
· 11/12/2019