The Starting Five

This is my first post on the Starting Five blog, so it looks like I’m coming off the bench as the sixth man. Some may venture to say I’m the Lamar Odom of the Herald-Mail sports guys. But that’s still up for debate.

I attended Baltimore’s game last night at Camden Yards and the O’s lost to the A’s 6-1, in the cross-country battle of vowels.

The good news is that I received a Nolan Reimold bobble head to go along with my $14 Boog’s BBQ I purchased on Eutaw Street. The bad news, however, is Nolan Reimold wasn’t even in Baltimore last night. In fact, Reimold hasn’t played in an Oriole uniform since May 11 because he was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.

After a promising 2009 season, where Reimold was the AL Rookie of the Month in June, his 2010 season has been, well, horrendous. He was benched for the season opener against Tampa Bay in favor of Felix Pie, but reclaimed his starting role shortly after.

Before his demotion, Reimold’s batting average was .205 with two home-runs and 10 RBI. At Norfolk, Reimold is batting .088 with only one jack and two RBI (through May 24th).

Not good.

At this rate, Reimold will be in a Baysox uniform by the end of June and will be taking batting practice at Harry Grove Stadium with the Keys by mid-July.

That may be an exaggerated decline, but when your batting average begins with a zero, it’s hard to have high expectations. But at least he still has a bobble head in an O’s uniform.

My friend’s bobble head came apart — proving Reimold can’t connect with anything.

And speaking of the minor’s, some writers have made mention of Brian Matusz possibly being sent down after last night’s dismal outing. It seems unlikely though.

Through five games in May, Matusz is 0-4 with an ERA of 7.50, which is less than stellar to say the least.

I don’t see the O’s sending Matusz to the farm but Chris Tillman was just called up to make his 2010 debut this weekend at Toronto. And Jake Arrieta’s ERA is down to 1.86 in Norfolk, who seems to be next on the Oriole pecking order.