Sim # 15 (partly wk 15 and partly wk 16)

OK, trade deadline is approaching... discuss... also a good time.... how's your roughly first half of the season been?

Nice 8 days for Baltimore... we took 3 of 4 from Toronto, and then swept the tough Seattle Mariners. On to the overview!

Game 1 vs Toronto saw the Orioles trail the entire game, but then come back in the bottom of the ninth to go ahead with 2 runs. The bullpen led the way, pitching 5.1 innings of scoreless relief. Ryan Howard also chipped in with a HR and 3 RBI. The Blue Jays won game 2 6-4, despite another HR from Howard. Starting pitching was a little rough in these games, and Rupe stepped up in game 3 by going 6.2 innings for the win. Rupe scattered 8 hits and struck out 5 in route to the win. The Orioles won despite only getting 5 hits, as they also got 8 walks to help in the cause. Game 4 was another shootout, as the teams combined for 29 hits and 14 runs. The O's won 9-5, with the bullpen stepping up again. Ryan Howard hit another HR in this gamme, knocking in 3 RBI also. Howard looks to be on the way to the MVP if he keeps this up.

The next series was a match up of two premier teams as the Mariners came to down. The O's got some last minute injury help as Clay Hensley tweaked his hamstring. Game 1 was a matchup of Matt Cain and Livan Hernandez. Livan stepped up, going 8 innings , giving up 2 ER for his 9th win. The offense was led by the surging David DeJesus, who went 2 for 3 with a HR and 3 RBI. Game two was a great outing for Jerome Williams, as he went 8 innings giving up 5 hits, no walks, and 1 ER. The O's piled on for 8 runs on 6 walks and 10 hits. Gotay and Loney had 3 hits, and Ryan Howard was walked 3 times. Game 3 was a slugfest, as O's pitcher Jon Lester was knocked out in the 2nd inning, giving up 6 ER. Travis Chick came in and shut the Mariners down, giving up no runs in 6 innings. The O's had 5 walks and 16 hits, with 6 O's getting 2 hits, and Gotay adding 3 to raise his average back up to .375.

All in all a good stretch for the O's. Hopefully we can keep it up against the Royals, A's, and Angels leading up to the trade deadline.

Trade Deadline Looms

July 31, 2010

PITTSBURGH, PA. (AP) - The Pittsburgh Pirates have been battling it out the last two weeks of July, as the front office desperately tries to complete a few trades to bolster the team. Going into the 31st of July, the Pirates have a 11-15 record for the month, a record that has impressed many skeptics.

"I honestly didn't think they'd win 5 games...let alone 11," one reporter was quoted as saying.

With the tough schedule that they had to endure during the month of July, it was easy for many to feel the same way. However, the Pirates ended up winning 3 of their last 5 games, and even pounded the Houston Astros 14-5. As bad as things are, they sure could've been a whole lot worse.

"I'm satisfied with the progress that this team has made," Pirates General Manager, Andrew Lizon said. "With the talent we have, and the surprising contributions we've received from pitchers Matt Morris and Wilfredo Ledezma, it's easy to feel good about our team down the road."

Already completing a trade earlier in the season for relief pitcher Mike MacDougal, Andrew Lizon is currently working on another deal that would bring the swift hitting Carlo Cota and the speedy Ian Desmond over from the Washington Nationals. The trade is rumored to be finalized, and that they are just waiting on approval from the commissioner's office.

"This deal would help solidify our infield and should definitely help start a spark within the clubhouse," said Andrew Lizon.

Many Pirates fans have expressed their approval of the new GM, and feel that he has done a commendable job. As it stands, this could really be the new beginning for this once dying franchise.