Whenever you're in a work situation where you have a new boss, you immediately want to make a good impression. I suppose you could say that the Orioles did just that last night in Buck Showalter's first game as manager by beating the California Angels 6-3. (Yes, I know they're the L.A. Angels, however to me they'll always be from California.) Jeremy Guthrie turned in another quality start, and this time he was actually rewarded with a victory. Guthrie pitched seven innings, giving up three runs over five hits. He did give up the one home run ball, but ironically it came on a 95-MPH fastball inside. If a guy can power that pitch out of the ballpark, there isn't much anyone can do.
There was a certain crispness with which the Orioles appeared to play last night that had been absent to a certain degree this season. This is not to say that Dave Trembley and Juan Samuel didn't do everything in their power to win games, but the fact is that you can't compare either of those two (both of whom are excellent baseball men) to a manager like Buck Showalter. As I said, you immediately want to make a good impression on a new manager, and Adam Jones did just that when he showed up at Showalter's introductory presser on Monday (as was reported by MASN's Amber Theoharis). While I would have liked to have seen more players in attendance, in fairness that was also their day off.
With the O's down 2-1 in the sixth, Luke Scott put the birds ahead for good with a two-run shot to right which ended up at the top of the bleacher seats. Josh Bell joined the party when he doubled home two runs later in the inning, and went to third on an error. MASN's Gary Thorne brought up a good point during the game when he said that these next two months (under Showalter) are very important to Josh Bell. Third base is a position that's very much up in the air for next season, and Bell will effectively be the everyday third baseman the rest of the way for the O's. So if Bell can be effective, he can probably insert his name into the running for next year.
In the ninth the Orioles had Alfredo Simon warming in the pen, however Showalter surprised everyone by sending Mike Gonzalez (who was very effective) back out for two batters in the ninth. Showalter said afterwards that he felt it would be better to match up with a lefty, and to then make a switch-hitter (Callaspo) turn around and bat from the right side. In the past, the Oriole probably would have brought in Simon for the entire inning because "that's what you do in the ninth." In thinking just a bit outside the box, Showalter sent an immediate message to the team and the fans that he was going to trust his gut as opposed to bringing in a reliever "just because." And with the credentials that Showalter brings with him, I'm willing to trust his gut also.
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