Keeping with the theme of me whining about bad calls by umpires, the Philadelphia Phillies got absolutely hosed yesterday.  In the bottom of the eighth inning, with one out on the board, Jimmy Rollins made a fantastic slide on his way to first base, eluded the tag of Baltimore Orioles’ one bagger Ty Wigginton.  Only blue did not see it that way, and called him out.  The next batter, Shane Victorino, doubled to left and that hit could have possibly sent Rollins from first to home tying the game.  Unfortunately, Rollins was busy pacing back and forth in anger in the dugout.

When Rollins was called out, Phils Manager Charlie Manuel went ballistic.  Okay, Charlie does not go ballistic, but he came out and argued the call, thus getting the gate from first-base umpire Larry Vanover.  Vanover should have released the call to another ump, but refused to do so because he has an ego the size of Hasim Rahman’s swollen forehead.

So instead of being in position to tie the game with one out and Rollins on base, the Phils had two outs when Victorino laced his double.  Instead of Chase Utley entering the batter’s box with one out and either runners on second and third down by one, or a tie game with Victorino on second and still only one out, he stepped up to the plate with two outs.  Chase then hit the ball to O’s reliever Jim Johnson to end the inning.  The Phillies then got sat down in order in the ninth for O’s closer George Sherrill’s 15th save of the season, thus wasting a 10 strikeout effore from Cole Hamels.

It seems like every other day someone is telling me that Matt Wieters is going to be called up any day now.  Just yesterday I talked about how I did not think that the Orioles will call him up due to their desire to keep him from becoming a Super Two player.  Then I stumbled across a great read by Bart Given that breaks down what a Super Two is pretty clearly.

Then today we found out that Wieters has injured his right hammie.  Since Baltimore only has to keep him down until June 1, this news only makes it all the more likely that dude is in AAA until service time is no longer an issue.  If you can continue to waste a roster spot to make sure you have him when he does get the call, more power to you.

Troy Patton is a southpaw starting pitcher for AA Bowie in the Balitmore Orioles farm system.  Acquired from Houston in the Miguel Tejada deal back in 2007, Patton is currently rated the eighth best prospect (Baseball America) in the Orioles’ system.  Dude missed all of last season after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder due to a torn labrum.  Now Patton is getting back on track, and if his performance so far is any indication then he could be a mid-season call-up for the O’s.  He currently owns an 11 inning scoreless streak, which he contributed to yesterday in six frames of work against Akron.

Through two games this year Patton has a 9:3 K:BB ratio and he has yet to allow a run of any kind to cross the plate.  We will keep our eyes on Patton for you, and let you know if he will have any fantasy or real life impact on the baseball season.  Of course, being in the Orioles’ system, he is going to be overshadowed a bit by some guy named Matt Wieters.

The good news is that with the O’s off to a strong start, both Wieters and Patton could see their paths excellerated this year and both be called up earlier than when I anticipate them to be.  The concern for the O’s would be making either player a Super Two, which every team wants to avoid if possible.  It should be noted that just because it did not stop them with Nick Markakis, it does not mean that they can afford for either Wieters or Patton to become Super Twos.  Especially Wieters, if he is indeed the second coming of The Babe as most outlets seem to be pegging him as.  The other side of the argument is that maybe they can do like Tampa did with Evan Longoria last year and call him up early to see how he translates, and then sign him to some ridiculously low contract.

Not Adam Eaton, but a POS nonetheless?

Well, not really, but Adam Eaton is officially off of their hands.  The washed up starter was signed by the Baltimore Orioles after the Phils released him on Friday.  The salary implications?  If he makes the club, the O’s will be on the hook for $400K, while the Phils will be paying him about $8.15Mil.

In other Phils news, that fat, waste of skin Brett Myers says he has vanquished his demons and is ready to get back on track.  He also dropped about 35lbs, so maybe I won’t be able to call him fat anymore.  Either way, he still beat his wife if public.

None of this should impact fantasy baseball much.  Myers has upside, like he does every year, but also has his negatives.  Proceed with caution, but knowing that if Myers is indeed tuned in then he could have a huge year.