The O's went to 2-1 tonight with a 7-4 victory over the Mariners, which was good news and all, but still, erm, some issues.

Yeah, Millar and Razor and Mora all went yard and Luis Hernandez even had two RBI (both sac flies), but...

Bullet points!

• Dave Trembley's bullpen management is positively Perlozzoian.
• Nick Markakis does not look great against left handed pitching.
• Greg Aquino is AWFUL.

Sarfate, Walker and Bradford did their jobs, but why were the latter two even pitching? It was a five-run game before Aquino crapped the bed and gave up a two-run homer to Richie Sexson in the ninth inning, which led to Sherrill coming in following a Mike Morse double after the Sexson home run. Adrian Beltre also homered for the Mariners earlier in the game.

A fine win in many ways, and it's good to see this team playing so hard. The fielding was excellent, as Luis Hernandez made some really nice plays and Mora had a couple highlights, too. But Trembley is worrying me. Walker and Bradford don't need to be throwing 80 games apiece again.

How about a play of the game? OK.

Play of the Game: Raul Ibanez, with a 3-0 count, swings away and grounds into a 4-6-3 double play. What a boner.

Aquino will be the first guy in the 'pen to lose his job. And there was no reason to use Walker when Randor Bierd and Matt Albers are out there. It's a five-run game. That's why you have those guys.

But, we won. Let's take it where we can get it.

Jarrod Washburn, LH (10-15, 4.32/1.38) v. Steve Trachsel, RH (7-11, 4.90/1.60)

Again, the weather doesn't look great, but the tarp is out and the grounds crew has the tarp out waiting on the early rain. Hopefully, we'll get this one in.

Roch has the O's lineup (and got it wrong! [6:36 pm]). Apparently Trembley wants to get all of the position players a start over the homestand. Ugh. Yay, it's like tee-ball.

MARINERS STARTING LINEUP

1. Ichiro, RF
2. Jose Lopez, 2B
3. Raul Ibanez, LF
   
4. Richie Sexson, 1B
5. Adrian Beltre, 3B
6. Brad Wilkerson, RF
7. Jose Vidro, DH
8. Kenji Johjima, C
9. Yuniesky Betancourt, SS

ORIOLES STARTING LINEUP

1. Brian Roberts, 2B
2. Melvin Mora, 3B
3. Nick Markakis, RF
4. Kevin Millar, 1B
5. Aubrey Huff, DH
6. Jay Payton, LF
7. Ramon Hernandez, C
8. Adam Jones, CF
9. Luis Hernandez, SS

Jesus. Payton. The hitter in our six-hole batted .256/.292/.376 last season. Mother of pearl.

FUN STATS

• Payton hit .172/.273/.329 against the Mariners last season. GOD. To be nice, he's also 8-for-20 with a 1.229 OPS against Washburn.
  
• In five career starts, Trachsel is 0-4 with a 6.93 ERA and 1.95 WHIP against the Mariners. Eight strikeouts, 14 walks in 24 2/3 innings.
• I like Ichiro. I bought a bottle of sake to drink over the first inning or so. Ichiro murders the Orioles: .387/.431/.500. That's his best line against any team. He absolutely slays us. And he hits .405 at Camden Yards.
  
• Adrian Beltre is the opposite: .228/.267/.341 against the O's in his career, with a 29-to-6 K-to-BB count.
  

60 percent chance of rain, wind blowing, according to WBAL. The radar is showing a hell of a good storm coming in. Saturday has rain in the morning and a chance in the afternoon, so we should be good tomorrow night.

I'm kind of anticipating another rainout, but God I hope not. Spring baseball can cram it sideways.

But, I believe this does serve as indisputable proof that God does not want Steve Trachsel to pitch.