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So the Orioles have started the year 1-5. They have an injured star player who may be headed for the DL, a struggling closer and they are scoring on average just three runs per game.
Oh yeah and they soon have a West Coast road trip and have yet to play the Yankees and Red Sox.
Hard to predict a winning streak is in their near future.
Here are several ways a fan could feel about this:
*Just see a poor record and believe it's the same old Orioles and they stink.
*Put most of the blame on Mike Gonzalez and say the blown saves left the club downtrodden which led to them playing with little spirit in the last two days vs. Toronto.
*Blame the offense and feel like when the bats match up with the decent starting pitching some wins will come.
*Blame Dave Trembley.
*Be a little down about the record but realize the solid starting pitching is a good sign for better things to come. We hope.
*Realize that even with good starting pitching, an offense scoring three runs per game and closer who is 1 for 3 in save chances will lead to five losses in six games.
I went into this season basing the possibility for legit improvement on a better starting rotation. We've seen some pretty decent starts and the starters' ERA is 3.89. That's good. But it hasn't translated to wins.
The blown leads and terrible hitting with runners in scoring position offset the work of Millwood and company.
Going forward, the offense should be better than this. Right? It can't be three runs per game bad.
The closer situation we just don't know about. If they straighten out Mike Gonzalez's mechanics, will he still struggle? If he does, that could be a major blow to this season.
It's not easy to read the mixed signs to start this season and know what it means going forward.
I'd like to think the rotation can continue to be solid and other parts of team will get better and so will the record.
I'd hate to think what the alternative means right now.
Nothing to do with this article, but I noticed on my Fantasy Baseball waiver wire list was one Arthur Rhodes. I thought "Nah, he's not still in the league, is he?" Turns out he's pitching for the Cubs now and blew Zambrano's decent start by serving up a home run to the Reds on Sunday.
I honestly cannot believe that Rhodes is still pitching. Just...wow.
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Got to credit the guy for having a good long career. Remember when he was a struggling starter? Moving him to the pen was the best move that ever could have happened to him. - Steve
I see...Wieters is being worn out, Jones is the same hitter as last year with no improvement, Markakis doesn't seem to want to swing the bat, Tejada doesn't want to use proper fielding fundementals, Pie is lost out there, Reimold is still hurting, Lugo is terrible, and Mike Gonzalez was poorly scouted prior to his signing.
On the brightside...Atkins has been better than expected so far. I've also been impressed with Millwood. Matusz looks great as does Hernandez.
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I see.....Kyle still pounces on any percieved negative.
Wieters is so worn out he got two more hits yesterday. He's a young strong kid that can catch six games in a row believe it or not. Especially at the start of the year. If it was August, no. He'll get Wednesday off probably. Relax over that one. - Steve
Steve,
This is the way I look at the O's being 1-5 right now: they have only played six games and could easily be 6-0 right now. I would not mind seeing a slight opposite of the past few years, where instead of being terrible in the second-half we are bad in the first half and then have a really good second-half. Now I do not want the first half to be as bad as the second half of the past two or three years but I think taking our lumps in the first half would not be too bad.
I am sure that the offense will pick things back up, hopefully Miggy will make that play later in the season (as he gets more experience at third), and hopefully Gonzalez will improve or someone will step up if he has not figured it out by mid-May. I still think this team can finish with 75-85 wins, and I would rather see them deal with adversity at the beginning of the season than at the end which is what normally happens.
I think one phrase would describe this season so far and that is "Causal Circumstance". It is not just one thing that is causing the O's to faulter. It is the combination factors creating this circumstance, the first of which, I believe, is Roberts slow and not halted start, the second the lack of a true cleanup hitter, the third the uncontrolled amped up energy of Gonzalez affecting his mechanics and location, the fourth the distractions of Remmi injury and Tejada's learning third base from their making solid hits, the lack of experience at third for Tejada, fifth or is that sixth Jonesy perhaps trying to do too much resulting in some free swinging, seventh Lugo's flat out failure to hit the dang ball (I think Izzy has been better), etc.
*Realize that even with good starting pitching, an offense scoring three runs per game and closer who is 1 for 3 in save chances will lead to five losses in six games.
I'm going with this one as the primary reason. The good thing is that EVERY team will have a skid like this, where they forget how to hit people in, over the course of the year. The bad thing is that we had ours right out the gates, which puts your team underneath the microscope much more than if it were in mid-June/July and it makes you a lot more open to ridicule.
We can turn it around, though, with a few fixes. Most importantly... Nick is very patient, but he has been TOO selective. Two backwards K's yesterday proves that... we need him to start hitting first and walking second, not the other way around. 0 RBI's from our 3-hole is just detrimental to a team's success. We also need to find a temporary 'catalyst' that we so desperately miss in B-Rob's absence. It should be Pie, but he seems to press in that leadoff role. Somebody has to step up and become the catalsyt... doesn't even have to be a speedy guy. Tejada could be the one to do so.
A big plus so far this year is that Wieters can just flat out hit. He's hitting .409 through six, and that's even with them giving him the shift in situations that call for it. That's impressive. He needs to start bringing it when people are in scoring position, but there is little doubt that he will put that together soon.
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Nick is not looking great right now, Jason. His track record is too long to worry at all at this point, but the O's could sure use some production from that spot right now. - Steve
Steve,
I don't think the 1-5 record means much at this point. Multiply it by complete month and then theres a serious problem. But right now we have to take a close look and compartmentalize things. You are right: the pitching has been such an improved part of this club that anyone who has followed the O's should be happy to see how this staff has responded so far. Here's hoping that the second time through the rotation will yield even better results. Offensively we all know the issues. And defensively the Orioles were one of the last clubs to commit an error. That's not bad either. Individually I think we've seen maturation on Wieters which was important. You see Reimold starting to swing the bat. And one of the best individual stories (if it continues) is Garrett Atkins' bat coming around. Of course there are negatives, but we've all gone over those too much. Those positives are quite nice to see so early on this year. Hopefully they continue
Hey Steve,
Here's what I've observed so far this year:
1. Gonzalez has a good attitude, but I've seen nothing that makes me think this guy has the makeup or stuff to close games in the A.L. East. I hope he proves me wrong.
2. This lineup is not good enough to go 81-81. Tejada looks good at the plate, but he scares no opposing pitchers. Markakis has walked 9 times already I believe, part because he's not terribly aggressive, but also because I would think most pitchers would rather pitch around him and face Miggy. WE NEED A CLEAN UP HITTER! What about Wieters or Reimold?
3. The Starting staff looks really good. Even with Bergy's tough start, I have no question that this is THE strength of this team right now.
4. Trembley is Trembley. He is a below average manager who has no idea how to win games. I'm not being negative, I'm just repeating my position on this guy. Nice guy, good man, not the guy to manage this team.
5. I can't wrap this up without taking a shot at the local media chastizing the fans for booing Mike Gonzalez on Opening Day. Now I didn't boo him during the intro nor when he was brought in for the save situation, but yes I booed him after he blew the save. The media types (especially on 105.7 FM) need to really understand the way the fans feel at this point. People have had it with losing. People want improvement and they are tired of being told (as if they are children) by media that we have to be patient. I paid $42 for my seat on Opening Day and let me tell you something, if I want to boo a guy not getting the job done - by god I'm going to boo him. Call into question if I'm a real fan if you want, but that's the way I feel about it.
Sorry for the long post, thanks as always for your good work.
The Orioles may be struggling, but I feel like it's the kind of struggle that every good team can pull out of and succeed. In the past, the struggles the Orioles had were because of rotations filled with Brian Burres', Adam Eatons, Steve Trachsels and Daniel Cabreras. Every team has struggles during the season, it just so happens that the Orioles are getting theirs out of the way early. I don't see it as a sign that we are in a great deal of trouble down the stretch.
Steve,
Demoralizing is my word. Not in the sense that the O's are 1-5 (which does stink) but the way they've lost 4 of those 5 games does hurt. 2 leads coffed up in the 9th, an error in the 8th that led to 3 runs, and some unclutch hitting in the Rays 2nd game. Granted this is an EXTREMELY small sample size and I do see some of the positives (Milwood, Atkins, Wieters) but it is troublesome. The person that should be the most concerned is Trembley in my opinion. The early part of this season is brutal...brutal enough to cost someone a job whether he deserves to or not. The talent his there to right the ship to an extent (no I'm not expecting them to reel off a bunch of wins but they need to win a few series and avoid being swept again). I don't see Trembley losing his job as a solution but if the O's are struggling really really badly late into May I would not be surprised to see a shakeup this year.
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Scott, I feel you have sized things up well. If 1-5 turns into 8 and 23, the Trembley watch could be on. Right now, I don't think anyone can fault him for two blown saves and poor clutch hitting. If the trends continue, he will come under more scrutiny than now. - Steve
Markakis looks scared to swing. Wieters seems to either swing at every pitch or take every pitch until he has 2 strikes on him. Jones is swinging at everything again. No one is hitting in the clutch outside of Atkins. Lugo looks bad and Wigginton looks horrendous. Izzy looks like Izzy and Miggy has been killing the ball it just hasn't been falling. Luke looks terrible. Reimold looks good one AB and terrible the next. Pie has looked good in a few AB's but mainly has been disappointing.
The bullpen has done good with a lead and bad when losing. Maybe they figure there is no way the offense will come through in the clutch and have no motivation like they do when protecting a lead. Outside of Gonzalez the bullpen has been ok as a whole.
The starters have done better than anyone expected and deserves a lot better than what they have received. Your #5 gives up 2runs in 6innings and you can't score him anything? That's sad.
I think the offense will turn it around I just hope it's sooner rather than later. The starting pitching I want to believe will maintain what they have done I just can't be sure yet. I think the bullpen can keep it up all season long and I think Gonzalez will turn it around.
Stay the course....in general. Except with the closer situation---Gonzo needs to become an overpaid Jamie Walker.
The starting pitching going deeper in games this year is going to be huge.
The hitting---RISP will come around sooner or later.
Steve-
I know you have said previously you don't think it's time for a lineup shakeup just yet, I think that could be just what we need. I think we should move Markakis to the two hole and Tejada to the three. Bat Wieters cleanup and Jones fifth.
Basically, I think that Trembley should tinker with the lineup a bit. Having the notoriously streaky Scott breaking up Tejada and Wieters is not good, and I don't think Jones is selectively enough, or enough of a contact hitter to put in the two spot.
Just an opinion, but I think some lineup tinkering could provide a spark.
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It could come to a point they do that if this lingers a few more days. I just don't think six games is enough of a sample at this point. We'll see. - Steve
It is only 6 games and the starting pitching has been good. Gonzo had a weak start in Atlanta last year. This team seems to have too many players that have relatively slow starts to the year. This lineup will start hitting, but worried about Markakis being too selective. If this goes on I hope the Orioles dont replace Trembley with another Trembley type manager. So let's hope they take it to the Rays this week.
There are some constants in the O's poor start:
1.No real cleanup hitter. Would help the entire lineup;
2.RISP is typically pathetic. Can we even buy a clutch hit?;
3.No closer on the entire staff. Gonzalez is not the answer. Johnson can't handle the pressure,and is too erratic and inconsistent;
4.Our catalyst,one B.Rob may have a serious career threatening injury,and is in his thirties(in retrospect,should have traded him when he had value);
5.Our infield has two guys playing out of position(Tejeda and Atkins);a poor hitting good fielding shortstop,and a player who is on his last leg in the bigs(Lugo);
6.To be generous we have a manager who would be better served as a roving minor league instructor. Hard working,committed,but lacks the authority to be a major league manager;
7.Our outfield,supposedly a strength,is fraught with questions and injuries. Reimold deserves a chance,but he is injury prone,and it has already hurt us this year. Pie has "potential",good spring,he too is injury prone,and inconsistent. Markakis,our star and the face of the team,is,at best,a better than average major leaguer. This is our star;and Luke Scott,where do we play him,has more holes in his swing then swiss cheese;
8.Our so-called one positive,starting pitching,has a ton of questions,and one solid major league starter,and a very promising rookie. It would not surprise if the O's went sooner rather than later to the minors;and
9Our front office leaves a lot to be desired--giving BRob a huge contract as he began to slip,slide away. Failing to be more aggressive(risk aversive good for stocks not for a team with 12 consecutive losing seasons and counting). Just beginning to recognize the international player market years after our competitors. Waiting and waiting for years to finally move our spring training operation to a suitable sight. Believe me there is more,plenty more.
In spite of all the reality(you can call it negativity)I still love the team,the fans,have attended O's game since they were a minor league affiliate of the Phillies in the early fifties. Have been a season ticket holder,but as our manager says,its more about wins and losses then development. I agree...
what's with the O's? On paper they are a good time and better than last year. This start so far is terribly disappointing because they have been in every game so far. The team needs the return of brian rob erts and a trade for Luke Scott who is abysmal with risp.
Geez, not even a week into the season and everyone is throwing dirt on this team. Wait until a couple of times through the rotation at least before declaring the season over. A couple of observations:
1. Starting pitching seems improved over last few years - not getting blown out.
2. Roberts injury troubling, but the other guys should be able to carry the load in his absence.
3. Tejada better than expected at third and as expected at the plate - an upgrade from last year.
4. Gonzo a big question mark, but career indicates that he will right himself before too long.
5. Very excited about a full season with Matt Weiters, seems to have picked up where he left off.
6. O's could hit the magical .500, which would be significant progress.
Call no man happy till he dies.