masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgOne thing that has been pretty true about how this Orioles season has gone is this observation. Just when you think you may have a handle on how the O’s are playing, it will usually change.

They began the year going 6-1 and fans were fired up by that start. They then proceeded to lose eight in a row. In late April, the Orioles won five of six against Boston and Chicago. They then lost six of seven.

That was followed by a three-game sweep against Seattle and a series win on the road versus…One thing that has been pretty true about how this Orioles season has gone is this observation. Just when you think you may have a handle on how the O’s are playing, it will usually change.

They began the year going 6-1 and fans were fired up by that start. They then proceeded to lose eight in a row. In late April, the Orioles won five of six against Boston and Chicago. They then lost six of seven.

That was followed by a three-game sweep against Seattle and a series win on the road versus Tampa. Right after that the Orioles lost four in a row giving up 42 runs in the process.

But now they have won their last three games, winning the last two with late-inning key hits and pitching to a team ERA of 1.67 over the stretch.

Will the real Orioles please stand up?

Over the next few weeks, maybe the club can get on an extended run of winning. The schedule may be favorable in that regard. Of the Orioles next nine series, counting the current one with KC, they meet six clubs with current losing records.

Here are the winning percentages of the teams:

.468 – 2 home vs. KC
.469 – 3 at Oakland
.479 – 3 at Seattle
.500 – 3 home vs. Toronto
.469 – 3 home vs. Oakland
.531 – 3 home vs. Tampa
.500 – 3 at Toronto
.438 – 3 at Washington
.468 – 3 at Pittsburgh

That is a 26-game stretch. A record of 14-12 or better in that time would leave the Orioles at 36-36 by late June and that would not be a bad place to be with the All-Star break approaching.

Of course we can’t act like the Orioles will plow through a schedule of lesser than .500 teams since right now they are one themselves. But the O’s are a combined 9-3 against Chicago, Detroit, Seattle and the Nationals. Three of those are currently under .500.

What do you think? Can the Orioles put together a winning record over this stretch of games?