masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgMy one shining moment came when I missed the first half of last night’s UConn-Butler game. What a stinker. I’ve seen better basketball at the local Y.

Jeremy Guthrie is remaining in good spirits despite missing the Orioles’ home opener. He tweeted the following last night:

“Initially thought I had BieberFever but turns out I have pneumonia. Feeling better but got myself an overnight stay at hospital. Go #Orioles.”

You can follow him: @JGuthrie46. And myself, of course: @masnRoch….My one shining moment came when I missed the first half of last night’s UConn-Butler game. What a stinker. I’ve seen better basketball at the local Y.

Jeremy Guthrie is remaining in good spirits despite missing the Orioles’ home opener. He tweeted the following last night:

Jake-Arrieta_White-Tall-2010.gif

“Initially thought I had BieberFever but turns out I have pneumonia. Feeling better but got myself an overnight stay at hospital. Go #Orioles.”

You can follow him: @JGuthrie46. And myself, of course: @masnRoch.

I’m actually up to 2,077 followers. I’m retiring when I hit 3,000.

The Orioles are off today and they’ve earned a break, though they’re on such a roll, I almost hate to see them stop.

I’m still marveling at the starting pitching, and I’m not alone. The rotation has allowed only two runs and 12 hits in 26 innings. You could argue that Guthrie turned in the only truly dominant performance, despite Chris Tillman’s six hitless innings, but only the results matter.

Guthrie posted a 6.43 ERA in 14 spring innings, gave up 12 hits in five innings in his final start in Dunedin and proclaimed himself ready for opening night. I requested a definition of “ready” – can you please use it in a sentence? – but he was right.

Arrieta had a 5.79 ERA in 18 2/3 innings. Tillman had a 3.93 ERA in 18 1/3 innings, but he allowed 29 baserunners. Brian Matusz had a 5.93 ERA in 13 2/3 innings and took a line drive off his left arm. Brad Bergesen had a 5.82 ERA in 17 innings and took a line drive off his right arm. Zach Britton had a 1.35 ERA in 20 innings, but he wasn’t supposed to pitch in the majors for at least three weeks. And it seemed like they all were tweaking their deliveries and trying to find a rhythm. They had so much trouble getting enough “ups,” manager Buck Showalter kept sending them to minor league camp or arranging simulated games.

We’re always reminded not to fall in love with spring training numbers. I guess you can’t be freaked out by them, either.

The starting pitching is the No. 1 reason why the Orioles are 4-0. Brian Roberts hasn’t hurt the cause with two homers and eight RBIs. Neither has Nick Markakis with a .429 average and one of the greatest catches you’ll ever witness.

The defense has been strong, with only one error committed in four games. Mark Reynolds was the culprit, but he’s also made a few outstanding plays.

Jason Berken might be flying under the radar, but his three scoreless innings and six strikeouts have been huge.

As so many of us keep saying, just wait until the middle of the order gets cranked up. Vladimir Guerrero is batting .125 with no homers or RBIs. Derrek Lee is batting .214 with no homers or RBIs. Adam Jones is batting .125 with no homers or RBIs.

Matt Wieters, however, has collected four hits and two RBIs in two games since moving up to fifth in the order while Luke Scott nurses a sore groin. Scott was hitless in his first seven at-bats.

The Orioles have won their first five games only once in franchise history, and you have to go back to 1970.

Let’s see what tomorrow brings.

Maybe a fifth shining moment?

My guess is they’ll score more than Butler, no matter what the middle of the order does.