Baltimore Orioles - It's a miracle

[Mr3Wiggle]

Hardest schedule in baseball, yet still 10 games over .500 with a record of 41-31.  Only 3 games out of first in the AL East and in control of a wildcard spot.  They've already played 32 games against the AL East vs. the Yankees playing only 21 games.  Can they hold on?  Will the Orioles cheap owner shell out for players to help push them towards the playoffs?

[Infamous 273]

baltimore has shown a lot of promise this season.  talk about a town that is overdue for a winner...that damn jeffrey maier!  if they can keep the momentum up, i don't see why a wildcard berth is out of the question.  the main concern would be if they have enough fire power to keep up with the big dogs down the stretch - they're currently last in the division with 307 RS.  the pitching seems to be rocking steady with 303 RA.

we'll see.

[Mr3Wiggle]

Originally Posted by Infamous 273

baltimore has shown a lot of promise this season.  talk about a town that is overdue for a winner...that damn jeffrey maier!  if they can keep the momentum up, i don't see why a wildcard berth is out of the question.  the main concern would be if they have enough fire power to keep up with the big dogs down the stretch - they're currently last in the division with 307 RS.  the pitching seems to be rocking steady with 303 RA.

we'll see.

They've been terrible at hitting with runners in scoring position and 3 of their 5 starters have ERAs of 5.00 or higher.  They also lead the majors in errors committed.  Hopefully getting Markakis, Britton, and Lindstrom back will help out.

[tristanhilton85]

They've shown great signs this season but I see them a bit like Pittsburg last year... they'll kind of fizzle out.

[dsc123]

They can hang on.  The red sox suck this year.  The O's and TB will be fighting for the wildcard.

[jamo]

I think they're good (Hammel, especially, seems to be the real deal), but I think we'll see them fade at some point. They're runs scored to runs given up ratio is pretty bad (307/303=1.013. For reference, the Yankees are 344/284=1.211, the Rangers are 388/299=1.298, the Rays are 311/298=1.044, and the Red Sox are 382/339=1.127). The Yankees, barring injuries to CC and some of their key hitters, should win the division. The Rays are currently weathering an injury storm, but they're pitching depth is amazing so a late-season run out of them is a possibility, if not a likelihood. The Red Sox have been missing Ellsbury and Crawford the entire season due to injury, not to mention the injuries to Sweeney, Ross, Youkilis, and Pedroia and Gonzalez's crappy year, but they're still (semi-amazingly) second in MLB in runs scored. If they get anything out of their starting rotation (the 'pen has been decent, even without Bailey) I think it's possible that they're close in the end.

[clubchamp]

Orioles will fade unless they pick up a big bat or 2 and the Red Sox are done it's more than just injuries with them they either need to get rid of Bobby V or start revamping the team. It's hard for players who have had such a laid back culture with Francona to adjust to a manager like Bobby V.

[Mr3Wiggle]

Well Matusz stunk up the joint last night.  Came out throwing 89 mph gopher balls.  Hung his curve right over the heart of the plate a few times.  He's lucky he went so deep in the game.  If I had to bet, I'd say they are giving Tillman a call up soon.  They pretty much burnt Tommy Hunter's spot in the rotation by having him pitch relief last night.

Oh well, Hammel tonight.  I think we win this one and split the series.  Seems like every pitcher the O's have faced lately is an ace...CJ Wilson, Jared Weaver, Beachy, Dickey, Santana, Jordan Zimmerman, Edwin Jackson, etc, etc, etc...

[jamo]

The Yankees, barring injuries to CC and some of their key hitters, should win the division.

Just as I say that, CC and Pettitte go on the DL. It seems CC is only going to miss 2 or 3 starts, but Pettitte has been pitching surprisingly well, and should be out much longer.

[Mr3Wiggle]

Originally Posted by jamo

Just as I say that, CC and Pettitte go on the DL. It seems CC is only going to miss 2 or 3 starts, but Pettitte has been pitching surprisingly well, and should be out much longer.

O's got bunged by the Angels again last night.  Fielding and hitting are in the crapper.  If I'm the coach I make the whole team show up at 8am this morning and take batting and fielding practice.

[meenman]

Originally Posted by Mr3Wiggle

O's got bunged by the Angels again last night.  Fielding and hitting are in the crapper.  If I'm the coach I make the whole team show up at 8am this morning and take batting and fielding practice.

Dont be surprised if Showalter does that - it's irrelevent - the Yanks are going to run away with the division. Even with CC out a couple of weeks and Pettite out for awhile, the bullpen is well rested and will cover us. The part I am happiest about is Soriano will opt out after this year with his decent closing stats.

[Mr3Wiggle]

Originally Posted by meenman

Dont be surprised if Showalter does that - it's irrelevent - the Yanks are going to run away with the division. Even with CC out a couple of weeks and Pettite out for awhile, the bullpen is well rested and will cover us. The part I am happiest about is Soriano will opt out after this year with his decent closing stats.

Don't count the Red Sux out.  They may be getting ready for a serious run.  Ellsbury will be back.  AGon has to improve at some point.  A couple of their younger players look impressive too.

[meenman]

Don't count the Red Sux out.  They may be getting ready for a serious run.  Ellsbury will be back.  AGon has to improve at some point.  A couple of their younger players look impressive too.

The sox really dont worry me long term. The starting pitching isnt there, they have no closer, Gonzales is not a big market player, the Crawford signing will go down as one of the worst in history and the biggest Yankee killer Youkilis is gone. Theo set this team back years before he left.

[Mr3Wiggle]

Originally Posted by meenman

The sox really dont worry me long term. The starting pitching isnt there, they have no closer, Gonzales is not a big market player, the Crawford signing will go down as one of the worst in history and the biggest Yankee killer Youkilis is gone.

Theo set this team back years before he left.

Theo full on admitted that.  I hope you're right.  I don't much care for the Red Sux or the ignorant fans of theirs that I've encountered at Camden Yards.

[Golfingdad]

Originally Posted by meenman

The sox really dont worry me long term. The starting pitching isnt there, they have no closer, Gonzales is not a big market player, the Crawford signing will go down as one of the worst in history and the biggest Yankee killer Youkilis is gone.

Theo set this team back years before he left.

I got to go to Fenway Park for the first time Monday night, which was very cool.  And to your point, they gave up, I think, 4 runs in the first inning, and I believe that 3 of those were even before they got a single out.

Side note:  My wife is a New Yorker and die hard Yankees fan and has trained our 3 year old son very well.  He couldn't stop saying "Boo, Red Sox, Go Yankees!" the entire time we were there - and they were playing the Blue Jays.

My opinion is that the Orioles will fade away, the Yankees will run away with the division, and the usual suspects (Red Sox, Rays, Angels/Rangers) will be the WC contenders.

[moparman426]

Originally Posted by Golfingdad

and they were playing the Blue Jays.

GO JAYS!!!!!!

/cryingontheinside

[tristanhilton85]

The Angles just killed 'em the last two nights .

And did anybody see Trout's catch... good god that guy has hops!

[meenman]

Originally Posted by Mr3Wiggle

I don't much care for the Red Sux or the ignorant fans of theirs that I've encountered at Camden Yards.

Try being around uneducated rays fans. Not quite as obnoxious as the chowds, but they fully believed that matt moore was the 2nd coming of cy young, that carlos pena was going to bat .350 like he did through 3 games this year and that kyle farnsworth is a pitcher you can trust.