Keep track of this year's O's to the end, they might play to a tune that'll surprise you
It's an anniversary today. I hope they get Dave Trembley something better than they got him last year. The trade deadline came and went. There was no fire sale. And since then, the Orioles' offense has been one of the best in baseball.
Yet the O's have taken the keys for the A.L. East basement apartment from the Rays (could dropping devil from the team name really have been all they had to do?) and moved in all their stuff, including the heavy salary of Ramon Hernandez.
While the Birldand bats have been hammering the ball, the pitching staff, despite Guthrie's best efforts, has been soft serving it up more than Dairy Queen on a hot summer day.
The team ERA after the All-Star break is 5.74. Since the break, they have given up 186 earned runs, (twelve more unearned). In that same 33-game span, the offense has produced 211 runs, which is 16 more than any other team in the American League. But they are only 16-17 since the break.
Tampa Bay has managed to go 22-10 while scoring only 145 runs, 66 less than the Birds. What's it all mean, Alfie?
In a word, the O's pitching staff is much like Buzz's girlfriend in 'Home Alone', "Woof." We made a graphic the other day showing the evolution (turnover may be a better word) of the pitching staff throughout the year. We had to use question marks for the last two starters.
Steve Trachsel has turned the ringer on his phone back on. And except for Adam Loewen, the rotation and bullpen have not suffered major injury. They have just been terrible, with the exception of Guthrie.
That being said, I still feel this team can be worth watching. The reason being is that a baseball season is like an album. For those of you who never take your iPods or iTunes off of shuffle, an album is a collection of songs. It's not about one song, but listening through its entirety. Tracks are arranged in a specific order to produce something more than a single for top 40 radio or for someone to remix into something you can grind up on the opposite sex to.
Some albums are better than others. Some may only end up having a few songs you like, while the great ones you can play straight through. This Orioles season may not be one of those great albums, but you are going to have some great tracks if you keep listening. Seeing a 29-year-old career Minor League pitcher like Chris Waters get his shot at the big leagues could only happen on this album.
While he's no Roger Waters, but the gem he pitched against the Angels was a great track. I think you will get to see a few more like that, but perhaps out of a Brad Bergesen.
There may not be a playoff pennant race to look forward to, but from here out, it should be better than last season. One year ago today, the team got beat in a historic 30-3 loss, which started a nine-game losing streak, and saw them win only 3 of their next 21 games.
In the words of Gary Thorne, "Mercy!" And though I've never gotten any real joy from playing spoiler, if the O's play the Yankees the way they have all year, then the playoffs will be Yankee free. We can both agree that's a beautiful thing.
So my advice, listen to the album of Orioles 2008. You never know, there may be a hidden track or two at the end. The B-side has sure had a lot of hits, even if the pitch has been a little off.
Leave a comment