Orioles getting back to business

The Home Run Derby is done. The All-Star Game is gone.

The Orioles can rest for a day, hop on their charter Thursday and head to Tampa for their workout. It's getting serious again.

Manager Buck Showalter reminded his players to make smart decisions over the break. They understand that 75 games remain in the regular season, that there's still so much work to be done, but it never hurts to drive home the point.

The Red Sox and Blue Jays are only two games behind the Orioles in the American League East. If the season ended today, three teams in the division would qualify for the playoffs.

"Where we are in the standings is nice," said closer Zach Britton, "but there's a lot of games left, so we've got to continue to play well."

They've got to play better on the road, where they've gone 18-22 The Orioles' 33 home victories lead the majors and their 14 losses are tied with the Cubs for second-fewest behind the Royals' 13.

"I think there are always things that you can work on, but I like the position that we're in right now," said first baseman Chris Davis. "And obviously, finishing off the first half with two wins at home is good to build some momentum going into the second half of the season."

Davis was asked whether the Orioles accomplished their goals heading into the break.

"I don't know if we even had halfway goals, to be honest with you," he said. "I think it's always just kind of an overall goal: Where are you at the end of the year?

"I think we played well. I think there have been times that we've really shown we're a complete team and then there have been times when we've struggled. But I think the last couple of games there were good of us to kind of bear down and try to get away with two wins going into the break."

The Orioles lead the majors in home runs with 137 and they rank fifth with a .272 average, eighth with a .333 on-base percentage and second with a .467 on-base percentage. They've scored 442 runs, putting them seventh in the majors.

The 4.35 team ERA ranks 16th in the majors. The starters have posted a 5.15 ERA that ranks 28th, unless you're going by front office and managerial concerns, which raises its ranking to first. The rotation has worked only 470 innings, putting it last in the majors. The Blue Jays are first with 579 1/3.

The bullpen is fourth with a 3.12 ERA and its 303 innings are fifth. And this is with Darren O'Day on the disabled list since making his last appearance on June 1.

Chris Tillman said the Orioles need to improve in "all things," but the numbers don't lie. The primary issue rests on the mound. The rotation is a concern and apparently under reconstruction. The bullpen door now revolves while the Orioles search for fresh arms with daily calls to the minors.

Is your head spinning from all the recent transactions? Let me help you keep them straight - since I can't do much about your head:

June 1: T.J. McFarland recalled from Triple-A Norfolk and left-hander Ashur Tolliver optioned to Norfolk.
June 2: Brian Duensing's contract selected from Norfolk and Mike Wright optioned to Norfolk.
June 3: Mike Wright recalled from Norfolk and Darren O'Day placed on the disabled list.
June 14: Odrisamer Despaigne recalled from Norfolk and Vance Worley placed on the disabled list.
June 17: Mike Wright optioned to Norfolk.
June 18: T.J. McFarland optioned to Norfolk.
June 21: Oliver Drake recalled from Norfolk.
June 22: Ashur Tolliver recalled from Norfolk and Brian Duensing placed on disabled list.
June 25: T.J. McFarland recalled from Norfolk as 26th player in DH and optioned after Game 2.
June 26: Ashur Tolliver optioned to Norfolk.
June 28: T.J. McFarland recalled from Norfolk.
June 30: Vance Worley reinstated from disabled list, Chaz Roe's contract selected from Norfolk, Oliver Drake optioned to Norfolk, T.J. McFarland placed on disabled list.
July 3: Ariel Miranda's contract selected from Norfolk and Tyler Wilson optioned to Norfolk.
July 4: Jayson Aquino recalled from Double-A Bowie and Ariel Miranda optioned to Norfolk.
July 6: Jayson Aquino optioned to Bowie.
July 8: Mike Wright recalled from Norfolk and optioned to Norfolk after the game.
July 9: Jason Garcia recalled from Bowie.
July 10: Jason Garcia optioned to Bowie.

"We've got to throw the ball a little better," Tillman said. "Get the ball to the bullpen with a lead. Those guys are good, real good. As long as you set them up the right way, you'll come out on top most times, I think.

"Every game, there's not one thing. There are a few things that stick out for us. We've just got to keep playing good baseball."

Garcia was wandering the concourse before Sunday's game, his path leading to the elevators inside home plate plaza, where I stood before heading up to the press box. I asked what he was doing and he replied, "I just can't get enough of this place."

Garcia probably will be back, the bullpen door continuing to spin. And if he gets on a serious roll, he could squeeze into the rotation. There are jobs to be won.

The Orioles are hoping the games follow. They also know the chances are reduced if they don't pitch better.