The offense came to life at home, now can the O's take it on the road?

Here is an interesting contrast in stats for the Orioles' offense. They scored just 25 runs during a nine-game road trip that preceded the homestand that ended last night. But they scored 44 runs during the six games at Camden Yards. In the three-game series against Pittsburgh, the Orioles scored 27 runs on 44 hits with a .396 team batting average along with 12 doubles and seven homers. In the six games during the homestand, they batted .310 with 71 hits including 16 doubles and 11 home runs. Some impressive stuff. Last night on my radio show, a few callers wanted to know if I thought Chris Davis had found a home in the third spot in the batting order and whether he should stay there when Nick Markakis returns to the lineup. Davis has certainly got his bat going strong right now. He is hitting against left- and right-handed pitchers and is driving the ball to left and right field. But I think when Markakis returns, Davis is best-suited to hit lower in the order, maybe sixth or seventh. If the O's could ever get both Markakis and Nolan Reimold back, they would surely provide Buck Showalter with plenty of lineup options. Markakis could hit second, a spot he has done well at during his career and that could move J.J. Hardy to third. Reimold could hit second, giving the Orioles two fast runners at the top of the order. Davis, Mark Reynolds and Reimold could be grouped lower in the order to give the team a lot of pop throughout the lineup. For now, the O's bats are looking good even as they have to play with just one outfielder that began the year as a starter, and as they spot in reserves like Steve Pearce and Steve Tolleson. After battering a Pirates pitching staff that ranks fourth in the National League in ERA, now the Orioles go on the road to face Atlanta, which ranks 11th, and the Mets, who rank 12th in ERA. The Orioles recently went through a stretch of 11 games where they went just 2-9. But now they are 8-3 in 11 games since that run of losing. The offense has come to life as they hit the road to Atlanta and New York just a half-game out of first place. Time for the next chapters in this compelling 2012 season to unfold.