A few thoughts on the offense, Joseph, Schoop and more

A few thoughts and observations after Chris Davis and the Orioles offense had a breakout game Tuesday night at Pittsburgh:

* The headline was Davis and his second career three-homer game. Before last night's game, some here suggested Steve Pearce get the start over Davis against the lefty last night. After Davis looked bad with a strikeout in the first inning, you had to wonder if maybe they were right.

But somewhere along the line, Davis got his timing back and turned back the clock to early last year. Chris was Crush again, and the O's had been waiting to see this.

I've been saying all along that the core group of players has to carry the offense. We've seen some good signs in recent games from that group in players like Davis, Adam Jones, Manny Machado and J.J. Hardy.

* Caleb Joseph had another strong game on defense behind the plate. Is it possible that those who questioned his defense over the past years were just wrong? I don't know, but several members of the O's minor league staff told me Joseph's defense took a step forward last year. Joseph himself said minor league catching instructor Don Werner has been big help for him and has always believed in him.

I don't know how Joseph stopped a potential wild pitch by Miguel Gonzalez in the first inning last night with Starling Marte up and runners on first and third with two outs. Somehow, he flung his body to the right and dug the ball out. It was an excellent play, and Gonzalez went on to strike out Marte to get his night started on the right foot.

Orioles catchers' ERA:

2.25 - Caleb Joseph
3.88 - Matt Wieters
4.53 - Steve Clevenger

* Has anybody noticed that Gonzalez has allowed three earned runs or less for seven straight starts? He gave up seven runs against Detroit in his first 2014 start, but has an ERA of 3.40 in these last seven starts. That is right about the midpoint of his 2012 and 2013 ERAs of 3.25 and 3.78.

Gonzalez has allowed four runs in 13 innings over his last two starts. Some feel he is the current weak link in this rotation. It looks like he is trying to prove that assertion wrong right now.

* Meanwhile, Jonathan Schoop had a very strong game at second base last night, making a leaping catch and being a part of a few nice double plays. He is really settling in at second since Machado returned, which has allowed Schoop to focus on one position.

His bat needs some work right now, but if this offense continues to get back on track, the Orioles can afford to keep the rookie in the lineup as he gets on-the-job training in the bigs.

He is a plus defender at second base, which has been true for a while. Some are slow to believe this, but the more they see, the more they'll understand what some of us have seen from him at second base as far back as 2011 with Single-A Frederick.

* The Orioles offense was overdue. It had scored three runs or less in 12 of the last 21 games before last night. The O's don't need eight or nine runs a night, just a few more than we've been seeing. The O's are 15-5 when scoring four or more.

The offense has been the missing link so far. The starting pitching has been better than most expected. The bench has been solid and the depth is good. The defense is there.

Maybe the the win-one-lose-one mode is about to end, and the club is ready to go on a roll. We've wondered that before. Is now the time?