So as an Orioles fan, do you look at the last three nights in black and white terms or with shades of gray?
Do you just see three losses and the team getting swept as the bottom line or did you see some things that were positive within the losses and give the team something to build on?
I can't help feeling that the Orioles should have won the last two games of that series and be heading to Toronto later today with a 5-1 record and two series victories.
Instead, there was more frustration against New York and the Orioles' 25th loss in the last 34 games between these teams at Camden Yards.
The Orioles had chances to pull out walk-off wins in the bottom of the ninth the last two nights but two of their best hitters - Adam Jones and J.J. Hardy - could not get the clutch hits to pull out dramatic wins.
Instead, the Orioles failed to get the key hit only to watch New York come up with one later and charge to victory. A Raul Ibanez RBI double gave New York the 12-inning win on Tuesday and Nick Swisher's two-run homer in the 10th did the trick last night.
The biggest question coming into the season was the pitching staff and through six games the Orioles team ERA of 2.79 ranks fourth in the American League. We all would have gladly signed up for that before the season. The starters' ERA of 2.58 is better than expected but it has only been six games. Still, there are encouraging signs there, too.
Speaking of pitching, Dylan Bundy has now retired all 18 batters he has faced over two outings with no walks and 12 strikeouts. The Orioles brass has been saying that right now the priority is getting him into the routine of being a pro pitcher and that his learning what it takes to be a pro is just as important as his stats.
The Orioles likely expected him to do well with Single-A Delmarva, but did they expect it to be this good? I've heard from fans who say they want to see minor league players dominate a level before being promoted. Well, here you go.
By the way, between Bobby and Dylan yesterday, the Bundy brothers combined to pitch nine shutout innings allowing just two hits on two walks and eight strikeouts.
Dylan is not wasting his time at Delmarva, as some have suggested, rather he is getting his work in. Right now, he's just very good at his job and fans should just enjoy that rather than focusing or stressing too much on where he's doing it and/or when he will move to another level.
Radio show tonight: I hope you join me tonight and every weeknight for my radio show, "Baltimore Baseball Tonight," on 105.7 FM The Fan in Baltimore. The show airs each weeknight from 10 p.m to midnight.
Tonight, Dylan Bundy is scheduled to be a guest on the show. So tune in for that and I'll take your calls about the Orioles. I hope many of the readers of this blog become regular listeners and callers and keep the great discussions we have here all day going at night on the airwaves. Click here and hit listen live tonight at 10.
By accepting you will be accessing a service provided by a third-party external to https://www.masnsports.com/