Texas provides good early test for improved O's

By Steve Melewski

Orioles

April 08, 2011, 1:07pm

Comments

As we continue to learn more about the Orioles with each game this season, maybe we all will get a real education on the club this weekend. Some fans have said the Rays' poor start took some of the luster off the O's three-game sweep there. But in beating Tampa, they did knock off the defending American League East champs. In taking two of three, they won a series against a well-regarded Detroit club. But beating a 6-0 Texas team, the defending AL champs, would be rather impressive.The Rangers bring the sport's only unbeaten record to town this weekend. In sweeping Boston and Seattle, Texas won one of those games by one run, but won four of the other five by at least four runs. The Rangers have outscored their opponents 42-20 so far and that run differential of a plus-22 is the best in the AL and second in baseball to Cincinnati, which is a plus-25 through a 5-1 start. The Orioles. by the way. are at plus-13 in that department. Texas may not have the fan appeal of the Yankees and Red Sox, but they did beat Tampa and New York last October in the playoffs. Taking a series from Texas this weekend would be big for the Orioles and keep the momentum riding for this club.