In a series previewing the A.L. East, Boston Globe writer Scott Lauber listed the 2011 Orioles as “potentially dangerous” in baseball’s toughest division. Lauber discussed the Orioles having the best record in the east over the last two months of the 2010 season, detailed their revamped infield and of course talked about the Buck Showalter effect on the O’s.
Mainly, though, general manager Andy MacPhail has tried to copy the San Diego Padres’ out-of-the-blue success by collecting a cadre of proven relievers. The Orioles re-signed incumbent closer Koji Uehara and added free agent right-handers Kevin Gregg and Jeremy Accardo to holdover Jim Johnson and lefty Mike Gonzalez, both of whom were slowed by injuries last season.
“Nobody dreamed the Padres would do as well as they did last year, and obviously their bullpen was locked in,” Showalter said. “They were playing six-inning games.”
Are you surprised to hear the Orioles receive some recognition from a writer in Boston?
I want to believe…I really do, but I won't get sucked into the preseason hype like I did last year.
90 plus losses again.
Rinse and repeat.
So you're saying they could only get 90 losses? Mark, you are so optimistic, I think you need to tone it down some.
/sarcasm
Yup.
Same thing, different year.
You were here last year weren't you?
You know, the talk about .500 ball etc…
You can keep up your sarcasm.
I'll stick to calling a spade a spade.
How many more years until you realize what's really going on?
And let me be clear.
If I thought they had a chance to be .500 I'd say it.
Mark, I wasn't saying you were wrong, I was just playing around. I'm not expecting anything this year either. You are very consistent with your take on the O's, hence my comment about always being optimistic. Irony and such. Just having fun, it takes the sting out of losing so much and it's better than getting too into it.
Gotcha.
That's why I wrote my 2nd post because I truly want them to be at least be competitive.
And my expectations are so low that I really don't get upset at the results as the games go by. I just can't stand the BS they pull in the offseason from ticket prices to lack of acquiring the necessary talent to win.
After opening day, I'm not sure how many games I'll go to this year.