After 46 games in the books, the Baltimore Orioles are 22-24, 3.5 games back of the first place New York Yankees in the American League East. Considering how the 2011 season has unfolded so far, I’d say that’s pretty good.
Make no mistake about it, the expectations for the Orioles this season were lofty, especially after finishing 66-96 in 2010. My prediction was 75 wins before the Orioles signed Vladimir Guerrero, given their pace I may be just about right.
This season the Orioles have taken their lumps when it comes to injuries. Brian Matusz, arguably the Orioles best young starting pitcher, hasn’t thrown for the Orioles through the first two months of the season, J.J. Hardy, Derrek Lee, Brian Roberts and Cesar Izturis have all been or are currently on the disabled list. The Orioles bullpen has not lived up to its expectations and the power surge expected from the revamped lineup hasn’t quite taken form yet either.
Still, Baltimore manages to hang around in the toughest division in baseball. Their manager knows his talent inside and out and gets the most out of his roster he possibly can. Under Buck Showalter the Orioles are 56-47. The O’s have won their last three and are 5-5 in their last ten.
The O’s have winning records against the White Sox, Tigers, Mariners, Rays and Nationals and have split with the Red Sox and Twins. They’ve been shutout twice this season and their pitchers have thrown three shutouts of their own. The Orioles have gone on an eight game losing streak and four game winning streak and have been five games over .500 and five games under.
In any other division in baseball, Baltimore is competing in the top three, they just happen to be in the AL East. Given the storyline this season, you can’t be disappointed with the Orioles level of success so far. They’re playing competitve baseball that has been a fun to watch through April and May. Let’s keep it going…
“Make no mistake about it, the expectations for the Orioles this season were lofty, especially after finishing 66-96 in 2010. My prediction was 75 wins before the Orioles signed Vladimir Guerrero, given their pace I may be just about right.”
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75 wins is a “lofty” goal?????
No wonder Boston and New York laugh at you yokels.
Peter Angelos would have been run out on a rail a decade ago if this was Philly, NY or Boston. Baltimore will always be minor league.
He has taken a once proud franchise and threw it in the garbage. The fact that folks like you SUPPORT his business says even more about you than it does about Peter Angelos.
Actually, the franchise was already in the dumpster when Angelos came along…He does get credit for making them irrelevant beyond what was once thought possible…I go to games, but don’t “pay retail” anymore…Canceled my season ticket plan a few years ago…Take in my own peanuts and water bottles when I do got the games now-a-days…He doesn’t get enough money from me to put gas in his limo even once a year…Oh yeah, there is no way to argue your point about “just hoping for a .500 season” and that kinda talk…Its comical, sad, and true…
@Shmess –
“No wonder Boston and New York laugh at you yokels.
Peter Angelos would have been run out on a rail a decade ago if this was Philly, NY or Boston. ”
You mean like when New York ran Steinbrenner out of town when he was banished from baseball in 1990 for his association with the mob and his attempts to blackmail one of his own players? Oh, that’s right they did nothing. How many years did the Yankees fail to make the playoffs in Big Steins’ era? Believe it was 14, so what they hell are you talking about?
Oh, then the Red Sox…yeah, they went 20 years from 1968-1988 where they made the playoffs 3 times. What exactly did the fans do then, can you remind me.
Check your facts before talking out your ass.
@Ol’ Bruz –
Forgot to mention your other team you put on the alter, the Phils…they went 23 years with just one playoff appearance in the 80s and 90s…remind me what the fans I’d there to rectify the situation?
Stop wasting my time with your dribble.
Sorry, last post was for SCHMESS, not Ol Bruz.
Yeah, the Phils and the bad ass fans ran the owner outta town in 84-2006 when they made the playoffs once.
Those big city boys in Philly sure made us look like yokles (notice the improper spelling from the Big City boy) when they, well they, well they did nothing.
Baltimoron.
Yokel: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yokel
BTW, I’m from Boston – – a city that CAN read (and can fill up your usually 70% empty stadium with our fortunate fans).
I apologize for the “Baltimoron” comment. That was unnecesarily mean.
The correct “Yokel” spelling stands, however.
In the meantime, I DO wish the good people of Baltimore all the luck in the world in having their team achieve the “lofty” expectation of a 75 win season.
@Shmess –
You are quick to point out others errors, but not so quick to look in your own backyard. What about from 1968-1988 when your beloved Sawx went to the playoffs 3 times? What about your big crowds then? Check out baseballreference.com and look at your attendance those years versus the Orioles attendance the last 13 years. Every town supports a winner, it’s easy. Check it out,
http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BOS/attend.shtml —then check out the Orioles attendence the last 13 years – http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BAL/attend.shtml —
Everybody supports a winner and nobody supports a loser, but you can keep ignoring the stats and pretend that the Sox fans are loyal.
BTW, SCHMESS, while you CAN read, you are not so good at interpretting. You keep referencing “lofty goals” and the author’s prediction of “75 wins”, however, if you interpret and not just read, you see that the author was pointing out “other’s expectations” and not necessarily “his” expectations.
Make no mistake about it, the expectations for the Orioles this season were lofty, especially after finishing 66-96 in 2010. My prediction was 75 wins before the Orioles signed Vladimir Guerrero, given their pace I may be just about right.
He was pointing out that while some were predicting big things, he was simply expecting 75 wins. You’ve interpretted two thoughts as both being the author’s thoughts.
@SCHMESS – You know I was really going to blast you but you helped yourself.
By apologizing for the “Baltimoron” comment I have to give some slack. Not that I want to but its only fair.
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