Each week in this spot, I’ll try to give you fan’s look at what transpired with our Birds the past week and what lies ahead for the club. My only promise is that the piece will be totally biased and from a real fan, so here it goes:
1. Still not OFFENSIVE
Since scoring 17 runs on Mothers Day, May 13th versus the Tampa Bay Rays, the Orioles have combined to score just 34 runs over the next 12 games through Sunday. The team finished the week with a 3-4 mark, splitting four games in Chicago and dropping 2 of 3 to Tampa. Despite having a nearing .500 week (which would be pretty good, given how this 2018 season has gone), they team looks lackluster and quite frankly is getting difficult to watch. Thank goodness the boys at “What the Puck” have made me a Capitals fan, otherwise my summers may have included the likes of “Americas got Talent” and repeats of Cops.
2. Upfront and center
On Thursday, Adam Jones slugged his ninth homer of the season and his 256 career homer as a centerfielder. Jones now ranks 13th all-time in homers for centerfielders. Jones has overcome a slow start to raise his season numbers to .278, nine homers, 25 RBI. I feel like I say this once a week, but this guy still has some baseball left and if he’ll endure the team’s retooling efforts, I hope he concludes his career right here at 333 Camden Street. In my opinion, Jones is the most influential African American player to don an Orioles uniform and one of the most influential players to ever don an Orioles uniform, period.
3. Quality is there, wins are not
The Orioles have recorded 22 quality starts going into Monday’s game. Had you told me at the beginning of the season, Orioles starters would muster that number of quality starts at this point of the season, I would have thought we were heading for a fun summer. In contrast the Orioles starters have received the lowest run support in the American League, which better tells you where most of the problems lie.
4. “Cakes” lights up “Crush”
Wow. Jim Palmer did not hold back his thoughts on Chris Davis tonight #Orioles pic.twitter.com/spVKORHw90
— Tim Murray (@1TimMurray) May 24, 2018
Last Wednesday, Hall of Famer Jim Palmer took Chris Davis to task questioning his work ethic and his failure to make adjustments. I’ve always admired Palmer, not only for his baseball prowess, but for his willingness to tell it like it is as an Orioles commentator on MASN. Hitting Coach Scott Coolbaugh did little to douse the flames adding, “Look, I’m rooting for Chris and have known him a long time. I’m available every day for any player that wants to work and make any changes they feel is necessary. I think it’s up to Chris to decide what he wants.” I’d like to have a “feel good” wrap up to this note, telling how Palmer’s words motivated the slugger, but Davis finished the week going just 2-11. I can tolerate players slumping, but don’t just cash the checks Chris, put the effort in to get back where you were.
5. Piling up the “K’s”
Speaking of Palmer and stud Orioles pitchers, Dylan Bundy was dealing last Thursday striking out 13 versus the White Sox in a 9-3 win. The effort saw Bunday hit the 300 career strikeout mark in just 53 games, the fastest in Orioles history. After a rough start a few weeks back, Bundy is becoming the Ace the Orioles have been looking for for many years.
This week features a three game home interleague series versus the Nationals, followed by a 4 game set with the Yankees. For a team saddled with a 17-36 record, both foes will present a formidable challenge.
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