Happy All Star Break.

The Orioles reached the halfway point (which really isn’t halfway through the season, since there are only 77 games left to be played) at 45-40.  They find themselves 7.0 games back of the first place Yankees (52-33) and half a game ahead of the Rays (45-41).

As the Birds rest for the next few days, let’s try and remember that five games above .500 is well above our preseason expectations for this club.  No one — and I mean, no one — thought that the O’s would be able to grab a Wild Card spot this season.  Yet if the MLB calendar year ended today, the Orioles would be playing postseason baseball.

Too bad it doesn’t.

There are many needs on this roster.  Despite the fact that Adam Jones says the Orioles biggest need is “media,” they couldn’t definitely use a top of the rotation starter.  With Chen and Hammel holding it down right now, the Birds could stay afloat with one more solid arm.

They could also use a table-setter at the front of the lineup.  Brian Roberts is likely done for the season, but Shane Victorino could be available in Philly.  Hopefully Dan Duq is burning up the phone lines.

Still, I say that 82 wins is a hell of an accomplishment in Baltimore.  I’d love to see the O’s play baseball into October, but a winning season is the first hurdle to clear and I won’t be disappointed if that’s where they finish at the end of the second half.