I refuse to call the Orioles two losses in a two game series to the Padres “a sweep,” but their three losses over the weekend to the Rays certainly qualifies. However you look at it, the Birds have lost a season high five straight games and are now just three games above .500 at 23-20, the fewest since they were 12-9 on April 24.
Yeah, this thing has gotten pretty ugly. But let’s try to keep it in perspective.
Last season the O’s had a six game losing streak between May 26 and June 1. They lost 10 of 13 between June 18 and July 2 and six of seven between July 7 and July 17. Somehow they still managed to win 93 games.
Losing streaks happen, they’re a part of baseball.
The World Series champion San Francisco Giants and American League champion Detroit Tigers both had a five game losing streaks last season. In 1983, the Birds had two separate seven game losing streaks. Yet they defied the odds and won the whole damn thing in October.
The Orioles’ starting pitching is admittedly concerning. For just the second time in eight games the O’s had a starter record an out in the sixth inning. Both times, that guy was Chris Tillman.
But let’s not forget that the Orioles have their number two and three starters, Wei-Yin Chen and Miguel Gonzalez, on the disabled list. Chen was 3-3 with a 3.04 ERA, 1.204 WHIP and 2.25 K/BB when he landed on the disabled list with a strained oblique on May 13. Gonzalez was 2-2, with a 4.58 ERA, 1.415 WHIP and 1.57 K/BB when he was placed on the DL on May 4 with a thumb blister.
Recent history has made some Orioles fans think the end is near when the team hits in rut during the marathon that is the baseball season. It’s understandable, but the Orioles have too much talent for me to believe they’ll take a nosedive and finish in the bottom of the standings. The concerns are real, but there are solutions for the O’s problems.
Just try to be patient and wait this thing out. Good teams climb out of these type of holes.
With 14 seasons of losing before last year, we’ve lost a big part of a generation of baseball fans. The city has a football mentality, where every game is a BIG game. One week in a baseball season is a blip on the radar screen.
While I agree with you , a true number one pitcher stops these losing streaks in their tracks,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,if you notice, the losing treaks come from the better clubs most of the time who have better pitching,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Angelos needs to admit he was wrong and pay for some pitching……………………….
Throwing money at problems doesn’t usually help, no matter what business (or government) you’re talking about.
For every “Sabathia” you throw out there, I’ll give you a Pavano, Burnett, Mike Hampton, and Denny Neagle.
I agree they need that stud, but I don’t think free agency is the answer. They need to look hard at their player development folks – why isn’t Arietta better? Matusz? Britton?
Money needs to be spent, but in the right places. How many fans wanted Josh “I’m addicted to everything” Hamilton on this squad this year?
How about when Texeira came out and said “I’m overpaid”.
Puljos?
Tampa does things the right way (aside from being able to retain their guys). Player scouting, development, are the keys.
Both LA teams have spent a fortune with nothing to show. Toronto was the “Offseason Champions” this winter. Philly, and all their free agent pitching…
Use the Tampa model.
Good points all,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,it doesn’t change the problem of the pitching,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I never wanted most of the players you mentioned , they are all overpaid and will usually underperform,,,,,,,,,,,,,all I wanted was an improved pitching staff , I klnew we were not getting a number one and I agree in free agency it usually is wasted money,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,a nice number two or a quality innings eater would have been fine for me but they didn;t even do that , by the way , did they even try to get a four spot hitter or get more power in the outfield or shore up second base,,,,,,,,,,,,I’m sorry for rattling on but I want them to do better and now they are a worse team than last year and you and I knew it was going to be this way , didn’t we………………………
Look last year was fun , there is no reason it can’t be that way every year except for inept ownership,,,,,,,,,,I may never like him but I do like the birds……………….