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Any room left for optimism?

manager buck showalter out on baseball field by himself
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After another late-inning loss last night, the Orioles finished up their road trip with a 3-6 record. They are now just 8 games over .500 and in 4th place in the American League East, 9.5 games behind the Red Sox, and 1.5 games behind the Yankees for third place. What is more troubling is that O’s are now 4.0 games out of the Wild Card with three teams between them and the second Wild Card spot. That’s not a lot of ground to make up, but it’s a lot of teams that need to lose while Baltimore wins.

All season long, I’ve encouraged you to keep your head up. Remember: “The Sky Is NOT Falling,” “Back Off The Ledge,” and “First Half Not As Bad as Some Want To Believe.” However, now that it’s September, and the same things that were happening in April, May and June are still happening, my optimism has faded. They have lost eight of their past 13 series, including four of their past five, which were all against playoff contenders.

This year’s team just doesn’t have the “Orioles Magic” that last year’s team did. I believe most of us would agree that this year’s team is better than last year’s team, overall. But the bullpen hasn’t been lights out, especially our closer. The lineup is better, but can’t come up with the clutch late-inning hits that they did last season. My good thoughts about this team have waivered so much that I’m even questioning the guy who I said was above reproach… Buck Showalter.

Buck has helped change the baseball culture in Baltimore, but last night he sent Zach Britton to the mound to pitch in a crucial game. The Orioles needed to win two of three the rest of the way to even have a chance at the Wild Card, and with last night being the rubber game with Cleveland, it was a must win. But after just 28 pitches, the Orioles had Kevin Gausman warming in the bullpen. Britton lasted only 2 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on six hits. That tied the shortest outing for an Orioles starter this year.

With just 24 games left in the season, the Orioles can’t afford to throw a AAA pitcher out there. We need to go with the guys who got us there, and Britton is not one of them. I just don’t understand the risk Buck took. We can’t take those risks while trying for the playoffs.

Now the Birds need to win at least three of four from the White Sox, and to be honest, need to win at least three of four from the Yankees, to get back in the hunt. Anything less just won’t do it. If the O’s don’t win six of their next eight, then you can turn your full attention to the defending Super Bowl Champions (or whoever you root for in the NFL or college football)… I’m pretty sure most of Baltimore will be doing that tonight anyway.

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