Game 1 of 162 is in the books. Naturally, spirits are high in Birdland after a commanding 6-2 win over the Rays in which Chris Tillman pitched like an ace with good defense behind him and the offense fired on all cylinders despite being without Chris Davis, J.J. Hardy and Matt Wieters.
It’s great to be excited about all of this. I, for one, am ecstatic with how we started the season. But try not to get too hyped up.
Contrary to popular belief, the Orioles are not going to go undefeated and Ryan Flaherty is not going to hit 162 home runs.
Let me dispel a few overreactions that I have witnessed since yesterday’s game: a couple negative, a couple positive.
Ryan Flaherty is not going to emerge as a superstar.
I’m so sorry, “Mr. F” fans. Once Hardy returns from injury, Flaherty will see limited playing time. The home run yesterday was definitely a good sign considering Flaherty has begun each of the previous two seasons in 0-17 slumps, but it does not mean he is going to remain in the lineup permanently. As I wrote a couple months ago, Jonathan Schoop should and will be our everyday second baseman once the season gets rolling. #RE6PECT
Travis Snider probably will not be the team MVP.
Okay, I’ll admit, I was very impressed with our new right fielder yesterday after a rough spring. He almost helped me forget about *sniff* Nick Markakis. He certainly has a chance to emerge as a big part of our lineup but he is not going to be invincible all season.
Brad Brach is not terrible.
Brach appeared in relief yesterday after Tillman worked 6.2 innings of very good ball. After striking out Logan Forsythe to begin the 8th, he surrendered a double and a single before handing the ball to Tommy Hunter, who allowed one of the inherited runners to score. Please do not panic. Brach has arguably the best “stuff” of anybody in the bullpen. Assuming he avoids a 2012 Pedro Strop-esque collapse, he will be just fine.
Manny Machado & Adam Jones will not go hitless all season.
Machado and Jones both went 0-for-3 yesterday, with Machado walking once and Jones getting hit by a pitch. In the words of Aaron Rodgers, R-E-L-A-X. These are arguably the two best players on our team and I believe they are both in positions to have very good seasons. On twitter earlier this week, I predicted 24 HR, 38 doubles, 11 SB, and a .291 average for Machado this year if he stays healthy enough to play in 150 games. A bit bold, but possible. Jones, too, will continue to put up All Star numbers.
Bottom line:
Enjoy another good season of Orioles baseball. It is sure to be lots of fun once again. Just don’t let one game affect your whole outlook for the rest of the season.
