Yes, I know – the Orioles are 3-4 and the season is already over.
At least, that’s the feeling you might get if you go by the reaction on Facebook and Twitter over their recent three-game losing skid.
I’ll freely admit that, while I know better, I can be just as susceptible to instant overreaction. My rational self obviously realizes that it’s only April, but the rabid O’s fan in me really, really hates losing. And so, after a game like yesterday (or the one before it…or the one before it), I try to excuse myself from social media for a few hours, lest I join the Chicken Littles in declaring Buck’s welcome in Baltimore worn out.
Sure, the first week hasn’t gone as we had hoped – especially after taking two of three in Tampa to begin the season, not many of us expected our Birds to be 3-4 here on their first off day of the year. Although we’d grown quite used to extended losing streaks during the dark years of 1998-2011, it stings a bit when the team loses three straight after not doing so since waaaaay back last July 23-25.
That’s right, Buck’s Birds managed to avoid losing more than two in a row for the final two months-plus of 2012. Now they’ve dropped a trio in a row right out of the gate in 2013.
A few of the concerns that have popped up through seven games are less than surprising (at least for many) – Brian Roberts and Nolan Reimold already missing time due to injury; inconsistent performances from the starting rotation – while others are causing a bit of head-scratching – the atrocious production out of the DH spot (now 1-for-24 after Steve Pearce’s 0-for-4 yesterday), Ryan Flaherty’s swinging of a wet noodle instead of a bat.
Basically, through the first week, the 2013 O’s have been the exact opposite of the 2012 O’s.
While the 2012 version would win close games (29-9 in one-run games, as we all know) and then get blown out, leading to that negative run differential that the naysayers harped on right up until the day Baltimore clinched a Wild Card berth, this year’s club has yet to get blown out – the O’s have lost their four games by a total of five runs. They’re 0-3 in games decided by a single run, and lost the opener in Boston 3-1.
Meanwhile, their wins have come by 3, 3, and 4 runs, respectively.
The Birds have a +5 run differential, good for second in the AL East behind the Red Sox (+19, best in the AL). And yet they have a losing record.
On the bright side of things, the O’s aren’t getting blown out. While nobody expects them to repeat their 29-9 performance in one-run games, they’re not going to lose them all either.
Isn’t that what most optimistic fans said coming into the year? That the Birds wouldn’t need to duplicate their 29-9 record because the games they won by 2+ runs would make up the difference?
Well, so far, they are – they’re 3-1 in games decided by two or more runs. They’ve just had some bad luck that has caused them to drop those close ones – for instance, Adam Jones and Nolan Reimold dropping the routine fly ball Sunday to allow two runs to score in the 4-3 loss to the Twins.
Let’s hope the Birds can take today’s day off, rest, refocus, and regain some of that resiliency they showed over the last few months of last season. The last time they lost more than three in a row was last May 28 – June 1 (six straight).
And let’s hope that they’re just getting this bad luck out of the way early, to clear the way for more late season Orioles Magic.
One Response
Nice article. I too am a little frustrated by losing the games that we have. We have spoiled some great opportunities to win the game, which is the polar opposite of last year. They need to win a one run game very soon so they can regain their confidence in getting it done. Also, I’m not one of those people who is ready to see Arrieta and Tillman taken out of the rotation because of their dissapointing starts (more overreaction from the fanbase). I really think the rotation will start stringing together some quality starts and win some games in the next week.