Reality: A Doubleheader Sweep!
Perception: A long day of two games with two rain delays led to two wins for the Orioles. They are now two games over .500 for the first time this season, and only trail the first place Yankees by a half game in the AL East. This also brings the Orioles to 7-6 records both at home and on the road.
Both games were pretty big. In the first half of each game, the Orioles bats were pretty quiet…well, all except for Steve Pearce. But the Orioles kept battling and gained the lead in the late innings with solid pitching from the bullpen.
Reality: Steve Pearce chose to rejoin the Orioles after being claimed by another squad on waivers.
Perception: Pearce is the ultimate team player. When the Orioles were stuck with having to make a move, they did something that no one on the field, in the front office, or in the stands wanted to see happen…they released Steve Pearce. He had such a great spring, had been a great teammate, and Buck Showalter loves him as a player. But a move had to be made, and Pearce had been the odd man out on the bench, getting the least amount of playing time of anyone on the roster.
However, the day after they cut him, they were still only at 24 players on the 25 man roster. Then Chris Davis goes down with an injury and the Orioles realize they could really use Pearce. So by not filling his spot on the roster, they have a chance to re-sign him immediately, and not wait the usual 30 days. Pearce gets an offer from the Toronto Blue Jays, who claimed him off waivers, but turns it down for a chance to return to Charm City.
Between the doubleheader, Pearce was on MASN and said he loved this city and the team and didn’t want to play anywhere else. Like many athletes, Pearce could have felt jilted by a team that released him after not giving him much of a chance in the first month of the season. But he didn’t. He realized that the team had their hands tied and had to make a move. He understands its a business, and not personal. When the Orioles called because they needed him back, he put the team first and came back.
And came back with a bang! In the first game, Pearce went 3-for-4 with a double and 2 RBIs. In game two, he was 1-for-4, but scored a run. Pearce is just 5-for-15 (.333) in five games this season for the Birds. But not only did he help at the plate, he also played very well in the field.
Pearce deserves nothing but the best. He is the ultimate team player who just works hard when called upon.
Reality: The worries most fans had about the starting rotation for the Orioles this offseason have proven to be true.
Perception: Chris Tillman is a true ace, there is no debating that. He has pitched well, even when he’s not. Last night, he didn’t even make it through the 5th inning, but he fought through a tough first inning to give the Orioles a couple of really strong innings. Bud Norris didn’t pitch terribly, but all of the Orioles starters are struggling to make it through the 6th inning, just like they did most of last season.
Let’s hope that Ubaldo Jimenez and Miguel Gonzalez can right the ship this weekend, as the Birds travel to Minnesota and Tampa for three games each.
The good news is that Orioles hitters are coming around. Matt Wieters and Nelson Cruz are seeing the ball well, while Nick Markakis and J.J. Hardy are doing their share. The Birds have been working hard to play small ball and score runs without the home run. With Pearce and Manny Machado penciled in, the Orioles lineup is much better. When Crush returns, the Orioles lineup could be one of the best in the league.
