As a journalist, I’m not supposed to show bias, not supposed to play favorites, not supposed to show disappointment when the team I cover loses. But ladies and gentleman, I am pissed off. I’m talking don’t-know-what-to-do-with-myself, fidgeting-profusely pissed off.
The Orioles are my team. They have been my team since I was a small child. My love affair with Birdland is almost an unhealthy obsession. I sat through every game, whether on TV or in attendance, for 14 straight years of losing. I watched every hot start be offset by 4-32 Augusts/Septembers (2002), multiple extended losing streaks, bullpen implosions and mediocre-at-best starting pitching.
This year was supposed to be different. The Orioles were supposed to have righted the ship after going 93-69 in 2012 and making the playoffs for the first time since 1997. They were supposed to “stay hungry” as Adam Jones likes to say time and time again via his Twitter handle (@SimplyAJ10).
So what gives?
Well, the Orioles decided to add to their momentum from the previous successful season by doing absolutely nothing. No DH/first baseman to replace Mark Reynolds. No legit second basemen (sorry Alexi Casilla) to take over for Brian Roberts after his next inevitable injury. No quality veteran starting pitcher to anchor the rotation until Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman make their way to Camden Yards.
The O’s big moves to improve the roster? Nate McLouth, Freddy Garcia, Alexi Casilla, Danny Valencia and Trayvon Robinson. All but McLouth have spent the majority of the season either in the minors or on the bench. It would appear it has finally caught up to them.
The rotation is in shambles due to injuries and ineffectiveness. Even when starters seem to be pitching fairly well during this current six-game losing streak, like Garcia last night (6 IP, 3 hits, 68 pitches) and Jair Jurrjens on Saturday (5 IP, 6 hits, 75 pitches), Buck seems to have a quick trigger in favor of his over-worked bullpen, while guys like supposed-ace Jason Hammel seem to have an infinite leash despite not having a feel for any of his pitches at any point this season.
And how about that bullpen? Touted as one of the best in baseball, the Orioles bullpen has given up 20 runs during the current losing streak. Jim Johnson, possibly the best closer in the majors in 2012, has now blown three straight saves while allowing eight earned runs in his last 2.1 innings.
The offense, a strong point all season for the club, is hitting just .245 (14-57) with runners in scoring position during the streak and is 3-20 over the last two games in those situations.
I know, losing streaks happen and a week from now we could be talking about how well the Orioles have bounced back from this. And I know I have questioned Buck a bit in my posts the last couple of days, but when a team is playing bad baseball, the manager is to be held accountable too and Buck seems to be a Golden God in these parts so nobody says a word. I’m not saying I want a change and that he hasn’t done a fantastic job, but the man is not immune to criticism.
Are the Orioles still a good team or was last year a flash in the pan? I tend to believe that the former is more likely than the latter, but this losing streak does seem eerily familiar. Having said that, Miguel Gonzalez returns from the disabled list Tuesday and I for one believe that he will play the role of stopper and put the O’s back in the win column. It’s really the best we can hope for at this point.
One Response
Quit whining