The Birds really could have used a series win in Anaheim against a team they’re chasing for a wild card berth, but it was just not to be, as the Halos took Sunday’s extremely frustrating rubber match. As long as they can pull out two of three (or better) in Seattle, I’ll still consider the road trip a success. Here’s what the blogO’sphere is up to today:
Sunday Loss in Anaheim Exposes Real Concerns for O’s
Sunday really was like playing O’s Woes Bingo. Another short start for Miguel Gonzalez? Check. Long stretches of sleepy bats? Check. Way too many strikeouts against a guy whose fastball couldn’t break wet paper? Check. Hamstrung bullpen thanks to a Rule 5 guy you really don’t want to use in a key situation? Check and BINGO! WNST’s Luke Jones lays it all out.
Jason Garcia is Back and it Makes No Sense
While the ineffective starters and inconsistent offense are painful to watch, these are things that happen in baseball, even to the best teams. However, the hamstrung bullpen takes the frustration meter to a whole other level, because the Orioles ARE DOING THAT TO THEMSELVES. Camden Chat’s Alex Conway digs into the nuts & bolts of the Garcia situation, but still comes away concluding pretty much the same thing any fan who has considered the matter over even a single beer does: he shouldn’t be here.
Sports Columnist Moonlights as Pathetic Internet Troll
In a surprising turn of events, Baltimore is already rolling our collective eyes at Mike Preston and it’s not even football season yet. He tweeted something dumb, and Jake English of Bird’s Eye View takes him to task.
Is Dan Duquette Mismanaging Assets?
Add Travis Snider to the long list of 2015 DFAs, and the Birds have now wasted something like $22 million on players who are no longer here. That’s bad. When you’re the Orioles (and not, say, the Los Angeles Dodgers), it’s even worse. It’s not that Peter Angelos is “cheap,” or “won’t spend.” It’s that, last offseason, the guy spending the (increased) budget made many, many poor decisions on who to give that money to (and, subsequently, who NOT to give it to).
Arrivals & Departures: Improving the 25th Man
Gerardo Parra was supposed to fix the mess in at least one of the Birds’ corner outfield sports. Instead, yesterday he hit his first home run as an Oriole, and his first extra-base hit since his first AB with the team, and is hitting just .200 since coming over from Milwaukee. Jon Shephard of Camden Depot updates us on the O’s 40-man roster situation after last week’s dealings.
