I was pretty down on the Orioles after the Toronto series and started to pen a post on how perhaps the prognosticators who had picked the Birds last might have been right. Like about 10 other posts I have written recently, it went into the trash can before I could submit it. I’m writing this one super-fast before I change my mind again.
Seriously, some recent events have me convinced that the Orioles will be just fine. Just when you’re ready to heave a guy overboard on this team, they do something to remind you why they’re here and how they can help the team win.
The latest is Delmon Young. I wasn’t even sure this guy deserved a roster spot coming out of Spring Training and was equally unimpressed after the first couple weeks of the regular season. So, as I’m getting ready to hit send on an article detailing how he and David Lough need to be sent packing, Lough hits the walk-off and Delmon follows up with a five-RBI game. I think Young reminded us of what he brings to the table and is more valuable of late considering the struggles of Steve Pearce.
Lough’s homer was great, but not the real reason you could point to him sticking around. His little trip from 1st to 3rd the other night was refreshing to see on a club that is usually station to station. Brittany Ghiroli also reminded me recently that Lough is the only guy on the roster they consider a CF besides Adam Jones. I still have grave concerns about Lough’s arm, but that’s another issue for another day.
I don’t like Chris Davis and I was recently hoping he would go on a Josh Hamilton-type bender so we could ship him back to the Rangers too. I had quite the prose written with all types of jabs and how he needs to switch his medication to whatever A-Rod is on this year, but like Young and Lough, he has started to look like a real major league player again. We don’t need the guy from two years ago, but we sure need someone better than 2014 Chris Davis.
Many of you are ready to toss Bud Norris out of the rotation. I like Bud and keep thinking about his pitching performance in the ALDS and the stretch he had leading up to that. I believe that guy is still in there somewhere. He got a bit closer yesterday to being the pitcher I thought was – the best #3 starter in the league. He still walked more guys than he struck out and he gave up yet another homer, so even with orange-tinted glasses I can see there’s still work to do.
All I keep thinking about is a graphic MASN through up during one of the games against the Rays, reminding us that the Orioles started last season 12-12. There are teams already 10 games back in their division. Despite what we can all agree has been a disappointing start, the O’s are not nearly in as much trouble and are ironically setting a similar early season pace as last year.
