We are now seven games in and have a losing record. It’s not the end of the world but what do we have to look forward to?
Here are some pros and cons.
Con: We have a losing record.
Pro: We have a good on base percentage.
Con: We have lost three one-run games.
Pro: We still haven’t seen how good the pitching can be.
I can list more Pros and make this monotonous, though it would be a disservice to you, the fan. There are a lot of this/that could have gone better for the O’s – balls lost in the sun, going one too many batters, even stealing an unnecessary base.
But there is life in this team and it will prevail. Roberts’ injury would have happened no matter what; the good news is that he will be back shortly and I want him back.
Hammel will bounce back from a devastating loss where he just didn’t have his good stuff for very long.
Nolan is determined to prove he is not a fragile steroid victim.
The noose for Steve Pierce is getting tighter and he will hang himself or cut himself down either way we will get a better hitter.
Flaherty will improve with more at bats, but he will be at the bottom of the lineup till he can prove it. With Roberts out now is his chance to prove it.
Nate “The Highlander” McLouth is doing everything right but we act as though it is not enough. He is hitting the ball hard and making plays in the field if you combine that with timing with the rest of the team he would be outstanding.
JJ is what JJ is…and that is all that JJ needs to be. From 1965-1980 Mark Belanger hit a career average of .227 but had a fielding percentage of .977 that was all that mattered to the Earl. He had a lineup that could protect him and pick him up. All he needed was the Blade to make the plays. JJ is a better hitter than that and will make the plays as well.
Manny will get better. He is in the two hole where he has a power hitter on both sides and they can’t pitch around him. He just needs to get the at bats and he will be a better hitter because just like JJ he is Magic with the glove. Every game he has shown me something I have to look to the nearest person and say “Did you just see that?” or “Did that just really happen?” The kid is everything he was billed to be.
Nicky, ‘Twieters, and Davis are fine. Davis is showing he can handle first, Nicky will always be the cool hand in April but come May he will raise that average. And Twiets – well you could call him the Ravens Defense because you just don’t run on him. It’s that simple. He is throwing out 80% of runners…just plain sick. He is the best catcher in baseball period.
With all of that we have a lot to overcome but, damn the naysayers, this team will overcome their deficiencies. The gamble of standing pat this offseason has not played out yet. They are not done. The lineup will improve, or the brass will make moves. If that means they trade a big piece, they better get a huge piece back. They have been picking pockets for a few years now and other teams are getting wise to our tactics. Yes, I know the Sheriff hit like a ton and some game winners too but he wanted a lot more than we were willing to spend and I applaud Dan for letting him walk. He knew what he had. Mark may not have fit in the grand scheme of things and he will cool off just as quickly as he got hot. That is his modus operandi.
So when you are throwing things at Chen remember he went just one batter to many. Buck has confidence in him and the rest of the team. They haven’t proved the trend has returned let’s not treat them like they have.
We have a long season ahead of us, and so much to look forward to.
