Good Morning, Birdland! It’s been exactly one week since O’pening Day, and your Baltimore Orioles still have not lost a single game. They’re the only team in MLB to be able to say that, and it’s the team’s first 5-0 start since the World Series year of 1970. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, but let’s enjoy this all the same. Let’s see what everybody is saying about our 5-and-O’s.
A Closer Look at the O’s Win Streak and Other 5-0 Starts to the Season
Matt Kremnitzer of Camden Depot takes a look at what’s made the O’s baseball’s only undefeated team, and the starting rotation getting a nice jump out of the gates ranks high up on the list. Throw in the bullpen’s efforts, Manny being Manny, and guys taking the extra base, and you’ve got the formula for a nice little winning streak. Of course, starting 5-0 really means nothing in the grand scheme of things, but it’s better than being 4-1 or 2-3 or 3-2, and as Matt tells us “there will be plenty of time to worry later.”
Orioles Emerge First Week of Play as Only Undefeated Team
Matt Snyder of CBS gives his own recap of the Birds’ first week, throwing in all the usual disclaimers about it being too early, and the teams the O’s have played are only 2-10, but five of those losses are to the Orioles, and the rotation will regress, and yadda yadda yadda. Of course, none of this is news to O’s fans. But if you like reading national writers forced to type about the undefeated Orioles, don’t miss your chance.
MVP-Hopeful Manny Machado Looking the Part Early for Undefeated Orioles
Manny needs to be in the MVP discussion, says Jacob Shafer of Bleacher Report. Let’s hope that we continue seeing articles like this not only after five games, but after 50, 100, 150, and 162.
#MannyThings
The Story Behind Joey Rickard’s Early Success: Lots of Fastballs
JO-EY! JO-EY! Fan favorite Joey Rickard has hits in all five games this season, starting out his MLB career at a blistering 8-for-18. How’s he been doing that? As Alex Conway of Camden Chat explains, he’s doing it by beating the conventional wisdom that says pitchers can beat hitters like him with fastballs. As long as he keeps punishing the cheese, he’ll force pitchers to adjust the way they approach him. Can he adjust to their adjustments? It should be fun to watch, and we’re all obviously pulling for the kid.
Kim: ‘All I thought About…was Try Not to Get Booed Anymore.’
Ok, the links aren’t all happy today. Dan Connolly of Baltimore Baseball has quotes from Hyun-Soo Kim, who finally got into a game yesterday, recording his first two MLB hits (both of the infield variety.) Kim acknowledges that he heard some of the boos on Opening Day, which makes my blood boil a bit as an O’s fan. I’ll go ahead and chalk it up to the masses of inebriated O’s “fans” who fill the stands in the home opener.
“I was slightly concerned the team might lose today with me in it,” he said. “So to make sure that didn’t happen, I tried my best.”
That’s how you made one of your players feel, boo-birds. Nice job. Even if Kim is being a bit sarcastic, or if something was lost in translation (tough to know either way), it’s not a good look for the Camden faithful. Hopefully Hyun-Soo can put it behind him, and so can we.
Now, let’s go smack around the Red Sox and ruin their home opener!
2 Responses
You can’t look down on or make disparaging remarks about anyone who has paid their admission to the game. It is their right just like it’s yours to call them out on it. Besides, Kim DID have a crappy pre-season and a pretty crappy attitude when it was decision time. If he doesn’t want to hear it, either take one for the team or step up. He didn’t hear it yesterday, did he?
So because you paid to get in, you have every right to be a jerk? Ok, sure, in that you can’t get arrested for booing the guy. However, I also have every right to call you out for being a jerk.
He didn’t hear it yesterday, and I’m glad. Like I mentioned above, I attribute most of the booing on Opening Day to the booze talking. Sunday crowd is a bit more subdued.