Perception Is Reality
REALITY: After 81 games, the Baltimore Orioles were 42-39.
PERCEPTION: Before Sunday’s blowout win in Chicago, the Orioles were halfway done their 162-game regular season. That record is similar to the record the O’s have had in previous seasons.
In 2014, the Orioles were 42-39 after 81 games. They were in second place, 1.5 games behind the Blue Jays. They ended that year 96-66 and won the AL East by 12 games.
In 2013, Baltimore was 45-36 after 81 games. They were in second place, 3.5 games behind the Red Sox. They finished 85-77, 3rd in the AL East, 12 games back.
In 2012, the O’s were 44-37 after 81 games. They were in second place, 5 games behind the Yankees. They finished 93-69, 2 games back in the AL East and won the WildCard.
In 2008, the Orioles were 42-39 after 81 games. They were in fourth place, 7 games behind the Rays. They ended that second 68-93 and finished last in the AL East.
So what does all that mean? Absolutely nothing! This year’s team has very little in common with those teams. Neither do any of the other teams in the AL East or in MLB, but people like to compare teams year to year, so those are the facts.
REALITY: After going 18-5 during a 23-game span in June, the Orioles went 1-5 in their last six games before Sunday’s win.
PERCEPTION: The Birds continue their roller coaster ride of a season. They just struggle to be a consistent team. Even during their 18-5 streak, it didn’t always seem like they were in the midst of a great stretch.
That may be because of the expectations that fans have after the team’s success in the last couple of seasons. The Orioles have never been a team to win 5 or more games in a row. Most of the time, they don’t lose 5 games in a row either. They are a team that consistently wins (not sweeps) a series or loses a series (but doesn’t get swept). That is the one constant part of the team. They might be steady, but they are rarely streaky.
REALITY: The Orioles called up Jonathan Schoop Sunday and sent down Ryan Flaherty to the minors.
PERCEPTION: Once again, Dan Duquette found a way to make a move without having to designate anyone for assignment.
With Nolan Reimold going on 3-day Paternity Leave, Flaherty can return today and stay with the team. But when Reimold returns, someone has to go.
We keep talking about DD’s moves delaying the inevitable, but after Delmon Young was DFAed last week, I’m not sure another DFA is necessary. Someone will get injured, which will fix any roster issues. Plus, after the All-Star Break, there will be just two weeks left until the trade deadline. We very well could see the Orioles trade someone to avoid a need to DFA someone.
The easy option is to send Flaherty back down to the minors when Reimold comes back from Paternity Leave. Then, it would seem that Flaherty would only have to be in AAA-Norfolk for (at-most) two weeks.
Flaherty is the Orioles best option at the utility position, so he isn’t going anywhere for very long. Once a trade happens, you would think that would fix the log-jam that has been ailing the Birds for most of the season.
