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Just When You Think You Know It All…

Ubaldo Jimenez throws in a Spring Training game.
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One of the most fundamental truths about watching baseball is that once you think you have it all figured out, the diamond gods will always find a way to surprise you.

Let’s look at a few “indisputable facts” about the Orioles — many ripped right out of the mouths of sportstalk radio callers — and how these beliefs have gotten totally destroyed this month:

“Ubaldo Jimenez has no business being on the Orioles, and they should release/demote/banish him to the bullpen.”

This has been the biggest surprise of them all as Jimenez — with a 3-0 record (including the team’s only complete game in two seasons) and a 3.24 ERA over his last three starts — has become the most clutch pitcher in the rotation. Who saw that coming? He was 4-11 until then, and even had a couple starts when he couldn’t finish the second inning. … His turnaround is not unlike Hyun Soo Kim, who was booed on Opening Day after a horrendous stint in Sarasota.

“The Orioles can’t win away from the welcoming shadow of The Warehouse.”

Baltimore just capped a key road trip with series victories in three stops: Tampa, Detroit and Boston. Despite winning six of nine games in that most recent swing, they are still only 35-40 on the road. They can pad that safety net with an 11-game homestead that starts in about 15 minutes.

Kevin Gausman is incapable of winning on the road.”

The kid is really showing the promise of his draft spot with big wins in Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park after going oh-fer in his previous 14 starts on the road starts this season. Before this mini-run of two — count-em, two — straight road wins, he hadn’t won while wearing the grays since Aug. 17, 2014, a span covering 25 starts away from Camden Yards.

“The Orioles will never be able to keep up this homer pace.”

The Orioles have hit 232 home runs through 135 games. Only four other teams have hit as many as 200. What’s even more astounding is that the team that has hit the second-most, the St. Louis Cardinals, have hit 25 fewer than the Orioles and sit at 207. With fewer than three weeks remaining in the regular season, the Orioles could hit the second-most home runs in Major League history, and with three players with 35 or more, and another three with more than 20, it’s not like they’re relying on a specific couple of sluggers that could slump.

Adam Jones is not a good leadoff hitter. He’s too much of a free-swinger.”

Since he was placed in the leadoff spot on May 27, Jones has been a .300 hitter and that has allowed Manny Machado to thrive in the No. 3 slot. He’s not your typical base-stealing threat, but the Orioles haven’t really had one since Brian Roberts was healthy, some seven seasons ago.

Matt Wieters behind home plate catching.

Matt Wieters’ days of being an everyday catcher are long behind him.”

Hmmm, perhaps, but let’s see. Wieters was a grinder in the 2011-13 seasons while playing no fewer than 132 games in any of those three seasons behind the plate before playing just a total of 77 there the next two seasons. But he looks to be in his old form with 103 already this season with about 30 regular-season games. It will be interesting to see how Buck Showalter balances his lineup while hoping to save him some mileage for a stretch in the playoffs.

“The Redskins will regret letting RG3 get away.”

… Uh, wait a minute. How did THAT get in here?

“Buck Showalter will never win a World Series.”

Maybe, maybe not, but remember how bad of shape this franchise was when he signed up in 2010?

Caleb Joseph will never get an RBI this season.”

OK. We’re still working on this one — but wouldn’t it be cool if he gets his first on a walk-off hit that clinches the division?

Now, before you think you know it all, buckle up and enjoy the ride. This four-team horse race to win the American League East is something we’ve never seen before, and it’s spiced up with the two wild card slots up for grabs.

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