Reality: The Orioles are in the midst of 16 straight games against the American League East.
Perception: After they wrap up a three-game series tonight, the O’s enjoy a day off before coming home for three games against the Blue Jays and three against the Rays. Then they get another day off before traveling to Boston for four and Toronto for three.
It’s early in the season, but this is an important stretch of games for the Birds. After these 16 games, they will have played a total of 22 games with all but three against division rivals. We know the AL East will come down to the wire with a possibility of three teams making the playoffs from this division, so these games could go a long way in determining who makes it out of the division. It’s important for the Orioles to be at least .500 by the end of the month, which ends with games against the Royals and Pirates.
Reality: The Birds had a season-high 20 hits in Tuesday’s 14-5 win over Yankees.
Perception: I know what we all are saying… this is the offense that we expected to see from the O’s. And we are all hoping that this was just the door opening, and not a one game breakout.
Reality: In Chris Tillman’s two starts this season, he is 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA in 13.1 innings.
Perception: I’ve heard enough about Tillman not being a legit ace for a pitching staff. Since 2012, the Orioles are 33-17 when Tillman starts. So basically, the Orioles win two out of every three starts by Tillman. That IS an ace! Let’s stop masking it just because his name is not Verlander, Kershaw, Wainwright, or Strasburg. An ace gives their team the chance to win every time they step on the mound. Tillman does that. He should be 2-0 this season and is pitching very well.
Reality: Chris Davis hasn’t hit a home run yet this season.
Perception: Being only eight games into the season, it’s still way too early to be concerned. I don’t think anyone expected Davis to come back this season and hit another 50+ homers, but we do still expect him to hit for power, and I believe he will. According to Ray Frager of CSNBaltimore.com, Davis had four stretches of homerless games that lasted at least eight games last season, and still hit 53 homers. He may not have hit a home run yet, but he is hitting over .300. Plus, opposing pitchers have been pitching around Davis a bit early on and Nelson Cruz has been taking advantage of that.
Reality: The Orioles are 3-5 to start the season, and have some fans already wondering if this team is good enough to make the playoffs.
Perception: The Orioles have one of the toughest schedules in all of baseball, and their April is brutal. If they can continue to progress, they will be okay. According to Nick Fantinato (@NickFantinato) on Twitter: “The ’83 Orioles had two 7 game losing streaks. For fans who only realized they love the team 2 years ago, they won the WS in 83.”
This team will be okay. There are still more than 150 games left. The Orioles have played every game this season without one of the best players in baseball, Manny Machado, and have played a majority of their games without their quality shortstop, J.J. Hardy. According to Richard Justice of MLB.com, “The Orioles have had just one quality start in their first eight games, but they were probably one hit away from winning three other times.”
Every team, no matter how good or how bad, has winning and losing streaks during the season. So far, the Orioles are looking to hold steady. A win today gives them their first series win. Then they go for .500, and a winning streak.
