The Orioles are off to a 5-0 start for the first time since 1970. Of course it’s early, but 5-0 is better than any other possible combination of records they could have accumulated so far!
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It’s been a week since Opening Day at Camden Yards, and our Baltimore Orioles are still sporting a big fat goose egg in the loss column, the only team in MLB still boasting that accomplishment. In addition, only two other squads – and none in the AL – can point to a “five” in the win column.
There’s a lot to be excited about based on what we’ve seen over this first week. Manny Machado is hitting .429 and has three home runs already. Chris Davis has two, to go along with four walks to five strikeouts. Mark Trumbo, though he hasn’t found his power stroke yet, is tied for the team lead with Machado with nine base hits. Joey Rickard brought his hot bat north from Sarasota, going 8-for-18 with a double, a home run, and a big sacrifice fly in Sunday’s win.
Meanwhile, the pitching staff, obviously the biggest question mark for 2016, has been nothing short of superb. They’ve struck out 54 opposing batters while only walking 13, and have put up a team ERA of 1.80, good for best in the major leagues.
And the guy we all pretty much agree needs to be the “ace” this year – Kevin Gausman – has yet to even toe the rubber.
Yes, it’s early. Of course, it’s a small sample size – nobody is arguing that. But baseball is back, the Orioles look legit to begin the year, and I don’t hear anybody whining about that winless start to Grapefruit League play that seems so long ago now, do you?
Here’s to plenty more magic in 2016.