We all knew it was coming, it was just a matter of when. I'm worried that the slide has begun, a month earlier than usual. The inconsistent offense, the struggling and depleted starting rotation along with a recently faulty bullpen will combine to hurt this young team heading into the rough months of August and September.
You may be wondering why I am so quick to proclaim that this team is doomed. Well hear this: The O's are currently embarking on a 40 game stretch with only one off-day, yes, only one, thrown somewhere in the middle. 7 of the 12 series the Orioles play during the stretch are against teams with a record over .500. I've heard 'baseball experts' explain how this stretch is arguably the hardest stretch for any team in all of baseball during the entire season.
Since the All-Star break, the O's are 2-7. In addition, they've only one two games on the road in the AL East. However, there will be things to cheer about as the birds enter the home stretch. Chris Tillman's major league debut, projected for Wednesday at home vs. the Royals, is fast approaching. I have to assume that Jake Arrieta will be the next O's prospect to get the call sometime in the next month or two.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
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i'm glad you wrote this. i was gonna write an article pretty much saying the same thing. i was also going to complain about how trembley and the organization are sticking to their guns with berken and hill still pitching in the rotation. i'm glad to see that tillman is finally coming up, but, as of right now, why is berken still in the majors? why is hill still in the rotation?
ReplyDeletegood news, though. it looks like hernandez is good.
more good news. the orioles can now win on sundays! the bad news. they lose every other day of the week! yay!
The O's have made it clear that Berken and Hill are pitching for their spot in the rotation on Monday and Tuesday. I'm kind of looking forward to seeing how they pitch with their backs against the wall. Both pitchers seem to have the ability to pitch well but neither have pitched at a major league level. Berken usually has one or two terrible innings but is able to string enough solid innings together to stay in the game past the 5th or 6th. Hill lives and dies on his sweeping curveball, much like Daniel Cabrera lived and died on his control. Unfortunately, that curve ball isn't finding the strike zone anymore. I suspect that one or both Berken and Hill won't be with the O's by the end of the week.
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