1-4 start? How about 3-8?
Orioles fans for life, are unhappy. What’s with all this losing and lousy starting pitching? Even if you have a great hitting club (like we do), you can’t come back from seven-run deficits.
So after our fourth loss in five outings, I began to think of that 1979 club. You know, (Ken) Singleton and Eddie Murray and brother Lo (John Lowenstein). That team started the year at 3-8. Oh, yeah, that club won 102 games and should have taken the World Series title after going up 3 games to one against the Pirates. Oh, well.
Don’t panic. This team of 2014 will be fine. That front-line pitching of Chris Tillman (throw-in in the Adam Jones deal), Bud Norris, Miguel Gonzalez, Ubaldo Jimenez and Wei-Yin Chen, will be fine. I even like the bullpen. Zach Britton, is almost unhittable. His sinker is devastating. Evan Meek looks like the real deal. Tommy Hunter has the stuff to be the closer. I still want him to hit 100 on the speed gun.
Catching is fine with Matt Wieters. And Steve Clevenger is a capable back up.
It’s early and Chris Davis (slugger) is pounding the ball. Second base will get better once Jonathan Schoop gets more comfortable. JJ Hardy is fine at shortstop.
It goes without saying that the Birds miss Manny at third. We forget sometimes that Machado is one of the best players in baseball. Hurry back, Manny.
In the outfield, Nelson Cruz had the good start. I’m not totally happy that this cheater is here but if he learned some lessons from his mis-steps that would be a good thing. Cruz can hit the baseball. Nick Markakis will be fine and is still a great defensive player in right field.
I like this David Lough kid. He gives the Birds some help at the top of the lineup. Adam Jones is off to a slow start but again he’s a star.
Is Delmon Young the answer at designated hitter? Time will tell.
