The Orioles start the season 4-2 taking two series against division rivals, the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays. If somehow they could keep this up, hello October! Still, no one in their wildest dreams would expect them to maintain a pace to go 108-54. Only in the glory days of 1969-70 could the Orioles accomplish that. A winning record of any kind would be a huge accomplishment this year, but there’s nothing wrong with a little optimism.
Jeremy Guthrie, the team’s #1 starter commanded his first two starts to a fine 2.25 ERA. Koji Uehara was magnificent in his first start giving up one run in five innings with superb stuff! The Orioles greatest fear is after Guthrie and Uehara, then what? Well, that fear might be justified except Mark Hendrickson looked superb opening the weekend series against the Rays yielding only one run pitching into the 6th inning.
On offense, the Orioles scored runs in every imaginable fashion in their four wins even getting a just-barely-out-of-there homerun from free-agent shortstop Cesar Izturis. Brian Roberts proves his all-star credentials getting on base and wreaking havoc on the base paths. Nick Martakis showed the Orioles brass he’s worth his fine contract extension with seven RBI’s in six games. Adam Jones showed he’s ready to step up and be the first line talent the Orioles hope he will be making the Erik Beddard trade look more and more like highway robbery with each passing game.
Finally, the Orioles are clearly far better on defense an area that was a true weakness in key areas last year. With Greg Zaun holds down the catcher’s position while Matt Wietters warms up in Norfolk and Cesar Izturis gives Brian Roberts a talented double play partner, the Orioles have strength up the middle with an outfield capable of running down just about everything with perhaps the best fielding right fielder in major league baseball. As Nick Martakis becomes better known, few will try to advance from second to third on long shots to right field because Martakis has a powerful accurate throwing arm to gun them down shamelessly. Nothing can benefit an emerging pitching staff better than plenty of multitalented fielders behind them.
On to Texas, where the Rangers are a superb hitting team in an offense friendly ballpark, and if things could get any tougher, next weekend the Orioles move on to perhaps their toughest test of the early season, playing the Red Sox in Fenway Park.
If the reports are this encouraging one week from now, Orioles fans can justifiably feel encouraged.
Jeremy Guthrie, the team’s #1 starter commanded his first two starts to a fine 2.25 ERA. Koji Uehara was magnificent in his first start giving up one run in five innings with superb stuff! The Orioles greatest fear is after Guthrie and Uehara, then what? Well, that fear might be justified except Mark Hendrickson looked superb opening the weekend series against the Rays yielding only one run pitching into the 6th inning.
On offense, the Orioles scored runs in every imaginable fashion in their four wins even getting a just-barely-out-of-there homerun from free-agent shortstop Cesar Izturis. Brian Roberts proves his all-star credentials getting on base and wreaking havoc on the base paths. Nick Martakis showed the Orioles brass he’s worth his fine contract extension with seven RBI’s in six games. Adam Jones showed he’s ready to step up and be the first line talent the Orioles hope he will be making the Erik Beddard trade look more and more like highway robbery with each passing game.
Finally, the Orioles are clearly far better on defense an area that was a true weakness in key areas last year. With Greg Zaun holds down the catcher’s position while Matt Wietters warms up in Norfolk and Cesar Izturis gives Brian Roberts a talented double play partner, the Orioles have strength up the middle with an outfield capable of running down just about everything with perhaps the best fielding right fielder in major league baseball. As Nick Martakis becomes better known, few will try to advance from second to third on long shots to right field because Martakis has a powerful accurate throwing arm to gun them down shamelessly. Nothing can benefit an emerging pitching staff better than plenty of multitalented fielders behind them.
On to Texas, where the Rangers are a superb hitting team in an offense friendly ballpark, and if things could get any tougher, next weekend the Orioles move on to perhaps their toughest test of the early season, playing the Red Sox in Fenway Park.
If the reports are this encouraging one week from now, Orioles fans can justifiably feel encouraged.
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