All has started off so-so for the Orioles on their trip to Kansas City as they have split the series to kick off the four-game set. Really, the weekend matchup is a match from bottom-feeders for the most part who seem to be stuck in perennial rebuilding.
However, the young pitching was once again inconsistent on Thursday and Friday as Brian Matusz and Jake Arrieta, respectively, struggled again. I mused in a previous entry that when pitchers for Baltimore get in trouble, they just do not know what to do.
At this point in the season, you just have to keep the young guys going out there and hope they get it. The game is all about consistency, and once the pitchers figure it out, they’ll be successful.
Well, you have to give Mike Gonzalez some respect for pitching well over the past week after being recalled from the minors. Right now, he’s showing that he’s a much better pitcher than what we saw in the first week of the season. Presuming he’s healthy, let’s hope he can find the same success that he had in the National League and have it translate to the Orioles.
As we head into the final months of the season, we all know now that Buck Showalter will officially take the helm as manager of the Baltimore Orioles on Monday, and debut on the field Tuesday. It sucks to see Juan Samuel demoted, or even possibly leave the organization, but this move had to be done.
Showalter has the experience, success and credibility to hopefully get the Orioles to turn around. I don’t know if the addition of Showalter affects Andy MacPhail’s status, but it is an indication that the plan needs to tweaked and why not bring in someone who has had some experience in team building (case study: the Arizona Diamondbacks).
I have mused while the Showalter hiring is nice for Baltimore, the team must upgrade its talent in the draft, take a part in the free market (for real), pump up their international scouting and through trades in order to get over the losing. Then again, taking a risk would be nice to see at this point – I mean, seriously, nothing else has worked.
Plus, considering that the Orioles play in the AL East with the powerhouse Yankees who can get what they want (recently they added Lance Berkman and Austin Kearns), plus the Red Sox, contending may not be a sure thing.
Whatever happens, winning must be the goal in the future – not .500, etc.
James touched on the Miguel Tejada trade a few days ago to San Diego for a prospect (pitcher), and while it’s a bit sad to see him go, he was expendable. He was solid – nothing like he was in his tour in Baltimore – but not spectacular and it gives the Orioles a chance to see Josh Bell every day and see if he can play in the majors.
Finally, the trade deadline in MLB is today at 4pm. Honestly, trading guys like Jeremy Guthrie, Wil Ohman and Ty Wigginton would nice if we could get a decent prospect or two, but considering how bad the Orioles are, would you rather see them lose 100 or 115 games? Well, I’d say trade anyone if you could get a body – a decent one – back, who do you replace them with?
