Is this team for real? Is this what we can expect all Summer?
You know that opinions are starting to change because the level of snark on twitter has reduced significantly. No longer does it seem as some bloggers are actively rooting for a collapse, they are just in stunned silence. Whenever the Orioles are going well the general feeling among many Orioles fans is one of dread and anticipation. That is to say we are always waiting for the other shoe to drop.
After the series loss in Los Angeles people were convinced that it was the end. Then the Orioles go on and sweep the pesky Toronto Blue Jays. The Orioles lost the first game against the Oakland A’s on Friday: Here it comes – then the Orioles destroy the A’s last night behind a workman-like performance from Chen and a seemingly endless string of clutch hits. This is all coming at the same time as a flu-bug is tearing through the clubhouse and forcing some key players out and probably affecting the play of others.
The Orioles are currently 13-8, they have one of the best records in the American League. Let that sink in. The Orioles are tied with the Rays atop the AL East with two days left in April – the last time the Orioles got win 13 in April was 2008 in 2010 the Orioles did not get win 13 until the third week of May.
But is it real? Is it real or is it just another April mirage that will crush the hearts of the greater Baltimore metro-area once again.
I don’t know – but I know I want it to be real. I want this to be a great Summer and I want this team to make a lot of national writers and local personalities eat healthy batches of crow.
The biggest test will start on May first, May is brutal for the Birds:
After the Oakland series finishes up today the Orioles travel to NY for three, then to Boston for three. The Orioles then welcome the Texas Rangers to Baltimore for four followed by the Rays and Yankees. That is a stretch of 15 games with only one day off. The Orioles will also be going up against the Nationals and the Jays again at the end of the month. May will truly test the meddle of this team. If they can make it through the upcoming month then I don’t think you can continue to ignore this club.
I don’t know if the Orioles we are watching right now are the Orioles that will show up in August. I don’t know if the Orioles we are watching now are the Orioles that will show up in May. But the Orioles are playing great ball now. The pitching has been great, the offense has been timely and even the defense has improved over the last few games. The Orioles need to keep winning to build up the goodwill among the fans again, I don’t know if we will ever stop waiting for the other shoe to drop or question the reality of what we are seeing – but I do know that it is a lot more fun than it has been in a long time.
