Glass half full: the Orioles are still 19 games above .500, well in play for not only the AL East, but the top seed.
Glass half reality: this lineup is brutally inconsistent, the bullpen is terrible and the vibes are worse.
The good thing is, all of the above is true. On top of that, Heston Kjerstad and Danny Coulombe are on rehab assignments-- additions that'll be welcomed with open arms. Jordan Westburg and Grayson should be soon too. The ship is steady, although it doesn't always feel that way. That spark we've been searching for could be just around the corner.
Last week though, not great:
A Trio vs. Tampa
Dean Kremer taking a no-no into the sixth inning on Friday was cool to see. If he can stay sharp over this final month, it'd go a long way toward building any type of momentum for the playoffs-- something the O's are sorely lacking right now.
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| Photo: Camden Chat |
Jose Siri's home run robbery in the middle game of this set was the highlight of the series overall. The fantastic catch saved 3 runs from going onto the scoreboard, squashing any hope of a comeback.
Corbin Burnes was due to not have some run support at some point this season, but a 2-0 rubber match loss was fully on the offense's shoulders Sunday. The lineup mustered just 5 scoreless hits; a bad look for those present at Camden Yards.
What a find Matt Bowman's been so far. The former Mariner has surrendered just one earned run over 10 innings since joining the big league club, providing a critical boost to a pathetic pen. Hoping he doesn't fall off like many of our other relievers have recently.
Shipping Up to Boston for a Set
Speaking of which...done with Burch Smith. He was alright there for a minute but the ride's over. There has to be better options at this point. 15 earned runs over his last 16.1, an unsustainable number. The bullpen was always set to be the Achilles' heel for this team, but seeing it in live action is painful.
Tyler O'Neill brought his A-Game, driving in a run in his first at bat of the series, going yard in his second and hitting a walk-off in extra innings of the rubber match to send the Sox home victorious. Not usually one to send shine over to the opposition, but his .333/3/6 line was a key factor in the O's dropping this divisional showdown.
Glad to see Albert Suarez back to form in the middle game Tuesday, dominating Boston through 6 strong. The righty would ultimately allow just 1 earned on 4 hits and 2 walks, plus 8 strikeouts. That dude just keeps earning his future self more and more money with performances like this.
Seems like we can always rely on Tony Taters for a big hit. His solo dinger to knot things up in the top of the eighth on Wednesday was an electric highlight among the long reel he's amassed this season. Such a productive piece of this lineup.
Errors continue to plague a team that used to take so much pride in their defense. It played a critical role in the loss last night and has been a snowballing problem in recent weeks. Gunnar may be the main culprit, but blame can be spread wide for these guys. Need to clean that up, the relievers in particular can't be having to secure extra outs.
Shoutout Dean for 7 more innings of 1-run ball. He was locked in this week and could be a vital part of the postseason run in the bullpen, assuming Grayson Rodriguez is able to return.
AL East Standings
1. New York Yankees (84-62)
2. Baltimore Orioles (83-64)
3. Boston Red Sox (74-72)
4. Tampa Bay Rays (71-75)
5. Toronto Blue Jays (69-78)
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@Choppinglines
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