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		The Orioles are one of the best teams in baseball? Well played, Mayans (baltimoresun.com)		45
		More: Cool, Orioles, Wilson Betemit, Jonny Gomes, Nolan Reimold, Buck Showalter, Camden Yards, American League East, Ronny Paulino

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736 clicks; posted to Sports » on 29 Apr 2012 at 11:14 AM | Favorite | share:

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Harv72b		2012-04-29 08:28:05 AM

They're definitely in the top 30.

Wait, you didn't specify "major league". Okay, top 100.

nekom		2012-04-29 08:45:44 AM

Wake me when it's the Pirates, then I'll begin to wory.

nekom		2012-04-29 08:46:19 AM

nekom: wory.

Maybe I'll even start to spell correctly. Then ye shall know it is the end times indeed.

EvilMonkeyBoy		2012-04-29 11:26:29 AM

Just wait until they get prospects like Dylan Bundy through the farm system.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/jon-heyman/18830258/the-amazing-dyl a n-bundys-line-so-far-40-batters-faced-no-hits-one-walk

Mrtraveler01		2012-04-29 11:40:30 AM

Not only that, the Nationals are up there as well.

Can't explain that!

skinink		2012-04-29 11:46:30 AM

Wonder Twin powers, activate!

www.baltimoresun.com

Harv72b		2012-04-29 11:53:38 AM

skinink: Wonder Twin powers, activate!
[www.baltimoresun.com image 404x510]

I'm sorry, but "Betemit" still sounds to me like something that would be sold in small tins in Australia.

Fricknmaniac		2012-04-29 11:53:41 AM

It won't last, but that won't stop me from enjoying it while it does!

This is finally our year to get back over .500!

The Bestest		2012-04-29 11:55:59 AM

Fricknmaniac: It won't last, but that won't stop me from enjoying it while it does!

This is finally our year to get back over .500!

With the Red Sox on a 6 game win streak and finally hitting .500, there is no AL East team at the moment with a losing record.

Mr. Potatoass		2012-04-29 11:56:07 AM

And the best fans in baseball, too. ^

Shrugging Atlas		2012-04-29 12:03:12 PM

Since we're talking about records, is anyone else quite pleased about the Angels being 7-14 and nine games back already?

Another dumbass owner with more money than sense. Note to Moreno: Bullpens are typically more important than any single position player, no matter how great they've been.

/Pujols will probably be fine this year
//The Angels as a whole probably won't

The Bestest		2012-04-29 12:05:48 PM

Shrugging Atlas: Since we're talking about records, is anyone else quite pleased about the Angels being 7-14 and nine games back already?

Another dumbass owner with more money than sense. Note to Moreno: Bullpens are typically more important than any single position player, no matter how great they've been.

/Pujols will probably be fine this year
//The Angels as a whole probably won't

The Pujols signing had nothing to do with wins. You could argue the CJ Wilson signing did, and that they had the philosophy that could just overwhelm everyone with starting pitching.

Zulu_as_Kono		2012-04-29 12:10:40 PM

The Orioles are one of the best teams in baseball?

No, they are not.

skylabdown		2012-04-29 12:10:57 PM

The O's are going to the Super Bowl this year.

Captain Steroid		2012-04-29 12:14:40 PM

jpo2269		2012-04-29 12:18:11 PM

Amazing, all they had to do was go back to the cartoon Oriole and bring back the orange jerseys... If only they had done this 10 years ago, think of all the agony that could have been avoided.

/Angelos still sucks

Harv72b		2012-04-29 12:31:20 PM

Honest response from an actual (bored) Orioles fan as to why we're not one of the best teams in baseball:

-The O's have had exactly two innings thus far where they've mounted a prolonged rally; the 6-run 10th inning against the White Sox a couple weeks ago, and the 5-run 2nd they ran up against Oakland last night. They have been horrendous with runners in scoring position (.231, 13th in the league), and far too many of the runs are coming in the form of solo home runs.
-Most of their success thus far can be directly attributed to pitchers who are performing well above their norms, and who likely won't be able to maintain that. Arrieta has come back to Earth already after his hot start, and I seriously doubt that Hammel & Chen finish the season with sub-4 ERAs, let alone the 1.73 & 2.22 they're currently at. Jim Johnson having a perfect ERA & going 7-7 on save opportunities is nothing short of miraculous with the number of baserunners he's allowed.
-Fielding. Ugh...dead last in the AL in this category, and 4 more errors than any other team. This is not a good enough team to overcome all those miscues.

Basically, we're just enjoying a period where the Orioles are outperforming themselves (at least when it comes to pitching & hitting long balls, Nick Johnson & Brian Matusz excluded), while the rest of the AL East are under-performing. We've got the Yankees, Red Sox, Rangers, Rays, and then Yankees again coming up on the schedule beginning tomorrow...if the Birds are still ~~above~~ close to .500 when those series are through, then maybe I'll start to get excited.

/We'll still finish the season with a better record than the Mayans.

Shrugging Atlas		2012-04-29 12:40:50 PM

The Bestest: You could argue the CJ Wilson signing did, and that they had the philosophy that could just overwhelm everyone with starting pitching.

Not the worst idea really...if we were still in an era of baseball where starters were expected to pitch more than 6-7 innings. But since we're not, it might be the worst idea evar when they have a bullpen that includes Isringhausen and Hawkins.

I honestly wonder if they'll make the playoffs even with the extra Wild Card spot. Probably, I suppose, but I don't think 'probably' is what Moreno had in mind.

Mrtraveler01		2012-04-29 12:41:11 PM

The Bestest: Shrugging Atlas: Since we're talking about records, is anyone else quite pleased about the Angels being 7-14 and nine games back already?

Another dumbass owner with more money than sense. Note to Moreno: Bullpens are typically more important than any single position player, no matter how great they've been.

/Pujols will probably be fine this year
//The Angels as a whole probably won't

The Pujols signing had nothing to do with wins. You could argue the CJ Wilson signing did, and that they had the philosophy that could just overwhelm everyone with starting pitching.

I'm a Cards fan and I agree with this. Pujols is usually a seat warmer during this part in the season and really doesn't do much until June and July when all of a sudden he comes out of nowhere and has a random but spectacular run. It's like watching a volcano with him.

But I still think the Cards made the right decision and kudos for Mozeliak (sp?) for doing a great job in filling in the gaps during the off season.

Mrtraveler01		2012-04-29 12:42:47 PM

Shrugging Atlas: The Bestest: You could argue the CJ Wilson signing did, and that they had the philosophy that could just overwhelm everyone with starting pitching.

Not the worst idea really...if we were still in an era of baseball where starters were expected to pitch more than 6-7 innings. But since we're not, it might be the worst idea evar when they have a bullpen that includes Isringhausen and Hawkins.

I honestly wonder if they'll make the playoffs even with the extra Wild Card spot. Probably, I suppose, but I don't think 'probably' is what Moreno had in mind.

I remember reading in the LA papers online that the mindset down there is that anything short of a World Series win is a failed season for them.

So the bar is set ridiculously high for them and at this point, they'll be lucky to make it to the offseason.

Shrugging Atlas		2012-04-29 01:03:35 PM

Mrtraveler01: I'm a Cards fan and I agree with this. Pujols is usually a seat warmer during this part in the season and really doesn't do much until June and July when all of a sudden he comes out of nowhere and has a random but spectacular run. It's like watching a volcano with him.

But I still think the Cards made the right decision and kudos for Mozeliak (sp?) for doing a great job in filling in the gaps during the off season.

Oh, Cards fan here too. I'm pleased he left. For him because he got the cash he wanted and earned through his years with the Cardinals, and for the Cardinals not being stuck with a salary like that. Frankly the Cardinals could never pay that amount to anyone regardless of their production. My only complaint about him leaving was it could have been under better circumstances for both him and the ballclub. There was a bunch of unnecessary shiat said at the end which made something most people felt was inevitable go much more poorly than it should have which is a shame for everyone.

Anyway, I was just making the point if you looked at that roster minus Pujols, I honestly don't understand how anyone could have said, "The problem here is we don't have Albert Pujols." But I think The Bestest was trying to say Pujols was signed to get fans to the ballpark, not necessarily to generate wins. It's probably a valid point...but I'm of the mindset wins will generate butts in the seat more than any single player being on the roster...particuarly over the longterm.

germ78		2012-04-29 01:17:23 PM

Adam Jones has been having a career year. Hopefully Markakis goes on his second-half tear for them like he did last year. And Wieters can crush the ball when needed. They likely won't make the playoffs, but they could be in the hunt at the end.

/not an O's fan
//fantasy baseball helps raise the visibility of players on other teams

mjones73		2012-04-29 01:23:01 PM

Nuff Said

mjones73		2012-04-29 01:34:33 PM

Harv72b: Honest response from an actual (bored) Orioles fan as to why we're not one of the best teams in baseball:

-The O's have had exactly two innings thus far where they've mounted a prolonged rally; the 6-run 10th inning against the White Sox a couple weeks ago, and the 5-run 2nd they ran up against Oakland last night. They have been horrendous with runners in scoring position (.231, 13th in the league), and far too many of the runs are coming in the form of solo home runs.
-Most of their success thus far can be directly attributed to pitchers who are performing well above their norms, and who likely won't be able to maintain that. Arrieta has come back to Earth already after his hot start, and I seriously doubt that Hammel & Chen finish the season with sub-4 ERAs, let alone the 1.73 & 2.22 they're currently at. Jim Johnson having a perfect ERA & going 7-7 on save opportunities is nothing short of miraculous with the number of baserunners he's allowed.
-Fielding. Ugh...dead last in the AL in this category, and 4 more errors than any other team. This is not a good enough team to overcome all those miscues.

Basically, we're just enjoying a period where the Orioles are outperforming themselves (at least when it comes to pitching & hitting long balls, Nick Johnson & Brian Matusz excluded), while the rest of the AL East are under-performing. We've got the Yankees, Red Sox, Rangers, Rays, and then Yankees again coming up on the schedule beginning tomorrow...if the Birds are still above close to .500 when those series are through, then maybe I'll start to get excited.

/We'll still finish the season with a better record than the Mayans.

Yeah, I'm enjoying while it lasts, they've already been swept once by the Yankees, they need to start beating them and other good AL teams to show they are one of the best teams in baseball at the moment.

That_Dude		2012-04-29 01:35:39 PM

Shrugging Atlas: Since we're talking about records, is anyone else quite pleased about the Angels being 7-14 and nine games back already?

Hopefully they will be 7-15 after today.

/Go Tribe!
//Is this the Sunday MLB thread?

Trocadero		2012-04-29 02:00:14 PM

The other thing about "butts in the seats" was how Pujols was supposed to make LA an Angels town. The Dodgers don't have to do all that well to get all the attention back, handily. And now that the owner isn't a complete and utter trash bag (allegedly), people can actually come to the park w/ peace of mind. Also, Matt Kemp was the 2011 NL MVP. At least he would be if I didn't get banned from Wikipedia.

Gosling		2012-04-29 02:06:14 PM

That_Dude: Is this the Sunday MLB thread?

It is now. I christen this sunday baseball thread with Bob Uecker Bingo:

R Kelly's Doo Doo Butter		2012-04-29 02:25:05 PM

I just want to say that the strike zone for Yankees hitters today is tight than a nuns coont.

Shrugging Atlas		2012-04-29 02:55:55 PM

Gosling: That_Dude: Is this the Sunday MLB thread?

It is now. I christen this sunday baseball thread with Bob Uecker Bingo:

[i14.photobucket.com image 640x513]

Amen.

Shrugging Atlas		2012-04-29 03:07:00 PM

Trocadero: The other thing about "butts in the seats" was how Pujols was supposed to make LA an Angels town. The Dodgers don't have to do all that well to get all the attention back, handily. And now that the owner isn't a complete and utter trash bag (allegedly), people can actually come to the park w/ peace of mind. Also, Matt Kemp was the 2011 NL MVP. At least he would be if I didn't get banned from Wikipedia.

One thing I'd be curious about is how the LA market stands currently after Magic's group bought the Dodgers. Moreno was obviously planning on taking advantage of the Dodgers having fallen out of favor with their previous douchebag owner and using that combined with the Angels' new starpower to make a move in the LA market. But it always struck me that the baseball fans in LA were just looking for ANY reason to get behind the Dodgers again far more than they were looking for a reason to support the Angels. As much of an obvious splash the Pujols signing made for the Angels, that was back over the winter. Then you have Magic come in right before the season and rescue the Dodgers from McCourt. On a national level at least it seems to have taken a fair amount of attention off the Angels at exactly the wrong time.

I could be totally wrong, but that's how it looked to me anyway.

TonyDanza		2012-04-29 03:16:44 PM

If they are a top the division (even tied) after May 15th, then I will call them one of the best teams in baseball. As has been mentioned, their next 14 games are going to be a better judge of their caliber. They have 2 @ the Yanks, 3 @ the Red Sox, 4 vs the Rangers, 3 vs the Rays then they close the home stand with 2 more vs the Yanks. Hell, if they are even at .500 by the time that stretch is over I'll be mildly impressed.

Gosling		2012-04-29 03:25:13 PM

Shrugging Atlas: One thing I'd be curious about is how the LA market stands currently after Magic's group bought the Dodgers. Moreno was obviously planning on taking advantage of the Dodgers having fallen out of favor with their previous douchebag owner and using that combined with the Angels' new starpower to make a move in the LA market. But it always struck me that the baseball fans in LA were just looking for ANY reason to get behind the Dodgers again far more than they were looking for a reason to support the Angels. As much of an obvious splash the Pujols signing made for the Angels, that was back over the winter. Then you have Magic come in right before the season and rescue the Dodgers from McCourt. On a national level at least it seems to have taken a fair amount of attention off the Angels at exactly the wrong time.

I could be totally wrong, but that's how it looked to me anyway.

The way I understand it is, Anaheim clubs are at an inherent disadvantage to clubs from north of LAX. Anaheim isn't the fashionable end of town, and the clubs there have to do twice as well to get half the love. Half the time it's not an issue because LA teams groundshare as often as not, but when they don't, whoever's closer to downtown tends to get way more love than the other.

Harv72b		2012-04-29 04:09:38 PM

Holy fark! Betemit with a walk-off home run to cap a 5-run 9th inning, Orioles win 5-2.

Creoena		2012-04-29 04:18:49 PM

Harv72b: Holy fark! Betemit with a walk-off home run to cap a 5-run 9th inning, Orioles win 5-2.

Heck of a way for us to go into a brutal two-week stretch.

theurge14		2012-04-29 04:23:34 PM

Not an Orioles fan but I am a fan of the old school logo they brought back.

While I'm on the logo subject I'm glad Toronto went back to:

i.imgur.com

So much better than that dumb "Jays" blue on black shopping mall crap they had for a few years.

These logos make an 80's kid who used to collect Topps like me feel more at home.

Brosef13		2012-04-29 04:40:10 PM

How good would the AL East look if they didn't have to play each other so much?

/Always thought Angles would be sucky this year.

Already Disturbed		2012-04-29 05:34:10 PM

As a Mets fan, I offer... nothing.
/love Camden Yards
//wife has the old school (now current) Orioles logo tee on today

balki1867		2012-04-29 06:04:44 PM

Watching the game today, even as Colon was masterful through 8 i just knew the Os would make some sort of run at the end. Its a weird feeling to be this into the Os.

May is going to be brutal, however.

Bobo_Spiewack		2012-04-29 06:37:30 PM

What's the baseball equivalent of missing a kick wide left that would have sent you to the championship?

Because that's what's coming.

Shrugging Atlas		2012-04-29 07:53:36 PM

Bobo_Spiewack: What's the baseball equivalent of missing a kick wide left that would have sent you to the championship?

Rangeritis?

/apologies to all the cool Ranger fans on this site

jpo2269		2012-04-29 08:33:43 PM

Heck, usually if the Orioles win on opening day, I will cut out the standings and pin them up on my office cork board so I can remember what it was like to support a first place team (in baseball), the fact that we are "this far" into the season and I can keep clipping the standings is a big bonus.

I'll be at the Ted June 15-17 wearing my orange and rooting on my O's... hell, I might party like it's 1989....

/yes I know they finished second, but to be in the hunt until the last weekend of the season was pretty cool.

Harv72b		2012-04-29 09:08:19 PM

In 1988, the Orioles did not get to 14 wins until June 7, when they climbed to a 14-42 record with a 4-3 victory over Detroit.

/Oblig

DJLobo		2012-04-29 10:12:16 PM

That's 5 wins this month for the O's when trailing after 7 innings. That equals last season's total when trailing after 7. I'm cautiously optimistic.

degenerate-afro		2012-04-30 01:13:36 AM

Harv72b:
-Fielding. Ugh...dead last in the AL in this category, and 4 more errors than any other team. This is not a good enough team to overcome all those miscues.

Hopefully moving Mark "I fark up everytime I try to grab a ball" Reynolds being moved to first base will help with the errors.