2008 Woodie Awards
Hot Corner: O's playing well, deserve AL tops
Carrie Wood
Sports | 4/10/08
After the first two weeks of the season, the Orioles are 6-1 and are dominating the American League.What the heck is going on?
Baltimore was picked to finish dead last in the AL East by every major national baseball writer in the country. They were even predicted by some to be the worst team in the Major Leagues. Why are the O's not living up to everyone's expectations? On paper, the team still doesn't look very good - but baseball games are played on a field, not on paper.
So how has a team full of unknowns been able to pull off a six-game winning streak despite the grotesque predictions and 10 years of losing seasons?
It's the unknowns themselves. The new additions to the Orioles' lineup have proven to be nothing but positive - for starters, the relief pitching (pun unintended).
Despite poor starting pitching, the bullpen has proven to make up for whatever issues may arise early in the game. Randor Bierd, a rule 5 draft pick from the Detroit Tigers, didn't appear in the majors before the '08 season but has performed spectacularly so far. George Sherrill was traded over from Seattle and was previously not known as a closer, but has picked up 4 saves so far this year. Jamie Walker and Chad Bradford returned from last year to assist the up-and-coming rotation.
In addition to the late-inning pitching, Baltimore has come through with some great late-inning clutch hitting. They actually seem to be hitting the ball better when they're trailing by a few runs late in the game. Offense later in the game has so far been much better than it ever was last year. These guys actually look like they're playing with a purpose instead of just giving up.
Playing with a purpose?
The Baltimore Orioles?
I'm shocked to say it myself - these boys are going out there and playing with a lot of heart. And a big part of that is that they got rid of two guys who didn't have any heart: Miguel Tejada and Erik Bedard. Tejada was traded to the Houston Astros for five prospects, including new left fielder Luke Scott. Sourpuss Bedard was traded to the Mariners for Sherrill and Adam Jones.
Other recent additions to the roster include Luis Hernandez - who has been a suitable replacement for Tejada at short - and Scott Moore, who was obtained last year from the Chicago Cubs.
There are so many fresh faces in Charm City, which is why the Orioles have been winning. They're new to the town and new to the team, and they don't know they're supposed to lose.
No one predicted the Rockies to make it to the World Series last year, and no one predicted our local birds to make any noise this season.
The Orioles could win more games than they lose this year, and perhaps we need to brace ourselves for that exciting possibility.
Baltimore was picked to finish dead last in the AL East by every major national baseball writer in the country. They were even predicted by some to be the worst team in the Major Leagues. Why are the O's not living up to everyone's expectations? On paper, the team still doesn't look very good - but baseball games are played on a field, not on paper.
So how has a team full of unknowns been able to pull off a six-game winning streak despite the grotesque predictions and 10 years of losing seasons?
It's the unknowns themselves. The new additions to the Orioles' lineup have proven to be nothing but positive - for starters, the relief pitching (pun unintended).
Despite poor starting pitching, the bullpen has proven to make up for whatever issues may arise early in the game. Randor Bierd, a rule 5 draft pick from the Detroit Tigers, didn't appear in the majors before the '08 season but has performed spectacularly so far. George Sherrill was traded over from Seattle and was previously not known as a closer, but has picked up 4 saves so far this year. Jamie Walker and Chad Bradford returned from last year to assist the up-and-coming rotation.
In addition to the late-inning pitching, Baltimore has come through with some great late-inning clutch hitting. They actually seem to be hitting the ball better when they're trailing by a few runs late in the game. Offense later in the game has so far been much better than it ever was last year. These guys actually look like they're playing with a purpose instead of just giving up.
Playing with a purpose?
The Baltimore Orioles?
I'm shocked to say it myself - these boys are going out there and playing with a lot of heart. And a big part of that is that they got rid of two guys who didn't have any heart: Miguel Tejada and Erik Bedard. Tejada was traded to the Houston Astros for five prospects, including new left fielder Luke Scott. Sourpuss Bedard was traded to the Mariners for Sherrill and Adam Jones.
Other recent additions to the roster include Luis Hernandez - who has been a suitable replacement for Tejada at short - and Scott Moore, who was obtained last year from the Chicago Cubs.
There are so many fresh faces in Charm City, which is why the Orioles have been winning. They're new to the town and new to the team, and they don't know they're supposed to lose.
No one predicted the Rockies to make it to the World Series last year, and no one predicted our local birds to make any noise this season.
The Orioles could win more games than they lose this year, and perhaps we need to brace ourselves for that exciting possibility.
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