Opening Day 2016

[dc.]

We made it! Wasn't always pretty.

 

Three thoughts:

 

1. This team is slightly better than I thought it would be at season's end. The off season got more done than I'd expected

 

2. This team is probably slightly better than last year's in talent, if still very weak in pitching.

 

3. I still think it will be hard for this team to really compete for the season. The lack of pitching is just going to be too much to overcome and there are other teams, like the Jays, who can slug right along with us.

[vmax]

I took today off so it's great to be able to watch todays opener.

I have no expectations on whether the O's can get to the ACLS.

They have surprised us many times. Let's trust Buck and see how this season pans out.

 

GO O'S!!!!!!!!!!!

[thundercleetz]

Good stuff, DC. Whereas I am a Ravens pessimist I have long been an O's optimist. Rebound years from JJ and Wieters being 100% healthy. Manny is able to do more damage from the three hole. Schoop is going to hit 30 home runs. Trumbo and Alvarez each hit 30 HRs in Camden. Bullpen will be better this season with Givens.

[dc.]

Good stuff, DC. Whereas I am a Ravens pessimist I have long been an O's optimist. Rebound years from JJ and Wieters being 100% healthy. Manny is able to do more damage from the three hole. Schoop is going to hit 30 home runs. Trumbo and Alvarez each hit 30 HRs in Camden. Bullpen will be better this season with Givens.

 

Hehehe... see... I can see all of that happening too. (Sidenote, being a semantics asshole, but ... if Trumbo and Pedro both hit 30 in Camden alone... wow!)

 

But hey, I agree... and add Rickard at the top of the line-up. And 20-30HR from Schoop as your #9 hitter! Holy smokes.

 

And yet, you didn't mention a single starting pitcher.

 

Also - I am not pessimistic. I just don't see us being able to really compete with the top of the liners. Maybe fighting for a wild card down the stretch... not sure we'd get it. And could see it really falling apart late in the season.

[vmax]

The YardBarker agrees with both of you....

 

 

 

2. BALTIMORE ORIOLES
The O's finished ninth in runs scored last season and ended 2015 expecting to lose Chris Davis. Not only did Davis return, but the team added power hitters Mark Trumbo and Pedro Alvarez. Healthier versions of J.J. Hardy and Matt Wieters could make this lineup even scarier, and of course Manny Machado is coming off a breakout year as one of the elite all-around talents in the game. Baltimore could easily lead baseball in homers this season....http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/ranking-all-30-mlb-lineups/ss-BBqVqFR?li=BBnb7Kz#image=2

[cravnravn]

I'm home recouping, and for shits and grins turn on MASN, I'll be dam, the channel is on. Don't know if I should watch it or not, its not for the weak hearted.

 

Nice seeing Dempsey and Tom Davis. Made me a little home sick.

[cravnravn]

Same old weits, let's look at a beach ball strike 3

[thundercleetz]

O's win! Lineup had ten strike outs, but five walks including Crush's two out walk in the bottom of the ninth. Trumbo is the player of the game with four singles (and no errors in RF!)

[dc.]

a win is a win is a win is a win... given the chaos of the whole thing and rain, I'll take it...

 

Just put Rickard #1 and be done with it!

[Spen]

An opening day win is always sweet.

 

Would have loved to see more of Tillman today.

[vmax]

After 5 straight strike outs by Tillman I was chanting "Cy Young!"

[thundercleetz]

Another six walks for the lineup today! Pedro Alvarez has three for the season. I think he's already matched his total from last year

[Spen]

Nice win, great work from the bullpen!

[dc.]

Schoop had one or two... He had 8 last year. I'll take it.

 

Meanwhile... First place!

[thundercleetz]

Ubaldo really toughed it out tonight. He let up a lot of hits and got a tough break with the Crush error. But when it was said and done he pitched seven innings, had nine strike outs and surrendered only one earned run. Good work!

 

Man on first and third no outs going into the rain delay in the bottom of the third. Hopefully we can get Ubaldo the win.

[thundercleetz]

O's comeback! Ubaldo picks up the win! Great to see Bundy pitching. He's no longer pitching in the upper 90s, but his fast ball was at 93, and his off speed stuff was at 83. That's plenty to work with if he can hit his spots.

 

Rickards continues to hit. First career HR. O'Day ends the game with three K's in the ninth.

[Spen]

Nice comeback.

 

Loved seeing Rickard getting called out for a curtain call.

 

3-0!

[Spen]

Wow, great 5th!

[cravnravn]

Listening to the Rays play by play and color guy was great, they had every excuse in the book ready for Archers dismal performance. The best one was the cold.

[thundercleetz]

Lineup came alive! We've had Archer's number the past couple of years. Good to see Tillman continue his success.

[vmax]

Fun game to watch last night. The team looked impressive.

This season could go this way....

 

If the ball flew any more than it did Friday, they'd need to change the cursive blue writing on it from Rawlings to Boeing. If the Orioles can launch four bombs off a stud like Archer with the mercury falling toward freezing, despite missing two former Silver Slugger winners, there’s no telling what kind of damage they’ll be able to inflict on the rest of the league as summer approaches....http://espn.go.com/blog/baltimore-orioles/post/_/id/621/with-four-jacks-off-chris-archer-birds-bats-send-a-message-to-rest-of-league

[cravnravn]

Delayed because of what? Checks calendar, smears spf50 on again

[dc.]

Delayed because of what? Checks calendar, smears spf50 on again

Yeah, but you have to live in Florida. With other Florida people too.

[vmax]

Nice slide by Alverez. Manny stays hot.

4-0 O's!

[Spen]

Fun start to the season.