Os in Hibernation

[varaven45]

First Kansas City at home, then we get Toronto (fresh off a 5 game skid).

Now Team gets shut out by a starter with a 5 run ERA ?

 

Buck needs to stop the bleeding....quick 1

[papasmurfbell]

I was just waiting for the to start.

[vmax]

The liabilities are starting to bite them. They lead the league [or almost] in errors, double play balls and strikeouts.

[papasmurfbell]

This was done with baling wire and duct tape. I wonder if Jones will regret signing by next yr.

[cravnravn]

Why would Jones have any regrets? Theres no "Its about winning anymore" Its about Who's going to open up the wallet and make me a multi millionaire..

[papasmurfbell]

He left about 15 mil on the table by not going to FA. Tajada was all happy when he first got here and finally wanted out because the losing got to him.

[vmax]

It's been an ugly 10 games....

 

The Orioles’ early glow has begun to fade, and not only because they just endured their worst 10-game stretch of the season: 2-8, including this week’s three-game sweep in Toronto.

The team could be without one (or maybe two) of its franchise players. Nick Markakis did not play Wednesday because of an injured right wrist and is scheduled to see a specialist Thursday. He sustained the injury on a swing Tuesday, which sounds ominous. If the news on him is bad, manager Buck Showalter will need to find a new No. 3 hitter. “You look at it as an opportunity for somebody else,” Showalter said. “It’s not something you dwell on.”

Meanwhile, the MVP candidate Jones was hit on his left wrist with a 95-mph fastball from Brandon Morrow during Wednesday’s loss. He remained in the game but had a softball-sized icepack on it afterward. He said X-rays were not necessary, insisting he would be in the lineup Friday; Showalter seemed less certain.

Apart from the injuries, a foundering rotation is the Orioles’ most pressing concern. Tommy Hunter, Jake Arrieta and Jason Hammel failed to turn in quality starts during the Toronto series; Hunter already has been sent to the minor leagues.

Baltimore starters have combined for a 4.45 ERA, which ranks among the bottom half of AL clubs. If they continue to falter, the bullpen (which has been excellent) will be rendered irrelevant. “I know there’s going to be failure — especially in this league, in the AL East — but we’re good enough to overcome that,” Arrieta said. “It has to tighten up.”

The Orioles have lost five straight. If the streak reaches six, they will fall out of first place for the first time since May 5. They must face David Price and Jeremy Hellickson during the first two games at Tampa Bay, and Jones didn’t deny that this is a crucial juncture.

“It is,” Jones said. “This division is tough. Everybody’s above .500. Everybody’s playing good baseball. This next stretch is against our division. We need to play good in our division. That’s the most important thing.

“We can salvage this road trip. We have six more games. We want two sweeps.”

At this point, two series victories would suffice. If that doesn’t happen, this might be the last Baltimore sees of first place in 2012.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/topsy-turvy-AL-east-up-for-grabs-baltimore-orioles-tampa-bay-rays-new-york-yankees-toronto-blue-jays-boston-red-sox-053012

[papasmurfbell]

Now that they have to play TB who also has been on a slide who can wakeup first? Whoever stays asleep longest this weekend will fall back a goog bit.