Many people wanted to know how the Buck Showalter-led Orioles would respond to playing away from Camden Yards for the first time. We got our answer last night, as the O's defeated the Indians 14-8 at Prego-I mean-Progressive Field. (Sorry, I'm Italian...but why couldn't they name someplace Prego Stadium?!) Speaking of Italians, Jake Arrieta pitched pretty well through three innings of work, however the tribe put up five runs in the fourth on the heels of the O's putting up four in the top of the inning. Buck Showalter showed a lot of confidence in Arrieta in leaving him out there after that inning. In my opinion lifting a pitcher during adversity doesn't teach him how to work through that situation. And go figure, Showalter's confidence was rewarded, as Felix Pie sent a homer to center.
Matt Wieters and Luke Scott also added homers, and the Orioles ultimately dropped 14 on the Indians. Whereas during Trembley and Samuel's tenures, the Orioles would find different ways to lose, it seems that under Showalter they're finding ways to win. Be it a pitcher's duel that ends 2-1, or a donnybrooke that ends 14-6, the Orioles are still winning. Speaking of Dave Trembley, I feel that it's very important not to deamonize him at this juncture. First off, Trembley didn't have the horses available to him that Showalter's getting due to injury. In that sense perhaps his dismissal was sealed on April 9th when Brian Roberts went down. However anyone that feels that Trembley didn't give his all when he was in Baltimore is kidding himself. I also think that it's very possible that Trembley wasn't the greatest motivator in the world, although he was a decent X's and O's coach.
As I said above, Arrieta did have some struggles in this game, although he did look very good through three innings. Arrieta's final line: 6 IP, 6 R (5 earned), 6H, 2 BB, 3 K. Armando Gabino struggled a bit in the 9th by putting some guys on base, however at that point it really didn't matter with regard to winning this game. The turn around with this team is truly amazing since Showalter's taken over, however it makes you wonder what would have been had this guy been at the helm from the beginning. That aside, eight months until opening day!
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