Bipolar is probably the best way to describe the last two weeks' worth of Orioles baseball. They started last week in Boston and blew a six-run lead, only to come home and lose to the Yankees in 15 innings. They then proceeded to get blown out the next night, and the night after that by the Yankees again and then the Nationals. However since then things have not only stablized, but the Orioles have been thriving. With one game left to play (an afternoon matinee at Oriole Park today against Kansas City), the Birds are 4-4 on the homestand. After this afternoon's ballgame the O's will head out to the west coast for a swing through Oakland and then Seattle. The good news for the Orioles is that the four wins have come in the latter part of the homestand. While paying this afternoon's game due dilligence, the question is whether or not the Birds can stay hot once they hit the road again?
In a season that's had it's huge highs and cavernous lows thus far, the Orioles are hoping that the pendulum doesn't swing back in the other direction once they hit the left coast. Even with the injuries that the Orioles have sustained, my personal opinion is that they won't take a nose dive. First off, Adam Jones is scorching hot in his new position of second in the order. Jones is currently hitting .297 on the year after his 2-for-4 night last night and walk-off homer the night before. Vladimir Guerrero's bat is also hot, as he's hitting .306 on the year after last night's game. Wieters is also seeing the ball well at the plate, and perhaps most importantly he's hitting .559 with runners in scoring position. Mark Reynolds even got in on the action in last night's 9-2 victory over Kansas City with his 8th inning solo home run.
On the flip side, the O's will be heading off to two pitcher's parks after today's game. The Oakland Coliseum and Safeco Field have reputations for being pitcher's paradises. That certainly bodes well for an Oriole bullpen that has pitched well the last few games but is still thought of as somewhat suspect. The O's will need to keep the ball on the ground in Oakland if they're going to do damage due to the cornfields' worth of foul territory. Balls that drift off into the seats down the line at the yard will turn into outs in Oakland. However if the Orioles can hit some grounders and perhaps a few liners for base hits, they'll put runs on the board. Jones or Vlad muscling a big bop or two wouldn't hurt either! However with Brian Matusz tentatively looking to rejoin the team (and potentially get the start) on June 1st in Seattle, the Birds might well consider themselves lucky that they'll be in a pitcher's park to re-acclimate him to the big leagues. First baseman Derrek Lee would be eligible to come off the DL that day as well.
Again, in giving due dilligence to the fact that there's a game this afternoon, the idea is that the second half of the homestand brought Oriole bats out in full force. Hopefully that can continue as the team hits the road following today's game and heads for Oakland. I'd also like to take the opprotunity to thank MLB for their wonderful scheduling once again this year, as once again the Orioles get to finish a series at home and be due on the west coast for a game the next night. I find it ironic that some teams get the luxury of a day off between games when a cross-country trip is involved, but apparently that's not granted to the Birds. In fairness, they do have a day off between the series finale in Seattle (Wednesday afternoon), and the first game of the Toronto series Friday night at Camden Yards. However I suspect that it's easier to play the next day when you're coming home as opposed to leaving home. It is what it is I suppose; doesn't mean we think it's fair!
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