The Orioles started July with an auspicious start, as they lost to Boston 6-5 in 11 innings yesterday.

Baltimore is 35-43 overall.

With the loss yesterday, the O’s have still won 4 of their last 6 series, but are just 4-6 in their last 10 games.

The O’s are 24-20 at home, and an abysmal 11-23 on the road.

During July, the Orioles will be 25 games:

July 1st vs Boston
July 2nd – 5th @LAA
July 6th – 8th @Seattle
July 9th – Off
July 10th – 12th vs Toronto
July 13th – 16th – Off
July 17th – 19th @CWS
July 20th – 22nd @NYY
July 23rd – Off
July 24th – 26th @Boston
July 27th – 30th vs KC
July 31st vs Boston


Goals / Thoughts / Questions for the Month:

1) In addition to being 11-23 on the road, the O’s are 11-18 against the AL East. There are 16 games on the road for the month, and 11 games against the division. 7-9 on the road for the month, and 5-6 against the division is a reasonable goal.

2) The O’s ended April at 9-13, 23-28 at the end of May, ane ended June at 35-42 overall. Despite a daunting schedule, a 13-12 winning month has to be the goal.

By series, I see 13 wins possible:

0-1 vs Boston
2-2 vs LA
1-2 vs Seattle
2-1 vs Toronto
2-1 vs CWS
1-2 vs NYY
1-2 vs Boston
3-1 vs KC
1-0 vs Boston

3) After 24 games, and 85 at-bats, Wieters has an OPS of .685. What I am looking to see improved during July is the walk to k-ratio. Currently Wieters has just 6 walks to 21 k’s. I expect his bat to come alive this month, maybe on this road-trip as he makes his 2nd-trip to Seattle.

4) David Hernandez is going to get multiple starts this month. In 57.1 innings at AAA, Hernandez allowed just 42 hits, and 18 walks, with 79 k’s. In his first 19.1 innings in the bigs, Hernandez has allowed 27 hits, 8 walks, and struck-out just 12. As he settles in, and makes multiple starts; I will be watching to see how he handles line-ups multiple-times through, and if he is able to improve his hits, walks, and k’s per IP.

5) After just 15 total at-bats in June, Felix Pie received 5 at-bats on July 1st. Can Trembley find more additional opportunities for him? It was stated this week that the Orioles batting-coach Terry Crowley said Pie had been working very hard, and was on the verge of breaking through.

6) In 207 at-bats, Mora has a total of 8 xbh’s. There is an option on his 2010 contract, but he is not expected back. With Wigginton signed through next year, and coming on offensively; will Wigginton become the everyday 3rd baseman by month-end?

I doubt that will happen. Partly out of respect to Mora, who has been an Oriole since 2000, and also because some will believe Mora is capable of a 2nd-half in 2009, like he had in 2008. (Raised his OPS from .732 August 1st to .826 Sept 31st).

7) With the July 31st non-waiver trading deadline approaching, who (if anyone) is leaving. While I imagine that the O’s will be approached about Guthrie, Huff, Scott, Wigginton, Sherrill, and Baez – I only see Baez being traded.

8) Yesterday it was stated that Izturis’ return to the O’s could be delayed until August. If he comes back before that, do the O’s expose Salazar to waivers?

9) Robert Andino has hits in 10 of his last 12 games, and continues to play a very-solid defensive SS. However, his OPS is under .600 and he has just 5 bb’s with 25 k’s. Can Andino improve these ratios, and become a legitimate longer-term option at Short?

10) If Rich Hill or Jason Berken are replaced in the rotation, who gets the call? The fact that Uehara is not returning in two weeks, could buy them both time… but only if the production improves.

11) Guthrie has allowed 3er or fewer in 6 of his last 7 starts, but it feels like he has yet to put it all together. Can he be consistently strong for the next month?

12) Brian Roberts has an on-base % roughly 30pts lower than his 2007, and 2008 levels. Roberts has had a history of slowing down in the 2nd-half of seasons; can he buck that trend and have a strong July?

13) Matt Albers had an outstanding June, with 12 apperances. He pitched 15.2 innings, allowing 14 hits, 2 er, 0 homers, 7 bb’s, with 13 k’s. Can he put it together for successive months?

14) Markakis has 33 xbh’s in 312 at-bats, for a slugging % of .458. I think he is capable of 25-28 homers, and would like to see 5 or 6 for the month.

15) In 60 at-bats in May, Reimold had 5 homers, 11 rbi, 4 bb’s, and 11 k’s. In 75 at-bats in June, Reimold had 4 homers, 9 rbi, 13 bb’s, and 12 k’s. Can he maintain that walk / k ratio in July?


Bonus) If the wheels were to totally come-off, and the O’s were something like 9-16 for the month; would Trembley enter August as the Oriole manager?

Chris Stoner
Chris Stoner

Owner

Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.

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