With the O’s 4-2 loss in Oakland last-night, the Baltimore Orioles have fallen to 1-10 overall and have lost an amazing 8 consecutive games.
I stated all Winter, how I strongly believe that this 2010 season is vitally important for the franchise. It did not matter that you went into this season with contention extremely unlikely to occur. The reason this year matters so much, is because the core of talent you want to move forward with has been assembled and is in-place.
As I have written previously, if there was stagnation, and lack of improvement – that would be crippling. 2009 was always going to be about introducing players like Wieters, Reimold, Matusz, Tillman, Bergesen, and Hernandez ascend to the Majors. Wins and Losses did not matter, when there was never any hope of contention. By definition, if you are not in position to contend, you are building. The foundation was laid last-year. 2010 has always been about watching the house take shape with tangible improvement required. That improvement has to take place, if the plan next-year is to finish the landscaping and contend.
The injuries to Roberts, Uehara, Gonzalez, and Pie certainly do not help. Obviously the O’s have dropped several-games they should have won as well. However, you can not hang on to any of those injuries, or those ‘near-wins’ as crutches for this start. You are what your record says you are.
I went into this season fully believing the O’s had the talent assembled to jump from their 64 wins in 2009, to a 82-80 season in 2010. Despite this ridiculous start, I am not going to veer from that prediction.
The O’s need to find a way to salvage this trip out West, and come back East with a few wins. Jones, Markakis, and Wieters have to raise their level of play and be the everyday force in the lineup that their talent says they are capable of being.
Andy MacPhail and the Oriole Front-office have to start thinking of making larger changes. You can not blame Trembley for the lack of hitting (and particularly the ineptness with runners in scoring position) but the bottom-line is the results, and accountability. Again, wins and losses matter for the O’s in 2010 because with Markakis, Jones, Wieters, Reimold, (Roberts), (Pie), Matusz, Bergesen, Hernandez – a core of players you could rely on long-term are here.
At a minimum, you have to start thinking about improving the roster from within. As much as I would like to see Uehara back, and helping the bullpen – he does not seem to be in any hurry to return from his latest trip to the DL (hamstring pull). If he was healthy, he would improve the bullpen. Since he is not, you can not wait another couple of weeks to augment that group.
I’m sure the O’s wanted to give Hernandez 1/2 a season in the rotation, and Tillman 1/2 a season in AAA. I’m also sure that nobody in the O’s Front Office anticipated being 9 games under .500, and 6.5 games out of 1st during the 2nd week of the season. Things change. It is time to adjust.
Chris Tillman in the rotation, with Hernandez in the bullpen replacing Meredith makes this a better team today.
Bergesen’s results were so strong in his rookie season, that you would hate to see him receive a quick hook. Still, his peripheral numbers indicated his overall numbers would normalize in 2010. I went into the year believing that even with that ‘normalization’ he could greatly help out the rotation by giving 185 innings. He has has had two poor starts, and allowed 15 hits in 7.2 innings. It is just two starts, but based on where the team is as a whole – I think his next start is very important. If Bergesen struggles again, a move should be made. He has not accomplished enough at the Major League level that you allow him unlimited rope. Not when you have a pitcher like Jake Arrieta (with far more overall talent) banging on the door at AAA.
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.