Winning August; What about September?

With their 5-0 win over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim last-night, the Baltimore Orioles have clinched their first winning month of August since the 1997 season.

The O’s are 15-11 for the month (15-10 under Showalter), with two games to play. It has been enjoyable to watch. The starting pitching has been consistently good this month, and regularly getting deeper into games. You can improve very quickly as an organization if this continues.

Showalter has pointed out several times that unlike Trembley, or Samuel; he has received the benefit of having Pie and Roberts in his everyday lineup, and Uehara and Gonzalez in his bullpen.

Lots of positives this month overall, but it will not be remembered if it does not continue in September. Including today, and Tuesday at home against Boston; there are 32 games remaining in this 2010 season.

8/29 @LAA (1)
8/31 – 9/2 vs Boston (3)
9/3 – 9/5 vs Tampa (3)
9/6 – 9/8 @ New York (3)
9/9 – Off
9/10 – 9/12 @ Detroit (3)
9/13 – 9/15 vs Toronto (3)
9/16 – Off
9/17 – 9/19 vs New York (3)
9/20 – 9/22 @ Boston (3)
9/23 – Off
9/24 – 9/26 @ Toronto (3)
9/27 – 9/29 @ Tampa (3)
9/30 – 10/3 vs Detroit (4)

Detroit is flirting with .500. Tampa and NY are the two best teams in the game, and Boston is charging even with Youkilis on the shelf.

What I like about Showalter is that he is not going to be afraid of that schedule, he is going to embrace it. If the O’s can play .500 ball the rest of the way, they will avoid a 100 loss season. If the O’s play .500 ball the rest of the way, that will mean they ended the year winning 31 of their last 58 games (a .534 winning % over the last 36% of the season). That would be an accomplishment, and would be cause for legitimate optimism heading into the off-season and 2011.

Here are somethings I will be looking for:

1) Are you competitive in the remaining games against the East (as they compete for the playoffs?)

2) Arrieta had an ugly start the other day, but had an era under 5 in August. Does he finish strong?

3) Matusz had 4 starts in August where he went at-least 6 innings, and allowed 1 er or less. Can provide similar production against the division?

4) Bergesen found his form this month, does he do enough in September that you feel comfortable with him as your 4th or 5th to start ’11?

5) Roberts has an .805 OPS in August, and was playing everyday before this recent hip issue. Is he able to quickly get back to the lineup, and finish the year with any further injury issues?

6) What does Wieters do in September? OPS is down considerably (57 points or so from ’09), though his plate-discipline is improved.

7) Pie has a .792 OPS in August, .749 overall… can he continue to play everyday?

8) Markakis has been scuffling since the All-Star break (.661 OPS), and more is needed from him. He is due for a month of extended production.

9) Jones has a .868 OPS in August. With another strong month, he could pave his way to an off-season extension. I would keep him out today, and try and have him back for Boston on Tuesday.

10) I want to see Reimold, and Tillman get some time in September.

11) Bell hit his 3rd homer last night, and I expect he will continue to flash his talent. His plate-discipline (35 k’s, 2 bb’s in 98 at-bats) has to dramatically improve this month to feel comfortable handing him 3rd base to start 2011.

12) Johnson got back last night. With him, Uehara, Gonzalez, Simon, VandenHurk, and a to be returning Hernandez; the O’s have a nice assortment of options in their bullpen to end the year. Unlike in many recent past seasons, the starting rotation did not wither in August. In-fact they improved, and provided more innings. This should only help the bullpen avoid a collapse this September.