Around the Diamond

The O’s responded to being showcased on national television by promptly crapping the bed. Kuroda was masterful, tossing a 5 hit complete game shut-out. The fact is, sometimes the other guy is dealing, and you just get beat. You tip your cap, and you move on. Still it would have been nice to have a better showing for a wider audience.

I guess we could look on the bright side: at least Friday’s game wasn’t the one that aired on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball. That would have been atrocious.

Box Score

First Base

Can we show Wei-Yin Chen some love?! It seems like his last win was in Japan. Chen has come down with the Jeremy Guthrie bug – where quality starts are wasted by anemic offense. Chen was not overly dominant, but he put in the text-book definition of a quality start (6 innings, 3ER). His only mistake was throwing a pitch at Brett Gardner’s neck, which he hit off the foul pole. After watching several replays, I’m still unsure how he reached that ball to hit it so far. Dark Magic, as Scott would say. I’m also fairly confident that he hit the foul pole just to rub it in our faces – not that I’m still bitter about the ALDS.

Second Base

Look, I know they couldn’t mock the Orioles the whole time, but it was nice to hear the ESPN crew speak so highly of the Orioles. They gushed over former colleague Buck Showalter, and gave the consensus that the 2012 season was no fluke. Even Joe Girardi was complimentary of the squad in the other dugout, during his in-game interview. Even in a losing effort, it was nice not being the butt of a joke for once.

Third Base

T.J. MacFarland tossed 2 scoreless innings. Using the Rule 5 draft pick in a close game at Yankee Stadium says a lot about how Showalter views him. Buck isn’t keeping him here on scholarship – he’s a real weapon in a stacked bullpen. MacFarland responded with 2 shutout innings against a lineup that, though depleted, is still threatening. Eventually he’ll have to give up a run, but for the time being, you can understand what the organization saw in him.

Home Plate

Matt Wieters is in a funk. At .200/.304/.300/.604, he’s not doing much at the plate. Lucky for him, he’s an all-world catcher whose contributions behind the dish make it hard to take him out of the lineup. There are whispers about the wisdom of his switch hitting, but those are mostly the arm-chair GMs. The fact is, he’s got to get right. Jones and Davis can’t carry the load all on their own – Wieters has got to step up to be a signature piece of that lineup. We don’t know if talks are getting serious between the club and super-agent Scott Boras, but it would certainly help Wieters’ case if he were putting on more of a show. Look for Showalter to rotate him into the DH spot a little more over the next couple of weeks – not like we’re getting much from that spot anyway.

Summary

The Orioles head back to Baltimore for a much-needed home stand. In defending his players for losses over this opening stretch of the season, Buck has repeated that they’ve been on the road, and starting games at all different times, and dealing with the emotions of home openers, and…

OK, Buck. We get it. Now it’s time to return to the friendly confines of Camden Yards, for some stability and support. And hopefully, no need to make excuses. At 6-6, the Orioles are in the middle of the pack, but will have the chance to prove themselves against some good clubs. Coming to town are the Rays, Blue Jays, Dodgers, Athletics and (surprisingly capable) Mariners.

To steal a phrase, #StayHungry.

Around the Diamond – Yankees 3, O’s 0