Baltimore Orioles Underachieving, Uninspiring Right Now

May 7, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; Baltimore Orioles designated hitter

Jimmy Paredes

(38) rounds the bases on his home run to right during the first inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Let’s be honest, Baltimore Oriole fans. At this point, after the last three years, we are spoiled by the performance of the team. And it isn’t like they haven’t had a bad stretch of play before.

Yet, when every game is so close, the losses sting a little more.

But, what is more concerning is the fact that each game is so close. In the first game against the Mets, the O’s lost by one. Wednesday night, the team lost 5-1, but some bad baserunning by now disabled-listed Everth Cabrera hurt the team’s chance of coming back.

Thursday, Chris Tillman didn’t have his best stuff. Which has been the case every other game this season. However, Tillman is usually a slow starter, so I am not worried about him.

Chris Davis‘ golden sombrero is certainly concerning. But, at this point, he is a power hitter who strikes out a lot.

But it is the baserunning mistakes that at this point are a problem. The defense is looking much better. The pitching, despite a few blips recently, looks much better. The bullpen is pitching well. The hitting approach so far seems to be better than last year.

But baserunning mistakes have been problematic. Wednesday night, it was Cabrera. Thursday night, it was Jimmy Paredes.

Paredes was on first base, with Caleb Joseph on third and one out. Adam Jones at the plate, game tied at 3.

Nathan Eovaldi was on the ropes. The only out of the inning came after Manny Machado tried to bunt for a hit. It didn’t work, another night with a questionable bunt.

And then Paredes got picked off. Buck Showalter‘s anger was evident. As was Adam Jones’, who was not happy after grounding out to end the inning.