Baltimore Orioles: National Writers on the O’s Good Start

The majority of national baseball writers predicted the Baltimore Orioles to finish poorly in 2016, so what do they think about the opening week of the season?

After losing their first game of 2016 to the Red Sox on Wednesday night, the pressure is now off the Orioles to have to try to remain undefeated; but by any measure a 7-1 record is outstanding and the way any team would want to begin a new campaign.

A look around the baseball media world shows that most are not commenting much upon this development, and those that have something to say are filled with repeating the “it’s early” mantra and to remind everyone of the obvious truth about how long the season is.

Yet at the same time, these first eight games have demonstrated the firepower of this Orioles team and the known strength of the bullpen, along with a historically uncharacteristic ability to work pitchers and get on base. The starters have been decent, though only once has one gone more than five innings. But hey, to quote the experts, it’s early in the long season.

Here are a few examples of what some writers are thinking and saying …

Jerry Crasnick – ESPN – Reflecting on the incredible home run depth the Orioles have, along with their historic strikeout abilities, he quipped that …

"Short of luring Adam Dunn out of retirement, the Orioles couldn’t have done more to assemble a more high-stakes, hit-or-miss lineup."

After the first several games, Crasnick made reference to the long ball fireworks, while also commenting that this is a team that could set both home run and strikeout records (as we are following that also here on The Baltimore Wire). And then, after the seven consecutive wins, he shared this tweet …

Eddie Matz – ESPN – This writer certainly pulls in an Orioles fan with his headline, “Maybe it’s time to start believing in the Baltimore Orioles.”  But does he believe?

Believe might be a strong word, but he is impressed. And after noting that the Kansas City Royals started off 2015 winning seven straight, Matz also said of the Orioles…

"They’ve faced both Chris Archer and Price — the two best starters the AL East has to offer — and slapped them around like piñatas, tallying a combined five dingers and 11 runs in just 10 innings."

The writer lists five reasons the Orioles have begun the season well: surprising starters, dish discipline, fine fielding, Manny being Manny, and strength of schedule (actually, weakness thereof is what he means).

Jonah Keri – CBS Sports – This very creative writer also begins an article by seeking to explain this early success by highlighting the strengths that are known and anticipated from the Orioles: the power lineup and the solid bullpen. He writes of this as the mark of the Buck Showalter teams in Baltimore, who “hold opponents close in the late innings, and pummel them with homers.”  I’m not sure it is correct to say that this is the preferred strategy of Showalter, but it is what the composition of the personnel presents as a way to win.

Keri notes that nobody expected the Orioles to do as well as they have done in recent years, particularly to win in 2014. He links to this preseason’s predictions by their staff of five MLB writers (including himself), all of whom call for the Oriole to finish last in the AL East.

More from Baltimore Orioles

• What other Baltimore Orioles Offseason Storylines will you be interested in seeing?
• Baltimore Orioles to Face Numerous Playoff Contenders Down the Stretch
• Baltimore Orioles Showing Encouraging Signs During Recent Wins
• The Baltimore Orioles and the Expanded September Roster
• Orioles Josh Rogers Expectations in his Major League Debut

The explanation for why they have been winning early games is that the starters have so far been better than advertised, as has been the on-base percentage. Keri goes on to highlight the good contributions of Joey Rickard, telling his story.

After a number of disclaimers and pointers to the weaknesses that remain, he says that “here we are — grappling with the question of whether we might have underestimated the O’s. Again.”

Of course, all of this is very familiar to Baltimore Orioles fans. Even winning a World Series will not change it. They will be viewed as a one-year wonder who caught fire in a bottle. It is just the way it is.