Birdland Frustration

Wild Card Standings
From mlb.com

The Orioles were so close to gaining an advantage in the playoff hunt as they headed out on their most recent 10 game West Coast road trip.

They return to Baltimore at the bottom of the heap. They faced off against two of the teams ahead of them during the trip and went 2-4 against the Angels and the Mariners. They managed a 2-2 split against the Athletics. At least they get a day off.

The season is growing short and the Orioles have slipped to 3 games out of the Wildcard. Thoughts of winning the division have vanished as they have fallen to 3 games below .500 and are now 10.5 games out of the division lead. 

Yesterday, the Orioles dropped another one-run game in a heart-crushing fashion. Chris Davis was at the plate with the bases loaded and two outs. With the game on the line and the count 0-2, what did Davis do? He was a spectator as the Mariners' reliever threw a third strike past him to end the game and possibly the Orioles hopes for the season. The bat never came off his shoulder. 

I hate to say it, but maybe someone should have pitch-hit for him because he doesn't seem to be seeing the ball right now. There were great plays made on the field to get the Orioles back into the game with a chance to tie or go ahead and not even swing a bat at the game-ending third strike is appalling.

Beginning Friday, the Orioles will see the three teams they just played again in 9 of the next 12 games on home turf. There is a quick trip to Boston thrown in, so it is only a 6-game homestead against the Angels and Athletics, a 3-game trip to Boston, and then back for a 10-game against the Mariners, Blue Jays, and the team from up North whose name shall remain unwritten. 

The post-season, if there remains any hope, will be decided during the next few weeks as the Orioles face off against three of the teams ahead of them for a Wild Card spot. 

My optimism is not gone, but is fading fast. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD