I am completely and utterly perplexed by this 2015 Orioles team.

[PeteU]

I'm totally nonplussed* by it all.

One week I'm ready to wave the white flag and think about what we need to do to improve ourselves for 2016. The next week it's balls to the wall, damn the torpedoes and full steam ahead for October baseball or bus.

Gaaaah! This has to be the most bipolar team in franchise history.

The 2014 Orioles--at least from June 2014 through the ALDS--could best be described as Godzilla. An unstoppable force smashing everything in its path with reckless abandon.

This 2015 team, on the other hand, reminds me of my kids' goldfish. I see it stop eating, drifting, floating towards the top before ambling back down. So I have to amp myself up to tell the kids, "I'm sorry, Swimmy went to Fish Heaven to live with Bubbles and Gillbert. I know it's sad, but I'll take you to the store so we can get a Swimmy II." And then the next morning instead of seeing a dead goldfish at the top of the tank, I see%#$&% Swimmy healthily as if he was never sick in the first place. Which is great, don't get me wrong, but I just worry about the next time I see Swimmy flailing for his life.

Well, we're winning this week, so I'll enjoy it while it lasts. And no, there's no need to sell at this point. This is the team the baseball gods have dealt us. Ride or die.

*For all you English majors/vocabulary nerds out there, you'll realize that the term "nonplussed" does not actually mean unimpressed as one might initially believe, but rather means to be at a total loss of words.

[OregonBird]

Unfortunately the west coast trip occurs after the deadline. That will give me a good idea of whether this team is really in it.

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[Ripken]

Looks a lot like 2013 to me. This is what mediocre is. We're not bad and we're not good (enough, anyway). A rotation of 2s/3s/4s and a lineup full of hackers.

[ExileAngelos]

If we are bipolar then let's do it right. How long has it been since we had a truly long win streak? I want to see 10 in a row!

[24fps]

I'm totally nonplussed* by it all.

One week I'm ready to wave the white flag and think about what we need to do to improve ourselves for 2016. The next week it's balls to the wall, damn the torpedoes and full steam ahead for October baseball or bus.

Gaaaah! This has to be the most bipolar team in franchise history.

The 2014 Orioles--at least from June 2014 through the ALDS--could best be described as Godzilla. An unstoppable force smashing everything in its path with reckless abandon.

This 2015 team, on the other hand, reminds me of my kids' goldfish. I see it stop eating, drifting, floating towards the top before ambling back down. So I have to amp myself up to tell the kids, "I'm sorry, Swimmy went to Fish Heaven to live with Bubbles and Gillbert. I know it's sad, but I'll take you to the store so we can get a Swimmy II." And then the next morning instead of seeing a dead goldfish at the top of the tank, I see%#$&% Swimmy healthily as if he was never sick in the first place. Which is great, don't get me wrong, but I just worry about the next time I see Swimmy flailing for his life.

Well, we're winning this week, so I'll enjoy it while it lasts. And no, there's no need to sell at this point. This is the team the baseball gods have dealt us. Ride or die.

*For all you English majors/vocabulary nerds out there, you'll realize that the term "nonplussed" does not actually mean unimpressed as one might initially believe, but rather means to be at a total loss of words.

Or sink or swim. I really think you missed an opportunity there Pete.

What is it about baseball that brings out the literary impulse in us all?

[gmelson26]

Unfortunately the west coast trip occurs after the deadline. That will give me a good idea of whether this team is really in it.

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This. I wish that trip was before the trade deadline. A losing record could be utterly killer. We need the the bats to come alive. Not just the random solo shot and 3 singles... we won't be facing the braves and phillies.

[ExileAngelos]

This. I wish that trip was before the trade deadline. A losing record could be utterly killer. We need the the bats to come alive. Not just the random solo shot and 3 singles... we won't be facing the braves and phillies.

But if we really don't make a big move it is not a big deal. Take the three QO picks in the offseason and all good.

[webbrick2010]

We win at home against mediocre to bad teams

We lose on the road to mediocre teams

We are dominated on the road by good teams

We are the definition of a .500 team

I don't think DD can add enough to make this team a serious contender

I'd like to see him sell an O'day or a Chen or even Davis if he gets big value

I think he'll add useless pieces like he did in 2013, and further deplete our talent base.

If Toronto/Yankees add a starter in the caliber of Leake/Price/Shiels etc. than our chances are very slim and we will further regret whatever DD gives up

[Redskins Rick]

We win at home against mediocre to bad teams

We lose on the road to mediocre teams

We are dominated on the road by good teams

We are the definition of a .500 team

I don't think DD can add enough to make this team a serious contender

I'd like to see him sell an O'day or a Chen or even Davis if he gets big value

I think he'll add useless pieces like he did in 2013, and further deplete our talent base.

If Toronto/Yankees add a starter in the caliber of Leake/Price/Shiels etc. than our chances are very slim and we will further regret whatever DD gives up

Sounds Toronto might be all-in on Price.

[Creamsicle]

I'm plussed.

[Slappy]

Unfortunately the west coast trip occurs after the deadline. That will give me a good idea of whether this team is really in it.

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We haven't been bad on the west coast in the winning era:

2014: 6-4

2013: 11-8 (incl. NL West)

2012: 7-6

[ExileAngelos]

We haven't been bad on the west coast in the winning era:

2014: 6-4

2013: 11-8 (incl. NL West)

2012: 7-6

0-3 vs Arizona :002_ssad:

[TouchemAll]

Want to know what is wrong with this O's team.

From Melewski:

"There are currently five teams playing over .500 ball in the AL besides the Orioles. Against those five clubs - the Yankees, Royals, Twins, Astros and Angels - the Orioles are 9-17".

To me that says it all.

[Frobby]

Want to know what is wrong with this O's team.

From Melewski:

"There are currently five teams playing over .500 ball in the AL besides the Orioles. Against those five clubs - the Yankees, Royals, Twins, Astros and Angels - the Orioles are 9-17".

To me that says it all.

All that says to me is that we need to do better in our remaining games against those teams. As they say in the stock market, "past results do not guarantee future results."

I'm encouraged with our starting pitching, which is the foundation for improvement over the final 62 games. The will need more help from the offense than they've gotten in July, but I think it is likely that they will get it.

[Fan4Life]

This season for me has underscored just how valuable Cruz was for us last year. He was the difference maker.