The only reason this team will not make the playoffs...

[Nite]

2/5ths of the rotation has been a dumpster fire all year. First it was Norris and Tillman. Then when that situation was resolved or fixed, Chen and Gonzo hopped in to keep the flames going. Every so often they hop out and Jimenez or Gausmen hops in.

Seems that we can't string together a weeks worth of decent starts in a row. The two times that it happened the team went on great win streaks. Otherwise they are stuck playing at or below 500 because the starters when not good, are just awful.

Talk about Cruz and Nick all you want. Bottom line is this team is getting 2 horrible starts every trip through the rotation and you can not make the playoffs that way.

[El Gordo]

Couldn't agree more.

[MagicBird]

And we have pitchers that just absolutely hate having a lead. Give em a lead and they give it right back.

[spgrumby]

And we have pitchers that just absolutely hate having a lead. Give em a lead and they give it right back.

That has been my biggest frustration - watching the inability night in and night out to get that shut down inning from our starters after the offense puts a few runs on the board.

[wildcard]

While I agree that the starters are an important reason why the O's are not higher in the standings, but they are not the only reason:

1) Starter's inconsistency

2) Playing all season at least one outfielder short.

3) Parra brought in the fill an outfield hole but he hasn't hit well.

4) Pearce not being anywhere close to who he was last year.

5) Paredes stopped hitting well in late June.

6) Wieters long recovery from TJ surgery.

7) Hardy hasn't hit well for the season.

8) Losing Schoop for two months.

9) The depth players have not stepped in and filled holes the way they did in 2014.

10) Last year Dave Wallace seemed like a pitching guru; This year he wasn't able to fix Tillman and Norris for long periods.

[o'sfansince1970]

This team seems to find a way to lose. Decent pitching? No offense. Score 5-6 runs? Give it up late. VERY frustrating!

[btownoriole]

On a macro level the two big differences are the increase in runs allowed (3.92 this year vs. 3.66 last year) and the one-run game record (.441 winning % this year vs. .582 last year). The defense and bullpen have been strong and the offense, while much more inconsistent, has actually scored more runs per game this year (4.39 vs. 4.35).

Even with the fall-off in starting pitching, if this team had the same one-run winning percentage as last year's team, they'd be in first place.

[DJHJR86]

I went to bed last night during the first inning, thinking we had it in the bag. And yet again, our starters continue to piss away any lead we might have.

[Camden_yardbird]

Four career seasons...

That's what it took last year for the Orioles to get to where they got. I don't understand how anyone looked at what they were doing this year and thought they could compete. Tillman, who was saw was very out of shape during the off season, never got it going. Norris is gone after putting up 2 wins, he contributed 14 last year. Chen and Gonzalez always wane in August. Frequently they rebound but we are seeing that now as well.

[Frobby]

While I agree that the starters are an important reason why the O's are not higher in the standings, but they are not the only reason:

1) Starter's inconsistency

2) Playing all season at least one outfielder short.

3) Parra brought in the fill an outfield hole but he hasn't hit well.

4) Pearce not being anywhere close to who he was last year.

5) Paredes stopped hitting well in late June.

6) Wieters long recovery from TJ surgery.

7) Hardy hasn't hit well for the season.

8) Losing Schoop for two months.

9) The depth players have not stepped in and filled holes the way they did in 2014.

10) Last year Dave Wallace seemed like a pitching guru; This year he wasn't able to fix Tillman and Norris for long periods.

I agree that starting pitching isn't the only reason and on a micro level, all the reasons you have given are valid. But on a macro level:

The O's are scoring 4.39 runs per game, 5th in the league; last year they scored 4.35 runs/game, 6th in the league

The bullpen has a 2.75 ERA, 2nd in the league; last year they had a 3.10 ERA, 3rd in the league

The starters have a 4.30 ERA, 11th in the league; last year they had a 3.61 ERA, 5th in the league

The starters have averaged 5.71 IP/start, 12th in the league; last year they averaged 5.89 IP/start, 10th in the league

The bottom line is that the starters haven't gotten it done.

[El Gordo]

While I agree that the starters are an important reason why the O's are not higher in the standings, but they are not the only reason:

1) Starter's inconsistency

2) Playing all season at least one outfielder short.

3) Parra brought in the fill an outfield hole but he hasn't hit well.

4) Pearce not being anywhere close to who he was last year.

5) Paredes stopped hitting well in late June.

6) Wieters long recovery from TJ surgery.

7) Hardy hasn't hit well for the season.

8) Losing Schoop for two months.

9) The depth players have not stepped in and filled holes the way they did in 2014.

10) Last year Dave Wallace seemed like a pitching guru; This year he wasn't able to fix Tillman and Norris for long periods.

All of these reasons pale in comparison to simple SP inefficiency. If Tillman gives us a QS, just 6 and 3 last night, we win. How many times has this happened for all of our SP? Certainly enough to have us in first place instead of hoping for a WC, even with the COF situation, Paredes, Hardy, et. al.

[brianod]

Cruz hit a home run for the other team last night. We had two errors. It's not just the pitching. Unfortunately, it's the talent level of the entire team. Still time to make the playoffs though. Win today and have a good home stand!

[El Gordo]

Cruz hit a home run for the other team last night. We had two errors. It's not just the pitching. Unfortunately, it's the talent level of the entire team. Still time to make the playoffs though. Win today and have a good home stand!

Two errors from the best defensive team in the AL? Not a significant reason IMO. General talent level is fine IMO, they are simply underperforming. Team has problems like most teams, but what is holding them back is consistent SP. Look how well they played in June when they got it.

[weams]

Cruz hit a home run for the other team last night. We had two errors. It's not just the pitching. Unfortunately, it's the talent level of the entire team. Still time to make the playoffs though. Win today and have a good home stand!

It was the starting pitching that cost us the game though.

[Babypowder]

Two errors from the best defensive team in the AL? Not a significant reason IMO. General talent level is fine IMO, they are simply underperforming. Team has problems like most teams, but what is holding them back is consistent SP. Look how well they played in June when they got it.

Did we send the Royals out in Orioles uniforms last night?