Any Bullets Left?.....Or Going Down In Flames?

[orioleslist]

2.5 games back in the wild card, 34 games to play--I'm sorry, but I'm not ready to throw the towel just yet.

Yes, the past 5 games have been a huge letdown; yes, we've had our share of disappointments this season; and yes, I'll even concede that the 2015 O's might not be much more than a .500 (give or take) team, but at the moment, we are still in this race.

I would have loved to run away with the division just like last year, but give me meaningful baseball late in August, and I'll gladly take it--sure beats the 1998-2011 misery.

GO O's!!!

[TouchemAll]

It was obvious earlier in the year that this years team wasn't very good. With all the guys that have been released/demoted and Parra as the only real addition how can we expect to be much better. My observation is that this team is very DH heavy and the wrong decision was made to hang in rather than sell. The future would've benefitted from a sell off better than a half hearted attempt to improve.

Agree I wanted the sell off for the future rather then this dumpster diving we got and the Parra addition was too little too late. Oh WELL

Yea I got worried in Spring training when Norris struggled and the Hardy went down. They just did NOT look like the 2014 Orioles.

A nice .500 club that will tease us till the season ends chasing that 2nd wild card. The schedule is now against them they have a tuff road to hoe.

Is there any O's magic left?

[doctorbj]

I am an infrequent poster and as such, sometimes gets shot down (or up) for comments. I'm 71 so have been through everything from St. Louis Browns forward.

All that is irrelevant, however.

I hope we do have a turnaround but....

1. IF we resigned all our free agents, which we know won't happen, this team right now is what we would have in 2016, and would we not be having the same discussion next year, with this year's experience staring us in the face?

2. Could someone comment on our barren farm system in terms of where Sisco, Reyes and Mancini would rank in a good farm system, like other teams?

Please don't shoot the messenger. I am feeling like i may have seen the high point for the O's during what I hope will be still many years to come.

Thanks and despite all that go O's.

Barry

[fansince71]

Would it even matter if we made the playoffs? Our pitching isnt good enough to make any kind of run. It would only lead to more heartbreak.

[SteveO]

Would it even matter if we made the playoffs? Our pitching isnt good enough to make any kind of run. It would only lead to more heartbreak.

It always matters. The best teams do not always win in the playoffs. Sometimes its the hottest team. At this point, if this team actually makes the playoffs, it will be as a result of a hot streak and likely some dramatically improved pitching. If that happened (not saying I believe it would) then hell ya I will take that lottery ticket.

[MDtransplant757]

It always matters. The best teams do not always win in the playoffs. Sometimes its the hottest team. At this point, if this team actually makes the playoffs, it will be as a result of a hot streak and likely some dramatically improved pitching. If that happened (not saying I believe it would) then hell ya I will take that lottery ticket.

Look at St. Louis in 2011, and Kansas City last year

[sportsfan8703]

This team needs a SP performance out of nowhere. Like Gausman to just go on a run. Or someone like Doyle come up from AAA and pitch to a 3 ERA for the rest of the year. We need to just bring up SJ and every night yank the SP as soon as they get into trouble and go to Brach, Givens, SJ.

[MDtransplant757]

This team needs a SP performance out of nowhere. Like Gausman to just go on a run. Or someone like Doyle come up from AAA and pitch to a 3 ERA for the rest of the year. We need to just bring up SJ and every night yank the SP as soon as they get into trouble and go to Brach, Givens, SJ.

Shoulda done that last night. I think we should have gotten rid of Brad this year and gotten something along the lines of a couple AAA or AA prospects who have a future.

[spiritof66]

Would it even matter if we made the playoffs? Our pitching isnt good enough to make any kind of run. It would only lead to more heartbreak.

I'd gladly take the high likelihood of playoff heartache, if we can get there.

This team is capable of an offensive eruption that lasts throughout the playoffs. It doesn't look that way now, but it has happened this season and could happen again if we made the playoffs.

[Three Run Homer]

The time for major roster moves is over. Might as well buckle up and see what happens for the rest of the season; they played great in June, so it's not impossible that they could make a run and get into the postseason.

If we really are seeing the team's last competitive gasp with its current roster, that doesn't mean that we're inevitably consigned to another decade of losing. The O's will get a lot of picks next season and they have some good young talent to rebuild around.

[Creamsicle]

The time for major roster moves is over...

IMHO that is a foolish thing to say prior to September 1st in any season.

[TheDirtyBird]

It feels like this team is fighting to hold on to what they had from '12-'14, but it's not possible.

They're hot and they're cold, they're yes and they're no, they're in and they're out, they're up and they're down (Katy Perry reference anyone?).

Really feels like the window is damn near closed on this group. Yea we still have manny and jones, but it doesn't feel like any reinforcements will ever come their way. They'll have to fight with one arm tied behind their backs

[Morgan423]

Seeing a lot of denial in this thread.

I've resigned myself to missing the playoffs this year, but I'm pulling for the guys to shake off the funk and put up a respectable finish and hopefully a +500 record. But man, with the schedule to end the year... we have some rough seas ahead.

[SteveO]

Seeing a lot of denial in this thread.

I've resigned myself to missing the playoffs this year, but I'm pulling for the guys to shake off the funk and put up a respectable finish and hopefully a +500 record. But man, with the schedule to end the year... we have some rough seas ahead.

What some see as rough sails, I see as opportunity.

I get things look bleak, not trying to peddle false hope, this team is only 2.5 games out of a WC spot. While unlikely to happen, stranger things in baseball have. We have had rotten luck this year. I am gonna pray that Karma and the lack of a really good team willing to take control of that spot, affords us the opportunity to get hot and sneak in. Till its over, its not over. Weird crap happens all the time in baseball.

[SeaBird]

Seeing a lot of denial in this thread.

I've resigned myself to missing the playoffs this year, but I'm pulling for the guys to shake off the funk and put up a respectable finish and hopefully a +500 record. But man, with the schedule to end the year... we have some rough seas ahead.

The rest of the 38 game scheduleshows 16 at home and 22 on the road.

At home they are 37-25 for.596; on the road 25-37 for .403

3@KCR

3@TEX

3vsTBR

3@TOR

3@NYY

3vsKCR

3vsBOS

4@TBR

3@WAS

3@BOS

4vsTOR

3vsNYY

For the year they are:

.000 against KCR

.250 against TEX

.583 against TBR

.417 against TOR

.385 against NYY

.692 against BOS

.233 against WAS

Rough seas indeed. As for bullets left; maybe 1in the chamber.