Matchups: Kansas City Royals

Guys (and Gals possibly), I think that it is a little too early to start crying foul.  Sure, the last two games have had miserable endings, but the law of averages would deem that we would start losing the close ones.  So far this year the O's have come from behind to win from a two or more run deficit on double digit occasions and our 1 run game record is still very good.  We've gotten some good breaks so far this season, so we're bound to run into some bad breaks eventually.  I think that Georgie should get some time off and that we should let JJ or Cormier get a few save opportunities.  Sherill has already almost reached his career high in innings pitched and July just began.  I think he's just tired, and there is no real reason for him to risk injury.  The man could use a little vacation, I think he's earned it.

I know that we're all excited about this years surprising team, but we have to be realistic, we're not playing in the NL West.  This is the AL East, where there are three teams who are legit World Series contenders.  Nobody in the lineup is batting .300 and we will likely not have a guy win 15 games all season.  So far we've played above our potential and a falloff should be expected.  Realistically, I hope for 75-80 wins this season with a good amount of confidence and charisma going into next season so that we can possibly land a good free agent or two and our studs in the minors (Weiters, Arrieta and Tillman) can possibly get a look or two this September.

Skeeters,

Again, right there with ya! 

This year's team reminds me a lot of the 1989 team.  For those who are too young to remember the 1989 team was the "Why Not?" team that astonished baseball for a few months by pursuing the AL East title one year after going 54-107, an infamous season that began with 0-21.  The '89 team finished in 2nd place, 87-75, and it went down to the last series of the year against Toronto.  They were 6.5 games ahead at the break, but then went 2 - 13 right after the AS break. 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1989_Baltimore_Orioles_sea
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The next year they went 76-85 because they did not have any future plans and just went with the team they had.  I think we all agree that, like the 1989 team, this team is overachieving.  Unlike 1989-1990, we have a GM in Andy MacPhail that has a plan for this club.  Let's continue to support the team this year, no matter what happens, but let's stick to the "plan".