On May 13, Stacey let us know the O's were entering a rough patch in the schedule (results in parens):

I was just looking at my handy pocket O's schedule that they hand out when you buy tickets, and the O's face a tough road in the coming month. I'm going to try to maintain my zen attitude throughout, but my faith will certainly be tested. Behold:

• 13-14 May: vs. Boston  (2-0, the high point)
• 16-18 May: vs. Washington  (2-1, who doesn't beat the Nats?)
• 20-22 May: @ New York   (1-2, eff the MFY)
• 23-25 May: @ Tampa Bay  (0-3, the Rays don't lose at home)
• 26-28 May: vs. New York  (2-1, take THAT evil empire)
• 30 May - 2 June: vs. Boston  (0-3 so far)
• 3-5 June: @ Minnesota
• 6-8 June: @ Toronto
• 10-12 June: @ Boston

Except for Toronto and Washington, that's pretty freaking tough. My current outlook on the O's tells me logically that it doesn't matter, but it's going to be hard to watch the carnage.  And with 21 of those 27 games against teams in the AL East, well, you know.

So to try to stay positive, here are few things I'll be happy with, regardless of the team's record:

• Continuing awesomeness of Daniel Cabrera
• Starting pitching remaining competent
• Trade value being built up for Huff, Payton, Millar, Bradford, and the like
• Playing good hard games, not making silly mental or fundamental mistakes

the O's are 7-10 in that stretch so far.  are the O's living up to what Stacey wanted to see regardless of results?  let's take a look:

• Cabrera during the stretch so far:  2-0 in 4 games, 26.2 IP, 3.71 ERA, 8 BBs, 10 Ks.
• SPs remaining "competent"?:  Trachsel's been removed, Burres has fallen off the table (4.87 ERA).  Guts has had his normal effectiveness, but becoming increasingly frustrated with his support .  Olson has been up and down and we just went over D-Cabs.
• Trade Value for Vets:  Huff and Millar are doing their best to get traded out of here.  unfortunately, their best ain't all that.  they've had some pop, but AVE and OBP are dreadful, and OBP is supposed to be Millar's calling card.  Jay-Pay has no value to anyone.  Bradford has been relatively useful in the right situation.  Although giving up Manny's 500th tater on National TV doesn't help his cause.  And Razor has been so bad there's no way MacPhail can move him.
• Playing the "right" way?  

so there are 10 games remaining in Stacey's original brutal stretch.   we had predicitons anywhere from 10-17 (mine) to 15-11 (Y Not).  regardless, looks like Stacey was prescient when she told us the schedule for late May-early June wasn't going to be a picnic.