Don't look now, but the Orioles remain undefeated in the Buck Showalter era, a fact I will continue to point out to you until such time as they are no longer undefeated. The Orioles have, of course, strung together some series' of vaguely competent baseball up until this point in the season that had nothing to do with Buck. Doesn't it just feel different the last two nights, though? Like the last two games are the Orioles we should have been getting all year long? I'm more excited than I was two days ago and I didn't think there was any enthusiasm left to be mustered in this desolate baseball summer. Maybe I was just waiting for something, anything that I could believe in.
LAAAOCCAUSA tries to avoid the sweep tonight with recent acquisition Dan Haren on the mound. The right-hander's made two starts since being traded to the Angels in a head-scratcher that didn't seem to bring the Diamondbacks anywhere near the value they were surrendering. He's lost both but hasn't pitched terribly, taking losses in a start in Boston where he was knocked out early by a line drive to the forearm and a complete game against Texas where he gave up only two runs - but the offense only scored for him one run.
The Orioles counter with Jake Arrieta. What can we say about Jake? If he stops walking guys, he'll be good. But he walks a lot of guys a lot of the time, with 33 BBs to 25 Ks in his young big league career. Yikes. Will Buck's magic rub off on another Orioles player? Let's hope so!
Tonight's slightly low-substance opening post brought to you by the passing of a friend, half a bottle of rum, yours truly forgetting to append the "responsibly" part to "please drink" and the ensuing hangover from hell.
So all in all I'm ready for some baseball. Go O's!
EDIT: Lineups!