Orioles Game 127 Game Thread: at Walgreens, 7:05

That the Orioles are a superior baseball team in every way to the collection of baseball-playing people in misspelled uniforms who call Washington their home is not something that anyone can credibly dispute. The evidence has been presented year in and year out in head-to-head matchups. Those guys aren't as good as the Orioles. The matter is settled.

What's still in doubt is just how thoroughly the ownership extends. Is it something that is, while regularly displayed, more of an incidental nature? Or is it complete and total? The test of this is tonight. If the Orioles are able to win a game where their own starter is Ubaldo Jimenez, on the road, against Max Scherzer to complete the season sweep (not that any of that team's attendees will see it - they'll be gone in the seventh inning) then that will be the ultimate proof.

There is no reason to expect this to happen. It's hard to sweep a four game series, or, excuse me, two consecutive two game series. It's harder still to do this against a first place team, even if that first place team leads a pathetic division. And against a recent Cy Young winner, when one's own starter is, y'know, Jimenez?

It is important for the Orioles to win, because they have to win as many games as possible. They also need to take advantage of the fact that the Red Sox have already lost, and they need to keep pace with the Blue Jays, who get to face Jered Weaver tonight - Weaver who stinks against basically every non-Orioles team. And as long as they're chasing the AL East they need to stay ahead of wild card contenders too. So winning would be good! But where Jimenez is involved, I won't expect it, and neither should you.