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Taking a look at the Orioles vs. Twins series

                    4/6 vs. Twins: WIN 4-2

                    4/7 vs. Twins: WIN 8-2

                    4/8 vs. Twins: WIN 3-1

Before we get into the Orioles first three games of the season, let’s all take a minute to pay respect in whatever way you see fit to Camden Yards, which celebrated its 20^th birthday and is one of the most underrated achievements in baseball history. If you are reading this thinking “Oh yeah that place is awesome! Go Birds!” then go buy tickets, and go to a game so it does not look empty on TV.

Since this is the first post lets go over how this is going to work: Every week or so I will look at the positives and negatives of what is going on with the Orioles as well as previewing up coming games, stadium events, or just little facts I choose to ramble about.  So on that note, let’s take a look at the Orioles vs. Twins series:

POSITIVES

The pitching: Orioles starting rotation gave up one run in three games,  and all starters pitched until at least the 7^th inning. It is safe to say that no one, especially the Minnesota Twins , (myself included) saw that coming. Now for the negative people who want to point out that it was only the Twins,  who finished last in the AL central last year, Ill remind you that they have two former MVP’s hitting back to back in their lineup. Now is it fair to expect this every time out? No not at all. But if the Birds can get pitching from anyone like they had this weekend three times a week then they are going to make huge strides in being more competitive in the AL east.

As far as offensively the Orioles did what they normally do, and that’s hit home runs. Nick Markakis is off to the best April of his career.  Normally a month he would rather avoid,  Markakis went 5 for 9 in the series with 2 home runs and 4 RBI.  The shocker of the weekend was Saturday nights DH, Ronny Paulino, who came out of no where to go 4 for 4 in his first game as an Oriole. Seeing him in the DH role often is most likely not going to happen because he needs to be available to catch should anything happen to Matt Wieters (knock on wood…actually cut down a tree then beat it with a hammer that he does not get hurt).

NEGATIVES

Surprisingly, there were not many. But there was Mark Reynolds who still has a swing longer then the baseball season it self. Despite all the news out of spring training that he has improved defensively, he booted the ball all over the ball park. Now nobody expects Reynolds to hit .300 as long as he hits balls 400 feet, so I won’t toss him under the bus just yet but he is on the line of becoming more of a liability than an asset.

Nick Johnson’s power mustache is scary and needs to be dealt with by upper management. Go ahead a Google image it right now. He looks like a slightly less athletic Tom Selleck from Mr. Baseball (If you haven’t seen it rent it). Only problem is without it he looks like Pvt. Gomer Pyle from Full Metal Jacket. So no matter which way he goes he is going to look like a goof, and if the season goes like the first weekend did, a goof that can’t hit.

UP COMING

The Yanks come in to town for three games after dropping their first three of the season, then the Orioles head to Toronto to take on the Blue Jays who it feels like they haven’t beaten since the mid 80s.

This Weeks Schedule:

4/9 vs. Yankees

4/10 vs. Yankess

4/11 vs. Yankees

4/13 @ Blue Jays

4/14 @ Blue Jays

4/15 @ Blue Jays