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Even with a losing record, the Orioles remain in a position to make a postseason push.
In what has been a back-and-forth season of short-lived success and inconsistencies, the outlook of the Baltimore Orioles’ season has remained the same — win and try to find a way into the postseason picture.
With the assembled roster they have, it's only suitable to pencil in a talented core as a potential contender. Shortly after the halfway point of the season, Baltimore remains rightfully focused on the big picture despite owning a losing record for the majority of the year.
Prior to Friday’s series opener against the Washington Nationals, the Orioles’ President of Baseball Operations Mike Elias made it clear that the team’s outlook is to continue aiming to contend, with eyes on improving the team ahead of the trade deadline in early August.
Heading into Friday, Baltimore sat a game and a half out of a wild card spot, despite owning a losing record. Elias elucidated owning a sense of urgency as trade deadline buyers with that in mind.
“I know our record’s backwards, but apparently this is infecting a whole bunch of other teams too,” Elias said, according to Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun. “I can’t explain it, and I wish we were arriving at that in a much different way, and the context around that is unusual. But we’re right there. So, like I said, we’re going for it.”
Baltimore finds themselves in an interesting place as July nears. Consistency has been hard to come by, but what has resulted of the season has been enough to keep them in contention in the American League.
Some players have not played up to their typical standard, while others have dealt with the injury bug. There have been flashes of efficient baseball, but never sustained — Baltimore has yet to piece together a four-game win streak this season, but have won three consecutive games six separate times.
As a result, the Orioles find themselves in an odd position in the standings. But with a chance to pose a threat, the winning mindset is a shared one throughout the organization.
“First of all, and I emphasize ‘first of all,’ we want to make the playoffs. That’s the gateway to winning championships,” Elias said. “Winning a division title is great, but right now, we’re not even in the wild card, so I think Step 1 is to get ourselves into the wild-card position.
It is no secret that Baltimore has all of the tools to put together a great stretch of baseball, but it hasn't happened yet. But with a proven rotation, a productive bullpen and a lineup full of potential, a solid second half can put the Orioles in a position to strike.
With a little over a month to go until that trade deadline, Elias will continue to assess what may be needed to bolster Baltimore’s roster as a potential postseason threat.
"This is a team, if we get in, it means we had a strong second half,” Elias said. “I think if we can be relatively healthy going in, it’s going to be a pretty strong team in the playoffs with the players we have.”
Continue reading...
In what has been a back-and-forth season of short-lived success and inconsistencies, the outlook of the Baltimore Orioles’ season has remained the same — win and try to find a way into the postseason picture.
With the assembled roster they have, it's only suitable to pencil in a talented core as a potential contender. Shortly after the halfway point of the season, Baltimore remains rightfully focused on the big picture despite owning a losing record for the majority of the year.
Prior to Friday’s series opener against the Washington Nationals, the Orioles’ President of Baseball Operations Mike Elias made it clear that the team’s outlook is to continue aiming to contend, with eyes on improving the team ahead of the trade deadline in early August.
Heading into Friday, Baltimore sat a game and a half out of a wild card spot, despite owning a losing record. Elias elucidated owning a sense of urgency as trade deadline buyers with that in mind.
“I know our record’s backwards, but apparently this is infecting a whole bunch of other teams too,” Elias said, according to Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun. “I can’t explain it, and I wish we were arriving at that in a much different way, and the context around that is unusual. But we’re right there. So, like I said, we’re going for it.”
Baltimore finds themselves in an interesting place as July nears. Consistency has been hard to come by, but what has resulted of the season has been enough to keep them in contention in the American League.
Some players have not played up to their typical standard, while others have dealt with the injury bug. There have been flashes of efficient baseball, but never sustained — Baltimore has yet to piece together a four-game win streak this season, but have won three consecutive games six separate times.
As a result, the Orioles find themselves in an odd position in the standings. But with a chance to pose a threat, the winning mindset is a shared one throughout the organization.
“First of all, and I emphasize ‘first of all,’ we want to make the playoffs. That’s the gateway to winning championships,” Elias said. “Winning a division title is great, but right now, we’re not even in the wild card, so I think Step 1 is to get ourselves into the wild-card position.
It is no secret that Baltimore has all of the tools to put together a great stretch of baseball, but it hasn't happened yet. But with a proven rotation, a productive bullpen and a lineup full of potential, a solid second half can put the Orioles in a position to strike.
With a little over a month to go until that trade deadline, Elias will continue to assess what may be needed to bolster Baltimore’s roster as a potential postseason threat.
"This is a team, if we get in, it means we had a strong second half,” Elias said. “I think if we can be relatively healthy going in, it’s going to be a pretty strong team in the playoffs with the players we have.”
Continue reading...
