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Slow Start? What Slow Start?
OK, time to stop the MLB nonsense about whether the Indians are for real.
They’re as real as Justin Masterson’s sinker, Shin-Soo Choo’s right arm, Carlos Santana’s batting eye, Orlando Cabrera’s experience and Asdrubal Cabrera’s talent.
Try this for real: The Indians own a majors-best 66 run differential and an MLB best 18-4 home record. They’ve scored the second-most runs in the A.L. and have the fourth-best ERA. They’re 7-2 against the A.L. East with the revived Red Sox returning to Cleveland looking for revenge after that three-game sweep they absorbed in the season’s first week.
Ron Washington knows they’re for real. Asked if he knew the Indians would be in first place when in spring training he asked Manny Acta to be an MLB All-Star coach, the Rangers managed replied, “I knew the Indians would be tough. They have some talent.”
Washington might have been one of the few to believe that two months ago. But he’s no longer alone. The Indians sit atop the MLB Power Poll for the fourth consecutive week. The Poll is convinced.
1. Indians (1). You can ask the Reds if the Tribe is for real. The Indians’ weekend sweep was first over Reds since 2004.
2. Cardinals (14). When talking about N.L. MVP candidates, Matt Holliday would be the place to start. Unless you started with Lance Berkman.
3. Red Sox (13). About that 2-10 start, perhaps the Red Sox just wanted to play fair and give the rest of the league a head start.
Adrian Gonzalez has provided the offensive punch the Red Sox were hoping for when they traded for him this offseason. (AP Photo)
4. Giants (6). Latest wrist injury to Mark DeRosa could be the end, making his the saddest in a season that has seen more than its share of injuries.
5. Phillies (4). Chase Utley is back in time for rematch of last year’s divisional series against the Reds. Time for the rest of the Phillies’ offense to return, too.
6. Yankees (15). What a debut: Right-hander Hector Noesi gives Yankees four scoreless innings to win 15-inning marathon in Baltimore, providing the difference between a so-so and a good week for the club.
Will the Orioles Snap Their Losing Trend?
There is a lot of buzz surrounding Buck Showalter, the new manager of the Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles have had 13 consecutive losing seasons. Showalter is supposedly going to change the losing culture.
He has a lot to work on considering the ballclub has the worst record in the majors. So far, Showalter has been living up to the hype. In his debut game at Camden Yards was a victory that led to the Orioles first ever season series sweep of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Who knows, maybe we’ll be seeing a lot more personalized MLB jerseys in Baltimore colors with Showalter’s 26 on the back.
The Buck Starts Here
The Orioles have a 75 percent new infield, a new closer, a new designated hitter and a new coaching staff.
Before they make the step to contender in the MLB American League East, Baltimore will need a culture change.
Buck Showalter is doing what he can to change an atmosphere created by (and the cause of) 13-straight losing seasons.
Instead of a team-wide meeting before Monday’s first full-squad workout, Showalter had everyone come to the clubhouse Sunday evening. They piled into buses and went to a local movie theater.
Center fielder Adam Jones wondered if they were seeing the Justin Bieber movie. Instead, after Showalter introduced the front office and staff and made a short speech, the team watched a specially made video.
In between World Series-clinching moments from Orioles championships and clips of some Baltimore on-field brawls were inspirational speeches from movies such as “Any Given Sunday” and “Miracle.”
The players gave it a thumbs-up.
“It was cool,” new third baseman Mark Reynolds said. “Too bad we didn’t have a game last night, because I think most of us were ready to roll.”
The Orioles went 34-23 last year after Showalter became manager, the second-best record in the AL over that span. Baltimore won four of 34 series before Showalter and 11 of 18 under him.
It was an astonishing turnaround, but no one should expect it to translate into .596 ball over a full season (97 wins) just yet.
Asked if there is any carryover from that finish, Jones said, “A mindset, definitely.”
That’s part of what has to change. Jones has to realize he still hasn’t fully realized his potential, catcher Matt Wieters has to come out of his shell and take charge with the pitchers and — more than anything — losing has to become unacceptable.
Joey Gathright Gets Knocked Around Again
Orioles and Cubs both trying to fix an organizational surplus traded Ryan Freel, utilityman, to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for outfielder Joey Gathright.
Andy MacPhail, Baltimore’s president of baseball operations said, “I think it’s the same thing on both sides of the equation,” he said. “Since we acquired Ryan, we ended up acquiring [Ty] Wigginton, who can play third base and bats right-handed. And we acquired [Robert] Andino, who can play shortstop and second base. So we didn’t get the at-bats there that we originally anticipated. It’s just one of those things that sort of evolved. I think the Cubs had the same thing on the Gathright side. [Kosuke] Fukudome got off to such a hot start that how much they envisioned using Joey initially didn’t pan out either.”
Freel had nearly $4 million remaining on his contract when he was originally traded, and Gathright was owed less than $1 million. The Baltimore Orioles apparently kicked in more than $1 million to even out the scales, which is why the trade required approval from the Commissioner’s Office before it could be approved and announced.
The Orioles gain another veteran outfield for injury insurance at Triple-A Norfolk. This 28 year old is hitting .214 this season and .262 for his career, very defensive-minded and a speedster.
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