MVN - Most Valuable Network

Top Ten O’s Improvements

I enjoyed a day out at the Yard today to see the O’s sweep the two game series against Boston.  Beautiful weather, Orioles baseball, and winning are a great combination.  And it’s even more fun when you get to torment your friend who is a Boston bandwagon fan.

Thanks for hanging in there with me, everyone.  I officially graduate on Friday, but finished grad school a few days ago.  And now I can sit down and enjoy writing again, without having term papers and research hanging over my head.  It’s great to be free.

Today I bring you my top ten list for Oriole improvements in 2008…  Enjoy!

10. Games being show in Hi-Def

I’ll be honest here and say that I don’t have a HD TV, so it never bothered me.  But the fans wanted it, so I’m glad there are some games being done in HD and more promised for next year.  It’s a step forward for MASN and a way to pacify fans who wanted it (even though I’m sure some will complain that there should be more this year).

9.  New Scoreboards

Sticking with the technology theme, I love the scoreboard upgrades done at Camden Yards.  I now feel like I spent the last several years at a ballpark that used scoreboards that were likely used when Moses played little league.  They were much needed and a great improvement.

8.  Garrett Olson

After struggling in a short stint in the majors in 2007, this kid has been looked great in 2008.  He’s currently 2-0 with a 2.95 ERA.  He now seems more confident to challenge hitters and avoid the nibbling he was known for last year.  He makes Friday’s start against the Nationals.

7.  This is Birdland

I remember laughing when I received a postcard in the mail where I first read the ‘This is Birdland’ slogan for 2008.  But I gotta admit that it has grown on me.  It seems to embrace the idea of community—players, management, fans, Baltimore makes up Birdland.  I also like the newest Birdland commercial.  It reminds me of all the good things about being an O’s fan.

6.  James Johnson

If I may make a confession, I had pretty much given up on Johnson.  But similar to Olson, he’s joined the team in 2008 looking like he belongs in the Majors.  Over 22 innings, he has a 1.19 ERA and has been a stopgap in the bullpen, especially with the recent struggles of Jamie Walker.  Most recently, he was impressive in Tuesday night’s appearance against the Red Sox, which included getting Manny Ramirez to hit into a 1-2-3 double play.

5.  New Orioles Magic Video

I saw it for the first time at today’s game against the Red Sox and was happy to see it had hit the internet when I got home.  If you didn’t already notice, I love all things that are corny and fun.  And you can’t get much more fun than Kevin Millar, Jeremy Guthrie, Adam Jones, Adam Loewen, Dennis Sarfate, and George Sherrill rocking out to Oriole Magic.  I love that it’s a lot of current and historic O’s footage, including Wild Bill.  I feel like it’s a bit of a throwback to the video of Rick Demspey, Eddie Murray, and others to Old Time Rock ‘n Roll.  It’s incredibly cheesy, but so fun.  If you haven’t caught it yet, check it out on You Tube.

4.  Daniel Cabrera

Cabrera has certainly been trying to make believers out of all of the skeptics out there.  Even though it’s still too early to say anything definite about Cabrera, it already appears that the trade him or keep debate will be huge among fans and the team in the upcoming months.  Today he was solid and kept the team in the game and picked up another win to make him 4-1 on the season.  Keep this up and Cabrera will make Dustin Pedoria eat his words.  If you don’t remember last season, he commented on Cabrera, saying “The guy is an idiot.  […] I was upset they took him out of the game. He is good to hit. He’s 9-15. The guy (stinks).”

3.  One Run Games

The Orioles currently sit at 10-5 in run one games.  Last season they were 13-31.  Three one run games away from tying last year’s total number of wins and it’s only mid-May.  In case you’re wondering, the 10 one run wins is more than anyone else in the majors, as well as the highest winning percentage.  I place thanks at the feet of Dave Trembley’s love of the fundamentals.

2.  Rick Kranitiz

We seem to found a pitching coach that’s really able to work with our young pitching.  I’ve already mentioned Olson, Johnson, and Cabrera, and Matt Albers only barely missed being on this list.  Guthrie has also looked solid this year and the bullpen has been doing pretty well.  The bullpen’s ERA of 3.38 puts the team in a very respectable 5^th place in the American League.

1.  Trade Results

There are times when I miss seeing an Erik Bedard strike out or having Miguel Tejada at the plate after Louis Hernandez strikes out.  But those are fleeting moments and I am thankful that the O’s did the right thing at the right time not once, but twice!  And we’re already seeing results as George Sherrill, Adam Jones, Matt Albers, and Dennis Sarfate already having an impact in the Majors.  Several of the prospects have been doing well in the minors, too.  I still meet the occasional O’s fan who doesn’t understand why the O’s traded Erik Bedard and I just laugh.

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 15th, 2008 at 1:58 am and is filed under Oriole Magic!. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.