The Orioles post-July...hasn't been especially pretty. But it could be worse.
Obviously they've lost a lot of games. Obviously their pitchers haven't been effective. Obviously there are a ton of holes in the lineup being filled by inexperienced players. Obviously guys you've never heard of, like Austin Wynns and John Andreoli, are filling important positions. And obviously second-tier backups, like Renato Nunez, Craig Gentry and Jonathan Villar, are doing their best to distract fans from the loss of franchise players like Jonathan Schoop, Kevin Gausman, and ESPECIALLY Manny Machado.
But...if Cedric Mullins wasn't up and hitting over .300, they'd be in a lot worse shape. Mullins is so good that he's prompted longtime centerfielder Adam Jones to move over to right field, and is beginning to become a fixture, with his home-run hitting, supreme defense, and and impressive gameplay. The guy's only 23, and could have a great career ahead of him with Baltimore if the team eventually reforms around him.
Again...that may take a while. A TON of the elder members of this team will need to go before the Orioles can be able to lead a division again. Chris Davis needs to go...like, yesterday. And the GM needs to get his priorities straight, because it's hard for the youth to succeed when so many bulky, weighty contracts are taking up the payroll.
I want to root for the Orioles, but it's hard during a season like this.
Coming Tonight: Bearded Nats pitcher who is, somehow, still pitching for the Nats.
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