Unfortunate Timing for an Orioles Custom

I feel like it's a bit mean-spirited to post a custom from a team immediately after your team has just swept the hell out of them by scoring a combined THIRTY EIGHT RUNS against them.

And even worse- I like the Orioles! I've been to a bunch of their games, and I have a ton of respect for the organization and this current roster. But I don't care how good you are- if the Yankees are scoring THAT MANY runs off of you, you need to look deep down into the roster and see if it's less of a referendum on them on more of a referendum on YOU.

The lineup is at 'good enough' levels currently, which is kind of sad. Mark Trumbo hit 47 home runs last year. So far he's hit 8. Nobody's really wowing people, and the big starts that some of the new additions had are beginning to cool off. The pitching staff, with the exception of Wade Miley and Dylan Bundy, is atrocious. Chris Tillman, Ubaldo Jimenez, and now Kevin Gausman are all giving up too many runs, and if it took the Yankees taking them for spins the last two games to make that abundantly clear to the front desk, then so be it.

The Rays are getting to the point where they're about to lap the O's, and as a guy whose indifference towards the Rays knows no bounds, I'd prefer that not to happen. The Orioles need to figure out how to fix their pitching staff, and inspire some life in their lineup, and maybe, just maybe, they won't get absolutely mutilated by the Yankees' offense next time.

Coming Tomorrow: Having just as good a season as last year, only with the rest of his team pitching in a bit more.

After the Sucker Punch

It's extremely hard to come back and present yourself legitimately after you've been punched in the face in front of the entire baseball world.

I mean, it's not everyday I feel bad for Jose Bautista, but...damn, that's tough. I mean, the first billion times I saw the clip, I was laughing and rooting for Rougned Odor, but after a while, the fact that a baseball player legitimately got punched in the face came to light.

That doesn't happen. If this was hockey, then yes, it'd be a regular, everyday occurrence. If we were talking about Manny Pacquiao, then I wouldn't feel bad. But this is a guy who works as a baseball player. Yes, baseball players get knocked down, but NOT LIKE THAT.

For the most part, Joey Bats has always been near the top of my hate list. He's a division rival, and always does really well in the home run standings. I also don't dig his attitude toward the game, and that bat flip against the Rangers last year was indeed the tipping point. Yes, that may have been one of the reasons why Odor went all Mongo-to-the-horse on him, but I don't think he did anything in that moment to taunt him.

Odor's still running out his suspension, but Bautista is back, back to hitting just well enough to still be employed, and as the Blue Jays are slumping a tiny bit without a few key elements (like Ben Revere, David Price, and a NOT-cold Troy Tulowitzki), he's one of the few guys they're counting on to stay semi-warm. To that end, I hope he keeps it up. He's already been a laughingstock. He can't get any lower, and he should know how to get back up from this sort of thing.

Coming Tomorrow- When you're pushing for 2nd when you were supposed to have no business contending this year, do what the Phils are doing. Be Like Maik.