Another Tough Loss for the O's

Well, another really tough loss last night against the D Rays and it was one of those games that I never felt like the O’s would win, despite being ahead for the first 4 innings. I thought Guthrie threw very well and had great movement on his pitches, especially his slider. Very encouraging, and from the quotes I read today, it sounds like he felt very comfortable and better than at any point last year. Two 1-run losses is painful though, and one of the areas that the O’s absolutely need to improve ASAP. As I watched the game last night it struck me that the O’s are hoping that next year or in 2012 they develop into what D Rays are today. I mean, their #1 and #2 starters are both younger by several years and better than the O’s top 2, Millwood and Guthrie. Evan Longoria IS a star now, and if he stays healthy is going to put up some monster numbers for the next 10 years. Markakis may not quite be Longoria, but he’s not far, and should easily win several Gold Gloves if people would look away from Ichiro (or look more closely, b/c Markakis deserved a GG last year!) They just have a wealth of talent who also have major league experience, and several of the O’s young players who I’d expect to be in very good star range, in Wieters, Matusz, Reimold, Jones, and perhaps Tillman, will continue to get ML experience and hopefully develop this year. The Rays are clearly ahead of the O’s, which brings me back to my state of depression. It’s just a brutally tough division, but I feel like the O’s are clearly headed in the right direction. Here are a couple more thoughts from last night’s game:
- Great hustle by Markakis to run hard and score from 2nd on a routine grounder to 2B that should have ended the inning. That’s the kind of stuff we need out of this team, the little things. Everyone can always hustle, and if you don’t, you sit your ass on the bench, Period.
- Regardless of what Reimold said in the papers, he looked terrible on both balls that went over his head into the LF gaps last night. He’s not a great leftfielder anyway and seemed tentative, but he’s got to get better. Quickly. Our defense needs to tighten up and all you have to do is watch the games to know that, not the box score.
- We got some breaks on check swings last night and did capitalize. We need lots of beaks.
- Hopefully the O’s learned how important tacking on runs in the late innings is. The rays did it last night and it proved to be the game winner. The O’s didn’t on opening night and you know how things ended up.
- Guthrie and Millwood’s performances were encouraging; especially b/c of what they did in the spring. I was very pleased with Guthrie last night, and he always battles.

Now, as Roch Kubatko said this morning, Matusz needs to be the stopper. A tall task indeed, but I really like this kid’s chances this year. Maybe not tonight, mind you, but he really looks like he is going to be something special. We need him to be special tonight, as it is as important a 3rd game of the season than there has ever been for this team. With Niemann on the hill for the Rays, I am keeping my fingers crossed that our offense finally gets going. I’m not going to be able to watch tonight as we are going to see Yonder Mountain String Band after my class, but I’ll have some things to say after I watch the recorded version at high, high speed when I get home! Go O’s and come on Brian Matusz!!!