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Good morning, Camden Chatters.
For the second time in three days, the Orioles didn’t play a game yesterday, although unlike Tuesday’s rainout, this one was a scheduled idle date. And with the O’s having reached the 40-game mark (actually 41, but who’s counting?), they’re now roughly one-quarter of the way through the 2024 regular season.
Our own John Beers analyzed the O’s standouts and disappointments through the first quarter, and the Baltimore Banner beat writers gave their own assessments of the team in its first fourth of the season, offering their responses to four questions.
How would you answer the questions posed in the Banner article? Here are mine:
1. Looking back at your opening day predictions, do you still feel the same or has it changed? In Camden Chat’s predictions post before Opening Day, I forecasted an 89-73 record. That’s looking a little low now, with the Orioles currently on pace for more than 100 wins. Maybe I’m just a pessimist, but I don’t know, it still feels kind of presumptuous to predict a 100-win season, doesn’t it? I’ll stick with my original prediction and will be happy to be wrong.
2. What’s been the biggest surprise? The Banner’s Danielle Allentuck and Andy Kostka both answer Cole Irvin, and Kyle Goon mentions Jordan Westburg, and I feel like that covers the two best answers. I’ll give an honorable mention to Ryan O’Hearn, who has the third-best OPS+ on the team and is proving he wasn’t a one-year fluke.
3. What is the Orioles’ biggest weakness? The Banner writers identify the bullpen (specifically the ninth inning) and the Birds’ low-OBP offensive approach here. Another somewhat surprising weakness has been the O’s outfield, which was expected to be one of the most stable units of the team but has been (aside from Colton Cowser’s April) pretty unproductive.
4. Who do you think will be the Orioles All-Stars? Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson are locks. Westburg should be, too, barring a significant dropoff before the first half ends. Corbin Burnes has the name recognition but could be frozen out if the O’s keep giving him zero run support. The Banner writers mention a few relief pitchers also, but I’d be surprised if any members of this O’s bullpen make it.
What are your thoughts, Camden Chatters?
