O's for real?

[grzftbl]

Best record in the AL the last 61 games.

Just heard it on Around the Horn.

On a totally different subject: I still say McNally got fukked out of the Cy Young but, man, what a staff they had back in the day. Ok, maybe he didn't get fukked but he was just as deserving. (homer as he's from Montana)

Another leftie for the O's, Jeff Ballard lives here. He's on the board for the Local legion teams--I ump, he signs my checks.

[Shark23]

In any other division, they're for real. I doubt the pitching can hold up for 6 months in the AL East though, but they could be .500 and not be in the cellar this year (hopefully).

[psugisher]

i'm a huge fan of the orioles since the early 80s. o's will be good enough to mix it up in the al east. very young pitching staff but they have some live arms and seem to be coming into their own. their bullpen remains suspect and will be vulnerable later in the year if the young starters can't consistently go deep in games. some nice vets throughout the lineup with vlad, derrick lee and brian roberts. great young talent in adam jones, nick markakis and, mark weiters. there's hope for this team but the division is probably too tough for them to be real contenders. buck came in and went 34-23 with a team that was 40 games under 500 to that point. nothing short of a miracle, but the young guys are getting it and gaining a ton of confidence.

i remember jeff ballard's great run in 1989. o's had lost 21 straight to start 1988 and were a laughing stock. took the jays down to the final series of the year in 89 before settling for 2nd in the east. he threw all kinds of junk and i think he won 18 games that year.

[silverfox]

i can see them being very good this year