Baltimore Orioles

The second half of the 2009 season for the Baltimore Orioles isn’t necessarily about wins and losses, but it is about changing a negative aura that has been more than a decade in the making.

Baltimore has posted a winning mark in the second half of the season only three times since 1998 and not since 2004.

But the struggles have gone beyond just registering losing seasons. Almost every year, the Orioles have sleep walked through the last two months of the season.   

Hopefully, you all remember the classic Sportscenter segment that always aired near the end of the show. It was called "Did You Know." It featured some statistical anomaly that occurred during the day or sometimes took notice of some historical achievement. Well, here's my All-Star version, with a bias towards the Orioles. These "did you know" questions cover the big league club, as well as their minor league affiliates. Here goes!

Long-suffering Orioles fans will look to the second half of this baseball season for answers to two key questions: 1. Is a winning season on the horizon? and 2. Can the Birds contend in the division within two to three years?

Unfortunately, the team's record after the All-Star break won't provide any real answers to those questions.

Want evidence? Of course you do.

1. Is Brian Matusz' 2009 performance more impressive than Matt Wieters' of 2008?

Lawrence Barreca: In some ways yes, and in other ways no. Both have taken the same sort of route, hitting Frederick and Bowie along the way, and both had similar results.

On Thursday, July 9th, Baseball America unveiled it's Top 25 prospects in baseball, showing who tops the list at midseason.  Teams with bright farm systems, like the Florida Marlins, Tampa Bay Rays, San Francisco Giants, and Baltimore Orioles were sure to have fans jumping up and down to see the list.

The fan base of the Baltimore Orioles has to be excited at the moment. In the top 10, the O's had two pitching prospects (Chris Tillman, 8th, and Brian Matusz, 9th). It's especially exciting for O's fans because the team is in dire need of starting pitching.

I was struck recently when two separate lists of the “All-Time Baltimore Orioles” included Gus Triandos as the best catcher in Orioles history. If that is truly the case, then we need Matt Wieters worse than I originally thought.

Not that I have anything against Gus Triandos, he was a solid player in the early years after the Orioles moved from St. Louis. However, if a player who played 50 years ago and had a .249 batting average, 142 home runs, and 517 RBI is the best your franchise can offer at a position, you have some issues.

On Sunday, July 5, it was announced that Orioles center fielder Adam Jones would represent his team in St. Louis, at the All Star Game. The 23-year old outfielder has made his mark so far, with a .308 average, 12 home runs, 46 RBI, 91 hits, a .364 on base percentage, and 17 doubles.

Amidst their current losing ways, a star burns bright in Camden Yards.

Welcome to my latest project! I am endeavoring to formulate the All Time Team in each franchise history.

A few parameters need to be established prior to beginning. First, no player will appear on more than one team. It is my sole decision as to which franchise a place a multi-team player.

For example, even though Frank Robinson won the Triple Crown with the Baltimore Orioles, he spent more time and had higher numbers with the Cincinnati Reds. Plus, I am still pissed at the GM for trading him to Baltimore for Milt Pappas.

For a guy with a 22-17 career record, a 3.23 ERA, and twice as many strikeouts as walks, Zachary Britton sure doesn't get a lot of attention. 

A third-round pick who puts up the kind of numbers that Britton has usually is considered a top-level prospect. Yet somehow, Britton couldn't even crack the organization's top 10. Some bemoan his lack of strike-throwing ability, while others say he doesn't work deep enough into games.

But the facts speak clearer than any opinions. When Britton is on his game, he is one of the best that the Orioles have to offer.