O's Observations

Left over notes and observations after working the O's-Tampa Bay series for MASN.

- A team with little margin for error (the O's) cannot afford to make fundamental mistakes.  Scott Moore being thrown out at 3rd on a grounder to short is a certain no-no.  (Added opinion:  I don't pinch run for Ty Wigginton in that situation.  Moore isn't significantly faster than Wigginton and I lose a hot bat when I take Ty out).   Juan Samuel was clearly upset by the base running blunder.  Wigginton tried to defend Moore a little and say that it's a gut instinct play and we'll probably see someone else do the same thing tonight.  Maybe, but again- when you're the O's, you can't afford those mistakes.  Every run in every game is too crucial for a team that scores so little.

- Mike Gonzalez first game back as a reliever could be tell-tale to his future.  He tells me his issues right now are more mental than physical.  When that bullpen gate swings open (and it's likely to open for him over the next four days), he'll return to the scene of a nightmare:  booed mercilessly by the home crowd on April 9 after a blown save.  He tells me he wants to prove to his teammates and fans that he's a good pitcher.  There will be allot going on for him emotionally, regardless of the status of the game when he does come in.

- Under the managerial hand of Samuel, the O's don't lack effort as much as they lack talent.  Despite what it appears at times, in the overall- this group of Oriole plays hard and cares.  The number of comeback wins they've managed (many from down four runs or more) is an indication of a team that doesn't roll over during tough times.  I saw it first-hand in Texas, and Tuesday night against Tampa Bay.  Grit is nice, but it's in the talent category that they come up short- and trying hard only gets a team so far.  Just watching Tampa Bay and what Evan Longoria brings to the batter's box and to the field- the difference between the O's and Rays becomes most clear.  Longoria is a supreme talent and presence.  A stud player, a proven producer and a team leader.  Bolstered by a top-to-bottom solid pitching staff, All-Star caliber position players and role players, Longoria carries the flag for a winner.  The O's say they want to be like the Rays, I say they have to get some version (or versions) of a Longoria-type to start making that possible.