Is every Adam Jones homer a big one?

Soon it will be late May and the Orioles are still tied for first place. Even a 4 game winning streak by the Rays couldn't knock them out of a share of the top.

And it seems like Adam Jones is a big part of every win.
I'm not saying he is! Those of you about to fling a crap load of stats at me proving he's only the 7th most valuable Orioles, don't bother.

I'm just talking as a casual observer who mainly catches the Orioles on highlights. It just seems like whenever there is a Baltimore win, Adam Jones makes his way onto the highlight reel.

Last night he started the game 0-6, which sucks no matter which stats you use.

Then in the 15 inning, he homers, it puts the Orioles on top and he's the lead part of the story and the big hero.

I am sure there were people who had better games than Adam Jones' one swing of the bat, but he's the one I am typing about.

He's got 12 homers so far and I'm better 13 of them have tied the game or given Baltimore the lead.

I'm pretty sure about that stat.

  

It's GOT TO BE the Smiling Bird!

Did you notice that the Orioles are hot?



Not just based upon their 5 run bottom of the 9th win today capped by Wilson Betemit's walk off 3 run jack.



But Buck Showalter is entering the month's final game tied for first in the Division. The Orioles have a better record than the Yankees, the Red Sox, the Tigers, the Angels and many other teams that were expected to contend.



Adam Jones is off to a great start. Red Sox nemesis Nolan Reimold is hitting the ball well. Matt Weiters is driving in runs. And Tommy Hunter looked terrific today (I thought last year he was a good pick up for Baltimore.)



Jim Johnson has been spot on as a closer and while the Red Sox and Yankees try to piece together a rotation, Jason Hammel and Wei-Yin Chen join Hunter as solid starters so far. If Jake Arrieta and Brian Matusz can get their acts together, this would be a deep staff.



So who should get credit for this?

Buck Showalter?

Dan Duquette?



Of course not.

It's the smiling bird hat.



This is their best start since 2008 when they won 16 games in April. And we all know how THAT season ended. (Actually I bet you didn't. They were a .500 team in mid July but went 23-52 after the 4th of July to finish with 93 losses.)



But the feeling in Baltimore is good right now.

And that bird has reason to smile.

Why is this man smiling?

It's been almost exactly 3 years since Dave Trembley took over the Orioles in June of 2007.

Then the common thought process was "Hey, there's no way anyone's going to beat the Red Sox nor Yankees... so just keep the seat warm."

Well since then the Rays have shown that a team not in the Northeast can win the division and at this point, even the Blue Jays are contending.

Meanwhile the Orioles are 187-280 under Trembley... almost 100 games UNDER .500 in not quite 3 seasons!

That's an even .400 winning percentage that is falling like a rock with the Orioles in a 5 game tailspin.

Look, nobody was expecting the Orioles to remind anyone of the great Earl Weaver teams this year... but there ARE some talented players on this squad. Adam Jones, Nick Markakis and Matt Wieters were supposed to be the nucleus for an exciting team. And veterans like Ty Wigginton, Cesar Izturis and Kevin Millwood were supposed to help the young kids mature.

Instead the Orioles are on pace to go 47-115... which would not only be the worst record in baseball since the 2003 Tigers... but be the worst team in Baltimore Oriole history (yes, worse than the 1988 team that started 0-21 and finished 54-107.)

That would be the most losses in the HISTORY of the franchise dating back to the days of the inept St. Louis Browns.

Dave Trembley could lead the Orioles into its absolute darkest hour.
The franchise that was once the model of consistency and winning ways could hit its low point in 2010 under Trembley's watch.

Why is this man smiling?
Because with the team having an off day, it seemed 60/40 he was going to get fired... and so far he hasn't.

Maybe he'll turn it around.
Maybe they will avoid the worst record in team history.

Keep smiling.