Jerry Coleman: Orioles Back On the Diamond – All Even
As some Orioles got some time away from the game before starting the second of the season, it's time to kick it in full gear. Last year the team was ten games over .500 coming out of the All-Star break. This season Buck's Birds are 44-44, but only 3.5 back of the AL East leading Yankees.
"We don't look at what somebody else is doing or can do until we do the things we can do and have done this year to be consistent," said Orioles manager Buck Showalter. "We got like what 70 something games left, still a lot of baseball yet to be played and were engaged in the competition."
Buck Showalter On Still Being In The Race
The O's have committed the fewest errors in the AL (39) and are tied for the second fewest in the Majors with the Miami Marlins, behind only the Dodgers (35). The Orioles lead the AL and rank third in the majors with a .988 team fielding percentage. Solid defense will certainly be a factor again, for a club that wants to stay in race to defend their 2014 AL East Crown.
The second half also brings in new talent to contenders who know that they will have a shot for the postseason or feel confident enough to make a run to play baseball in October. The trade deadline comes on July 31st, and Adam Jones says that even though he wouldn't be upset if they didn't make any moves, he'd be more than pleased if the franchise attempted to grab somebody before the deadline.
"I feel great with guys here, obviously hopefully we're buyers at the trade deadline… Obviously one or two guys that are out there on the open market could defiantly help this team but I am not GM, I don't know those moves, they don't ask me."
Adam Jones On The Trade Deadline
It's not just Jones , as the end of the month approaches , 3B Manny Machado realizes the look of the club may be altered, "It's a long season ahead, there's a lot of moving parts going on, and that's just how July is, we just have to keep fighting and keep our heads up."
Manny Machado On Possible Changes
O's have 8 pending free agents, & VP Dan Duquette already has said he expects to be active, up To The July 31st Non-Waiver Trade Deadline.
Key Note: The O's will face the Tigers, Yankees, and Rays before returning to Camden Yards to face the Braves on July 27th, where Nick Markakis will returning since his departure.
