1 week down, 25 to go and an Ode to the Blast

Could anyone have asked for a better start to the Orioles 2009 campaign? This first week of top-notch baseball by the Orioles is not surprising (they usually start hot), but it is relieving. The pitching has been hit or miss so far. Three out of five starters have at least one win but the bullpen has allowed the opposition to creep back into games. Jeremy Guthrie has silenced critics who were pessimistic while watching him struggle this spring.

The Orioles offense has performed superbly as expected. Brian Roberts, Adam Jones, Nick Markakis, and Melvin Mora are batting well over .300 with 19 RBI's to go around through Saturday. Most agree that the offense will be among the best in the big leagues this year. Prior to opening day, my major concern with the offense was the bottom 3 hitters. Gregg Zaun, Felix Pie, and Cesar Izturis are not exactly front-line hitters however they have been performing well enough to keep the rest of the lineup afloat.

The Orioles baserunning has concerned me. They have already been thrown out four times this season having only stolen four bases. I understand that Dave Trembley wants his team to be aggressive on the basepaths. What I don't understand is why they need to be aggressive right now while their offense is performing exceptionally well. The Orioles are getting baserunners and scoring runs left and right. There is no need to risk losing baserunners when the offense is hot.

Congratulations to the Blast who won their fifth championship in seven years this past Saturday. They beat the Rockford Rampage 13-10 at the First Mariner Arena. OK, I know it's just soccer, indoor soccer at that. But the Blast have a long and significant history in Baltimore, they deserve some credit.