Seriously, what does that even mean?

even-tempered manager Dave Trembley is starting to bristle at the carefully worded questions

I don't know why he's got his panties in a bunch--it's exactly this type of situation that wins you manager of the year

and why should I not have Nick Markakis on my team?

“It’s not a fluke we’re leading the AL East just because some people were wrong with their [early-season] predictions,” first baseman Kevin Millar said before last night’s 8-1 loss. “This team’s a hell of a lot better than people think.”

Don't get too carried away with yourself Millar. There are still five months left to go in the season.

At first, I thought this was a snarky headline in the wake of a losing streak or bad loss.

I get they feeling they won't be defending their surprisingly good record much longer.

and why should I not have Nick Markakis on my team?

He walks too much.

Let's drink to the hard working people
Let's drink to the lowly of birth
Raise your glass to the good and the evil
Let's drink to the salt of the earth

Say a prayer for the common first baseman
Spare a thought for his back breaking work
Say a prayer for his designated hitter
Who takes the pitches and who gains still more girth

more importantly, some of the kids are off to decent starts (Wieters, Arrieta, Erbe, Tillman, Butler, Liz)

haven't really looked into it....but didn't the O's start real strong either last year or the year before, and, as expected, faded over the long-term?

In 2005, they were 16-7 in April, and 44-36 at the end of June.

haven't really looked into it....but didn't the O's start real strong either last year or the year before, and, as expected, faded over the long-term?

The Orioles started really strong in 2005 and then faded, but almost every year in recent memory they start out decently and then <strike>fade</strike>fall apart. They've played something close to .500 ball in the first half in many seasons -- and then collapsed. Part of the problem is simply that they have had zero depth, so as soon as injuries struck -- at a normal frequency, not an insanely unlucky frequency despite what their propaganda mill claimed -- they were unequipped to handle them.

The Orioles started really strong in 2005 and then faded, but almost every year in recent memory they start out decently and then fadefall apart. They've played something close to .500 ball in the first half in many seasons -- and then collapsed. Part of the problem is simply that they have had zero depth, so as soon as injuries struck -- at a normal frequency, not an insanely unlucky frequency despite what their propaganda mill claimed -- they were unequipped to handle them.

Somebody was saying the team had begun each of the past 4 years 11-7.

And they tend to play more of their games against the better teams (i.e. Boston, NY) at the end of the year.

But 70 wins is possible!

more importantly, some of the kids are off to decent starts (Wieters, Arrieta, Erbe, Tillman, Butler, Liz)

They've also had some really good starts from some middle-tier pitching prospects (Berken, Mariotti, Britton, Bergeson, and Hernandez). They should have enough arms to sneak a few over the attrition wall.

Aside from Wieters, though, the hitters have all been terrible.

This headline looks like it was written by The Onion.

“It’s not a fluke we’re leading the AL East just because some people were wrong with their [early-season] predictions,” first baseman Kevin Millar said before last night’s 8-1 loss. “This team’s a hell of a lot better than people think.”

Maybe, but unfortunately for Millar he may be even worse than people think.

The Oriole habit of getting off to good starts is in many ways an incredibly unlucky thing for Orioles fans, every year Angelos gets to delude himself for a good portion of the season on the quality of his team.

In some ways it's like those players who, for whatever reason always have good Aprils or bat well immediately after being traded:
Shea Hillenbrand (career .321/.359/.477 in April but .284/.321/.440 overall)
Shea was actually a pretty bad player, but usually he had a good start, so had good numbers most of the way through the season- and so got a lot more PT that he should have. Conversely, Juan Rivera- a better hitter, has hit .230/.282/.317 in April for his career, that wrecks his numbers for half the year, loses him at bats, etc. (Perhaps you could have a platoon where Shea plays in April/May and then Juan takes over?)... When people look during the season they see that Shea is hitting .290-.310 or so, but Juan is only at .250-.260 or so.... to the casual fan or MSM member who doesn't pore over the Bill James Handbook or refer to BBREF after the season is over the false impression that Shea is better than Juan can easily take hold.

To someone who wants to be deluded, like Angelos, when the Orioles start out .500 or better, that's proof that the team is good, when things go south later well, it's bad luck, it's injuries etc...

The Oriole tendency to start [relatively] strong does tend to keep the fans coming to the ballpark, and there is something to be said for that. Every team needs casual fans.

If they were to start out, say, 7-23 some year, it's conceivable that the only decent turnouts they'd get all year would be when the Red Sox fans or Yankees fans come to town.

You know, someone mentioned "How We Know What Isn't So" over in this thread, but somehow I can't shake the feeling that it would have been more appropriate here.

“This team’s a hell of a lot better than people think.”

Indeed Kevin. This team is totally better then the 62 Mets. Woot.

Somebody was saying the team had begun each of the past 4 years 11-7.

The O's started 11-7 lsat year, but I don't think that was the case in 2006. And they started strong in 2005. In any case, the team typically does OK until July when everything falls apart. The O's depth in position players is typically poor and this year is no different. Pitching wise, injuries are expected but last year especially bad. By August, Daniel Cabrera was the only original member of the rotation because of injuries and the Traschel trade. The O's first two options of depth filled in (Guthrie and Burres) and did well at times, but it was ugly after that. With Albers, Olson, Liz, Jim Johnson, and Penn, hopefully there won't be a repeat appearance from the Victors this year.

Haven't verified the 11-7 thing up, but it's here, mostly the commenters.

I like the pitching depth a hell of a lot more, the corner infielders less than ever.

However, them Rays look tuff, so maybe no World Series this year.

Haven't verified the 11-7 thing up

'Tis true, per Baseball-Reference.

-- MWE