Going into the 2015 MLB season, it remained to be seen if Buck Showalter could finally get a team over the hump and procure himself a World Series title. Having failed in Texas, New York and Arizona to win the big one. Could he do it with the Baltimore Orioles? Coming off a division title in 2o14, you had to like their chances. What did the baseball experts on the internet think?
Bleacher Report, however, was less than impressed and only pegged the Orioles to end 2015 season with a 78-84 record. The Sporting News.com was a might more generous, thinking they would finish in second. To quote SN, "He lost some key members of his 2014 division winning club but Baltimore manager Buck Showalter is the best in the business at getting the most out of a roster." At 77-81, there will be no World Series title for Baltimore or Showalter and no second place finish either. What went wrong? Offensively, nothing. In fact, Orioles slugger Chris Davis has rebounded, finally getting himself on the right side of the Mendoza line (over. 200 average) while bombing 45 home runs to go along with his 112 RBIs. With 3rd Baseman Manny Machado and centerfielder Adam Jones, the Orioles are well covered.
Pitching is another matter entirely and their starting pitching can be pitching, a weakness widely recognized by all going into the season, has led to their disappointing 2015 campaign. Among their starters, only Wei-Yin Chen has shown anything that could be classified as consistency. Chen is 10-8 on the season with 3.38 ERA. He is the only Baltimore pitcher who has started 25+ games and posted a sub - 4.00 ERA. Chris Tillman, last year's ace of the Orioles, has struggled mightily in 2015, to the tune of a 5.00+ ERA.
The worry for Baltimore fans has to be what the future holds. Chris Davis and his 45+ home runs and This team underperformed given what the Sporting News.com's belief in what they would do this season but spot on from Grantland.com's perspective.
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