Drinking the Orange Kool-Aid

In my last post, I put some stats out there that weren't exactly favorable toward our Birds.  This one will be different.  Call it favoritism, call it "drinking the orange kool-aid", call it whatever you want, but I'm doing it in this post.  Here are the top five reasons the Orioles are in first place in the division TO STAY for the rest of the year:

Delmon Young is one of the many Orioles' bench players
coming up big in key situations.

1.  In 42 games against the AL East the Orioles are 25-17. The Blue Jays are the only other AL East team above .500 in that category at 18-15. The O's are also 8-2 in their last 10 games, 9-3 in extra-inning games, and 17-13 in one-run games. Do these stats sound familiar? Sort of like 2012, the last time the O's made the postseason? 
2. O's pinch-hitters are batting .361 on the year. I know this may not seem THAT important, but bear with me. What this proves to me is two things. One, is that Buck Showalter really knows how to put his players in the right situations at bat. How many times have you questioned a move, only to find yourself cheering because someone came up with a clutch hit? The Chris Davis walk-off pinch-hit? Delmon Young's .467 average as a pinch hitter? The second thing this means is that the bench is a deep one. There isn't a man on this bench that can't contribute and it shows. 
3.  I've said this already, but the O's are showing themselves to be possibly the only legitimate contender in the division. Toronto, who might be their only threat, is 2-6 in their last 8 games, and are proving that the bats aren't enough to keep them afloat with such inconsistent pitching. The Tanaka-less Yankees are just an average team, as they once again have dropped to the .500 mark. The O's on the other hand have won 8 of their last 10 games as mentioned earlier, including 3 extra-innings thrillers.
4. Despite their early struggles, O's starters are 34-28 with a 4.14 ERA. The bullpen is an impressive 16-13 with a 3.44 ERA. O's pitchers have adopted a "bend but not break" mentality as well, holding opposing batters to a .225 batting avg with runners in scoring position, just .181 with 2 outs and runners in scoring position, and only .188 with the bases loaded. Oh, and Baltimore's 44 errors on defense is the best in the AL... again.



Zach Britton is pitching at an All-Star level since moving to the
bullpen with a 1.31 ERA

5. I would be a fool not to mention the offense. It is undoubtedly the heart and soul of the team, and will be the main reason they succeed if they are to go far this season. With an everyday lineup consisting of Markakis, Pearce, Jones, Cruz, Davis, Hardy, Machado, Schoop, and Joseph/Hundley, the O's are tough outs 1-9. Cruz is an MVP candidate, Jones and Markakis are hot as usual, and Pearce has surprised everyone with his bat, earning himself a spot on the lineup everyday. The Orioles' 113 HR's and 852 hits, are the second best in the MLB.