Steve Davis: Believin' In The Birds
I am making my pick more with my heart than my head, which normally I don't do.
I have the Orioles finishing second in the AL East and going to the playoffs for the 2nd straight year.
I am not totally convinced by this, but I want to be. I am concerned that they are counting on the same formula--minus Reynolds plus Roberts--to get back to the playoffs. And, considering their success in one run and extra inning games, both statistical anomalies, it seems hard to do.
That said, it's hard not to look at individual players and believe they can't do it again. No one had an absolutely unbelievable, 70 home run, 25 win kind of year. Shoot, only one pitcher won more than 10 games.
So, why can't Hammel, Chen and/or Gonzales win 15 or 18?
Are there issues?
Sure. I question whether they have enough offense, particularly off the bench.
That said, the AL East is wide-open, and fairly even, and not because anyone is great. Every team has issues, so why can't the Orioles mesmerize Baltimore again!
