Opening Slay

The 2008 campaign kicked off yesterday with a 6-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in the cold rain. The entire day should be a sign of things to come.

We're in for a long season.

The Orioles started off excitedly, scoring 2 runs in the first inning off Rays starter James Shields, but then reverted back to form, being shut out for the remainder of the game, collecting 6 hits total.

Jeremy Guthrie, the Orioles' ace-in-name-only, looked completely different than his 2007 self, allowing 9 hits in 5.1 IP to go with his 5 ER. He walked 1 and struck out 2.

Anyone miss Bedard yet?

Just kidding.

The Orioles are going to be bad this year. Really bad. Especially as long as Luis Hernandez (0-2, 1 K) is in the everyday line-up. The sooner they purge themselves of scrubs like Hernandez and Fahey, and veterans in Huff, Millar and Payton, they'll be a better, younger team.

It'll happen soon.

For now, just grin and bear it. Good things come to those who wait.

The good news is that the bullpen pitched extremely well. Matt Albers retired all 8 batters he faced and Burres pitched a scoreless 9th. Also, Roberts collected 2 hits, stole third base but was thrown out trying to steal second. The Cubs have to still be watching, and Roberts is bound to put on a good show until the day he is traded.

So while most of the yesterday was forgettable, it reminds us that we shouldn't be watching for wins and losses. We should be watching individual performance, and hoping that one day it will all come together, resulting in plenty of wins.

But it would still be nice to have Baltimore on those away jerseys at times like this.