All Star Break Review

Well, that West Coast trip wasn't so bad after all.

After losing 3/4 to the Angels, the O's rebounded and took 2/3 from the Mariners to come back home with a 3-4 record on the West Coast trip.

Then they took another 2/3 from the Blue Jays.

So as the Orioles head into the All Star Break, I can't help but feel a little excited about the second half of the 2009 season.

Yeah, I said it knowing that August and September is usually when the Orioles crash dive.

I also couldn't care less that the Orioles are still 7 games under .500 or that Nick Markakis hasn't hit a HR since June 16th.

The O's are playing well, and that means I am excited. If they come out of the break and lose 6 out of 8 games, I will be depressed.

That's just how it goes here at the Bad Oriole.

But seriously, there is reason for hope. Chris Tillman (2.50 ERA, 88 K in Norfolk) is just a couple of weeks from being called up. David Hernandez has an ERA below 4 in 5 starts. And Brad Bergesen is the team's ace, with a 3.54 ERA in 16 starts.

Sure, Matt Wieters is off to a slow start (.724 OPS) and is not ready for the Chuck Norris-esque MattWietersFacts.com, but give him time. He's the catcher of the future, plain and simple.

Meanwhile, Nolan Reimold is the LF of the future. I'd also be fine with Luke Scott as the DH of the future. As a matter of fact, I'd be fine penciling his name into the DH spot until he can't stand up, much like Harold Baines did. Let's just keep Scott instead of trading him and re-signing him a dozen times like the Orioles did in the 90's.

Yeah, OK...we do need some new corner-infielders. But 1B prospect Brandon Snyder just cruised through Bowie, with Wieters-like 1.081 OPS. Ty Wigginton could take over at 3B for Melvin Mora in 2009, but we could also trade Aubrey Huff, George Sherrill, Danys Baez or Jeremy Guthrie for our future 3B.

So there is some reason for hope. Hell, Rich Hill just turned in a quality start in which he walked just 1 batter in 6 IP.

Let's just hope the O's give us a reason to watch them play until the end of September.