During the 2014 season, Drew Forrester and Luke Jones of The D&L Window Tinting Morning Reaction will provide the “9-Game Scorecard” for the Orioles, evaluating the club in nine-game increments in a number of categories and looking ahead to how Baltimore will fare over the next nine games on the schedule.
(Editor’s note: Since this nine-game scorecard officially ended on Saturday night, it does not include the final game of the Astros series, which will be included as part of the next nine-game increment.)
To hear the full explanation of the “Orioles 9-Game Scorecard” during Tuesday’s show, click HERE.
1. Should the Orioles have been better or worse than their 4-5 mark?
Drew: Better
Luke: Better
2. Most Valuable Player/Least Valuable Player
Drew: MVP – Nelson Cruz; LVP – Manny Machado
Luke: MVP – Nelson Cruz; LVP – Chris Davis
3. Biggest surprise
Drew: Chris Davis’ inability to get on a roll offensively
Luke: Chris Davis getting back in a major funk after returning from paternity leave
4. Best thing about the nine-game stretch
Drew: Steve Pearce continuing to contribute whenever called upon
Luke: The starting pitching stabilizing during the Houston series
5. Nine games from now…
Drew: The Orioles will be under the .500 mark
Luke: The Orioles will stand alone in second place in the AL East
6. Record in the next nine games (1-0 at Houston, three at Texas, three with Oakland, two with Boston)
Drew: 4-5
Luke: 6-3
7. Stock rising/falling over the next nine games
Drew: Rising – Bud Norris; Falling – Ubaldo Jimenez
Luke: Rising – Manny Machado; Falling – Nelson Cruz
8. Grading Buck Showalter in games 46-54
Drew: B+
Luke: B-