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Baltimore Orioles begin the second half

By Domenic A. Vadala

Oct 9, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis (19) speaks with manager Buck Showalter (26) during workouts the day before game one of the 2014 ALCS against the against the Kansas City Royals at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis (19) speaks with manager Buck Showalter (26) during workouts the day before game one of the 2014 ALCS against the against the Kansas City Royals at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Baltimore Orioles begin the second half of the season tonight with Yovani Gallardo on the mound at Tropicana Field against Tampa.

It’s opening day for the Baltimore Orioles – for the second half of the season, that is. The Birds now open what is in effect a 75-game “season,” which will culminate in what they hope is a playoff birth. It all begins tonight in Tampa.

Obviously I’m joking in a sense when I call this “opening day,” especially seeing that the O’s have already passed the 81-game mark. So in a sense the O’s were in the second half in the week leading up to the all-star break. But you get the idea – I hope!

The Orioles chartered down to Tampa yesterday afternoon, and will begin the second half stretch run with Yovani Gallardo on the mound tonight at Tropicana Field. Tampa’s a team who’s number the O’s have held thus far in 2016, however keep in mind that they’re getting some injured players back now. They’re going to be as dangerous as anyone else.

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    • Obviously the O’s aren’t going to be in the mood to let their slight two-game lead in the AL East slip if they can avoid it. However there are teams directly below them in the standings (Toronto and Boston) who are just as hungry as they are. So the Birds really have their work cut out for them here in the second half. Tampa may be well below them in the standings, but that fact alone may give them some motivation. And that’s what Toronto and Boston are hoping for.

    We know the routine by now; it begins and ends with starting pitching. So the O’s really need a quality outing by Gallardo tonight, and by their starting rotation  moving forward. This is all important if they’re going to be successful in this stretch run. Because as I said above, there are some hungry and hostile teams chasing the Orioles – who see no reason why they can’t overtake them.

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    This is all part of what a pennant race is about. And I do think that we’re going to have a whale of one here in the American League East. Incidentally, I do find it interesting that people want to say the AL East is weaker than it was years ago. As it stands now, three AL East teams (the Orioles, Toronto, and Boston) would be playoff bound if the season ended today.

    Next: Baltimore Orioles: Stop trying to change the All-Star game

    But the season doesn’t end today. Another phase of it is beginning in fact. So BUCKle up!

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