I think it's Buck. I also think it's Robert's and Pie being back as well as they seem to have brought back some feisty attitude. I mean, you could SEE the difference Buck's first night. There was a level of concentration and of competitiveness that wasn't there on Sunday and before. You do have to remember though that this isn't the Angels of the last few years that they are playing against. This Angel's team is playing at just under a .500 clip but it is nice to know we can beat a fair team and jump on someone when they are down. Anyways, Buck's next trick will be finding a way to sustain the influence he's had so things can start snowballing the other direction. It would be nice to end the season on a positive couple of months play giving us some renewed hope. I think we need that around here....

Buck is a presence and the players know if they do not perform under him it is either off the team(for the veterans) or back to the minors(for the young guys). It is no coincidence, the players now know if they do not perform there is not a spot for them in the clubhouse. For the first time since the first series of the year against the Rays, I am excited to see how they do against the Chisox.

There's a little luck thrown into every game and every streak that occurs in a game as complex as baseball, but we can't call it all chance. Some things were going their way - the O's had a day off, they were playing a team that's been playing horribly recently, BRob's finding his groove, Scott's been on a hot streak, Guthrie (who had brought his A-game to the past 3 starts) began the series and was followed by two ultra-competitive youngsters coming off horrible starts and wanting to prove themselves.

As you said, we were treated to three inspiring performances by our starters and some tenacity by a pretty strapped bullpen, but we also can't downplay the significance of our offensive production. We scored 20 runs in 3 games in which we averaged 12 hits and had big performances by Scott and Wieters and also saw some well-executed run-producing strategy.

Overall, but especially offensively, I think we've played well under our ability all year. We have some pitchers with talent, but, only two having more than a year of MLB experience, we really shouldn't have expected any consistency. Offensively, everyone has been pressing - expecting way too much of themselves. Here is where Buck comes in. I believe he's taken the attention and some of the responsibility away from the players - from a nationwide perspective he is the biggest "name" on the roster. He's probably told the players to just focus on "their game" (not their stats) and to leave the W up to him.

If he can convince them to keep that up for the remainder of the season, he'll have a much better idea of what they're all capable of. The biggest danger is for all of us to start expecting things - Ws, Ks and homers. The media and our use of it to express our discontent puts tremendous pressure on the entire team to press and produce and meet our expectations. This season needs to be about restoring some well-founded confidence in our players. The most we can hope for, in terms of production, is enough progress to show free-agents that we've made a turn, that the beginning of this year was a fluke, and that we have the right guy to straighten out our efforts and guide us to contention in 2011. It is not unreasonable to think that with our current talent, Showalter's guidance, and a few key acquisitions this winter, the balance of power in the AL East could be ours to disrupt.

Let's relax and take in whatever positives come of these next couple months and then put the pressure on for Andy to overpay for a big bat and proven ace - not safe bets on guys with good upside (see last winter), but guys that have consistently produced 30+ homers and 15+wins. Go O's!!!

If anyone was watching the 9th inning last night, you got to see something occur that hadn't happened all season. Weiters led off with a double, and was then replaced by a pinch runner. The next batter, Patterson, SUCCESSFULLY BUNTED THE RUNNER over to to third. Then Izturis worked the count and singled to center to win the game. Now that was exactly the way the game is supposed to be played. I think we should call this "The Showalter Effect"!

Gimme a coffee please...need to wake up after listening to Christian's sermon....twice. Just kidding.

It's Buck and a little luck. Palmer said it best last night: "there is finally a little truth serum being doled out down in the dugout". I think you have a few guys playing for a job next year, especially the starting pitchers.

I just might go to a game this weekend.

a little of column A
a little of column B
a little of column C

ain't the beer cold!?

With respect to Christian/s comments, all I have to say is, "Amen."

what happened to the minor league updates?

I think it's finally taken a lot of the pressure off the guys to know that they now have a manager who is in it for the long haul.

It seems that everyone liked Trembley, so I think the young guys especially wilted under the pressure of knowing that their manager's job was on the line practically from Day One (and losing Roberts, Pie and Gonzalez right off the bat so early in the season only ratcheted up that pressure)

These guys are playing like the high calling of a professional. They are playing their dream, How many kids look at them and say; I want to be like that guy ! The Orioles need to keep up Their Focus and make us proud to be Bird Fan. Thanks !

Perhaps, it is time to call Buck, the "KnightRider" because one man can make a difference.

I know three games are a small sample, but these past three days have been exciting. I don't think it has been so much about the winning but more about how the team has played. I haven't noticed many dumb mistakes. There were a few times where hitters failed to advance runners, but we haven't seen poor baserunning. Scott getting thrown out last night at third was disappointing but agressive. The CF had to make a perfect throw and he did. The play was bang bang and exciting. I would have rather seen someone like Pie or Lugo try for the extra base.

Its the competition, end of story. I am annoyed though to have to search to find the O's tab, disapointed that the purple tab is in its place, have we changed seasons already? Sorry to me even the best football is unwatchable even when compared to the worst baseball we have ever seen.

They were playing harder under Samuel, so they were already headed in the right direction.

Now they're playing for a winning manager so lets see what they can do.

There is more intensity and concentration. Like Earl Weaver, Buck is leading by example.

Without a true #3 & #4 hitters and unproven starting pitching, this is a .500 Team at best, but, all we can expect is that they play with intensity and concentration.

If they do that, every play for 9 innings the fans will be happy and things will sort them selves out despite the W/L record.

For all the money, the players receive to play 'a game' --- The fans just want to see a team with intensity, concentration and enthusiasm.

All of the above. Lets not get too carried away on analyzing just what an impact Showalter has had on this team so far. It's been 3 games folks. Yes, I like what I see too, wins always look good, but I'm waiting to see if this year will end the annual, hope killing death spiral, that so often occurs down the final few weeks. If Buck can prevent that and keep these guys playing with energy all the way to the end, then we've got us a manger.

Buck.

Sports are much more mental than most armchair QBs think. In professional sports, all the players are good enough skill-wise to be champions. The difference between teams is right between the ears. Buck's arrival has shifted the team to a different mental state. Lets see how long it can last.

To paraphrase Meatloaf: Three Outta Three Ain't Bad!

It's Buck luck!

Dan-
There are couple of things that stand out since Showalter's arrival (in my novice opinion)
1. A sense of urgency- There's no "walking" with Buck-he runs out ot the mound. No jogging, just that good old-fashioned run to the mound.
2. A sense of practicality-If the guy on the mound is doing well, keep him in. If not, yank him, yes, even if you've paid millions and he was your "closer".

Things just seem to move faster with Buck at the helm. The pinch runners, the bunts, the guys in the field. There's a hustle that starts at the top and works its way down.
Trembley would walk out to the mound. Not Showalter.

Even his demeanor at the conferences-He's comfortable, practical and has a sharp sense of humor.

I also like how he refers to players
Izturis-"Izzy"
B-Rob- "Robby"

Whatever he's bringing, it's a good thing and we need more of it.

Can't wait to see what transpires in the off season.

Jeff

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Jeff Z: As usual Jeff, very well said. One thing I've also noticed is there's been a lot less first-pitch swinging. I think in Showalter's first game, none of the first nine hitters swung at the first pitch during their first at-bats. Maybe I'm imagining things but it certainly seems that the focus and approach at the plate has changed a little for the better.

Well, the starting pitching certainly has been better, which may in part be attributable to Buck, but there is also a little luck thrown in as well. For instance, the Orioles were lucky that it was Guthrie's turn to pitch the first game of the Showalter Era, since he has been consistently good since the All-Star break. Then Matusz followed that example, and Arrieta, being the competitive guy that he is had to go even better.

But Buck seems to have the guys more focused yet not stressed out. At some point of course they will lose a game, get bad pitching, not make clutch hits, so we'll have to see how everyone deals with that. But for now, I'll take it and hope that the good things happen often enough to get reinforced. Besides, up till now it's been pretty much if it weren't for bad luck they'd have no luck at all. They were due for some good fortune.

I am most impressed with how the team is NOW hitting with runners in scoring position. It is hard to imagine how the team could have done worse than they have most of the year in that regard. I think J Palmer said they batted .284 last year with RISP, and this yr it was like .220, at the bottom of the ML. What explains these trends? Is it a disease the team caught from G Atkins? I think too many young players pressing, and it spread throughout the team, even impacting the pitchers. A top of the line starter and two power bats next yr will do much to make the team respectable.

I noticed also that the quality of the at-bats seemed better since Buck arrived. Luke Scott's at-bat late in the game was a thing of joy to watch, and I don't even care that he didn't get a hit, that was a super at-bat.

I attribute a lot of the recent success to Buck's arrival, but not solely because of Buck, per se. I think the players finally realize that they have a real, proven manager at the helm, with a track record of demanding discipline, and they know that they have to earn whatever playing time they get.

Finally!

One of the biggest changes I've noticed is that we are making the opposing pitcher work. Instead of swinging at any and everything thrown up there we have been more selective thus wearing out the starter and getting into the bullpens earlier. Notice our runs are coming later and in bunches?

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Jeff Z's reply: Couldn't agree more.

Came across these Buckisms: http://twitter.com/Buckisms ... pretty cool

BUCK

Last 3 games without Buck - Kansas City 0 -3.
First 3 games with Buck - L A Angels
3 - 0
NO Apology for the mid-level Angel wins &
we LOST 3 to the Next worst team in Baseball!

I think we're all as optimistic as can be expected, but we've been teased so many times in the past. Please let this be for real.

If the team say plays at least .500 bal over the next twenty games then I will start to believe that things are starting to turn for the better.

It really is the poor competition with the excitement of a new Mgr. , the test truly begins today...............I still do not have much hope for this collection of pretenders............they need four or five quality free agents , until then , good luck...........

I think it's Buck's presence that is influencing the club to play a bit differently, and it's such a welcome change that expressing it through a blog comment isn't sufficient. Showalter knows what it takes to get out of a rut like the O's are in, a true baseball fix-it man, and obviously with the guys on the O's roster. his reputation preceded him. All players on the team, no matter their level of youth know who Buck is and what he's done, so they are willing to give him the opportunity they never would give to Trembley, (despite what was said) and that's the chance to improve their games, at-bats, innings (for pitchers), etc one-by-one. A bit of focus and concentration can go a long way, and a series against a team who is often well prepared like the Angels is a great example of why Nick, A Jones, Wieters and the rest of the guys should maintain that focus, that gritty determination from April til the autumn. Anaheim has no stars in their prime at all, but they'll always play you tough and make you play them smart to win. If Buck can import just a sliver of that mentality, the next few years at camden Yards may be worth watching again.

Let's call this what it really is.... a dead cat bounce.

I don't think you can just gloss over the return of Brian Roberts, which finally gives the top of the order some stability, leadership in the infield and in the clubhouse. ... Showalter’s definitely a positive presence, but Roberts fills so many important roles.

Its Buck alright, he is not Harry Truman but, "The Buck Stops Here", then again maybe he has some of his tact which is a quality that is soooo neccessary for this team. Earl Weaver would approve this in a heartbeat and Buck is the heartbeat and will remain the heartbeat for many years to come. Yep, there is a big bandwagon to jump on for all newcomers, all the die-hards have been on it since the announcement that he is the new sheriff in town. I know there is still skepticism, but, we now have a proven skipper at the helm, lets now go out and get a clean up hitter in the lineup like Frank Robinson, Eddie Murray, how about Adam Dunn. How soon will we see signs at the yard saying "The Buck Stops Here"! Need to visit this weekend. Fans, Believe, credibility finally, this is for real! GO ORIOLES!

It's just amazing to see Showalter cynics in the middle of a 4 game winning streak. maybe the pitchers are doing better because they're more relaxed with Showalter?Nobody ever knew where they stood with Trembley. He filled out the line up card,if he won fine if he lost no big deal se you again tomorrow. Yeah McPhail should have moved on a manager back i late April it was obvious Trembley couldn't pull the team out of the rut. He has three years and everyone resulted in a late season meltdown,that has to be mental.

Definitely a large Buck bounce. The guys have hope now that if they're pitching well they'll stay in, if the catcher hits a double in the 9th, there will be a pinch runner - all the little things to help win a game

That said, lost in the shuffle here is the return of a legit #1 hitter - and his discipline definitely has been trickling down.

I'll also throw out the idea that maybe the trade of first pitch flail, error prone Tejada has helped too. A little plate discipline and better defense seems to be going a long way.