You know if Nicks tried skipping batting practice for a night or two?

5 shutouts? HOLY CRAP!

30 wins? 5-6 weeks ahead of last year! With a below average offense.

Its a damn shame being an Os fan has come to rooting for this, but it is improvement...they dont look overmatched when they lose, except the yanks, and they seem to play hard.

Pete, you know the deal with offering Guthrie anything to stay? I know the Os arent buying the arms, but Guthrie Matusz, Arrietta, Britton with a stud at the top would look STRONG.

Does anyone feel like compiling the number of errors the Orioles have committed with Derrick Lee out of the lineup versus in the lineup? It seemed as if they were playing mostly error-free baseball before he went on the DL. Then when he was on the DL the errors started piling up. And then there were less committed when he got back. Now with him gone for the weekend series, Mark Reynolds launches a ball past Luke Scott. I feel like Lee would have caught that.

D-Lee seems like he provides the team with some presence. If he can start hitting this season, the O’s will be a force.

Otherwise, the error by Reynolds was the only blemish on a great performance by the O's. Good to see Markakis have a career night at the plate. Let's hope there's more of that to come.

now if he can harness this type of production, it will take away alot of doubt. I don't care about the HR's, scoring runs and batting in runs is what he needs to do. Markakis may never become a real power threat, but keep up the run production and it wont matter

now if he can harness this type of production, it will take away alot of doubt. I don't care about the HR's, scoring runs and batting in runs is what he needs to do. Markakis may never become a real power threat, but keep up the run production and it wont matter

I think all O's fans are hoping that Nick gets back on track and that last night was hopefully the first of many productive games. It sounds like he's been putting extra time so that can't hurt...
The pitching has been solid lately, especially the 'pen. Hey, even Gonzalez had a scoreless inning in a mop-up role, which is likely the only use for him!
We still need to get to the elusive .500 mark which isn't going to be easy this weekend as both Rays' starters-Price and Davis have been tough on us.
Maybe the O's are turning the corner-finally!-or then again, it could be just the latest segment of the streaky team we all know!

One good game does not mean Nick's problems are over, but it sure was nice to see him drive the ball again. I surely do hope this is the beginning of a turnaround for him, but time will tell.
It's also looking like the O's have found a legitimate lead-off hitter in Hardy. All in all the team is starting to look a little more like what we thought they might be in spring training.

Has anybody heard an explanation about what happened with when Luke Scott held at third on an apparent squeeze bunt. Were the players mixed up on the call, or what? It was great to see Nick save the day with a grand slam, but with men on 2nd and 3rd and no out, it should have never come down to that.

I'm just wondering if this is another example of mental lapses by the players

Some perspective:

Nick $10.4 mln 27 y.o.

Ryan Braun $4.3 mln 27 y.o.

Corey Hart $6.8 mln 29 y.o.

$4.3 + 6.8 = $11.1

Would love it if Nick played up to value of contract. But is one season plus 60 games just a slump ?

Just sayin'

Nice job Nick!!

Now if the Orioles can sign both Dylan Bunday and Nick Delmonico there finally might be an air of optimism for the future of the Baltimore Orioles. Along with Manny Machado, these three players should be the cornerstone to returning the Orioles to the top of the division.

Dave-

What a pile of horse---- I can look up virtually any player in the Majors and find ones that are more productive for less money to prove a point. Did you think the contract extension was because he was a "lock" Hall of Famer and that, having made the money, he just said, well - I don't have to try any more?????

I'm not saying, nor is anyone else that his performance is where it should be or even in the same zip code, last year or this. But you think $10.4 million is what you pay to lock up ANYONE who's a franchise ballplayer? Do you wanna guess what Jose Reyes will be making next year? And his first few seasons were spotty and injury prone - and he remains injury prone.

Please. At least have the decency to post your crap when the player HASN'T just blasted a 6 rbi game against the best rookie pitcher in the American League (Zach Britton excepted).

@jc (the REAL jc),

"...virtually any player in the Majors and find ones that are more productive for less money to prove a point. "

Virtually any player ?? Braun & Hart are corner outfielders just like Nick is & approx. the same age as Nick playing for a mid-market team just like the Orioles are.

Those are facts rather than ad hominem attacks. Sorry, I didn't know that Jose Reyes was a corner outfielder.

Don't doubt for a second that Nick has a great work ethic or that he cares ... a lot.

But the fact remains that the Orioles are paying Nick almost as much as the Brewers are paying Braun & Hart together.

"...against the best rookie pitcher in the American League..." Hellickson is really very good , but I didn't know Seattle has left the American League or that Pineda was not a rookie.