(Insert Orioles Rant Here.)

You would think that I would be content with being in 2nd place at the halfway point of the Orioles season.

I’m not, though.

You know why I am not? Because I know that this team could be better. I know that there are moves to be made that could elevate us above the rest of the East. I know that there are games that should have been won, whether it is due to crappy defense or lack of timely hitting. Longtime Orioles fans have been waiting for the bottom to fall out, and I think that it has.

Where do we go from here? How can we be better?

I am already sick of the constant moves. 3 of the 5 starters from the Opening Day roster are in the minors. Norfolk has turned to using relievers who haven’t worked more than 3 innings in a game as starters (JC Romero). Steve Tolleson and Xavier Avery have racked up enough frequent flyer miles in the past couple of weeks to get themselves free flights to Vegas after the season ends. We have 4 Designated Hitters on the roster, and we just traded for the one who is worth a damn (Thome). Ryan Flaherty somehow still has a place on this team. Instead of these band-aid moves, why don’t they make a move for a constant force that will put a fire under this team?

I am not asking to mortgage our future – No way do I include Bundy or Machado in a trade, as I feel that they will be ready to contribute in a year or two. However, in order to get something of value, you need to give something of value. Unfortunately, we’re not going to land a Zack Greinke or Chase Headley for Kevin Gregg and a box of chocolates – Someone like Jake Arrieta, Chris Tillman, or Jonathan Schoop is going to have to go.

Do I think that someone like Zack Greinke could help this team? Without a doubt. There would have to be parameters set if a trade was orchestrated – He would have to promise to sign an extension before anything was laid on the table. No extension, no deal. If we’re giving up something valuable, we need to make sure that it is helping the team for the foreseeable future, not for a short-term rental.

A legit number one starter would certainly help this team; however, there are plenty of other moves that need to be made. We need corner infielders who can actually field their position. We could use a left fielder, as Nolan Reimold cannot keep himself off of the DL for more than 2 months. There are so many obvious holes that need to be filled – We’ll just have to sit and wait till the end of July to see if Dan Duquette decides to address these holes, or we’re going to go into August limping, hoping to stay out of the basement of the AL East.

SIDE NOTE: Just because I am not happy with the performance of this team does not in any way mean that I am “jumping off of the Orioles Bandwagon,” as the Orange Kool-Aid Drinkers like to say. There is nothing wrong with wanting my team to be the best it can be, and I will continue to support them, no matter how ugly it gets. Get off of your high horses, please and thank you.