Hard und Software » they could insert promising rookie fourth-round pick D

BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Orioles bashed their way into first place before the All-Star break, hitting a major league leading 137 homers while averaging more than five runs per game.Baltimore also played exceptionally well defensively and received ample contributions from the back end of the bullpen, most notably All-Star relievers Brad Brach and Zach Britton.The teams strengths were as obvious as its most glaring weakness: the starting rotation.Chris Tillmans 12-2 record was offset by spotty performances from every other starter. Ubaldo Jimenez went 5-9 with a 7.38 ERA, Kevin Gausman was 1-6 and Yovani Gallardo has yet to reach a groove after spending nearly two months on the disabled list. Mike Wright and Tyler Wilson were shuffled back and forth from the minors, doing little to warrant an extended stay in Baltimore.I think I can speak on behalf of all of us -- we can definitely do better, Gausman said.If the Orioles are to complete their run to the AL East title and flourish in the postseason, they can either fix the problem or hope to win in spite of it.Its worked out so far, said Chris Davis, whose 22 homers ranks second on the team behind Mark Trumbos major-league best 28. Obviously at some point you have to start pitching a little bit better out of the starting rotation, but for the most part weve been able to pick them up with our bats.The Orioles have power and an air-tight infield. Britton has converted every one of his 27 save opportunities. But that one missing element could upend Baltimores bid to outlast Boston and Toronto in the talent-laden division.Obviously, the biggest thing for us going forward is pitching, Britton said. Very rarely do teams get through the postseason just on hitting. Were going to have to find a way to pitch a little bit better.Or, executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette can hunt down another viable starter before the non-waiver trade deadline.Two years ago, Duquette shored up the bullpen by getting standout reliever Andrew Miller, proving that if a deal needs to be made he wont hesitate to swap potential big leaguers for immediate help.They know what we need and we know what we need. Its just a matter of getting it done, Orioles third baseman Manny Machado said. Ive got faith in the front office. If we need somebody, theyre going to go out and get them.Manager Buck Showalter is willing to move forward without outside assistance.Help is right here this group. We are not coveting other peoples players, Showalter insisted. Every answer we need to have is in here.Baltimore went 51-36 before the break, so maybe Showalter has a point.The bottom line to this whole thing is to score one more run than the other team, even if its 7-6, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. Where you might look at their rotation and see guys who may be struggling a little bit, theyre always in a game because of their ability to hit the ball out of the park. And when they do get a lead, theyve got a pen that is even deeper than just the two guys on the back end.The bullpen lacks a proven left-hander, but the relief corps should improve later this month when setup man Darren ODay gets off the disabled list following a right hamstring strain.If Trumbo, Davis, Machado and catcher Matt Wieters continue to whack the ball, the efficiency of the pitching staff might not matter.Not many teams win this way, but the Orioles dont want to hear it.Our guys dont dwell on conventionality. We dont always follow a script, Showalter said. Starters have to go seven innings every night? Who says you do?Baltimore opens the second half Friday night in Tampa Bay before heading to New York for four games against the Yankees. The Orioles were 33-14 at home and 18-22 on the road before the break.Its obvious whats ahead of us, Showalter said. We have a lot of challenges. Cheap NFL Jerseys China . LOUIS -- St. Cheap NHL Jerseys . -- Team after team passed on Andre Ellington in the draft. https://www.cheapnfljerseysjustwholesale.com/cheap-nba-jerseys . -- Lou Brocks shoulder-to-shoulder collision with Bill Freehan during the 1968 World Series and Pete Roses bruising hit on Ray Fosse in the 1970 All-Star game could become relics of baseball history, like the dead-ball era. Wholesale NFL Jerseys USA . LOUIS -- St. Cheap College Jerseys . He says so-called TRT is only one problem and he wants to go even further than the ban. "Its about time," St-Pierre told reporters at a promotional event in Montreal on Friday. "I think its a good thing.GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The Green Bay Packers may be forced to shuffle their renovated offensive line after starting left tackle Bryan Bulaga reportedly suffered a season-ending knee injury during a weekend scrimmage. Just three months ago, coach Mike McCarthy moved Bulaga from right tackle to left tackle, Pro Bowl guard Josh Sitton from right guard to left guard, T.J. Lang from left guard to right guard and Marshall Newhouse, who started 28 games the past two seasons at left tackle, to right tackle. McCarthy has said he moved Sitton to left guard to put the teams two best offensive linemen together on the same side of the line, protecting quarterback Aaron Rodgers blind side. Sitton and Bulaga had also played next to one another since the 2010 season. All that may be up the air now: The Journal Sentinel, citing an unidentified source, reported (http://tinyurl.com/knqurqg) that Bulaga tore an ACL and will miss the season. The Packers cancelled practice Monday and no one from the team was available to comment. Its unclear when Bulaga was injured Saturday night. He took all the first-team snaps at left tackle during the scrimmage and was also on the field-goal protection unit at the end of practice. The Packers would appear to have two options at left tackle: They could move Newhouse, who took over for injured veteran Chad Clifton during the 2011 season, back to left tackle; or, they could insert promising rookie fourth-round pick David Bakhtiari there. Bakhtiarri was impressive during the first week of practices in pads, competing at right tackle with Newhouse and Don Barclay.dddddddddddd When Bulaga suffered a season-ending hip injury last November, Barclay started the final six games (including playoffs) at right tackle but has been working at centre and guard so far in camp. The upheaval comes at a time when offensive line coach James Campen was pleased with the way the rejiggered starting five was coming together. "You know, I think that quite frankly its exceeded what I thought it would be at," Campen said late last week. "I think theyve done a very good job with their footwork. They took advantage of the OTA periods to get adjusted to it. I think theyre over that hump. Its just a few little things, new footwork theyve got to work on, but I think theyve adjusted very well." The Packers still dont have 2011 first-round pick Derek Sherrod at their disposal. He remains on the active/physically unable to perform list because of the broken leg he suffered in December 2011. The Packers also reportedly signed veteran quarterback Vince Young to a one-year deal Monday, looking for depth with Graham Harrell and B.J. Coleman behind Rodgers on the depth chart. Both the Journal Sentinel and ESPNMilwaukee.com reported the signing, citing unidentified sources. Young has played for Tennessee, Philadelphia and Buffalo since he was the No. 3 overall pick out of Texas in the 2006 draft. ' ' '