The Special Season Bob's Backstop for June 24, 2005

The lead is down to a half game, and the sky is falling. Belfry Week begins on Monday with the team in a mini-free-fall, as the team whose current play is reflected by the color of their hosiery threaten to zoom past the Black and Orange.

A big deal? It doesn't have to be.

How can we feel that way? The pitching's young, Sammy Sosa's been a flop (if I hear one more comment about Sosa 'protecting' someone in the lineup, I'll barf), Sidney's pitched pretty much like last year. How can O's fans continue to enjoy this season?

Easily.

How can an already-flawed team miss out on Javy Lopez, their suddenly starring second baseman, the entire outfield at various times, their best starter for six starts and counting, and now their All-Star third baseman?

I'd say Miguel Tejada has a lot to do with it. As long as he's on the field, good things can and will happen. Raffy, Gibby, Sal, Eli, Hayden, Danny, R-Lo, and everyone else has had a lot to do with it, too.

It's fun to watch this team. It's great to scoreboard-watch for the first time in years. It's thrilling to see a team that is moving in the right direction for the second year in a row. Cabrera. Ray. Penn. Fiorantino. Bedard. Roberts. Kim. This is fun!

There's a long way to go. For all we know, the O's might eventually fall back under the onslaught of injuries. Perhaps that's just begun in Toronto. But we've seen the team here a couple of times before. If they can manage two of three in Atlanta to come home to face the Yankees, they will be in fine shape for an exciting and challenging week, the first meaningful Belfry Week since, well, it became Belfry Week.

Can the O's go into the All-Star break within, say, three games of first place? If they can, it's going to be a fun second half. The BoSox are formidable foes, still awaiting the return of their own ace starter. The Yankees? No one can be sure what they are going to do. They can't be dismissed with their roster of potential, but it's appearing possible that they are more likely to be an influence on the race rather than the controlling force. With the recent stumble of the Twins and Rangers, a Wild Card is more likely for the East, albeit still a long shot.

It's still out there for the O's. They may need a mini-miracle, like Sosa hitting a breaking pitch once in awhile, or Sidney actually pitching well more than once a month, but stranger things have happened. This is, after all, baseball, our most unpredictable of games.

I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to the rest of the ride.