I’m Actually Not That Angry
Make no mistake about what I think of Kevin Gregg: He is not just a captain of chaos, he’s a full five star general! But honestly, the blame for a 
second consecutive extra innings loss does not rest squarely upon him. Yep, he’s on the short list, but there is a list. There were opportunities to score earlier and not even get to the 10th inning. Most prominent among those blown chances was the 9th inning bases loaded situation where Adam Jones struck out.
Gregg could have been out of the inning in the 10th and likely should have been. It was only a bloop double to left by Teixeira that kept the inning going and brought Swisher to the plate.
I’ve not read it written elsewhere, but if Mark Reynolds allows yields to the charging outfielder – Nolan Reimold – to have priority on the pop, maybe Nolan gets it and the inning is over (even so – it would have been quite a catch from quite a distance).
All in all, though the past two games are difficult losses that could have and maybe should have gone the other way, the team is competing well. The Birds would have never made it to extra innings last year in similar games, and the starters have had five good starts in the first six games. The Orioles have a lot more headroom for improvement than do the Yankees. A lot of good things are happening, in spite of the outstanding questions that need answers (again, see my blog post at birdswather.com on that!
O Say 