Orioles 2012: Top of the 10th

Photo via Baltimore Sports Then and Now

What an amazing run it was!  Sure, it's sad that the 2012 season is over for the Orioles.  But this team gave so much more than could reasonably have been expected way back in March.  They played a marvelous division series, too.  They were ultimately undone by three players: C.C. Sabathia, Raul Ibanez and the postseason king himself, Derek Jeter, who, even hobbling on a wounded ankle, managed to make the key hits when it mattered most.  For our side, the two players who performed most admirably against the Yankees were aimless minor league wanderers just months ago: left fielder Nate McLouth and pitcher Miguel Gonzalez.  Game 3, the one Ibanez ruined, is a strong early candidate for game of the year.

So, what's next for Baltimore?  The chemistry of the current team certainly seems worth preserving.  While it was the bullpen who kept the team afloat all season, it was the starters who shined in the playoffs.  The Birds' young guns will be a year older and a year better come April.  If the starters can pitch deeper into ball games, that would be nice.  But I don't think the team needs to be looking to upgrade just yet - season and let sit.

Offensively, it might be worth looking for a few upgrades on the free agent market.  Baltimore's on-base percentage for the playoffs ranked dead last.  Granted, the Yanks didn't do much better - but just enough.  Maybe the team will make a bid in the Josh Hamilton sweepstakes but big picture, they might do better to go after a few of the lesser lights.  I think outfielders Nick Swisher and Ichiro Suzuki - both members of the O's recent conquerors - would be excellent targets.

The Orioles, Nationals and A's are all out of the running.  As such, my bold proposal survives another season.  The good news is that in 2013, at least according to my theory, all three teams will have a better chance of winning it all.  So, just as Cubs fans have been saying since 1908, just wait until next year.

Orioles 2012: Bottom of the 9th

The art of loving a bad team is the eternal hope for a season like this one.  The 2012 Orioles haven't hit especially well.  Their team OBP is 11th best in the American League.  Their starters haven't pitched especially well: ninth best ERA in the league.  They have been astonishingly good at one thing: winning close games.  That's not about ability.  That's about belief.  That's about manager Buck Showalter convincing a still very young team that on any given night, they can beat anybody.  He's Manager of the Year - no contest.

Photo via The Beltway Sports Blog

For the first time in 15 years, the O's are back in the playoffs.  The Rangers are a miserable draw.  Out of the remaining AL playoff team, Texas would be my last choice to face in a one-game series.  Even the Yankees would be preferable.  But big picture, the Birds already have ample reason to be tremendously proud of their season.  Why not one more improbable win?

Photo via WBAL

There's one new face to introduce before the playoffs.  L.J. Hoes made two appearances last week against the Blue Jays: as a pinch runner on September 25th and as a pinch hitter on the 26th.  He failed to score in the former case and failed to get on base in the latter.  He is a very highly regarded prospect and will most certainly get more opportunities.  Hoes is a Washington, DC native.

Orioles 2012: Top of the 9th

If you've followed the pennant race at all this year, you know that the 2012 Orioles are crazy good at winning close games.  They've won approximately 5,000 extra-inning games in a row and their record in 1-run games is the best in Major League history.  The first statement in the last sentence is a gross exaggeration.  The second is actually the truth.
 

Photo via Wikipedia

Such success is not possible without a great closer and Jim Johnson has been the most dependable player on the team all season long.  With his save in the first leg of today's doubleheader with the Blue Jays, Johnson leads the Majors with 48 on the year.  Not surprisingly, he also leads in save opportunities with 51.  He made his first All-Star Game, too.

Photo via Wikipedia

Zach Phillips, a September call-up from the minors, has made two relief appearances for the team over the past nine-game stretch.  He has only had five innings of work for the big league club all season, compiling a not-so-impressive 7.20 ERA.  He was born in Sacramento.

Photo via Warehouse Worthy

Living in New England, it's easy to catch Red Sox games on NESN.  The Orioles were in Boston over the weekend and, as a result, I was able to see Dylan Bundy's Major League debut at Fenway.  You may have already heard of Bundy.  He was Baltimore's first round draft pick last year and the best pitching prospect the organization has had in decades.  Sports Illustrated did a feature article on him earlier this season.  He faced only two batters and got both out with only seven pitches.  The future is very bright.

Orioles 2012: Bottom of the 8th

What an amazing season it has been!  We're 18 games from the finish line and the Orioles still share first place in the AL East with the Yankees.  On the surface, the team's 5-4 record over the past 9 games seems unimpressive.  But contained within that stretch are a four-game split with the Yanks and a three-game sweep of the Rays, both of which helped solidify Baltimore's position in the playoff race.  The team has now won 81 games, guaranteeing their first non-losing season in 15 years.  With one more victory, they can officially call themselves winners.

Photo via PRWeb

Let's talk offensive substitutions - pinch hitters and pinch runners, that is.  There are many reasons why a team might use a pinch hitter.  Lew Ford hit for an injured Wilson Betemit in the sixth inning this past Thursday.  Later in the same 14-inning marathon against the Rays, Matt Wieters, who was supposed to have the day off, was an obvious upgrade in the bottom of the 13th, pinch hitting for Taylor Teagarden, the game's starting catcher.  In Sunday's blowout loss to the Yankees, Xavier Avery and Ryan Flaherty were both given plate opportunities, more to limit injury risk to starters and give at-bats to bench players than for any tactical advantage.  Every once in a while, the manager will make a lefty/righty switch in an effort to confound the opposing pitcher.  Such was the case when Ford took Nate McLouth's turn in the series finale with the Blue Jays on September 5th.

Generally speaking, the Orioles have been horrible in pinch hit situations, hitting .135/.224/.154.  They've been one of the worst pinch hitting teams in the Majors this season - surprising considering their astonishing success in close games. Tactically, it isn't a choice Buck Showalter seems to make very often - 52 pinch hit at-bats, ninth in the American League.

Pinch running seems to offer a more obvious advantage.  Any hitter is more likely to produce an out than a hit.  But an extra step on the base paths can equal a run.  That said, pinch runners haven't done too well for the Birds of late either.  Nate McLouth ran for an injured Nick Markakis on September 8th.  Endy Chavez ran for Chris Davis on Thursday.  Avery ran for Wieters last night.  No runs were scored by the subs in any of those situations.

None of this is to say that the Orioles have a weak bench.  The truth is quite the opposite, though that strength has manifested itself in other, ultimately more important ways.  Markakis's injury is a case-in-point.  Most teams would be severely hampered by losing one of their most talented players.  While the Birds would certainly be a better team with him than without, they have not crumbled.  They won the game in which they lost him and 3 of the 5 since.  Every team contends with injuries every year and the 2012 Orioles have been no exception.  Indeed, the two most accomplished players on the payroll, Jim Thome and Brian Roberts, have spent the vast majority of the season on the disabled list.  It has been the role players as much as the stars who have kept the team steady this year.  Compare this to the situation in (ahem!) Boston and one wonders if investing in high-priced studs is such a sensible business model.

So, this is what a pennant race feels like, huh?

Orioles 2012: Top of the 8th

It's September and the Baltimore Orioles are tied for first place in the American League East.  No one could possibly have seen this coming.  The Birds have built their baffling 76-59 record largely by winning close games.  You don't do that without strong performances by the back-end of the bullpen.

Photo via Wikipedia

Pedro Strop has been the setup man for the O's this year, essentially in charge of locking down the eighth inning to preserve the save opportunity for the closer.  He has been absolutely stellar all season, compiling a 1.83 ERA over 59 appearances.  He was acquired via trade with the Rangers last August.  It was closer Jim Johnson who made it to the All-Star Game but one could argue Strop has had the better year.

Photo via The Great Orioles Autograph Project

The Orioles acquired lefty Joe Saunders in a trade with Arizona on August 26th.  Since then, he's had two starts for the Birds.  The first was awful, allowing 6 earned runs over 5 1/3 against the White Sox.  The second was brilliant: no runs over 6 1/3 against the Blue Jays.  Every game will count here in the home stretch.  Hopefully, Saunders can hold up his end.

Photo via The Great Orioles Autograph Project

The Brewers dropped lefty Randy Wolf on August 22nd.  The O's picked him up on the 31st.  He's only had one appearance since but it was a good one.  When Chris Tillman went out of the game on September 2nd with an injury (not a good thing at all), Wolf got the bullpen call for long relief.  He pitched 3 1/3 inning allowing one run and got the win against the Yankees.

Orioles 2012: Bottom of the 7th

Photo via Wikipedia

Manny Machado, the face of the Orioles' future, was promoted from Double-A Bowie to the Majors on August 9th.  There was much chatter as to whether or not the move had been made too soon but given the difficulty the Birds have had in maintaining a healthy infield, the immediate needs of the parent club took precedent.  To Machado's credit, he wasted little time in impressing.  In his second game, he hit two home runs to become the youngest Oriole ever to have a multiple home run game.  He has slowed down since.  His on-base percentage over his first 15 big league games is fairly pedestrian at .273 but his slugging percentage pops out: .556.


Machado, the #3 overall draft pick in 2010, has mostly been praised for his offensive skills on his way up the ladder but watching him, the part of his game that seems most Major League-ready is his fielding.  A shortstop by trade, he was switched to third for his big promotion and I'd say he's the most dynamic performer the franchise has had at the hot corner since Ripken hung 'em up. One can easily imagine Machado winning multiple Gold Gloves no matter where they put him on the field.

With the addition of Machado, the Baltimore line up finally seems to be settling after a tumultuous year.  Even the long-standing headache in left field has been resolved with the emergence of Nate McLouth.  A lot of the players who've emerged, at last, as dependable regulars have contracts which expire at the end of the season.  The team is currently tied for second in the wild card chase but whether they make the playoffs or not, the first winning season in ages looks like a safer bet all the time.  For the first time in many years, Baltimore might actually look like an appealing destination for free agents during the off-season.  I hope they'll hang on to Machado (obviously), McLouth and Omar Quintanilla at second.  But I'm betting they cut Mark Reynolds and Chris Davis loose.  The two have essentially created a first base/designated hitter platoon but given that those are two obvious spots for adding a top-shelf power hitter, I'm guessing neither man will be with the team in 2013.

State of the Blog 2012

The protagonist.  In literature, in film and in sports, identification with the protagonist keeps us coming back.  As Year 4 begins for The Armchair Squid, it is time to narrow focus and, perhaps, to explore this unifying theme.  While new directions are always possible, the following are my priorities for the coming year.


Blogging Projects

These are a lot of work but they are definitely the best way I've found to network with other bloggers.  A to Z is already on the calendar for April.  I even have my theme ready to go.  Quick-shot blog fests have also been great for me over the past year.  If anyone hears of anything planned for February or March, let me know.  Those tend to be my slow months.


Good Reading

Image via Comic Bastards

As I said in my Squiddies 2012 post, I started blogging about comic books last fall almost as an afterthought.  I did not expect them to be such a rewarding topic for the blog in general.  I plan to continue my explorations over the coming year.  I will certainly follow the Cannons' Double Barrel project and will encourage you to do the same. Beyond that, I'm not sure where the path will lead.  I am considering taking the next step in comic fandom and becoming a subscriber.  There is no better demonstration of the power of the protagonist than there is in the world of comics.

To do the topic justice, I do feel I need to educate myself in the visual arts in general.  I'm not sure what, if any, direct impact this will have on my blogging but I hope it will at least make for more meaningful posts.

I will also continue to explore children's literature - with my daughter and on my own.  There will be sports books, too.  Baseball and football books are on my to-read stack at the moment.


Family Adventures

This time last year, I set a goal to get my family out of the house for something fun at least once a weekend.  This past Sunday, I asked My Wife how she felt about it and she seemed more or less satisfied.

"I don't want you blowing up at me sometime about my 'stupid plans,'" says I.

"Well, I can't promise that..." she retorts.

Photo via The Idea Buro


Generally speaking, I've found that the best bet for getting everyone out is the promise of food.  The most gratifying topic as a blogger, however, has been movies.  We watch loads of them - mostly in the comfort of our own living room but we make it to the theater from time to time as well.  Truth be told, it's more or less the family hobby.  As such, I will focus on film for my family adventure posts in the coming year.


Music

As my goal is to keep my blogging life separate from my professional life, this is a tricky topic.  I am a music teacher, you see.  But there are always intersections between music and the other subjects I write about.  I will resume my celebrations of college marching bands (not my job) this coming fall.  In the spring, I will turn my attention to music's role in another favorite sport.  More on that in a bit.


Tennis

No changes planned here.  I still feel the Majors are the best point of contact for the casual fan.  My Curtain Calls are at the very heart of what The Armchair Squid is all about, no matter the topic.  After all, each player from the biggest star to the humblest journeyman is the protagonist of his/her own story.


Baseball

The Baltimore Orioles have been a joy in 2012.  I highly recommend following a team as I have this year: watch the pitchers for a few games, then the hitters, then the pitchers again, etc.  Keep an eye out for new faces.  Of course, it doesn't hurt when your team is winning.  As fun as it's been, I'm planning a new baseball direction next year.  After college football, baseball has the strongest connection to music of any American sport.  I will explore that relationship more in the 2013 season.

I haven't forgotten about my bold proposal, either.  At the moment, the Nationals appear to have the best chance to upset the apple cart.  The Orioles and Pirates are currently in playoff position, too.  I'll check in on this one at regular season's end.


Curling

No changes here, either.  Women's World Championships will take place in Riga, Latvia, March 16-24.  The men will play in Victoria, BC, March 30th through April 7th.


Fantasy Sports

I'm paring down a little bit here - just baseball and football, no tennis or college football.  I will continue to celebrate the individual players who do well by me.


In conclusion, I am eternally grateful to all of you have shared in my explorations.  To borrow from Jon Wertheim, if any of you enjoys reading The Armchair Squid half as much as I enjoy writing it, we're all doing pretty well.  I hope you'll join me for Year 4.

If you're interested in previous State of the Blog posts, try the links below:

2011
2010

Orioles 2012: Top of the 7th

The knock against the Orioles has become that they are a statistically terrible team.  They are 11th out of 14 American League teams in OPS (On-base Plus Slugging) and 7th in team ERA.  By all logic, they should be losing more games than they win.  And yet, they keep winning.  They are 7-2 over the past 9 games and are back in the wild card lead.  They make the most of the opportunities they get and they find a way to win ballgames, one at a time.

The one part of the team that has been beyond reproach statistically from the beginning of the season has been the bullpen.  Baltimore's ERA in relief is third-best in the Majors.  Not long ago, the Birds were the team that blew late-inning leads as a matter of habit - not in 2012.  When they have a lead, they protect it.  When they're behind, the relievers at least give them a shot.  Nearly to a man, this group has performed beyond all reasonable expectations.

Photo via Wikipedia

Submariner Darren O'Day, for instance, has not allowed an earned run since July 16th.  In the time since, he has pitched 10 2/3 innings, striking out 12.  Just last season, O'Day had a 5.40 ERA with the Rangers.  With the Birds, he has performed mostly 7th inning duty, compiling a season ERA of 2.45.  The team claimed him off of waivers in November.  He was Academic All-America in college at Florida.

Photo via Wikipedia

Mexican righty Luis Ayala has been only slightly less dominant.  Ayala has not allowed a run, earned or otherwise, in his last five appearances, totaling 4 innings.  Ayala pitched for the enemy Yankees last year.  Baltimore signed him as a free agent in February.  His season ERA stands at 2.54.

The team keeps adding weapons, too.  The Orioles acquired Puerto Rican lefty J.C. Romero in a trade with the Indians on Monday.  He pitched against the Red Sox each of the past two nights, racking up 1 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run.  He's had quite the windy path this season: signed with the Cardinals in December only to be released in May.  The O's signed him to a minor league contract but he elected for free agency in July.  Cleveland signed him, then traded him back to the Orioles.

Venezuelan righty Miguel Socolovich was called up from the minors on July 14th.  He has recorded a 6.97 ERA over 10 1/3 innings of work.  He was designated for assignment on Tuesday.

The Orioles did have one spot starter last week: Steve Johnson who had his first Major League start on August 8th against the Mariners.  He had a quality start with two earned runs over six innings and was awarded the victory.  Johnson's father Dave also pitched for the Orioles, with the team from 1989-91.

Orioles 2012: Bottom of the 6th

It's been another strong nine-game stretch for Baltimore.  They've gone 5-4, all against contenders: A's, Yankees and Rays.  They also survived the trade deadline without doing anything rash.  Time to introduce a few new characters...

Image via Wikipedia

The Orioles acquired Omar Quintanilla in a cash-only trade with the Mets on July 20th as part of the ongoing struggle to maintain a healthy infield.  He's done so well filling in at second base, hitting .333/.370/.476 since becoming an Oriole, that Robert Andino was moved to a platoon at third upon his return from the DL.  Quintanilla was part of a powerhouse team at the University of Texas, making the national title game twice and winning it in 2002.

Image via Wikipedia

Left fielder Lew Ford was called up on July 29th to make his first major league appearance since 2007.  In the intervening years, he made season-long stops in both Japan and Mexico along with various minor league adventures.  He once burned himself with a hotel iron.  A rumor got around that he was ironing the shirt he was currently wearing - apparently untrue.  There have been some bright spots along the way.  He was AL Player of the Week for the week ending August 21, 2005 while playing for the Twins.

Image via The Baltimore Sun

Nate McLouth was called up just yesterday to play left against the Rays.  He had a great game, going 2-for-4 with a double.  His big year was 2008 with the Pirates when he was an All-Star and a Gold Glove winner.  In the years since, with a stint in Atlanta before returning to Pittsburgh, he has struggled at the plate.  The O's signed him to a minor league deal in June.

The season is 2/3 finished.  Amazingly, Baltimore is still just a game out of the last wild card spot.  I'm trying not to get my hopes up about the playoffs.  A winning season finally feels like a realistic expectation.  With another year of seasoning and a few savvy off-season moves, the team is likely to be better in 2013.  At least to this point, 2012 has felt like a very big step forward.

Orioles 2012: Top of the 6th

The Orioles' most recent stretch has been a pretty good one: 6-3 over the last nine, including a five-game win streak.  Perhaps most encouraging is that their starting pitchers have been very sharp, turning in quality starts for eight of those nine contests.  Lefty Zach Britton is finally back in the rotation after struggling with shoulder issues to begin the season.  Britton has, in his short career, shown flashes of brilliance but has struggled with consistency from one game to the next.  He made his second start of 2012 on July 22nd against the Indians, pitching six scoreless innings to get the win. 

Photo via Baltimore Sports Report

The art of loving a bad team is in holding out hope for a brighter tomorrow.  But what kind of future should we wish for, one year of championship glory or perennial contention?  My own choice would always be the latter and the Birds are showing genuine promise this season.  The team is good enough that when all cylinders are firing, they win.  They are young enough that one can envision incremental improvement from year to year.  There are even a few blue-chip prospects in the pipeline who could eventually prove vital pieces of a formidable big league team. 

All of which makes the more cautious fan nervous as the trade deadline approaches.  Baltimore is currently 7.5 games behind the Yankees so even with more than two months left, a division title is probably out of reach.  Instead, my gang is one of several teams in a dog fight for the two American League wild card slots.  How much of the future would they be willing to bet on a shot at a one-game playoff against, for instance, Justin Verlander?   The Orioles currently boast two of the top ten minor league prospects in baseball.  Shortstop Manny Machado could be ready to move into the parent club infield as early as next year.  Righty Dylan Bundy is projected to be a future staff ace.  Would losing either be worth renting Zack Greinke's services for two months?

Orioles 2012: Bottom of the 5th

Jim Thome is a sure fire, first ballot Hall of Famer and one of the most under-appreciated power hitters in Major League history.  Have 600+ home runs ever been hit so quietly?  At 41, he is still plenty good enough to make solid offensive contributions every night.  I have nothing but the highest respect for him as an athlete. 

Photo via Baseball Nation

And yet, I wonder at the wisdom of my Orioles trading away a couple of prospects for him a couple weeks back. At the time, the Birds were clinging desperately to a playoff position and I can understand wanting to beef up a lineup overrun with injuries.  But is this really the best way for a team on the rise to spend its resources? His .364 on-base percentage since joining the team is respectable, though the .297 slugging percentage is not exactly up to his usual lofty standards.  Unquantifiable, of course, is his value as a clubhouse presence.  It certainly can't hurt to have a player of his caliber and experience around to set an example for the Birds' talented, though still frightfully young team.

Meanwhile, Baltimore's playoff prospects seem to be slipping away.  The downward spiral continues as the O's have only won two of the past nine games.  In that stretch, they have struggled against contenders (Angels, Tigers) and doormats (Twins) alike.  One hopes that they can at least pull things together in time to salvage their first winning season since the Clinton administration. 

Photo via Lansing State Journal

One of the best stories of the past week for the Orioles was the extra-inning heroics of Taylor Teagarden on July 14th.  Called up as a backup catcher from the minors, Teagarden made his first appearance as a defensive sub after Matt Wieters was pulled for a pinch runner in the tenth against the Tigers.  The game carried on to the 13th when, in just his second Major League at-bat of the season, Teagarden hit a walk-off, 2-run homer.  Unfortunately, he's had no hits in his three at-bats since. 

Photo via WWMX-FM

On July 7th, Joe Mahoney had his Major League debut, starting at first base against the Angels.  He went 0-for-3 and was sent back to the minors soon afterwards.  He was the organizations' minor league player of the year in 2010.

Orioles 2012: Top of the 5th

A couple of days ago, I was getting ready to write that it looked like the Orioles were in trouble.  After our last check in, the Birds suffered a two-game sweep to the Angels and then lost a four-game series to the Indians.  Those two teams are in the thick of the wild card race and wins against them would have been particularly valuable.  Then, the Orioles traveled out west to Seattle to take on the lowly Mariners.  They dropped the first game.  The problem was starting pitching.  The Baltimore staff didn't manage a single quality start over that seven-game stretch.

Then out of nowhere, two gems.  On Tuesday night, Wei-Yin Chen had a perfect game through six innings.  In the seventh, he allowed a solo homer to ruin the no-no but still conceded just two earned runs over 7 1/3.  The bullpen blew the lead so he wasn't awarded the victory. Fortunately, the O's won anyway, 5-4.

Photo via Hawk Fantasy Sports

On Wednesday, Baltimore called up righty Chris Tillman from Triple-A Norfolk to start that evening's game.  Tillman has spent parts of the past three seasons with the big league club.  While showing occasional flashes of promise, he has struggled to find a consistent groove, currently carrying a 5.58 ERA at the Major League level.  Wednesday was his first 2012 start with the Orioles.  He pitched brilliantly, allowing only two hits over 8 1/3 innings, ultimately earning the win.  He had never pitched more than 7 1/3 innings in a start before.  He's been optioned back to the minors so he can get a start over the All-Star break but the plan is to bring him back to the parent club afterward.

The fifth inning is a very important one statistically for starting pitchers.  A starter must pitch at least the first five innings of a game in order to be credited with a win.  Over the past nine games, Tillman was the only starter to earn a win for the team.

I do have some more new characters to introduce...

Photo via Wikipedia

Dana Eveland started against the Indians on Saturday, his second start of the season for the Orioles.  Most of his twelve appearances have come in relief.  Unfortunately, he only made it through 3 2/3 innings, allowing five earned runs and suffering the loss.  The Birds acquired him in a trade with the Dodgers in December.

Photo via Wikipedia

On June 27th, Matt Lindstrom came into relieve Jason Hammel in the fourth inning after the Angels had tagged the starter for eight earned runs over 3 1/3.  Overall, Lindstrom has had an outstanding year.  He has a 2.25 ERA over 16 innings.  However, he has struggled a bit since coming back from a finger injury.  The Orioles got both Lindstrom and Hammel in a trade with the Rockies in February.

Photo via Wikipedia

In the fifth inning of that same game, Kevin Gregg took the mound.  Gregg was the Orioles' closer for most of last year but was demoted by season's end in favor of Jim Johnson.  This year, Johnson is headed to the All-Star Game while Gregg has continued to struggle.  He has a 4.43 ERA over 22 1/3 innings.

Photo via Wikipedia

Two days later, lefty Troy Patton relieved Jake Arietta in the fourth inning and held down the fort through the sixth.  Patton has had a respectable but unspectacular season overall.  His ERA is 3.49 over 38 2/3 innings.

Just like that, the season is half over.  Amazingly, the Orioles are still in playoff position.  Coming up next, they've got a four-game road series with the Angels, the only team ahead of them in the wild card standings.

Orioles 2012: Bottom of the 4th

Photo via The Beltway Sports Blog

On June 12th, the Orioles got a big boost with the return of Brian Roberts to the roster. Roberts, a two-time All Star, had been out of commission for nearly two years with injuries, most recently a head injury sustained sliding into first base on May 16th of last year.  He's back in the roles he left: second baseman and leadoff hitter.  With the legitimate possibility of playoff baseball for the Birds this season, they'll need all hands on deck.

While much welcomed, Roberts's return has been unspectacular.  His on-base percentage is .295, not exactly what you're looking for from your leadoff man.  He was also caught stealing in his only attempt.  He's been rock solid in the field, though, with a 1.000 fielding percentage.  

It's late June and the Orioles are still in playoff position - crazy.  It won't be easy, though.  Four out of the top six teams in the American League wild card standings are in the East division.

Orioles 2012: Top of the 4th

To this point, I have not needed to discuss the Orioles' bullpen at all.  The starters have done a reasonably good job this year of working deep into games.  The past nine games have been excellent for the Birds: 7-2 overall, tallying series wins over the Red Sox and Phillies and a sweep of the Pirates.  In each game but one, the starter managed to pitch at least through the fourth inning.  Unfortunately, lefty Brian Matusz could only manage two full innings against Boston on June 7th, allowing five runs, four of them earned.

Even in a game that was out of reach early, the bullpen got the job done just as they have all season.  The Baltimore relievers have been spectacular across the board, possessing a 2.40 ERA overall - best in baseball.  Perhaps the most thankless job in the game is that of the long reliever.  You sit on the bench, hoping for the sake of the team that you don't get the call to pitch.  You'll probably only get the opportunity when the starter has fallen apart, as Matusz did.  You're responsible for damage control - eat up innings so as to preserve the arms of the other, more appreciated relievers.

Photo via The Great Orioles Autograph Project

On June 7th, it was Miguel Gonzalez who got the call.  The Mexican righty did his part.  In just his second appearance for the team, he pitched four solid innings, allowing only a single earned run over that span.  But like I said, it's a thankless job.  Two days later, he was shipped to the minors to make room for a fifth starter. 

Orioles 2012: Bottom of the 3rd

The Orioles have stumbled.  It was bound to happen eventually.  The Birds have won only two of their last nine games and have dropped to second place in the division.  There's no room for error in this year's AL East.  Only three games separate the Rays at the top of the standings from the Red Sox and Blue Jays at the bottom. 

It has been said that it's the bottom of the batting order that separates the good teams from the bad.  The 7th and 8th spots are generally where you put the players you need for defense.  Not much is expected from them offensively so if they can hold their own, a team benefits tremendously.  In the National League, the 9th spot is usually reserved for the pitcher but in the American League, the spot is often treated as a bonus leadoff hitter: a guy with speed who gets on base.  Given the nature of these spots, it's a much broader and more varied cast of characters who typically occupy them.  Several of the players who've hit in the 7-9 spots over the past 9 games for the O's have been discussed in previous posts so I'll focus on those who were not.

Photo via Rant Sports

Robert Andino has been the starting second baseman for the Orioles and frequently bats leadoff when not batting 9th.  His season on-base percentage (OBP) is .303.  A Miami native, he is of Puerto Rican and Cuban descent.

Photo via Wikipedia

Steve Tolleson was signed to a minor league contract in the off-season but was called up in May in an effort to deal with the team's various injuries.  He's played mostly at third base and has made solid contributions at the plate, with a .313 OBP.  He hails from South Carolina.

Photo via Wikipedia


Ryan Flaherty has been getting work in right field in Nick Markakis's absence due to injury.  He was claimed in the off-season from the Cubs through the Rule 5 Draft.  His plate performance has been meager: .175 OBP for the season.

Photo via ESPN

Ronny Paulino is currently the team's backup catcher.  Paulino was another minor league contract signee in the off-season who has gotten unexpected opportunities with the big league club.  He's had some opportunities at DH as well, compiling a .324 OBP for the season overall. 

Steve Pearce was claimed off of waivers on Saturday and is likely to get some of the right field work, too.  He went 1-for-4 in his first start of the season on Sunday.  He started the season in the Yankees organization.

Xavier Avery was called up to the Majors on May 13th but sent back down on the 29th.  He posted a .299 OBP over 15 games, all played in left field.  He's from Atlanta, Georgia.

Bill Hall was signed to a minor league contract in April, then called up on May 12th.  A utility man, Hall made the most of his seven games in the top flight: .500 OBP.  He is currently designated for assignment.

Orioles 2012: Top of the 3rd

2012 has been an amazing season for the Orioles so far.  Even with the disappointment of losing a home series to the Red Sox, the Birds have the best record in the American League nearly two months into the season.  So many things are going right for the team at the moment, as is often the case for a club on a hot streak.  The season is still young and there's plenty of time for everything to fall apart. 

Photo via Pro Sports Blogging

That said, the franchise got a fantastic jolt on Tuesday night from a pitcher who has to make a solid contribution if the run of success is to continue.  Brian Matusz pitched magnificently against a powerful Boston lineup, allowing only one earned run over 6 1/3 innings.  He was drafted 4th overall by the O's in 2008.  His career has been a terrifying roller coaster since.  He skyrocketed to the Majors, finishing 5th in Rookie of the Year voting in 2010. 

Then in 2011, the bottom fell out.  He missed the first two months due to injury and simply wasn't the same upon his return to the mound.  The zip on his fastball disappeared and opposing batters shelled him.  He finished the season at 1-9 with a whopping 10.39 ERA.  The once future ace had the look of an albatross ready to drag the whole franchise down with him - yet another early draft pick wasted.

2012 didn't begin well.  Matusz didn't get his first quality start until late April.  On May 7th, the Rangers tagged him for 7 runs over 5 innings.  But now, with June approaching, he seems to have pulled things together.  Tuesday night was his second quality start in a row and his third victory in three starts.  The Camden faithful gave him a standing ovation as he left the mound.  Perhaps we all sense that if Matusz's resurgence is for real, the stars may genuinely be aligned for this long-suffering ball club.

Orioles 2012: Bottom of the 2nd

Teams usually load the middle of the batting order, the 4th, 5th and 6th spots, with power hitters.  For the 2012 Orioles, the 4 and 5 spots are pretty well locked down by the team's two most consistent hitters to this point of the season.  The #6 spot has been more fluid, as we shall see.


The Cleanup Hitter

Photo via PressBox

Adam Jones is having an All-Star caliber campaign thus far.  He ranks 6th in the American League with a .567 slugging percentage.  He's also 5th in the league in home runs with 10.


The 5th Hitter

Photo via Wikipedia

Matt Wieters is the team's emerging star.  At 25, he's already considered by many to be the best catcher in the American League.  He's slugging at .547 for the season.  His on-base percentage is .356.  At this early point in the year, it would seem that the Orioles' offense will go as far as Jones and Wieters can take them.


The 6th Hitter

Photo via Bleacher Report

While turnover at the #6 slot has been higher than at 4 and 5, the switch-hitting Wilson Betemit has gotten most of the starts here over the last nine games with five.  Betemit signed with the team as a free agent during the off-season.

Photo via Wikipedia

Overall, Chris Davis has been the stronger statistical hitter in the 6th spot, though he's only gotten two starts in that position over the past nine games.  His slugging percentage is .660 when batting 6th as opposed to Betemit's .400.  His on-base percentage is also better: .389 vs. .286.

Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Mark Reynolds, currently on the disabled list, also got a start in the 6th position.  Overall, he has a .321 on-base percentage when batting 6th and a .304 slugging percentage.

Photo via TheSportSpin

Nick Johnson also had one game in the 6th spot.  His overall numbers in that position are meager: .222 on-base percentage and a .267 slugging percentage.

Orioles 2012: Top of the 2nd

Photo via Bleacher Report

The fact that the Orioles are winning is really crazy enough.  After today's 8-2 throttling - yes, I said "throttling" - of the Red Sox, the team has an 18-9 record.  The fact that they are winning with pitching is absolutely nuts.  To say that pitching has been a weakness for the franchise is a bit like saying gullibility was a weakness for the Trojans.  Over the past nine games, Baltimore's starting pitchers have been outstanding, turning in quality starts in seven of those games. 

A quality start is one in which the pitcher goes for at least six innings and allows three earned runs or fewer.  Traditionalists don't like the quality start stat because it amounts to a 4.50 ERA - not very good.  But sabermetricians don't like ERA as a stat anyway.  I like the quality starts stat because it asks a simple question: did the starting pitcher do his part to help his team win the game?  He has no control over what his offense does, what the fielders behind him do or what the relievers do - all factors which determine whether he might be credited with a win or loss.  But did he do his job?

The most effective starter to this point for the Orioles has been Jason Hammel.  Out of his six starts, he has turned in a quality start five times: 83% of the time.  To give you an idea of how good that is, Tim Lincecum has the highest percentage of quality starts in a career at 72.7%.  There's no telling whether Hammel can keep this up over the course of a long season but it's a very clear indication of how well he's pitched.  He's doing very well with the traditional stats, too: 4-1 record with an eye-popping 2.09 ERA.  Where did this come from?  Prior to this year, his best season ERA was 4.33 in 2009.  It's a long season and it's still very early but he and the club have to be thrilled by his performance thus far.

Since I panned him last time, I must point out that Brian Matusz seems to have found his groove as well.  Both of his past two starts have been quality starts.  His ERA is now down to 4.67.

Orioles 2012: Bottom of the 1st

Image via Diamond-Uniforms

The Orioles continue to play well.  At the 18-game mark, the win-loss record stands at 11-7.  In this post, we'll look at the top of the batting order: the first three hitters in the lineup, guaranteed to hit in the first inning.  The job of the first three hitters is to set the table for the power hitters who will follow.  It's the leadoff man's job to get on base, then advance as quickly as possible.  He is usually the team's fastest player.  The #2 hitter is a contact hitter's spot.  He needs to move the runner along, hopefully manage to reach base safely himself.  The 3-spot is where you usually put your best all-around hitter, someone who can hit for both power and average.  Earl Weaver, legendary manager of the Orioles during their heyday, believed in playing for 3-run homers and in the best case scenario, the top of the order can get that done right away.  From the sabermetric view, the most important responsibility of these three - and truly any - hitters is to get on base without causing an out.  Let's see how the Birds are doing so far.  We'll go last to first...


The Three-Hole

Photo via Fantasy Baseball Dugout

Right fielder Nick Markakis is beginning his seventh Major League season, all played with Baltimore.  He is a former Olympian, having played for the Greek national team in the 2004 Games in Athens.  While the team is playing well, Markakis has had a slow start, only hitting .231 with 2 homers.  Compared to other teams hitting from the #3 spot, the Orioles are 22nd in the Majors in on-base percentage, 23rd in slugging and 23rd in OPS which combines the two.


The Two-Hole

Photo via Bleacher Report

Shortstop J.J. Hardy is in his eighth Major League season, second with the Birds.  He is the son of two professional athletes, his father a tennis player, his mother a golfer.  He was a pleasant surprise for the O's last year, finishing the season with 30 home runs.  But like Markakis, he's yet to take off in 2012: .185 batting average.  Hitting from the #2 spot, the Orioles are 27th in the Majors in on-base percentage.


The Leadoff Platoon

The leadoff role is currently shared by Endy Chavez and Nolan Reimold.  The two men are also splitting duties in left field.  Over the past nine games, the lefty Chavez has gotten six of the starts, all against right-handed starting pitchers.  The righty Reimold got the nod against the one left-handed starter and two against righties. 

Photo via Wikipedia
The 34-year-old Chavez hails from Venezuela.  The Orioles signed him as a free agent to a one-year contract in December.  His batting average is an abysmal .156 and he was caught stealing the only time he tried. 

Photo via Oriole Post

Reimold, on the other hand, has had an outstanding April.  He leads the team in on-base percentage, slugging and OPS.  He stole successfully on his only attempt.  This begs the very obvious question of why he's not playing every day, especially with Chavez playing so poorly.  Baseball conventional wisdom says that, all else being equal, you should hit lefties against righties and righties against lefties.  But here's the kicker: Reimold has, to this point, hit better against right-handed pitching than Chavez has!  I suppose one month isn't much to go on and it's dangerous to tinker with a team that's playing well, but the decision seems obvious to me.


Looking Ahead

Overall, I suppose it's good news that the Orioles are winning even though the top of the lineup is hitting so poorly.  I am hopeful that Hardy and, certainly, Markakis can turn things around.  If the team starts losing and the trend described above continues, giving Reimold the full-time gig at leadoff will be unavoidable.

Orioles 2012: Top of the 1st

Image via Business Insider

The art of loving a bad baseball team is in celebrating the minor triumphs, in following the individual characters in the grand drama that is the 162-game season. My Baltimore Orioles have been bad for a really long time. The team has failed to finish with a winning record for 14 consecutive seasons. But I believe that any true fan loves the game first and the team second. The doormats are as much a part of baseball as the perennial powers. Win or lose, baseball still means nine innings of one of the strangest, most wonderful sports on Earth.

Nine innings equal 18 half-innings. Perhaps not coincidentally, 162 games is divisible by 18. And so, my plan for this baseball season is to post about the Orioles every nine games, featuring the players most likely to play a role in each half-inning. Each man has a role to play. The cast of characters is never static, even on the very best teams. Today's conquering hero is tomorrow's goat. Therein lie the stories that make this game so engaging, no matter which team you like.

The Orioles began their 2012 campaign at home and so we launch with the team's starting pitchers. During the franchise's glory years, the Oriole pitching staff was the envy of the sport. Between 1969 and 1980, four different Baltimore pitchers won the AL Cy Young award a total of six times. As good as they were then is about as bad as they've been in our present era. That said, the young Oriole rotation has gotten off to a relatively promising start this year. The Birds hit the nine-game mark with a 5-4 record and pitching has played a crucial role in this early success. What's more, every Baltimore starter has managed to survive the first inning so far! When you love a bad team, you learn not to take that sort of thing for granted.

The Ace: Jake Arrieta


Photo via Wikipedia

It's hard to think of a man who had a 5.05 ERA last year as the ace of the staff but as the opening day starter, Arrieta gets the tag for now. That said, he's off to a pretty good start. The 26-year-old righty is in his third year in the Majors. With two games under his belt so far, his record is 1-0 with a 2.63 ERA. In fact, Arrieta would have been the winning pitcher in his second start but for a blown save opportunity by reliever Luis Ayala. In both games, Arrieta was able to pitch into the seventh inning. Last year, the bullpen was horribly over-extended.


The Second Starter: Tommy Hunter


Photo via Wikipedia

Hunter, a 25-year-old righty from Indianapolis, has also performed well to this point. Also with two starts, he has a 1-0 record with a 2.77 ERA. Two Oriole starters with an ERA under 3? Gotta be pleased with that.


The Veteran: Jason Hammel


Photo via Call to the Pen

Make that three pitchers with an ERA under 3 as Hammel's stands at 2.08, best of the bunch so far. Hammel was acquired in an off-season trade and, at 29, is the old man of the rotation. Asking too much of young pitchers was the club's undoing last year. Are we heading down the same path again?


The Struggling Lefty: Brian Matusz


Photo via The Baseball Index

Here's where the trouble begins. After a very promising rookie campaign in 2010, the lefty Matusz fell apart last year. He missed the first two months of the season with an injury, then was shelled upon his return - less velocity on the fastball cited as an area of major concern. The 2012 season has not begun well. Matusz is 0-2 with a whopping 8.38 ERA.


The Rookie: Wei-Yin Chen


Photo via Baltimore Sports Report

Chen is the mystery man. A dominant pitcher in Japan, the Taiwanese lefty signed with the O's as a free agent during the off-season. His first start was encouraging, only allowing two earned runs over 5 2/3 innings. Eventually, the Birds will need him to pitch deeper into games but for his first Major League appearance, not bad at all.


Looking Ahead

It's always great to see your team pitching well. The news has certainly been encouraging thus far but I see a couple of big areas of concern so far. The biggest is Matusz, of course. If he can regain his rookie year form, this team has a chance to at least turn some heads. If the nightmare continues, how long can manager Buck Showalter even afford to keep him in the rotation?

The second area of concern for me is stamina. I understand wanting to preserve arms over a long season but unless the starters can consistently make it through at least six innings, the bullpen will once again be overtaxed.


Looking for A to Z? Scroll down one or use the link here.