The Orioles bounced back from a four-game losing streak by sweeping the Cleveland Indians and in the process taking over Cleveland’s spot as having the best record in the American League. It’s amazing how this team just finds a way to right the ship when it appears they could go in a week-long tailspin.
The O’s welcome the Colorado Rockies for a three-game stretch and they have a golden opportunity to continue their win streak as the Rockies struggle mightily on the road.
Upton Jr. Trade Rumors
If it wasn’t for Ubaldo Jimenez being placed on paternity leave, there’s a chance the teams could have already made the Jimenez-for-Melvin Upton Jr. trade. It remains to be seen whether or not the San Diego Padres change their minds with a couple more days to think about this, but this is the perfect trade for the Orioles.
The team will finally cut ties with a pitcher who has struggled since the day he arrived and they will get an outfielder that will help them offensively and defensively. There has been talk on why the Orioles would acquire a hitter, especially another outfielder. However, after the loss of Joey Rickard until September, there will be plenty of playing time to go around.
If you factor in that the Orioles will face the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays 14 times in the month of September and both teams have three lefty starters in their rotation, there is a huge need for another impact RH bat, as Hyun Soo Kim and Pedro Alvarez will find themselves on the bench.
Future Is Now In The Rotation
As in life, circumstances change and you have to reevaluate your original plan. That is the case with Dylan Bundy as it appears the Orioles will let him not only pitch, but start, for the remainder of the season. This plan could change again, but for now, the former number one overall prospect is going to pitch every fifth day.
The organization is obviously taking a huge risk as their number one goal was to make sure Bundy remained healthy this season, but as Buck Showalter and Dan Duquette have said, there is no clear blueprint on how to keep pitchers from getting injured.
If Bundy remains strong and effective, then there’s no reason why he should be shut down. I will say I was in the camp of him being used as a reliever for the entire season and next year being the year he makes an impact in the rotation. However, the lack of pitching on the market along with every other pitcher the O’s have used struggling, this is the result. I trust that the organization knows what they are doing and I can’t lie: watching him and Kevin Gausman pitch on back-to-back nights and dominate gave me goose bumps and made me think how good this team could be for years to come.
Schoop Taking His Game To Another Level
Jonathan Schoop was a player I targeted while he was coming through the minors and I always had high hopes that he would become a power threat. After hitting his 17th home run, the 24-year-old is exactly that. Schoop could challenge 30 home runs this season and should do so over the next several seasons. The Orioles take a lot of heat – and rightfully so – for their lack of pitching development, but they have developed hitters and Schoop is just another name to the list. He will only continue to get better.
