A middling start to the season for the Orioles (with series wins in Boston (2-1) and Tampa (2-1) despite 1-2 hiccups against both the Twins and Yankees) has produced lots to be optimistic about, including 1B Chris Davis’ strong play at the plate and closer Jim Johnson’s having picked up right where he left off from 2012. They also have a long homestand to look forward to after so many games on the road.
However, an area of concern for the Birds has been the continued rollercoaster ride known as starter Jake Arrieta.
Arrieta, the team’s 2012 Opening Day starter, proved to be one of the biggest conundrums for manager Buck Showalter last year with alternatively great then terrible starts.
For Arrieta, who has blamed lack of concentration in key situations for his struggles, this meant late-season relegation to the bullpen for a team then nestled thickly in the playoff hunt.
The move paid dividends as Arrieta proved to be more than reliable in the pen and strengthened Showalter’s options at long relief while helping to preserve stars like Darren O’Day, Johnson, and fellow starter-turned-reliever Brian Matusz for later in the season and ultimately the playoffs.
But no one, not Showalter, Arrieta, nor GM Dan Duquette ever suggested Arrieta did not possess starter stuff –even whilst part of the bullpen. So they gave the right-hander another chance at the rotation in 2013 after deciding not to re-sign veteran Joe Saunders and with prospects Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman still developing.
The problem has again been consistency.
His April 16th outing against Tampa Bay, (5 plus innings, 112 pitches, 5 walks, three hits, one run) was a perfect example, struggles throughout the game coupled with strokes of brilliance. While Arrieta has not lost this season, his ERA before Tuesday’s game was a sizable 7.20.
Another issue is that Showalter and Duquette are out of options on Arrieta. He can’t be sent down, and relegation to the bullpen now seems unlikely, with a crowded house that includes one Rule V pick who can’t leave the major league roster (T.J. MacFarland), lest he be offered back to the Cleveland Indians, and Tommy Hunter, who is out of options in general.
If Showalter and Duquette finally run out of patience on Arrieta, don’t expect them to cut the otherwise talented Arrieta from the team. Instead, expect Hunter (called “Big Game” Hunter by broadcaster Fred Manfra, but “Home Run” Hunter by seemingly everyone else, not a good nickname to have when you are a pitcher), to instead be the one left without a chair when the music stops.
So Arrieta is too valuable to let go, for now. If Arrieta can turn a corner, the Orioles may find another diamond in the rough that – like de-facto ace Jason Hammel – they develop into a special player.
The flip side is that if Arrieta cannot improve, this likely will force Showalter’s hand and domino the bullpen – if Arrieta can’t turn things around as a starter, he may be headed to the bullpen, and Hunter to the airport. But for now, at least, the jury’s still out.
