The Orioles are 11-8 through 19 games this season.
Chris Davis and Adam Jones are hitting lights out early.
Nick Markakis is heating up, and Manny Machado is showing signs of being a star.
Heck, Jim Johnson already has seven saves.
What concerns me you ask?
The O’s haven’t had a starting pitcher complete seven innings in a game. As a matter of fact the Orioles are the only team in baseball to not have a starter accomplish this.
I’ve heard some people say, “the Orioles don’t have a Justin Verlander, CC Sabathia, David Price, or Felix Hernandez, you can’t expect their pitchers to go deep in games.”
I don’t expect the O’s to lead baseball in complete games, but seven innings isn’t nine. Household names like Kevin Correia, Bud Norris, Garrett Richards, and Eric Stults have done it already this year.
Andy Pettitte has done it three times and he’s 40!!
My worry is that when starters don’t go deep in games, it overworks the bullpen. This pen did a fantastic job last year but I’m worried they’ll be out of gas by August.
I thought Chris Tillman was going to get it done last night. He had a shutout entering the seventh. I even tweeted (@kenweinmansport) that I thought this “streak” would end. Of course, Tillman got into trouble and didn’t make it out of the inning.
Whether it be Miguel Gonzalez, Jason Hammel, or Tillman, could one of you please get it done (and soon)?
Hopefully that creates a snowball effect and by the end of May it’s second nature. One guy who won’t be doing it is Jake Arrieta, who was sent down after his on mound meltdown Sunday – good news for me because I’m convinced he’s going to give me an ulcer.
Maybe Miguel can do it tonight…
One Response
Perhaps they need to refine the bullpen a bit and adjust to the fact that the starters can’t go long. Maybe they need to move arms up and down this season. When Steve Johnson is healthy, maybe he can help. Maybe Jurjens or Garcia can come up and be long guys out of the pen. Maybe in the stretch run, they can use Bundy or Gausman this way to get them some innings. I think your point is valid, but I’m not sure that we can just hope they get better. They may have to adjust accordingly.