Scott Feldman
Orioles fans were left wondering why we traded for Scott Feldman before the deadline last year then didn’t sign him back in the offseason. It is still too early in the season to judge Feldman’s entire year but his recent pitching performances are showing he’s not worth the $10 million a year the Astros signed him for.
Before going on the disabled list in late April, Feldman actually looked like he might be worth the money. Over his first four starts, Feldman threw for a miniscule 1.69 era. As good as that sounds, he still managed to walk as many batters as he struck out.
However, since coming off the disabled list, Feldman is holding a 3-4 record with a 3.98 era, 61 innings pitched, and 64 hits with a WHIP of 1.31. The right bicep tendinitis Feldman endured in late April could definitely be the reason his stats are taking a hit. Continue to watch to see if Feldman will ever be able to bounce back from the injury as the Astros look to slowly climb the standings in the AL West.
Jason Hammel
I might be the only Orioles fan missing Jason Hammel right about now. Why? Well, his stats this year have been pretty good.
Even though the NL Central does not compare to the AL East when it comes to hitting, the year Hammel is putting together cannot be ignored. After putting together a 7-8 record with the Orioles in 2013, Hammel is already one more win away from achieving his 7th this year. The way Hammel is pitching the Orioles would consider him their #1 starter. He beats the Orioles starting pitchers in every category except wins, where he’d be second behind Chen.
He is on fire this season with a 3.02 ERA, 85 K, and is 10th in the league with a 1.02 WHIP. Clearly our pitching isn’t the issue recently; it is our hitting. But Hammel is going under the radar this year with the Cubs. If this keeps up, Hammel could possibly be a top 20 pitcher of 2014.
Jake Arrieta
Arrieta had everything in his pitching arsenal to succeed in the majors. He threw an amazing curveball and had a fastball that could reach the mid to high 90’s. The only problem with Arrieta was his control, which came and went like the tides. But it seems like another Orioles pitcher has found a comfortable home with the Cubs.
Like Hammel, Arrieta is also having a solid year. Although he has only thrown 50 innings this year due to some time in the minors, Arrieta has given up just 11 runs. He has a 1.98 ERA, and has given up 15 BB to 55 K.
Jake struck out a career-high 11 batters Wednesday; it was only a matter of time before he found his groove. At the time, trading Arrieta for Feldman seemed like a good idea. But the way Arrieta is pitching right now, it makes it look like the Orioles made a big mistake.
But why are all the Orioles pitchers who couldn’t succeed in Baltimore succeeding in Chicago? The hitting in each division? Better pitching coach?
It’s frustrating as an Orioles fan, but let’s remember that this happens all the time – think how Rangers fans felt watching Chris Davis last year, or even Nelson Cruz this year.
Pedro Strop
During the 2012 season, all of us O’s fans jumped on the Pedro Strop bandwagon. We thought the Orioles found an amazing relief pitcher. Then came the 2013 season and we couldn’t wait to get rid of him.
Well, the Cubs took a shot at another Orioles pitcher. Strop isn’t putting up phenomenal numbers this year like Arrieta and Hammel, but he hasn’t been terrible either. In 20 innings pitched this year, Strop has given up 9 runs on 15 hits, for a 3.74 ERA.
What stands out with Strop is that his opponents are only hitting .195 against him, which is 2nd lowest on the team among pitchers who have pitched 20+ innings. Like Arrieta, Strop also has more strikeouts than IP, racking up 24 K.
Strop and Arrieta are alike in many ways – great movement and velocity on their pitches, they just had a tough time throwing strikes in Baltimore. At this point, it appears that the Chicago Cubs got the better end of the deal in the Feldman trade in the long run – especially with Steve Clevenger currently stuck in Norfolk.
Brian Roberts
All love was lost when Roberts put on the pinstripes. It was like watching our own Kevin Youkilis turn to the dark side. Signing Roberts just goes to show how desperate the Yankees were. Nobody expected Roberts to go into New York and have another 2005 season – it just wasn’t going to happen.
With only 46 hits in 195 at bats, Roberts’ .236 batting average is 4th lowest amongst Yankees with 150+ at bats. He is showing all the speed he has left, going 4-4 in stolen base attempts. With 33 strikeouts, 2 home runs, and 14 RBI, Roberts’ career is dying off. Don’t expect anything amazing the rest of the year from Roberts. If he stays healthy the rest of the season then that is nothing short of a miracle.
Nate McLouth
We were all correct when we said David Lough is a younger version McLouth. How?
Well, not only are their playing styles identical, but so are their stats…
McLouth: 20/111 (.180), 1 HR, 5 RBI
Lough: 20/110 (.182), 2 HR, 8 RBI
The entire league knows both outfielders have very god speed. So not only are they having identical seasons at the plate, but they are on the base paths as well. McLouth is 4/4 in stolen base attempts this year while Lough is 5/7.
Ever since McLouth’s impressive performance in the 2012 playoffs he hasn’t been the same at the plate. McLouth didn’t sign for $10 million/year like Feldman did, but the $5 million/year he received from the Nationals doesn’t seem to be paying off for the organization so far.
Do you think McLouth will be able to get it going this year?
Jim Johnson
I bet you guys were waiting for his name to come up. Oh Jim Johnson, what happened? From 101 saves in two seasons with the Orioles to becoming a late reliever for the Oakland Athletics, Johnson’s career seems to be heading the wrong way. And from the looks of it, Oakland doesn’t seem to be the right fit for the former Oriole.
At home (in a pitcher’s park), Johnson has an era of 13.50, giving up 22 hits in 10 innings with an opponent batting average of .449 and a WHIP of 3.30.
But his away stats tell a different story. Johnson is 3-0 with a 2.04 era on the road, giving up 17 hits in 17 innings. His opponents’ average drops drastically on the road, to just .250.
JJ has pitched 10 innings in Oakland and 17 on the road, and it seems unlikely Bob Melvin will bring Johnson in a close game at home. A few weeks ago, the A’s reportedly had a deal in place to trade Johnson, but the Marlins backed out at the last minute.
Time will only tell if Johnson gets back into his groove for Oakland, but it seems that Sean Doolittle has the closer’s role locked up for the foreseeable future.
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