PERCEPTION IS REALITY: Parmelee to the Rescue?

REALITY: Mike Wright pitched a gem in his Major League debut Sunday, going 7 1/3 scoreless, allowing just four hits and no walks, striking out six.

PERCEPTION: A month ago, fans would have been saying to flip out most of the starting rotation in order to get Wright a spot. But over the last month, the Orioles rotation has turned things around. According to Steve Melewski of MASN, they have four straight quality starts with an ERA of 1.24. They have had six quality starts in their last eight games, and 13 quality starts in their last 18 games.

I understand that you can’t rate pitchers on quality starts or wins, but you can see over the last month that the Orioles pitching staff has been strong. Ubaldo Jimenez is pitching well, Wei-Yin Chen has been improved, and Miguel Gonzalez is rock solid as usual. Chris Tillman continues his roller coaster, but more up than down recently.

If Tillman or Bud Norris need to go on the DL, that opens a spot for Wright or maybe Tyler Wilson. Some might say to give Kevin Gausman another chance.

All those discussions are great to have. I’m just excited that the Orioles have real options for the staff instead of guys that wouldn’t make the rotation on any other team, like they’ve had in the past.

REALITY: Dan Duquette said on 105.7 The Fan Sunday that bringing Chris Parmelee to Baltimore is a “distinct possibility”.

PERCEPTION: Parmalee has been impressive in Norfolk. But the question is… has he made some adjustments and is now ready to make an impact in the big leagues, or will he just always be a really good minor league player?

In four seasons in Minnesota, he hit .249 with 24 home runs and 210 strikeouts in 273 games.

So far in Norfolk, he is hitting .338 with three home runs, and 22 RBIs in 37 games.

When I saw that DD was ready to bring him up, I asked who is the odd man out if he comes up? In four seasons in Minnesota, Parmalee played in RF and 1B the most. He also played a little in LF.

Roch Kubatko of MASN said Duquette expressed some concerns with the Birds corner outfielders. I understand that, as David Lough, Alejandro De Aza, and Travis Snider haven’t been real impressive this season. Delmon Young has the 3rd best average on the team, and Jimmy Paredes is a hit machine, so they seem secure.

Does Parmalee replace Lough on the team which knocks De Aza and Snider down the depth chart? I can’t see the team giving up on Snider or De Aza just yet.

REALITY: Chris Davis has struck out 43.5% of his at-bats this season.

PERCEPTION: The real place I would like to see Parmalee? First base. I’ve just about had it with the strike out king.

In the bottom of the 4th inning Sunday, Davis came up to bat with Adam Jones on third and Young on first with one out. Before the first pitch was thrown, I said to my daughter that Davis was going to strike out. After getting behind 0-2, he laid off the next two pitches, but then struck out swinging on a ball in the dirt.

I know Davis leads the team in home runs with eight, but I am really struggling with his at-bats. He is not seeing pitches well at all. I feel like when he actually connects, it’s like “look what I found”, instead of really connecting. There are no consistently good at-bats with Davis.

I don’t think Buck is going to sit Davis down, but I would like to see him move Davis down the line-up… and I am talking down to 7th or 8th. If he hits a home run then great, but at least he won’t be seeing as many at-bats as he is seeing now up in the five spot.