Coming into the postseason, I think it’s safe to say that many O’s fans had less-than-high hopes for rookie second baseman Jonathan Schoop. Though his fielding has been superb all season, he has also regularly displayed that he may not have been quite ready for MLB pitching. In September, he was abysmal, posting a .155/.189/.338 slash line. Most of us were banking on his solid defense helping the O’s in what were sure to be close games, but collectively Birdland had pretty much penciled ol’ Schoop in for an 0/4 every night.
Especially when we thought back to the team-wide hitting malaise that took over this roster during the 2012 ALDS, the potential for more of the same – especially from a guy like Schoop – seemed high.
Over on the Baltimore Sports and Life message board, I saw this, and had a hard time disagreeing (click to enlarge):
Instead though, Schoop has proven that the moment is not too big for him, and the young man has been extremely impressive.
During the three games (extremely small sample size, granted, but everything is magnified in the playoffs) of the ALDS, Schoop has turned it around a bit from his rough end to the regular season.
After walking just 2.7% of the time during the regular season, Schoop has already drawn a walk in his 11 postseason plate appearances (Game 2 off Justin Verlander), while adding three hits including a 2-RBI double. His three hits are tied with Nick Markakis, J.J. Hardy, Steve Pearce, and Alejandro De Aza for second most on the team behind Nelson Cruz. He has struck out only once (compared to 25.4% of the time during the regular season), which is even more remarkable when you consider that he had a combined eight AB against Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, and David Price.
Schoop was also his usual beast self in the field. In Game 2, his perfect relay throw to cut down Miguel Cabrera at the plate ended up being a huge play in what was ultimately a 7-6 Orioles win.
To see the contrast in a great relay vs. an OK relay, look no further than Delmon Young’s huge hit in the 8th inning of that game. Ian Kinsler’s throw beat Hardy to the plate, but it was toward the pitcher’s mound instead of the plate, allowing Hardy the time he needed to sneak across for the winning run.
(Any excuse to watch that again, right?)
Throw in his turning of the double play on Cabrera on what looked like a routine fielder’s choice, and it was a great day at the office for the rookie.
In Game 3, Schoop flashed the defense again. It started with his “goalline stand” play where he held Don Kelly off the base as he gathered the ball for an out after initially dropping it.
It continued with his completely calm and poised turning of the game-ending, series-clinching double play.
It seems like a little thing, but there is a lot that can go wrong on that play. Schoop took his time to make the transfer, and trusted his cannon arm to get the out at first.
Again, it’s of course only three games. The O’s need Schoop to continue to shine in the field with a speedy KC team on the horizon in the ALCS, and it would be great if he could keep contributing with the stick. It’s been a pleasure to watch the 22-year-old in his first playoff experience, and the hope here is that he continues to excel in helping the Birds to the AL pennant, and ultimately a World Series trophy.
