The fans of Baltimore have begun to ring the city’s church bells for the baseball “death” of Pedro Strop. He has blown his last lead in the eyes of O’s fans, and we can all hope Buck sees the same thing.
Pedro has looked nothing like the stud that completed the one, two, three punch last year along with Jim Johnson and Darren O’Day. Instead, he has looked like the head case that crumbled at the conclusion of 2012.
Strop is 0-3 on the year – even though it feels like he should at least be 0-10 – with an atrocious 7.58 ERA and 1.737 WHIP. In 19 innings, he has 19 K but also has 15 BB and four wild pitches.
All of these numbers are unacceptable for a team trying win a pennant.
Pedro’s latest self-destruction blew the Orioles’ 4-2 lead and a chance to earn the Birds their first three game sweep. After botching what could have been a 6-4-3 double play – to his credit it is a pitcher’s natural reaction – Strop surrendered a bases-clearing triple to Eric Aybar, which turned into a four-run gut punch on an arrant throw by Ryan Flaherty.
Pedro was then greeted with a 20,000-plus strong “Boo” as he trotted off the field, and an entire Twitter timeline of curses, rants, and swears. As frustrating as it was, I do not condone booing a home team player. It is not like Strop does not want to be successful or does not want to win, he just can’t put together his mechanics and flame-throwing arm. So leave that classless act to the New Yorkers and the Bostonians.
But I digress.
So the question now stands as, who do we bring up? Well there are few options…
1) Jairo Asencio – 6′ 2” 180 Norfolk RHP:
Jairo has been the most successful relief pitcher down at Triple A Norfolk, holding a 2.93 ERA and converting 14 saves as well as four wins. He has also put up a career high 4.33 SO/BB, which would give the Orioles exactly what they were looking for in Pedro Strop – a hard-throwing strikeout guy. Not only does Asencio put guys away by the K, he also keeps the ball on the ground (2.00 GO/FO). Ground ball pitchers are always welcome at the home run-friendly Camden Yards, and I believe that Jairo has the skills to be the most successful of all the Norfolk options.
2) Mike Wright – 6′ 6” 215 Bowie RHP:
Pulling Mike Wright up to put him up in the bullpen could be a move that solidifies the Orioles bullpen. Wright was drafted in the third round of the 2011 draft out of East Carolina University, and has performed strongly throughout his tenure in the Orioles organization. Mike commands a mid-90’s fastball with some heavy sink, and with his tall frame he can pound the bottom of the zone. In 2013, he has gone 6-0 as a starter with a 3.86 ERA. The 23-year-old has posted a stellar 8.8 SO/9 ratio, and the scouting report says he also has the potential to be a shut down reliever. With those numbers and his body frame it is no wonder why scouts believe in the young gun.
3) Mike Belfiore – 6′ 3” 220 Norfolk LHP:
Belfiore has made a quick pit-stop at the Major League level but never had the chance to show the skipper what he was made of. Mike has had two successful seasons with the Orioles organization, going 5-1 with 2.85 ERA in relief for the Bowie BaySox. This year he has worked a respectable 3.86 ERA for the Tides, and has lived up to his hype as a strikeout guy posting 9.1 SO/9 ratio. He is projected to be a solid lefty out the pen at the MLB level, but he does get touched up a little by right-handed batters. Since the Orioles already have two strong lefty specialists in Troy Patton and Brian Matusz, it is unlikely Buck would recall a third – but keep an eye out for Belfiore in case Matusz gets packaged in some deadline trade.
4) Adam Russell – 6′ 8” 250 Norfolk RHP:
This move could be another transition from a starter to reliever. Russell has seen some success for the Tides this season going 3-1 with a 2.62 ERA. Adam struggled as a starter in his three starts at Norfolk, but his move to the pen has been his saving grace. He has collected three wins, a 2.05 ERA, and a 10.0 SO/9 ratio out of the pen. With his experience at the Major League level and his mid-90’s fastball, Russell might be able to provide what Strop could not.
Because of the struggles of Jake Arrieta and the injury to Steve Johnson, the Orioles have limited right-handed options. Maybe Jon Rauch can settle in and then seen some time up with the Birds?
Leave your vote as to who you would like to see step up and take Pedro’s spot, and if they aren’t listed leave a comment plus your reasons why!
Cheers!
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2 Responses
Feeling very sorry for Pedro…reading this the day after his 28th birthday. In baseball, and often in life in general, you’re only as good as your last outing. I lived through that with my brother’s baseball career and am now praying for healing for his son and continued success for him. I’ve been an Oriole fan since I was a child and I LOVE the game. When it’s going good, it’s wonderful. When it’s going bad, it’s hard to simply breathe.
I am pulling for Strop as well! I want him to be successful but it just seems like he is too much of a head case. Plus we can’t sacrifice wins just because we want him to try and figure it out. This is a pennant race and the O’s are finally it! I hope he pulls it together though because he could be a huge role in our run!