On Thursday, it was reported (here, by Roch Kubatko) that the Orioles have picked up reliever Darren O’Day’s $4.25M option for 2015.
This is great news! O’Day was an absolute monster in 2014, putting up his best season as an Oriole, after being damn good in 2012 and 2013 as well. After struggling against lefties in ’13, O’Day got back to his career norm of being kryptonite to hitters from both sides.
However, some O’s fans aren’t happy about the move. This is asinine.
Thanks to the wonderful @OsFBCommenter and @OriolesMemes for killing my faith in my fellow fans:
"F*** O'Day. Who cares how good he is in the regular season, he sucks in the post season? Jones too! I say get rid of both!"
— Orioles FB Comments (@OsFBCommenter) October 31, 2014
Folks are seriously upset that the O’s picked up O’Day’s option? I understand that these people are in the vast, VAST minority here. But still. Ugh.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilcRS5eUpwk[/youtube]
$4.25M for a guy that pitched to a 1.70 ERA in 68 innings out of the bullpen. Righties hit .164 off him, lefties .189. Arguably the only setup man better than O’Day in the AL in 2014 was Wade Davis of Kansas City. Davis’ option for 2015? $7M. 2016? $8M.
O’Day is a ridiculous bargain.
“But he’s awful in the postseason!”
1. You can’t build your team just worrying about the postseason. You have to GET THERE first. You’d think O’s fans, who were shut out of the playoffs for 14 straight years, would understand this.
2. No, he’s not. Did he struggle this postseason? Well, sure. In 2.2 innings, he struggled. So you ignore his three great seasons here?
And, let’s take a closer look at his postseason “struggles” this year:
First, he gave up a home run to the best hitter of this generation – Miguel Cabrera. No shame in that.
Then, let’s remember that he got the O’s out of a tie game, 9th-inning, bases-loaded, one-out jam in Game 1 of the ALCS without allowing a run, thanks to inducing a double-play ball from Billy Butler. If the Birds score a run and walk it off, O’Day is a hero of Game 1. (Yes, he came right back out and served up a HR to Alex Gordon – I remember.)
In Game 2, he gave up an INFIELD SINGLE in the 9th inning, then was relieved by Zach Britton, who promptly allowed said infield single to come around and score. Boo, O’Day?
In Game 4, he got the only batter he faced to ground out.
Also, in 2012, his postseason stats: 7.0 IP, 1 hit, 0 ER.
Yeah, what a choker.
I’m thinking the same folks that are griping about O’Day will be the ones who lose their minds if/when Andrew Miller signs somewhere else. Because I suppose their plan would be something like…
1. Pitch Miller in EVERY SINGLE relief opportunity that arises in 2015
2. ????
3. CHAMPIONSHIP!
Good plan.
I realize that I’m wasting my e-breath here. Anybody who doesn’t want Darren O’Day back on the Orioles isn’t interested in hearing logical arguments. But hey, somebody has to try to reason with these folks. I’ll fall on the sword, this time.
Happy Weekend, Birdland.
And WELCOME BACK, DARREN O’DAY!
[youtube]http://youtu.be/5449t44WXvU[/youtube]
