The month of July hasn’t been kind to the Orioles as they are still searching for their first victory since the calendars changed. The west coast trip is always brutal and this year has been no different as the weaknesses of the pitching staff have finally been exposed.
Buck Showalter likes to preach that there are no Cinderellas in baseball due to the length of the season and the Orioles’ ability to hide their weakness known as their starting pitching staff for this long has been a miracle.
The starting staff has been a disaster all season, but the team has found ways to win thanks to an incredible offense and a core group of relievers. However, the loss of Darren O’Day continues to hinder Showalter’s ability to manage a bullpen as he has to turn to pitchers in situations in which he’d normally never consider them.
Chris Tillman struggling in his last few starts hasn’t helped either. For much of the season, the O’s could at least count on a starter pitching deep and giving the bullpen a rest every fifth day, but that hasn’t been the case lately and nobody has stepped up to fill Tilly’s shoes during his recent slump.
Its obvious Dan Duquette has to make a move, but who can they realistically bring in that will give them the boost they need? I wish I had an answer to that. There’s no one in the minors banging on the door to get promoted and the depth needed to pull off an impact trade is lacking as well. Bud Norris and Miguel Gonzalez have both pitched well at times this season which I know have fans longing for the days that they wore orange and black, but I’m not sure their fate would be any different than it was when they struggled in Baltimore.
Showalter has mentioned Dylan Bundy being an option for a start later this week, but unless they totally change their minds on Bundy’s innings limit, he can’t seriously be considered as a solution to the rotation woes.
This is just a messy situation and unfortunately, I’m not seeing any hope in sight. The good news though is that the O’s are still holding onto first place despite dropping five games in a row.
The Need For A Lefty In The Bullpen
Last night was a perfect example of why this team needs a reliable left-hander in the bullpen and they need him now. Mychal Givens entered the game in the fifth inning and needed just 10 pitches to get through the inning. However, the Dodgers were sending up two left-handed hitters the next inning with a possible third if they decided to go that route (pinch hitting for the pitcher) and then two more again at the top of the lineup in Chase Utley and Corey Seager. Givens can’t be relied on to get lefties out as he is allowing an insane .419 batting average against them.
Since Yovani Gallardo couldn’t pitch deep, Showalter was forced to go to Odrisamer Despaigne and the rest is history. If the team had a lefty in the bullpen that was proven, that could have been the bridge Showalter needed to get to Brad Brach and Zach Britton.
Or, here’s a wild idea, a starting pitcher could actually complete six innings.
O’s Continue To Struggle On The Road
I almost started that by typing “the Ravens,” but the baseball team has also been affected by playing away from Baltimore. The O’s have won 31 games at home which is the most in baseball, but their 16 wins on the road is line with teams like the Atlanta Braves and San Diego Padres. Not good.
The Orioles were built for Camden Yards and through the first half they are proving to be just that, but to get where this team wants to go, they have to figure out a way to win on the road as well.
