Thursday Thoughts: Well, O’s Pitchers WERE Keeping the Ball in the Yard

This is a weekly column that dives into eight random thoughts about the Orioles/MLB. Why eight? It’s a nod to Cal Ripken Jr. of course. That, and doing 2,632 of these would be a little overboard. – A.S.

1. It’s Ubaldo Jimenez Day once again in Baltimore, which means prepare your tissues. We’ve covered Jimenez’s struggles extensively over the last few weeks, because they’ve gone on for that long. There’s no real solution, as I addressed earlier this week here. What’s become even clearer to me is that the general public and “keyboard warriors,” if you will, don’t understand the complexity of the situation.

I don’t mean to sound “ranty,” but anyone calling for the Orioles to simply cut Jimenez isn’t responsible for paying his salary. Anyone calling for the Orioles to send him to the minor leagues doesn’t understand the system, and how it doesn’t work that way.

There’s no question that the Orioles are in a tough spot with Jimenez, but the reason that it’s a tough spot is because there’s no clear answer. Anyone trying to offer you one via Facebook comment or snarky tweet simply doesn’t get it.

For now, grab on to the lap bar and enjoy the roller coaster that he sends you on each time he pitches.

GulfBird Photo/Craig Landefeld

2. I’m very encouraged to see Hyun Soo Kim receiving more playing time. I don’t think Kim is an All-Star. He may not even be capable of starting long term at this level. But for now, Kim is the best option the Orioles have in left field. Joey Rickard was a nice story in early April. He’s fallen off massively since.

Kim is not only showing some ability to get hits, but his eye has impressed me. He’s taking pitches, drawing walks, and not looking totally overwhelmed at the plate. He’s even shown some ability to turn on fastballs, something that he struggled with in spring training. That’s the one thing that allowed doubt to creep in, was his ability to handle heat. For now, he’s improving on it.

There are definitely lapses with Kim in the field and on the basepaths, but that’s going to be the case with Rickard as well. I’d like to see Kim make every start against right-handed pitching going forward and I’d even get him in there against the occasional lefty. He’s proven that he deserves the chance to make this stick.

3. I cringed when I saw Caleb Joseph take a foul ball to the front of his pants the other day. I shrieked when I saw that he needed to go on the disabled list with a testicular injury. All of the jokes have been played out by our inner 12-year-olds over the last few days, so I’m going to take a moment to recognize how serious and scary of an injury it is.

Catchers put themselves on the line each game in these types of situations. I’m surprised these injuries to the “region” don’t happen more often. For Joseph, the Orioles will surely miss him for a few weeks. He hasn’t been hitting worth a lick, but Joseph still provides a reliable backup off the bench to Matt Wieters.

Speedy recovery, Caleb. We’re all wincing in pain with you.

4. I wrote a few weeks back over at MASNSports.com that the Orioles pitchers are doing a great job of limiting home runs this season. What a difference a few weeks makes. Granted, the Red Sox have been in town this week and are doing a number on the O’s, especially with Mookie Betts hanging around. It hasn’t looked pretty.

The most concerning of the bunch in my eyes has been Kevin Gausman. After giving up three homers in his first six outings this season, he’s allowed six in his last two starts. As the weather heats up, the ball will start to travel. Orioles pitchers have to do a better job as a whole, but especially when it comes to keeping the ball in play. The O’s will have to rely on keeping pace when they are at the dish.

photo: Darren O’Day

5. The Orioles are pretty well represented in the first update on All-Star Game voting. It’s no surprise to see Manny Machado leading the way at third base. He’ll have a great chance to start, especially since the man in second place won’t be around. The Royals’ Mike Moustakas is out for the season.

Perhaps the most surprising part to me was seeing Mark Trumbo currently in line to start, third in voting among outfielders. I don’t think that will last, but it’s nice to see Trumbo getting some recognition in a fan vote. I don’t view him as a widely-recognized player throughout the league, but he’s sure having a nice season so far.

While Machado and Trumbo are the only players in line to start after the first of many updates, others are hanging around. Chris Davis and Matt Wieters are both third at their respective positions. Jonathan Schoop is fifth, while Adam Jones is ninth and Joey Rickard 14th at their positions. Somehow, J.J. Hardy is fifth despite being out with an injury. These silly things happen.

In addition to position players, I’d expect the Orioles to get a pitcher or two into the game. Chris Tillman certainly has a chance if he continues to pitch like he has. If I had to bank on a reliever, it wouldn’t be Zach Britton or Darren O’Day. I’d take Brad Brach. He’s been sensational. It’s still early, and much can happen, so stay tuned.

6. Ashur Tolliver’s brief stint in the Major Leagues ended yesterday, as he was demoted in favor of T.J. McFarland. I mostly liked what I saw from Tolliver over the week he was up with the big club. Aside from giving up a long home run to David Ortiz, he appeared to have some potential as a left-handed specialist.

That may come down the road, it may not. Regardless, I’m happy to have McFarland back in the bullpen. He’s not the most spectacular pitcher, but he provides a lot of things the Orioles were lacking. Mostly, it’s a long reliever who can recover quickly.

7. I don’t pretend to know much about the MLB Draft, but I do know it’s coming up soon. The draft is a week away, and it is extremely crucial for the Orioles. When you think about how long it takes to develop draft picks (something the Orioles haven’t done with great regularity), you’re looking ahead four or five years.

Can you picture where the Orioles are in four to five years? Who is on that team? Some of the players selected next week very well may be on it. It’s been widely discussed how the Orioles have given up draft picks. They signed Yovani Gallardo, losing one. They sold another to the Braves in the Brian Matusz trade.

This is obviously a team that doesn’t value its picks perhaps like it should, but they need to take advantage of each one they have.

8. It’s been pretty unnerving to see the takeover of Camden Yards by Red Sox fans over this week. It was mostly during Monday afternoon’s Memorial Day game, which is somewhat understandable. I’ve just had flashbacks this week to the so-called “dark ages” when Boston and New York fans regularly invaded Baltimore for games.

I’m sure the Orioles are doing just fine attendance-wise, but watching the games on television this season wouldn’t tell you that. There have been some empty-looking views. I have to imagine now that summer is upon us, we’ll see bigger crowds decked out in orange.

Let’s do our best to keep those Northern Virginia Red Sox fans out of Oriole Park.