Over the past few seasons, Oriole fans have been spoiled by one of the better bullpens in Major League Baseball. Midway through 2012, people wondered if the success of O’s relievers was sustainable. It proved to be, as Jim Johnson and company helped the team to its first winning season and playoff appearance since 1997. 2013 brought more of the same as the bullpen registered a 3.52 ERA (6th in AL) over 514 innings (5th in AL).
A year ago, Zach Britton emerged as one of the most effective closers in baseball. Darren O’Day continued to be a pillar of consistency. Tommy Hunter and Brian Matusz continued to do yeoman’s work. When the regular season ended, and the Orioles were crowned division champions, the team’s relief corps had the third lowest ERA (3.10) and OPS allowed (.645) in the American League.
On Monday, the Orioles lost the first of a three-game series against the Yankees. However, it wasn’t just that they lost. It was the way it happened. In the seventh inning, Hunter took over for Wei-Yin Chen and surrendered singles to Chris Young and Jacoby Ellsbury with a walk to John Ryan Murphy in between.
Then, Stephen Drew happened. Pinch-hitting for Brett Gardner, Drew hit a grand slam, turning a 4-2 deficit into a 6-4 lead.
Drew’s home run marked the seventh time in seven games this season Baltimore’s bullpen has allowed the opponent to score. Granted, the team has won three of the games. However, the performance of Buck Showalter’s relievers thus far has been far from that to which we’ve become accustomed.
Over the past three seasons the Orioles bullpen has allowed 32%, 33%, and 25% of inherited runners to score, with last year’s number comfortably below the 29% league average. In 2015, seven of eleven inherited runners have crossed the plate, or 64%. That’s the highest in the AL. Only the Twins have allowed more runs than Baltimore’s 16. As it stands, Orioles relievers have a 5.40 ERA.
Seven games into a 162-game season is hardly time to hit the panic button and sound the warning alarms. The names who sit beyond the outfield wall have proven themselves to Birdland, Buck Showalter, and the organization in the past. They know what they’re capable of. We know what they’re capable of.
On the other hand, is it right to completely shrug off the early struggles as insignificant and a mere bump in the marathon road that is the baseball season?
What happened during Monday’s contest likely stood out for a couple of reasons. First, it was against the Yankees, who generally inspire a feeling of dislike around Baltimore when they’re in town, or even when they aren’t in town for that matter. Second, as the bullpen faltered, Oriole fans were forced to watch a member of last season’s unit excel against his former club.
Andrew Miller entered the game in the eighth inning and proceeded to strike out Manny Machado on six pitches and followed that up by fanning Jonathan Schoop on three pitches. Miller then finished off the Orioles in the ninth to record his second save of the season. This was after Chris Davis struck out with the bases loaded to end the seventh inning.
The Yankees bullpen did what the Orioles bullpen usually does – held a lead trusted to it.
A good thing about baseball is the chance to redeem yourself often comes the very next day. And there’s no better time than Tuesday for the Orioles bullpen to get back on track.
