*Writer’s message to readers: I just want to apologize to my readers for my brief hiatus from my weekly O’bservations. These particular entries take extensive research and therefore require quite a bit of time to write. With my current job and some events in my personal life, the time was just not there for me to write last week’s edition. Therefore, I have combined weeks five and six for your reading pleasures. Enjoy!
When we last met, I was discussing how the Orioles were in third place after losing three-of-four games on a west coast trip that they started out by winning three straight. After that small run of futility, the Birds took three-of-four games from the Angels, two-of-three from the Royals, and two-of-three from the Twins to reach a season-high eight games above .500 at 23-15. Then the wheels fell off. The Birds have now dropped a season-high five straight games to fall to 23-20 on the year, having been swept in a mini two-game set against the Padres and in a three game series against the Rays. With a pivotal three game series against the Yankees beginning on Monday, the O’s are looking to put the wheels back on, and soon.. Here’s how it started.
The Rotation
The Orioles rotation has been completely decimated. Wei-Yin Chen and Miguel Gonzalez are on the disabled list. Jake Arrieta, recalled Saturday night, was demoted earlier in the year and has now been relegated to the bullpen. Jason Hammel seems to have returned to the pitcher with a career 4.99 ERA that Orioles’ fans thought they were getting in the Jeremy Guthrie trade.
When Jair Jurrjens took the hill Saturday afternoon, he became the 10th Orioles pitcher to make a start this season and turned in the latest in a string of ineffective outings. Over the last eight games before Sunday, Orioles starters have pitched just 39 1/3 innings (less than five IP/start) and have allowed 32 runs for an ERA of 7.32.
A starter has gone five innings or fewer in six of the last seven games, the lone bright spot belonging to Chris Tillman with his gutty seven inning, one-run performance in a no-decision against the Padres, a game blown by the bullpen in the ninth, which brings me to my next point.
The Bullpen
The Birds’ bullpen, best in the AL heading into the Tampa series, has allowed 17 runs during this five-game losing streak (though they didn’t allow any on Sunday). Perhaps they are showing signs of tiring due to a starting rotation that is struggling to make it into the sixth inning?
Jim Johnson recorded his club-record 35th consecutive save dating back to last July earlier in the week. How did he celebrate? By blowing his next two save opportunities, costing the Orioles two games.
Not much to say here. The numbers say it all.
Silver Linings
With all the negatives happening around the Orioles right now, there are some silver linings. The offense is still scoring runs. The O’s on the year are averaging just over 5 runs/game and are on pace to score over 800 runs this season.
Manny Machado is tied for the major league lead in doubles with 18 and is second in the bigs in hits with 60, just three behind reigning AL MVP and triple-crown winner Miguel Cabrera. He is turning into a superstar right before our eyes.
Chris Davis is second in the majors in home runs and RBIs, and Adam Jones is still Adam Jones, landing in the top 20 in just about every offensive category that matters.
Even J.J. Hardy has gotten in on the act with a 13-game hitting streak during which he has hit 5 home runs. Hardy’s .302 average for the month of May has taken his overall BA from .202 at the end of April to its current standing at .241.
So what does this all mean?
It means that the Orioles are in a slump. Look, last years team won 93 games and made the playoffs. What people tend to forget is that that team had a six-game losing streak at one point and was actually below .500 for the month of July. In an ideal world, the Orioles rotation would have stayed healthy and effective and the team would be 29-13 rather than 23-19. But the fact is that injuries happen, players go through slumps, and losing streaks happen to even the best teams in the league. The best thing to do here is not panic and look at the big picture. We still have Buck, our offense can score with the best of them, and help is on the way. Tsuyoshi Wada is finally making rehab starts, Gonzalez is due back from the DL on Tuesday, and Kevin Gausman is lighting it up in Bowie and probably isn’t far away from getting the call. If anybody knows how to turn it around, it’s Buck. We just have to be patient and have faith.
