Baltimore Orioles: Even Start with Tough Schedule
Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Since being in Florida, I do not get to watch as much of the Baltimore Orioles as I would like to.
However, at the end of the first month, I will try to share my opinion despite only watching a few games so far this season.
With today’s game postponed, the Orioles are 12-12 and hold second place in the American League East. I can only imagine if the Orioles had an easier schedule to start the season where they would be.
The numbers have not quite shown up for the Orioles. The homeruns are right near the bottom of the AL, while they are in the top 10 for doubles and top five for triples.
The offense is present, which is especially clear in Nelson Cruz who has started with a great season for the Orioles.
In the few games I have watched, the consistent problem with the Orioles is the pitching. But that is not a new problem, it is the same problem the Orioles have every year.
The Orioles have the fifth highest ERA in the AL and the sixth highest in the entire MLB.
However, the pitching has not been walking many players, but they have not been striking out players either.
The Orioles’ pitchers have the highest batting average against them in the entire MLB.
Overall, the Orioles’ pitching is letting down the team again.
Even though Chris Tillman has a 3-1 record in five games started has a 3.38 ERA, there is the high ERA to worry about. Wei-Yin Chen has the same problem. He has a 3-1 record in five games started, but a 4.34 ERA.
Ubaldo Jimenez has been a major letdown. He sits winless with an ERA reaching above six.
Despite his recent struggles in his career, I was hoping he would turn it around with the Orioles, but he has yet to show he has changed.
As a team, the long ball is still hurting the Orioles giving up the second most in the AL. But the Orioles have only given up the eighth most earned runs at 107.
The defense, even without Manny Machado, is second in the AL in fielding percentage and second in fewest errors committed at 10. The Orioles are third in the AL with 27 double plays.
As I examine the Orioles, I see that they either live or die by the long ball. The pitching has allowed more than 10 more homeruns than the Orioles have hit and that is not the way to win games.
If the Orioles could improve upon just one of these aspects, the next month of baseball could be played much differently.
If the pitching becomes better, I expect great things from the Orioles in the month of May, in which, I will get to watch more than the games that just play on ESPN.