Baltimore Orioles: Playoffs Prep Plan Working?

Sep 22, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; The Baltimore Orioles watch from the dugout during the first inning of a game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Having clinched the American League East Division while two weeks remained in the season, the Baltimore Orioles have had a long time to plan and get aligned for the playoffs.

How is this working?

There are two natural arguments that arise relative to clinching early. The negative take is that a team may well lose its competitive edge and intensity while playing a litany of meaningless games. The positive side says that it gives a team the chance to rest up and get everyone healthy and everything prepared to enter the playoffs in the best possible condition.

Obviously, the Baltimore Orioles desire to be the picture of that second scenario.

The O’s are 52-25 since the 1^st of July. That is simply amazing! It is also extremely difficult to sustain.

Beyond the two season-ending injuries with Matt Wieters and Manny Machado, we have seen just about everyone on the Orioles have some bumps or bruises or the slump-like evidences of fatigue. Even Adam Jones is showing some frayed edges, batting only .244 in September – his lowest month of the year.

Though nobody will likely admit it out loud, there is little doubt that the grind caught up to the Orioles at the end of 2013, with performances slipping throughout the lineup. Clearly, Buck Showalter has made more concerted efforts to not have had quite the same effect here this season.

Showalter has talked opening about what he calls the “balance” of keeping players sharp while also resting them in preparation for postseason play.

With Chris Davis out serving a suspension, it has been gratifying for Orioles fans to see Nelson Cruz come out of his midseason malaise to be hitting in the upper .300s for the month of September. This is so huge.

Nick Markakis has had a very solid season at the top of the lineup. But there was definitely some fade in his performance in September that culminated in the game where he was drilled in the back. Kakes was 10-for-63 (.179) in September through that point. In his several games back after sitting out for a bit, he has been 5-for-11 and looks more like himself. Markakis is a big, big piece of the lineup that needs to be hitting in the postseason. And literally true – while writing this paragraph – Nick led off the Thursday night Yankees game with a home run. Excellent!

Steve Pearce could be argued to be the Most Valuable Oriole in terms of filling a variety of holes and carrying the team on several occasions over troubled waters. He had an abdominal strain and then also the return of some chronic wrist issues. Pearce needed to be rested some of late, but he appears to be back and ready to contribute again. The same is true for J.J. Hardy

Showing the strain of a longer season than ever previously experienced are the rookies Caleb Joseph and Jonathan Schoop. Joseph is in a prolonged hitless streak, and his defense does not seem as sharp either. Schoop also has had some September struggles at the plate, but clearly his defense in needed. Showalter seems to be getting him the breaks he needs for the playoffs run.