Baltimore Orioles: In Houston, We Have a Problem
The Baltimore Orioles were swept out of Houston by the Astros in a series of three games that was nothing short of a butt whipping.
The scores of the games (3-2, 4-3, 4-2) were not massive, but the inability of the Orioles to score runs and capitalize on opportunities was terribly absent. So also was contacting the baseball with the bat.
The good news is that the Orioles lowered their strikeout total in the final game to only 15 (after previous evenings of 19 and 18), but the bad news is of course that this is still a terribly high number for nine innings.
And the worse news is that, according to Steve Melewski’s MASN column after the game, this is a new MLB record for a three-game series …
"Houston fanned 19 Orioles on Tuesday, 18 last night and 15 tonight. The three-game total of 52 set a major league record. The Orioles have struck out 73 times the last five games."
Having lived through the era of the 60s and 70s with great pitchers like Bob Gibson, Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, Nolan Ryan, and the staffs of the Orioles as well, it is difficult to imagine that this has never happened before!
Perhaps the worst news of all is that the Astros put on display the methodology for shutting down the O’s high-powered offense. It involves lots of off-speed pitches and junk. The Orioles are going to have to make some serious adjustments and plate discipline in a big hurry, or this season could quickly get away from them.
Could the Astros be the 2016 version of the Achilles Heel that doomed the Orioles in 2015, namely the Minnesota Twins sweeping them away in the season series? We might look back to the end of the 2013 season and a devastating series in Arizona particularly derailing the Birds.
Of course there is a difference between late-season games and games in late May. But again, this has a feeling of exposure.
Just a few bullet points as well today …
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- Is there any reason to not play Hyun Soo Kim at this point? He is a totally different player than those being struck out repeatedly, and that is rather refreshing right now. What should he have to do to get more playing time beyond now going 16-for-36 (.444). It is a total mystery why teams are defending him as they are, playing against the pull when in fact the new O’s outfielder is the stereotypical spray hitter.
- Also on playing time, I understand why the Orioles want to develop Joey Rickard, given the great spring and early season. But clearly Nolan Reimold is a better option, at least at this point … maybe not forever, but help is needed now.
- The Pedro Alvarez thing is simply not working out. Why does this not feel like a surprise?
- Orioles pitchers are simply not throwing enough of their secondary pitches of late. That is the key to successful pitching (as seen by the Astros). Kevin Gausman has great stuff for the most part; it is just a matter of not making mistakes in the strike zone.
- The highlight of the game was seeing Ashur Tolliver make a successful debut with two strikeouts. Man, he was amped-up with the total emotion of it all. And given his story, why wouldn’t he be? It was a great moment, and may he be a valuable bullpen option for the Orioles for years to come. (That was a statement of hope, not a question.)
- So let’s turn the page … new day, new city, new opponent, new opportunity to win and win.