How Baltimore Orioles will use September roster additions

Aug 9, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles manager

Buck Showalter

(26) during a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

Now that September has arrived and the Baltimore Orioles are able to expand their roster with varied call-ups and additions, how are these modifications going to help the team finish the season and head into the playoffs?

I have always had the view that if the Orioles could ever get to September with any sort of lead at all in the AL East, that Dan Duquette’s piles and piles of “depth” additions and Buck Showalter’s managerial expertise would render any pursuing team hopelessly incapable of catching up. I would have never imagined that a scenario could develop where that lead was in the area of eight or nine games!

Of course, the issue is not simply defeating the New York Yankees and winning the AL East title. It is also about preparing for the playoffs. There is also the issue of pursuing the very best record in all of the American League and thus gaining home field advantage.

There is more to an expanded roster than just beating the Yankees

So before looking at a list of the roster modifications, how will these additional players be used profitably by the Baltimore Orioles in the next 25+ games?

More Matchup Options – It goes without saying that the goal is to win as many games as possible. But matching up has been a problem for the Orioles for much of the season. Often they have carried 12 pitchers, leaving only three position players for pinch-hitting or defense (after discounting keeping a spare catcher in the hole). There has been a lack of left-handed hitting options, and that can be addressed now. Some speed can be added to the lineup at critical times. And multiple defensive substitutions can be made late in games.

Insurance Policy – If the 2014 MLB baseball season will be remembered for anything, it will likely be as the year of the injury. So many teams have suffered losses, and for the Orioles it has been Matt Wieters and Manny Machado … though the DL has seen more names than these. In the last couple days we’ve seen Steve Pearce with an abdominal strain, J.J. Hardy with back spasms, and something that had Andrew Miller limping off the field. All it takes is one Sabbathia-like “errant” pitch to break a bone, and everything is changed. Having a full stable of options for not only the final stretch, but for the playoffs as well, is a wise insurance policy investment.

Resting Regulars – In spite of all the denials to the contrary made in 2013 that players were not wearing down in the final month, well, clearly they were, and it was costly. The Orioles need to prevent such a repeat this year. Again, with the issue of a short bench, it is difficult to give a day off to regulars like Adam Jones or Nick Markakis. The bullpen is certainly less taxed than in the previous two years, but having some extra arms can prevent the pen from getting worn down in extended games or in contests with wide scoring margins – either far ahead or far behind.

Playoff Roster – Beyond the next month, this thoughtful personnel expansion gives the O’s more options to take the very best 25-man roster into the postseason.

Roster Additions

Jimmy Paredes – Having already played four games for the Orioles, he is 6-for-15 with two doubles and a homer. He hit .289 in AAA this year in 97 games, stealing 21 bases. Paredes is an athlete, not just a baseball player.

Kelly Johnson – This is the addition that makes the least sense to me, as Johnson is only hitting .212 this year. I wonder how many players, if any, have at some point been on all five of the AL East teams. These experiences, along with his veteran presence, may account for the move in intangible ways not immediately obvious.

Alejandro De Aza – Though some of his numbers are down from his .267 career average, he is a left-handed bat with speed. And he did hit 17 home runs a year ago. Perhaps he can find the porch in right field at Camden Yards. It was said that he was secured because of good performance against some upcoming foes. This is especially true against the Yankees where he has a .329 average in 80 plate appearances.

Quintin Berry – This high school friend of Adam Jones certainly had a good season of baseball and was only stuck at AAA because of the outfield depth on the Baltimore Orioles. How many teams can bring in a guy in September for a pennant run who has playoff and World Series experience – who has never been thrown out stealing a base in the big leagues? For AAA Norfolk this year, Berry hit .285 with 25 stolen bases.