What a run it has been for the Baltimore Orioles here in 2014. With not very high expectations being put upon them prior to the season, they have far exceeded them and have surprised everyone.
Forget about that fact that they’re without three of their best players, it’s still amazing that they’re currently 30 games over .500 at 90-60. On top of that, they have been without starting catcherMatt Wietersfor almost the entire season, they didn’t have starting third basemanManny Machadoon the team for over half the season,Chris Davismissed about two months and is in the midst of a 25-game suspension, and shortstopJ.J. Hardyhas missed many games this year as well.
If I would have told you all that before the season and also would have told you that the Orioles would have the second-best record in baseball with all that occurring, you would have thought I was a little off?
However, the more players they lose, the more they win. It doesn’t make any sense.
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Wieters goes, thenCaleb Josephemerges as a spectacular defensive catcher with some power at the plate. They lose Hardy and Machado, andSteve Pearceturns intoTed Williams.Chris Davisgets injured, thenDelmon Youngcomes in and records a hit nearly ever third time he steps to the plate. Their $50 million man –Ubaldo Jimenez, hasn’t contributed at all to the team’s success. How are they winning and how is this occurring?
The answer is very simple and that’s their rotation. The five men on the current staff consist ofChris Tillman,Wei-Yin Chen,Kevin Gausman,Bud Norris, andMiguel Gonzalez. This rotation has looked almost as good as the Orioles’ rotation in the 70’s, when they hadJim Palmer,Dave McNallyandMike Cuellar. The first group of names aren’t quite as known as the second group.
However, they look pretty close to it. Not a single pitcher on the starting staff has an ERA higher then 3.80 at the moment, and three of them have ERA’s lower than 3.50. They have undoubtedly been carrying this Baltimore Orioles team this season.
Over the last two months, the Orioles just can’t seem to lose, no matter who they do lose
Over the last two months, the Orioles just can’t seem to lose, no matter who they do lose. Despite missing their starting third baseman who led the league in doubles last year, their starting first baseman who led the league in home runs last year, and their starting catcher who has hit the second-most home runs for a backstop over the last three years, they are still rolling.
They have over double as many wins as losses, as they have maintained a 37-18 record since the All-Star break. Perhaps an even more impressive number is that they are 18-5 on the season without starting first baseman Chris Davis in the lineup. If they would have missed Chris Davis for 23 games last season, their record would have been 5-18 in those games.
Will Chris Davis’ suspension hurt? Yes. Will they missManny Machadoin the infield? Yes. Would they desperately have rather hadMatt Wietersin the backstop thanCaleb JosephorNick Hundley? Absolutely. But with the way the pitching has been performing, they can still be serious threats to win a championship.
The only question that remains is if this shut-down pitching will carry into the playoffs. If it does, the Orioles will be well on their way to the 2014 World Series.
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