Baltimore Orioles: 2014 Season Grades – Starting Pitchers

Oct 9, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Bud Norris (25) is interviewed before workouts the day before game one of the 2014 ALCS at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

In 2014, Bud Norris went from being a bottom-of-the-rotation marginal starter to one of the most-loved Orioles players, not only because he was effective, but because he brought a competitive bulldog flare to the field. This plays well in Baltimore, as it would in many places that are short of California cool!

Norris plunked a total of 14 batters this year, and he never felt bad about it. I love that! A pitcher can’t fear that. I know it benefitted me in college pitching when a coach helped me understand one day, “If they can’t get out of the way of an inside pitch that gets away from you, that’s their fault!” Bud is coming inside, know it and deal with it.

Who would have thought that Bud Norris would tally 15 wins for the Orioles in 2014? He did so against eight losses with an ERA of 3.68 over 165 innings.

Norris can sometimes be dominating, though even when not, he will battle and keep the team in the game – which is what you want from your starter. Factoring the five games of his 28 starts where he did not get a decision, the O’s were 4-1 in those games … so 19-9 when Bud went to the Hill. Not bad… so we give him a grade of “A-” for the 2014 season.

By the way, his name is David Stefan Norris… not sure that middle name fits the persona!