Baltimore Orioles: September 2015 Top Seven O’s Players

Oct 1, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Zach Britton (53) pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays in the ninth inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Orioles won 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

#4 – Zach Britton

September was probably Britton’s second-best month of the season, not that all of them have not been very good. He did give up quite a few hits in August, but the majority of them were of the infield sort that can only qualify as “lucky hits.”

Britton only had one bad outing in 10 appearances in September, but it was a blown save and a loss to Tampa Bay. He gave up two runs on three hits with a homer in two-thirds of an inning. But we know now also that there was a developing physical issue at that point. Relieving is difficult, as is throwing a 98 MPH sinker … amazing.

For the month, Britton pitched 9.2 innings with an ERA of 1.86 and BAA of just .152.

With the rise of Mychal Givens and other bullpen possibilities, and if Darren O’Day can be re-signed, I have come to the conclusion that returning Britton to the starting rotation is an expensive way to address the need for quality starting pitching. Some may say to not mess with a good thing, but it is not as if Britton could not return to the bullpen and be good. We will surely talk more about this after the season is over and we begin in earnest to look to the future.

Next: When he’s good, he’s very good …