Baltimore Orioles: Anything Going Well in Sarasota?

Mar 4, 2016; Dunedin, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Vance Worley (48) throws during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Florida Auto Exchange Park. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

The Baltimore Orioles have had a rough first week of games in the Grapefruit League, losing three and tying in one other.

Is anything going the right way for the Birds? Quite a list of things going the wrong way can be made …

Chris Tillman and Brian Matusz have injuries of uncertain magnitude and duration, though Tillman’s sounds less severe.
Jimmy Paredes was playing well (as he does in the spring) until what sounds like a severe wrist sprain. Remember a week ago when we were marveling at the lack of injuries?
Both Ubaldo Jimenez and Miguel Gonzalez were totally rocked in their opening games of the spring. Their respective ERAs at the moment: 162.0 and 47.25.
Minor league relief star Andrew Triggs gave up more home runs (three) in about five minutes than he has over two years. Understand that yes, he is facing a higher level of competition than in AA Bowie, but know also that his minor league stats almost exactly parallel Mychal Givens. But he’ll be fine.
Hyun Soo Kim is 0-for-9. Just imagine the pressure that is on him however. I think he’ll figure it out.

But there are good things happening as well …

Mike Wright and Vance Worley had successful first starts

Zach Britton is a dirty as ever, and Oliver Drake was lights out.

Hunter Harvey and Dylan Bundy had some mixed results, but their velocity was very good and they appear completely healthy and ready to move forward.

Ryan Flaherty

is a hitting machine I tell you! How could we doubt him? He’s 4-for-8 with a homer.

Related Story: https://thebaltimorewire.com/2016/03/02/baltimore-orioles-jack-of-all-trades-ryan-flaherty/

Chris Davis, Mark Trumbo, and Jonathon Schoop have each already homered, as has Christian Walker. A good spring from Walker might not be enough to make the opening day roster, but it could position him as a last minute trade piece for a final need.

It is nothing new that the Orioles get off to a slow start in spring training games. Just a year ago they were 3-8 after the first 11 games, finishing 11-19, with only two AL teams worse: Texas and Detroit.

Here is chart of the past 11 years for the Birds, comparing records from the Grapefruit League with the regular season…

Year	Grapefruit Record	Season Record
2015	12-19	81-81
2014	13-9	96-66
2013	19-9	85-77
2012	11-13	93-69
2011	15-15	69-93
2010	12-17	66-96
2009	13-21	64-98
2008	10-17	68-93
2007	16-13	69-93
2006	13-17	70-92
2005	15-11	74-88

A quick glance and overall summary at the chart above reveals that about half the time the spring season was somewhat predictive of the year to follow, and the other half of the time it had nothing to do with what eventuated.