Baltimore Orioles: Just Play Nolan Reimold
Baltimore Orioles left fielder Nolan Reimold was the difference-maker with a three-run home run in a 6-3 win over the Chicago White Sox.
For quite some time here on The Baltimore Wire we have advocated for Reimold, wondering what there really is to not like about him. And don’t say that it is injuries. That is serious history at this point. Just about every regular on the Orioles has had one or two injuries take them out since the last time Nolan was set aside.
Reimold features a high on-base percentage, has speed especially from the plate to first base, provides above average power and defense, and works pitchers into deep counts.
Currently he is batting .355 with an OBP of .394. He has three home runs now in 33 plate appearances. Yes, the sample size is small. But consider that even with his career batting average of .252, his on-base percentage is an above average number of .327.
The Orioles are 8-1 in games when he has started this year. Again, small sample size. But consider that in the .500 season of 2015 for Baltimore, the O’s were 29-17 in games that Reimold started.
At least at this point, the Pedro Alvarez experiment has not been working, though it may yet catch fire. But the Orioles are a better defensive team with Reimold and Rickard in the corner outfield positions, with Mark Trumbo batting and Alvarez watching.
Of course, Alvarez as a lefty hitter is supposed to handle right-handed pitchers and keep the Birds from being too heavy on the right side. But Reimold had hit .246/.323 against righties over his career, while Alvarez is .245/.320 … thus hardly a difference. Alvarez has the greater power with one home run per 19 at-bats. But Reimold is not even that far off in this regard, with a homer every 24 at-bats right-handed.
Now add to this discussion what happens against lefties, and the two players go in opposite directions. Reimold is 14 points better than versus righties, whereas Alvarez drops totally into the basement with a career number of just .202 against left-handed pitching.
Again, I ask the question. What is not to like about the current Nolan Reimold? What is wrong with the analysis given here today?
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These first two games of the series against the White Sox have featured many positives. Again on Friday night a rookie status pitcher gave a quality start. Mike Wright kept the Sox under control with only two runs in six innings, giving the Orioles the chance to hang in the game until the three-run homer could be the game-winner.
The superior Baltimore defense was also seen on Friday evening, as the White Sox fumbled a pair of potential double plays, and Adam Jones stopped a potential big inning by nailing a third out at the plate.
The series continues, as does the sketchy and cool and damp weather. Saturday’s game features the interesting pitching matchup of Mat Latos versus Kevin Gausman. It would be nice to win another game before having to face 5-0 Chris Sale and his 1.66 ERA on Sunday.