Baltimore Orioles: Passing the Load Around

The Baltimore Orioles have demonstrated the strength of a loaded lineup by having varied players carry the team at different times already in 2016.

There has never been any doubt that this Baltimore Orioles team is an unusually loaded batting order throughout. There is really no relief for a pitcher other than the occasional times when a player is grinding through a brief personal slump.

Among those dealing with some offensive difficulties early in the season were Adam Jones, Jonathan Schoop, and Matt Wieters. But each hit homers (actually two by Schoop) in the Orioles’ 9-3 comeback win over the Detroit Tigers on Saturday evening.

It has been characteristic of Jones’ entire career to have stretches where he is totally on fire and carries the team for a week or so. But some injuries have piled up on him at the end of last year and early this year, raising some concerns in the bigger picture of things. And statistically there is some slight year-to-year regression. Yet Adam can still put together some powerful stretches, especially when he is feeling fine, which he obviously is at this time.

After the Tigers cut the O’s 4-2 lead to a single run in the top of the 8^th inning off Brad Brach, Jones opened the bottom of the frame by getting that run back in one swing. He had previously doubled and scored on a Mark Trumbo double.

So for the last five games, Jones is 11-for-21 with four homers, eight RBIs, and eight runs scored. Since a week ago, his average has risen from .198 to .259. This streak may well continue for more games, and it is no coincidence that the Orioles have won them all since it started.

We have seen these kinds of streaks before. In April of 2015, Jones had a nine-game stretch where he went 20-for-39 with five homers and 14 RBIs. In June he had a seven-game stretch where he was 11-for-27 with four home runs … the Orioles winning six of those seven games.

Though not rare, here on The Baltimore Wire we predicted at the beginning of the season that this would be a monstrous Machado-like breakout year for Jonathan Schoop. But the O’s second baseman did not get off to a dynamic start for 2016.  

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After the first 19 games of the season, Schoop was batting just .200, but he has gotten hits in 14 of the 16 games since then. His average has risen now to .258 on the strength of 19-for-59, including four home runs and 12 RBIs. The Birds are 12-4 in those games.

Wieters has struggled to find plate consistency all season, though he looks much better in recent games. He is 4-for-11, with a critical home run last night to put the Orioles ahead immediately after the Miguel Cabrera three-iron shot for the only two Tiger runs off Mike Wright. The O’s really need this bat to come alive.

Here is our update of the prorated rate of home runs and strikeouts for the Orioles this year …

Kevin Gausman will go to the mound today to attempt the sweep of the Tigers. He has looked simply great in recent games. How awesome would it be to win eight straight and go to 24-12 before Nelson Cruz and the Mariners come to town?!?