Baltimore Orioles: Subs Getting the Job Done

Jun 7, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles outfielder Hyun Soo Kim (25) rounds the bases in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Orioles won 9-1. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /

The Baltimore Orioles have won five in a row and eight of the last nine games, and without doubt the subs and utility players have had a big role in this success.

The contributions have not only been at the plate. For example, Ryan Flaherty has had a number of fine defensive plays including taking away a base hit from Encarnacion to end the 6-5 victory over the Blue Jays last night.

With the way Buck Showalter shuffles his lineup and uses the bench, it is not immediately obvious as to who would qualify as a substitute. For example, Joey Rickard is more of a sub than a starter right now, but that was not true at the beginning of the season.

But let’s take a look at some of the players who don’t (or previously didn’t) play daily and consider their contributions over this most recent streak of nine games in June.

Hyun Soo Kim – We are beginning to see why Kim had the nickname of “the hitting machine” in the Korean League. One of the several strange stories of this 2016 season is how Kim turned around a horrible spring and an early season benching (for the most part) into a highly successful run since playing more regularly.

He has now started 21 of the Orioles’ 59 games and is batting .366 overall. Though only 1-for-4 last night, it was a key leadoff double in the top of the ninth that set up the tie-breaking, game-winning run to score.

Kim is hitting 12-for-33 in June for an average of .364. He surely seems to have made the adjustment to American baseball, though I’d love to know what he truly had going through his mind when running onto the field during the Machado-Ventura fight on Tuesday night.

Ryan Flaherty – Not a favorite son here on The Baltimore Wire, but we acknowledge his key roles of late. This is proving especially helpful with Hardy still out and with Machado headed for suspension time.

In these nine games of June, Flash has been 6-for-23 along with five walks. This has given some offensive help in turning over the lineup, while also contributing as always with his glove. Ryan had a key hit on Wednesday night that broke open a low-scoring game. We might need to begin being nicer to Flaherty here … maybe, just maybe.

Pedro Alvarez – In the big picture of things, getting Alvarez for this already power-packed team has not looked like the best offseason move. But he has hit better of late, driving a key home run last night to help bring the Orioles back from trailing early in the game.

El Toro has started eight of the nine June games and is 9-for-28 (.321) with three home runs. Might the Orioles have to endure his play at third base for a few games with Manny being gone? If he keeps hitting, that would be tolerable.

Nolan Reimold – All he does is get on base over and over. Nolan has been doing it all year and not getting rusty when so often just stuck waiting around to play. He is only 2-for-11 in June, but add four walks to that number. Reimold’s season OBP is .367.

Francisco Pena – Brought up as a defensive catcher to fill the role of the injured Caleb Joseph, he is 5-for-11 in his three games played, along with a big home run; and his catching and game-calling has been superb.