Baltimore Orioles: More Ups and Downs

Jul 3, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado (13) tosses his bat after striking out against the Seattle Mariners during the seventh inning at Safeco Field. Seattle won 9-4. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports /

With the Baltimore Orioles getting swept in four games in Seattle, never did a trip into Los Angeles to play the Dodgers looks so inviting.

We knew from the beginning with this team that we were signing up for a roller coaster ride sort of season, and indeed we have gotten it. The recipe for such an experience is a power-hitting team susceptible to strikeouts and a rotation that is inconsistent. The Orioles went from their third seven-game win streak to a four-game losing streak.

Not every number from the Seattle series is dreadful, but enough of them are to conspire together for four losses. Along the way we have to also admit that the Mariners are a pretty good outfit, likely better than their record. And they hit a sweet spot when the O’s came to town … and the hit the Orioles hard as well.

Baltimore was 37-for-144 in the series (.257), but Seattle was 45-for-150 (.300) with 10 home to only four for the Birds. The Mariners scored 31 runs to only 15 for Baltimore.

The Orioles blew some scoring opportunities for sure, though they were 10-for-29 for the whole series … not bad. Except that the Mariners were 13-for-39; that is a lot of baserunners.

Even so, you would think those numbers could have gotten at least one win in four games. But then we look at the pitching stats. The starters gave up 21 earned runs, and the bullpen yielded an additional nine for a total ERA of 8.44. And that is how you lose four straight games.

Obviously something has to be done about this pitching situation. As written here previously, I have no faith in expensive trades for veteran pitchers. And any list that anyone can put together as to who such an attainable pitcher might be is about the same size as the list of Ubaldo’s quality starts.

Even if one good pitcher could be found for the rotation, the other pieces are still going to have to pitch better. The talent is there to do it, and it seems to me it simply has to turn around.

Another necessary turnaround if we are to see successful baseball into the month of October is to see the Orioles win on the road. We know they can do it at home, which is very nice of them to show us such hospitality when we pay to see them play. They are 31-13 at The Yard. But 16-21 on the road is killing them, especially since 44 of the remaining 81 games will be away from Baltimore.