Baltimore Orioles: Analyzing losses reveals an even bigger story
By Nate Wardle
So, with that said, what can we determine from the losses?
The first thing that jumps out is that starting pitching has not been the issue. The starters allowed 0, 3 and 1 runs in the three games, with an inherited run scoring in both the second and third losses.
That means that as much as has been made about how bad Ubaldo Jimenez is, or the lack of depth, that the starting pitching performance largely has not caused the Oriole losses. In fact, in two of the three losses, the starter went 6.1 innings (Miley went 5 in the first loss.)
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The second thing is the Orioles were in every game. Now, following on the point about starting pitching, this makes sense. But, the only game the O’s lost in which they never led was the loss in Boston.
In the other two losses, against New York and Toronto, the Orioles were tied in the ninth inning. One loss was at home, the other a walk-off loss on the road.
The third point is that poor defense contributed to two of the losses. In the first two losses, the Orioles committed two errors in each. The team has only committed seven errors all season. In each of those losses, at least one run scored directly due to the error.
As far pitchers, Darren O’Day and Tyler Wilson both left up runs in two of the losses. O’Day appears to be rounding into shape. Wilson, well, maybe his performance so far this season is a reason to send him to AAA.
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All in all, a review of the Orioles’ losses shows that this team has been in every game, has been competitive and is playing very well.