Baltimore Orioles: How the loss of Chris Davis impacts the Orioles
By Nate Wardle
The Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis, a cornerstone of the lineup, suffered an oblique strain as Orioles seasons continues collapse.
On Monday night, Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado returned from his hand/wrist injury. However, Chris Davis strained his oblique on a bases-loaded swing, and according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network, is headed for the disabled list.
The good news is the Davis’ injury will affect the Orioles where they are the strongest.
Trey Mancini is expected to move to his primary position at first base while Davis is out.
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However, if the Orioles want to keep him in the outfield, knowing that is his position for the future with Davis at first base, then they can do that too. Mark Trumbo can move to first base, and Hyun Soo Kim can be the designated hitter.
The injury will open up more at-bats for Kim, who had lost at-bats even against right-handers due to Mancini’s emergence. All of this is a good thing. Mancini still gets to play, as he should. Kim can play and maybe play himself into being a trade option.
The Orioles could bring up Pedro Alvarez and put him at DH, keeping Kim on the bench. Alvarez has raked at AAA Norfolk, particularly recently. He has always been an excellent hitter, but trying to get him to play the outfield did not work.
To be honest, I’m not sure why anyone thought it would.
But, he can now be recalled and be the designated hitter.
However, he doesn’t help the Orioles current woes. The team can hit home runs, but they can’t pitch, and they often can’t score without home runs.
Well, Alvarez is hitting .215 with a .287 on-base percentage. Yup, that won’t work. And that is in the minor leagues.
If it were me, I would add another pitcher in the mix. I know it sounds crazy, but go with Ruben Tejada, Caleb Joseph and Joey Rickard or Kim on the bench. If something happens, Tejada can play the infield, and Rickard can play the outfield positions. Trumbo and Mancini can both play first base, the worst thing that happens is you lose your DH.
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The bullpen is being used and abused at this point as the starters are unable to produce a quality start. With Davis being a DL situation, they could bring Logan Verrett or another long reliever back up.
Does losing Davis hurt? I don’t know.
Davis has 14 home runs and 26 RBIs (a sure sign that players aren’t getting on base) but also has a major league leading 95 strikeouts. Davis has struck out almost one and a half times per game. He is on pace to set the major league record for strikeouts in a season and has led the major leagues in strikeouts each of the past two seasons.
If it gives the team the option to get a higher on-base percentage guy in the lineup, I won’t complain. This team needs as many runs as they can get with how putrid the pitching is.
The lineup continues to scuffle, and when they put up many runs, it often doesn’t matter because they are trying to play catch up.
It would be nice to see Alec Asher starting a successful turn through the rotation Tuesday night.
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For the Orioles, it is always about the starting pitching. Right now, looking at the last month, that pitching has been the worst in baseball.