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Baltimore Orioles Offensive Woes Run Deep in 2018

By Nate Wardle

BALTIMORE, MD - MAY 16: Adam Jones #10 of the Baltimore Orioles hits a home run during the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 16, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - MAY 16: Adam Jones #10 of the Baltimore Orioles hits a home run during the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 16, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – JUNE 10: Trey Mancini #16 of the Baltimore Orioles hits a double in the seventh inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on June 10, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – JUNE 10: Trey Mancini #16 of the Baltimore Orioles hits a double in the seventh inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on June 10, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

Let’s start here with the drop offs that have been slight, and also not exactly surprising.

Now, the Baltimore Orioles’ 2017 shortstops were not a strong group. The contributors hit .252/.296/.386 with 15 home runs, 154 hits, 77 runs and 62 runs batted in. Those numbers were 22nd, 24th, 22nd, 21st, 21st, 18th, and 24th. And, a decent part of that came from the excellent month that Tim Beckham had after being acquired. Take that out and these numbers would be worse.

As for the Orioles’ 2018 third basemen, our comparison with Machado changing positions, it is important to note that the offense does not account for the defensive changes. Note that the Orioles received great defense at SS last year when J.J. Hardy was hurt, but the play at third in 2018 has been…rough.

The O’s current third basemen are hitting .232/.305/.386 with eight home runs, 54 hits, 24 runs scored and 24 RBIs. Those numbers are 21st, 22nd, 26th, 20th, 28th, 28th, and 28th. Even worse than last year’s short stops, to be honest, which is a bit of a surprise.

Something that is not surprising is how bad the Orioles were in left field in 2017. I figured the strong rookie season by Trey Mancini would have looked better, but he only played 88 games in left. Hyun Soo Kim, Craig Gentry and Joey Rickard all also saw a number of starts. In 2017, the Orioles’ left fielders, led by Trey Mancini, hit .255/.314/.388 with 14 home runs, 152 hits, 59 runs and 63 RBIs. Those numbers were 15th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 18th, 29th and 25th. Not very good.

In 2018, the news is actually worse. .228/.301/.355 with seven home runs, 59 hits, 21 runs and 20 RBIs. Those numbers are 26th, 25th, 25th, 19th, 22nd, 27th, and 26th. Not good. Mancini and Gentry have made most of the starts in left field.

The decrease in production in left field obviously is a bit of a surprise. Sure, players often have the sophomore slump, but Mancini has largely just not been very good, rather than slumping.

With so many other positions seeing a major drop off, the Orioles need Mancini’s bat to come alive.

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