No denying it -- pitching a need for Orioles
Nobody said this rebuilding business was going to be easy. And no one may want to hear this but -- the last few weeks have been a good reality check.
This team needs pitching more than most observers thought -- or at least more than the first few months of this season indicated. Manager Dave Trembley acknowledged as much when he said after Daniel Cabrera's ineffective outing in a 7-1 loss to Toronto (that followed a 5-1 defeat in a resumed game from Wednesday), "If they don't get better, that opportunity won't be there forever."
Trembley was referring to the larger Orioles starting pitching staff with the singular exception of Jeremy Guthrie. For Trembley, normally a glass half-full kind of guy, that was strident talk. The problem is lack of innings. The starters just aren't staying in ball games long enough and it has taken a toll on a bullpen that looked pretty solid for about three months. It doesn't help that Matt Albers has been out but those types of injuries are going to occur.
Right now, Orioles fans can breathe easy with Guthrie, Jim Johnson and George Sherrill on the mound. Anyone else and it's a crapshoot.
So why has this been a good reality check? It allows the team to further identify its needs going into the off-season. It's not true that the Orioles simply needed an additional big bopper in the middle of the lineup or an upgrade at shortstop as many folks felt earlier in the year before the pitching was stretched so thin. What the Orioles may have learned is that their need for pitching is even more urgent. How they deal with that issue is another matter but at least it was been brought into focus.
Comments
Bill we have had many many discussions on why the orioles have stayed with daniel this long when they have to know that he can't perform at this level. Bill maybe i am just assuming that they know he can't perform at this level . After all this time please tell me that the end for him is coming soon. The problem bill with all the mistakes and injuries that the orioles have had with their pitching how in the world can you come up with 4 new starters , we are behind the 8 ball and the orioles front office keeps blowing smoke up the fan's backsides. We aren't even in the vicinity of contending in 2010 with this pitching staff.Bill being postive all the time is a great trait but when does it get old like in Dave t case , you know at some point you just need to explode with these pitchers and see if you can finally get there attention
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Bob,
We are perilously close to the back-up-the-truck stage. I had thought that the goal of free agency should be to pursue position players, a power guy and maybe a SS. Now, I think the Orioles will have to use FA and whatever money they have available to pursue pitching. The way he has pitched this year, Cabrera would be servicable as maybe the fourth starter on a contender. With some luck, he could be a .500 pitcher on a good team and his main asset would be that he could give you a fair amount of innings and not break down. But if the Orioles keep him, that means they have to find a No. 2 and No. 3 and, of course, a No. 5.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: bob lancione | July 25, 2008 10:41 AM
I guess the surprising start maybe put the pitching issue to back burner; alas, baseball is a marathon and not sprint, so 162 games throughout a season will expose problems no matterwhat happens.
As much as it pains me to say this -- the Orioles' luck may have run out.
Olson, Burres and Cabrera looked serviceable for most of the first half, but their inexperience and flaws came rising to the surface in July.
I now see the Orioles struggling for the rest of season.
We've got very few, if any reinforcements to plug in holes, so let's cross our fingers and hope for the best.
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Anthony,
Warehouse ... we have a problem. Yeah, it's going to be teeth-gritting time until they get a shot at some arms in free agency.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: Anthony | July 25, 2008 1:02 PM
The Orioles have the pitching, they just need to get their legs in shape. Pitching needs strong legs. Somebody is not pushing them hard enough to keep in shape. When leg strength is not there arms suffer.
GB/pc
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Papa,
That's an interesting take on the situation. Thanks for writing.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: papacheerio | July 25, 2008 1:14 PM
Bill: I agree. The Orioles need quality starting pitching over and above any other considerations. I've heard A.J. Burnett's name mentioned as a possible off-season acquistion. More is needed than just Burnett, but he'd be a decent upgrade. Outside the box thought: Move Jim Johnson into the rotation and replace him with Radhames Liz as setup guy. Johnson has started before and I think can be counted on to at least keep the games close, while moving Liz to reliever has already been brought up and having him only in the game for an inning at a time would probably make him more effective, as hitters wouldn't get to see him more than once in a game.
I agree with the three dependable pitchers you mention, but would add a fourth: Chad Bradford. Most of the time he can be counted on to do what he's paid to do...throw grounders. Also, Randor Bierd has looked pretty good since coming off of the DL, with a lot of movement on his pitches. (I'm still a little amazed that he was designated a Rule 5 player; it looks like the team made a good move in getting him.)
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Ken,
I should have cut Bradford more slack. Burnett is a perennial candidate, isn't he. Your Johnson suggestion is an interesting one and if they can't get anyone out of the sixth inning .. other than Guthrie ... they may just have to do that. As you obviously know, he's been a three- to six-out guy but he's certainly big enough to take the ball for 90-100 pitches ever fifth day.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: Ken Francis | July 25, 2008 1:30 PM