Arrieta makes quality start -- and an organization exhales
If you are looking for some good news from Wednesday’s 4-0 loss to the Boston Red Sox – and you have to look pretty hard considering they could not score against lefty Andrew Miller, who issued six walks and two hits in 5 2/3 shutout innings – it starts with right-hander Jake Arrieta.
No Orioles official came out and said it, but there has been some quiet concern about Arrieta, who entered Wednesday with a 5.10 ERA and had allowed 14 runs in his last 14 1/3 innings.
So it was encouraging that he faced a tough Red Sox lineup and allowed just three runs – on two solo homers and a RBI groundout – in seven innings.
“It's definitely a step in the right direction. I'm not satisfied, I'm never really satisfied,” Arrieta said. “There's always room for improvement with every facet of the game for me as a pitcher.”
Most important, Arrieta didn’t allow a walk. The first time this season and second time in his career he has done that.
He said it was because he had worked on a mechanical tweak this week, aligning himself more straight up with the catcher instead of being off a bit to the right.
“It allows me to throw more consistent strikes and I think that was pretty obvious today,
really pounding the zone well,” Arrieta said. “Just aside for a couple mistakes.”
Arrieta threw a career-high 111 pitches. He threw an impressive 81 for strikes – something his manager appreciated.
“It’s good. He had good tempo. His delivery was a little quicker to the plate from the stretch, with the one exception where the guy stole on him,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “He was pretty good for the most part most of the day, and his tempo was a lot better, which I’m sure his teammates were happy with. It’s something we’ve been trying to stress with him a little bit.”
A Baltimore native, 
Comments
OK ... let's talk some sanity here! Arrietta lost the game. He got outpitched ... period. You can put lipstick on the pig all you want. It still is a pig.
Posted by: Mesotheliangelos | July 20, 2011 6:43 PM
Dan,
I am not the type to issue gross proclamations at all. But, in the most modest way possible, mark my words: The moment when the Orioles find a true consistent RH power bat, it will be soon when they start to climb out of the cellar in earnest.
How many times have we've seen division rivals call up any warm body or borderline RP Lefty for a spot start/tryout, just to face us, and save their better arms for the better teams, and then toss a gem? It's happened so much in the last decade-plus, and I think it's just endemic to something deeper and fundamental in the organization, as well overall scarcity of good middle order bats in the league. Look how much havinbg Bautista has had a huge ripple effect throughout the Jays lineup. We need that kind of bat.
Posted by: Eddie in NYC | July 20, 2011 8:50 PM
Only the Baltimore Orioles can exhale after another loss.
Quality start and another loss. Perhaps we should prepare a parade down Pratt?
Dan.... Come on.... You never talked about the game (during the game), and afterwards, there's positive spin?
This after the O's lost another game, another series and were completely embarrassed at how Sox fans completely took over the Yard......
With a KC win tonight, the O's will once again have the worst record in the AL. That's the real story Dan. Nothing about today was "quality". Sorry, it just wasn't.
Posted by: wayne | July 20, 2011 8:54 PM
With the sox, yanks, you're damned if you do and dont. you throw strikes, they'll hit you. you walk em, then they get the hits and you get buried. 7 ip, and 81 out of 111 pitches for strikes says they fouled off a ton of pitches...thats what they do. Arrietta tosses that same game against just about anybody else, and he loses cause the os dont hit, but he goes 9 because those other clubs dont grind like the redsox. Man i wish their hitting philosophy would spread to the Os.
Posted by: cush | July 20, 2011 9:17 PM
Meso, it's quite difficult for the Orioles to not get outpitched, given the state of their offense. Tampa took miller out in less than 3 innings because they let him walk a bunch of guys and didn't swing at all that junk, and when they got pitches to hit they laced him.
The Orioles couldn't get a big hit to save their season. What the hell was Tatum doing after miller walked those 3 guys in a row? How do you get in a pitchers count against a guy that has proven forever that he cannot throw quality strikes? They should have had 10 runs today. The Sox won 2 of 3 and pitched exactly noone against the Os. Noone worth mentioning.
True, Jake lost the game. But to compare Jake's effort today against a team that is built to mash with Miller's against a team that has way too much trash is just unfair.
This team has so much bad going on right now, that only a miracle that lands them a legitimate middle of the order can help them out.
Posted by: jim66 | July 20, 2011 9:39 PM
Hooray, I'm so excited about the most made-up statistic in all of baseball!!!
Posted by: dcb | July 21, 2011 8:59 AM
Leave it to Wayne. A starter throws 73% of his pitches for strikes, especially against a tough lineup, and of course you have to bring the negativity.
You come on here and spout constantly about how bad the O's are, as if you're telling us something we don't know. Do you know what the term "fan" means? It means you look for the positives and enjoy watching the game. We're all well aware of the O's shortcomings and none to pleased about them...but I'm sure most of us would still like to find some things to enjoy during the season.
You haven't given credit to ANY Oriole this year or any performance in any game. Honestly, there is no way you are, or ever were an Orioles fan the way you go out of your way to come on here everyday just to trash the team and incite everyone else.
It's gotta feel good knowing that not only would people not miss you if you left, but they'd probably rejoice in your absence. I feel very sorry for you.
Posted by: Anonymous | July 21, 2011 9:23 AM
I much as I love the O's, I think everyone knew that they were not going to score after games of 10 runs and 6 runs (the 6 runs is even alot for them). The run support for Arrietta went to Guthrie this time.
Posted by: T | July 21, 2011 9:25 AM
Good post anonymous,
Thank you for proving my point. Fans like you find positives with LOSSES however you can.
Fans like you find positives with LAST PLACE however you can.
Fans like you find positives with with being 8.5 games out of 4TH place.
Fans like you simply are OK with losing.... as long as your favorite player throws a good game of gathers a couple hits.
Fans like you are the reason Boston fans come to town, calling our home field...
Boston Park at Camden Yards.
Posted by: wayne | July 21, 2011 10:27 AM
Wayne
Please go back to Schmucks blog you really arent wanted here by people who actually know baseball
You are a blight on this site and not one person wants you here
Posted by: Josh | July 21, 2011 11:39 AM
Really Dan? We just lost another series with a ballpark full of opposing fans, fell into last place in the AL east and a loss by a starting pitcher who pitched reasonably well is supposed make us happy??!! WOW. You Schmuck and the rest, except for your TV critic who finally had the guts to call everyone out, are plain and simple gutless. Where is the outrage? Where is the demand to improve? Dont forget the Redsox didnt even use their whole lineup. The last three hitters were their scrubs and Big Papi didnt even play.
Posted by: Dimo | July 21, 2011 11:45 AM
It's hard to argue that seeing Arrieta make it seven innings on a crazy hot day against the Red Sox when he's had trouble getting through six innings in April/May weather against lesser line-ups isn't a positive. Yes, the Orioles lost the game. Yes, they are in last place. Yes, they will finish with a losing record again. But you wouldn't be here posting if you've lost all hope, and seeing a young pitcher have a positive step forward has to be something worth mentioning.
Posted by: Ben S. | July 21, 2011 12:26 PM
Yes where is the outrage with this inept organization?? Does anybody really care?? I would have no problem if Angelos moved this team or MLB stepped in and contracted it. It is just a sorry sorry organization from top to bottom. And this is coming from a man who has followed this club for 50 years. Where are you Mark Cuban?????
Posted by: steveinboston | July 21, 2011 12:35 PM
Really Josh?
I actually remember some of your post.... Why don't you re-post many of them so everyone can see how much you really know about baseball. Bro, you were just so spot on about this club, again.. :-)
As for the Pirates? Of course folks should root for them. SInce they're winning, the O's will now have the distinction of being the team with the longest losing record. Up until now, the O's haven't been ale to say they're the absolute worst.
Now they/we can. We're #1, We're #1, We're #1
Posted by: wayne | July 21, 2011 12:42 PM
People still think that they're being heard by people who matter. It's borderline adorable.
BAYSOX WATCH: 52-43, 3rd best record in the Eastern League
KEYS WATCH: 57-38, 1st place overall Carolina League, 3rd best record in HighA
Posted by: Mark | July 21, 2011 12:54 PM
Don't be mad at the truth.
I want the losing to end, but unfortunately, nothing has changed.
It starts at the top.
Gil – the old way was more fun, but I guess this blog will have to be the place for O’s fans. Looks like you will win the bet.
Absurdiztan indeed.
Posted by: JJ | July 21, 2011 1:44 PM
And now Matusz got rocked in todays start at AAA. The good news keeps flowing in. I will die before this team wins a World Series again.
Posted by: Bobby | July 21, 2011 2:59 PM
Wayne, do you realize that being right doesn't make you smart?
You predicted the O's to be horrible this year, congrats...did you also pick the Pirates to be above .500 and vying for a division title? I mean, you're so smart, you must have.
There's zero reason the O's should be worse than the Pirates or Nats...they have way more talent and a better manager. And don't spout off about the front office, because they don't affect on-field play during the season.
So once again, just because you predicted the O's to be where they are, doesn't mean you're smart. Otherwise you'd have picked the Pirates to be where they are, though you'll try and tell us you did.
You're nothing but a negative blowhard. The only reason people bother responding to your posts is because you're annoying. It's not for your wealth of baseball knowledge and social skills - because clearly you possess neither.
Posted by: Christopher | July 21, 2011 5:17 PM
Great post Christopher. Now can we pierce the veil and expose the grow the arms mantra as a completely ridiculous business plan. What team has focused largely on only drafting pitchers with their prime choices and had legitimate success thereafter long term. Drafting fielders is far less volatile and much less speculative. Peter it is time to dump McPhail. His clever one liners are old and just plain stupid!
Posted by: johnny c | July 21, 2011 7:20 PM
Thanks Christopher,
And I agree...... It doesn't take 'smart' to know the O's will be one of the worst teams each season. Yes, I'm always right about them, but please don't think that makes me happy.
What would be smart for you now though... is if you admitted you were 'wrong' about this team once again. That way, we won't have to think of you as 'not' being smart.
Posted by: wayne | July 22, 2011 1:05 PM