Orioles: Battle for Britton
Zach Britton was disappointed in himself. He wanted to send a message to the Tampa Bay Rays that they weren't going to get back into the American League wild card race on his watch, but his command failed him at a couple of pivotal moments in a game that provided little room for error.
“We all know that they’re in the battle for it, they are playing really well,’’ Britton said. “So I actually want to go out them and beat them. You don’t want them to get it on your clock. So I was really disappointed that I didn’t put together a good effort and got us in a hole early and we couldn’t put it together. So it’s just a mixture of walking those guys and, at the same time, you give them chances to score runs, they are going to score runs.”
Britton has ridden the proverbial roller coaster this season, getting off to terrific start and then temporarily pitching his way back to the minor leagues. He recently rebounded with three strong starts against the Twins, Yankees and Rays, but has faltered a bit his last two times out. He gave up four runs on five hits over five innings, a line that was very similar to the one he put up in New York last week.
“It starts and stops with fastball command,’’ manager Buck Showalter said. “That's one of the reasons Tampa is doing a good job with their starters. They have guys with good command of the fastball. Zach didn't have it tonight. Didn't have command. He's just inconsistent with it, like a lot of young pitchers. Hopefully he'll figure it out with the help he's got and will continue to get."
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Comments
Britton is another Orioles' pitcher who is consistently inconsistent.
How many times have we seen an O's pitcher dominate at the major league level initially only to begin the inevitable Oriole slide downhill? Berken, Bergesen, Tillman, Arrieta, Matusz and how many others over recent years?
There is a significant malfunction in the Orioles' player development methods.
It would seem that the pitchers are not prepared mentally for adversity such as errors - see Britton here - they come apart at the seems.
They overthrow. Their ball/strike ratios stink. Their fastball location stinks. But the real problem is that it is ALL of the O's pitchers.
This is more indicative of coaching, off-season conditioning and not something as simple as failure to make in-game or game to game adjustments.
There is a lot of talent getting messed up in their collective heads in this organization.
Posted by: Dennis in WV | September 13, 2011 5:15 AM
Says the manager who will be acting as GM after Sept. 28th ...... " Didn't have command. He's just inconsistent with it, like a lot of young pitchers, Hopefully, he'll figure it out with the help he's got and will continue to get. "
TRANSLATION: Either the players on this team get with the program or they can get out. Can't wait 'til the offseason when Buck torches the house.
Posted by: Mark | September 13, 2011 8:12 AM
Hello Peter's Interns,
Tell Peter: nice appearance on the MASN Sports Report year. Didn't recognize him
without his hawaian shirt.
FYI: this day in Os history reminder. 40 years ago today, Frank Robinson hit his 40th home run... and I was there to catch it... and then returned it to him for a bat and tickets.... what did I know? A nice memory for the past 40 years.
Lee from Rockville
http://www.500hrc.com/500-hrc-articles/the-day-i-caught-frank-robinsons-500th-home-run.html
T
Posted by: Lee Resop | September 13, 2011 8:52 AM
I don't really blame Zack Britton at all. He wasn't supposed to be in the position he is in this year. We were supposed to have Guthrie, Tillman, Matusz, Bergeson, Arrietta, Duchsherer all starting. This was supposed to be a year Britton could learn and develop more in AAA and join the team later in the year. On the other hand, its an improvement of the projected starting 5 from opening day, we still have 1-2 pitchers pitching, as oppose to years where the starting 5 from opening day are completely different from the starting 5 at the end of the year
Posted by: Josh | September 13, 2011 9:53 AM