The Orioles have lost six straight games, and they are in their worst funk of the year. The O's started the bad streak when they were up in Toronto and lost 3 out of 4 games. They dropped the last two games against the Blue Jays and headed to Atlanta for a losing sweep. The Braves out played the O's in all the games and ended one with a walk off homer from Andruw Jones. The O's haven't started their current series with the Yankees on a good note either. The Orioles gave up a 4-1 lead in the sixth inning and lost the game in the next inning when Steve Kline got kicked off the field. And that is the real problem right now, the relief pitching is blowing to many games.
I have heard all the arguments saying that the starting pitching is wearing out the relief pitching. That the real problem is the starting pitching not lasting long enough. But I am going to throw up the B.S. flag on this one fellas. Daniel Cabrera is our worst pitcher according to stats at 5.6 innings per game and a 5.48 ERA over 85.1 innings in 15 games. The rest of the starters are lasting, on average, over 6 innings. Ponson has the next worse ERA of 5.42, and Rodrigo Lopez has a 4.47 ERA. Bruce Chen is the Orioles best active pitcher at 3.54 ERA. I am not counting Hayden Penn because he hasn't really started enough, and I am not counting Erik Bedard because he his on the DL.
On the other hand, the Orioles relief pitchers are failing the Orioles on a daily bases. None of the pitchers are overworked considering stats from last year. The only pitcher that has a legit argument is Todd Williams. Williams only pitched in 29 games last year, and he has pitched in 33 thus far this year. The biggest argument I have heard on T.V. and radio (ESPN, Comcast, and 105.7am on the radio) is that Steve Kline is pitching too much. Well lets look at the numbers, Kline has pitched in 37 games already and 28 innings. Last year, Steve Kline pitched in 67 games and 50 innings last year with St. Louis. That isn't really that dramatic of a change with only a couple games of rise. What is more amazing is that the Steve Brothers are the worst pitchers in the bullpen, and they were suppose to help the club. Kline has a 5.08 ERA and Steve Reed has an 7.39 ERA. Let me repeat that one for you, "A relief pitcher has an 7.39 ERA". Why isn't this guy in triple A? Bring back John Parrish.
Stop blaming the batters. Other than Not-Slammin Sosa, most of the batters are hitting well. The only difference right now is the lack of clutch hits. Even with their best hitters, Tejada and Roberts, they can't anyone across the plate. The Orioles could have taken over the game last night by hitting more, but they game up. You could see it on their faces. Tejada has to get these guys back on the right track. He is stuggling at the plate, but he needs to have a positive attitude anyway. Miggy is the leader of the Orioles.
Posted by helimech24 at June 28, 2005 08:12 PM | TrackBackSomeone on the Orioles mailing list pointed out that Steve Kline actually had a good May and a so-so June. The reason his ERA is so awful is his April.
I also think that the offense is sputtering. Last night was very satisfying though.