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Chris Davis

Baltimore Orioles: Seek Encore to West Coast Performance

by A.J. Risser July 29, 2014

David Fulmer- Flickr

After the first loss of the second half of the season to the Oakland Athletics, it looked as though the 10-game road trip for the Baltimore Orioles was going to be a bumpy one. However, with the Orioles’ 3-2 win over the Seattle Mariners on Sunday, the O’s finished 6-4 on the trip and turned many skeptics into believers that this is the team to beat in the A.L. East.

The trip started off in Oakland, and on the first night, Josh Donaldson stole the win from the Orioles with a first pitch Walk-Off home run against Orioles’ closer Zach Britton. The O’s would bounce back in the second game, winning 8-4, but would drop the rubber game badly with a 10-2 beating. O’s Third-Baseman Manny Machado was the most hated person in Oakland for the series, but was fueled by the hateful Oakland fans and finished the series 3-11 with a home run and three RBIs. It could have easily been a 2-1 series win for the Birds had it not been for Donaldson playing the Oakland hero.

Starting pitching was many people were worrying about on this Baltimore team, but after the Oakland series, the starting pitchers would not allow more than four runs for the rest of the trip. The staff combined to go 46 Innings, allowing only 10 earned runs on 42 hits and striking out 29.

This rotation isn’t known for striking out many batters, so the 29 strike outs is not a surprise, but being able to have hitters put the ball in play and get the key outs was the strongpoint for this stretch. Chris Tillman continued to show improvement with a six-inning, one run performance against the Los Angeles Angels, and lefty Wei-Yin Chen showed how dominant he can be by throwing eight shutout innings against the Mariners.

One thing that did surprise many was the absence of the Offense by the O’s. Minus the eight runs put up in the win against Oakland, the Orioles would not score above four runs the rest of the road trip.

If there is one thing that fans should not worry about, it is the hitting. Although the Orioles seemed to struggle getting the bat on the ball, this team is still very dangerous and they are still second in the Majors in Home Runs at 125, only two behind the Toronto Blue Jays. Chris Davis continued to struggle at the plate, although he is developing into a clutch hitter.

The Orioles’ hitting will eventually get back on track, but the question that arises is whether the starting pitching can keep up their recent performances. Kevin Gausman will need to develop a consistency that the Orioles can depend on, since Ubaldo Jimenez has been anything but the $50 million dollar man that they signed in the offseason.

In a division that is now starting to heat up, the O’s will need everything working to win the East and head to the playoffs for the second time in three years. Their 26-23 home record will need to change and mirror that of their 32-23 road record. They will have a chance to do that as they return home for a six game stand against the two teams they just beat up on, the Angels and Mariners.

A.J. Risser is a writer for Couch Rider Report. Go give him a follow on Twitter and Facebook.

July 29, 2014 0 comment

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Baltimore Orioles Surging Ahead

by A.J. Risser July 12, 2014

written by A.J. Risser

David Fulmer- Flickr

The Baltimore Orioles come into today’s game against the New York Yankees, with a three game cushion in first place of the A.L. East. They have won eight of their last ten, and have outscored their opponents in those games by 17 runs. Many believed this team was doomed with the season-ending surgery to All-Star catcher Matt Wieters, but the combination of rookie Caleb Joseph and newly acquired Nick Hundley has put a confidence in the eyes of manager Buck Showalter and Orioles’ fans everywhere. Hundley delivered the walk-off single, last night against the Yankees in the 10^th inning to win the game and has seen his bat start to come alive. Joseph is proving himself to be a very worthy defensive option at catcher for the O’s, as he is throwing out a little more than 50% of base stealers.

However, the real jump-start the Orioles needed, they found in Steve Pearce. The 31-year-old has found himself to be the emerging push for the Orioles since his return to the team. Pearce has bounced around numerous teams in the past few years, and the O’s had even released him earlier this year. When an injury to slugger Chris Davis left the Orioles in need of a first baseman, Pearce, who was about to sign with the division rival Toronto Blue Jays, answered the call and has come back strong. Now hitting in the number two spot in the lineup, Pearce has found his groove and is helping this O’s team stay on top of the East. He is hitting .319, with career-high 11 home runs this season. His previous season high in homers was four, but he has shattered that in only 55 games so far this season.

Pearce is not the only one, though, who is contributing to this Baltimore team. Nelson Cruz has more than made up for the absence in production that Chris Davis has experienced so far this season. Even with Davis considered to be “struggling”, he still has 14 home runs and 46 RBIs. Adam Jones is again having a great year and is on pace to have another 30 home run year. While shortstop J.J. Hardy has not quite found his home run swing, hitting .283, which is well above his career average of .261. Everything seems to be clicking offensively for this Oriole’s team and they will again be up near the top in home runs.

If there is one worry in the eyes of the Orioles, it is their pitching. The team’s 3.85 ERA is much better than last year’s 4+, but the team still lacks consistency and a true number one ace. The team thought they had their ace in Chris Tillman, but he has also been somewhat inconsistent. However, Tillman’s last few starts have been very promising and he may be finding his form that won him 16 games a year ago.

A big disappointment so far for the team has been free-agent acquisition Ubaldo Jimenez. Jimenez is far from having the season he had a year ago. He is up near the top of the league in walks and has pitched to a dismal record of 3-8. Now, some of that is due to the lack of run support that he receives, but at the same time, having a 4.52 ERA will not win your team much at all. Last year, Jimenez was unstoppable in the second half of the season, as he pitched to a sub 2.00 ERA. The Orioles are hoping that Ubaldo again has a career second half, or it may be awhile before another big name pitcher is brought in from the outside again by the Orioles’ front office.

This Orioles’ team has everything it needs to make it to the post season and even make a run at the World Series. In order for that to happen, the offense must keep up its pace to back an inconsistent pitching staff. If they continue to hit the ball over the fence, and Tillman and Ubaldo pitch like the O’s see them being capable of, then the sky may be the limit. Don’t forget, if Chris Davis finds his swing again and starts hitting like he did a season ago, this team from Baltimore could be the most dangerous if they reach the playoffs. With the unexpected apparent weakness of the A.L. East, the Orioles may find it easy to run away with the division and the way they are playing as of late, they will do just that.

AJ Risser is a writer for Couch Rider Report, you should check him out on Twitter.

July 12, 2014 0 comment

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Baltimore Orioles Host Struggling Texas Rangers

by A.J. Risser June 30, 2014

written by A.J. Risser

Keith Allison- Flickr

When the Tampa Bay Rays came into Camden Yards for a four game set with the Baltimore Orioles, no one thought they would leave with a 12-7 series-winning finale on Sunday. The Orioles were fresh off a series in which they witnessed their “Orioles Magic” reappear with two walk off wins in the three game set against the Chicago White Sox. However, the Orioles’ pitching was the reason for the let down. Of the four games, the team’s starters gave only one quality start.

On Sunday, the O’s pen, which had previously gone 30 innings with only one earned run against them, was to blame. Sunday’s defeat featured a reversal in those numbers, as the Rays put up nine, yes nine, runs on them. The seven runs that were put up by the Orioles should have been enough to seal the win and tie the series, but Brian Matusz and Evan Meek combined for three and a third innings, giving up nine earned runs on 10 hits. Because of the early exit by starter Miguel Gonzalez, the Orioles’ pen was forced to put in extra work, and they paid for it.

However, even with the 3-1 series loss to the Rays, the Orioles still somehow sit only a game and a half behind the first place Toronto Blue Jays. Lucky for the Orioles, the New York Yankees also struggled over the weekend, so the O’s still sit in second place by a half game.

Tonight’s series opener for the Orioles against the Texas Rangers gives the team the chance to get back on track. The Rangers are fourth in the American League West and have gone 2-8 in their last 10 games. The team is definitely missing the power boost from Prince Fielder, who was sidelined for the rest of the season after undergoing back surgery.

However, the rest of the team is still getting their hits, as they rank fifth in the Majors with a .262 team average. They have not been big on the home runs this season, but they will look to bring the long ball into play against an Orioles’ pitching staff that gives up the fifth-most homers in all of baseball. Adrian Beltre, specifically, is counting down the seconds until he faces the Orioles because he is hitting .583 with three home runs off of the team’s pitching.

The big downfall for this Texas team is their pitching. Their 4.53 team ERA ranks second to last in all of baseball. Injuries have plagued this team so far and turned what looked like a promising year into a dismal disappointment.

The Orioles need to get back in the win column and this series presents the perfect opportunity to do just that. Like Texas, the O’s are also hitting the ball well, as they are third in the Majors with a .265 average. One thing that this team has that Texas does not is the home run power. The Birds are coming into this series third in home runs, and they will look to get on base against the last place pitching of the Texas Rangers, who have allowed hitters to bat .280.

However, The Orioles have been a different team when they are within the friendly confines of Camden Yards. On the road, this team is on fire, but when they are hitting in Baltimore, the Orioles are only 19-21. This definitely needs to change if this team has any hopes of winning the wide-open American League East.

The declared “steal of the season”, Nelson Cruz has shown that he was the best bargain of the offseason. He is first in the majors in RBIs and tied for first in home runs at 25. One of the bigger disappointments by this team is slugger Chris Davis. The Home Run King from a season ago has done a complete turnaround, as his .212 is far below his career average (.260). Despite missing a couple weeks earlier in the year due to injury, he still has 13 home runs, but that is nowhere near the number he had at this time last season.

Ubaldo Jimenez will look to finally get on track tonight, as the Orioles will take on a familiar face in Joe Saunders. Once giving the Orioles their first playoff win in over a decade, Saunders has struggled this season to find his form. He comes in to tonight’s start winless in seven starts with a 5.19 ERA. He has faced the Orioles once this year, going six innings and allowing only two runs on 10 hits, but the O’s would run away with that game and win 8-3.

The difference between Saunders’ last start against the Orioles and tonight’s matchup, is that the Orioles are at home tonight. Like previously mentioned, the Orioles are a different team at home, so this could be a struggle for the sluggers of Baltimore. Jimenez is also looking to sharpen his game up. His 50 million dollar contract is definitely not showing on his stat line. He is 2-8 with a 4.70 ERA and has only produced three quality starts over his last 10.

The Orioles may be without third-baseman Manny Machado, as the team expects his suspension to be dealt sometime today. This means there will be a healthy balance of both Jonathan Schoop and Ryan Flaherty at the position over the next few games. Somehow, this Orioles team has managed to have decent play at the catcher position despite the season ending surgery to All-Star catcher Matt Wieters. Rookie Caleb Joseph and seasoned veteran Nick Hundley have both started to catch their groove both offensively and defensively.

AJ Risser is a writer for Couch Rider Report, follow him on Twitter.

June 30, 2014 0 comment

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Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays set for Showdown

by A.J. Risser June 12, 2014

written by A.J. Risser

Keith Allison- Flickr

The Toronto Blue Jays hold a 4.5 game lead over the second place Baltimore Orioles in the American League East. This weekend could be a huge game-changer for both teams as the Blue Jays will travel to Camden Yards to take on the Orioles in a 4-game set.

So far this season, the Jays have had great success. Their 39-28 record is tied for second best in Major League Baseball and their 19-11 mark on the road is a big reason why they are first in the AL East. It is hard to look at this Blue Jays’ team without noticing Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion. The hard-hitting duo has combined for 35 home runs and 98 RBIs. The Blue Jays are a scary-looking team, as long as these two are in the lineup. Bautista’s inability to stay healthy the last few seasons has been a big reason why the Blue Jays have not seen the postseason. However, if the two can somehow stay healthy for a whole year, the sky is the limit for the Blue Jays.

With all of the attention on the bats, not many people have noticed the Blue Jays’ 11^th ranked starting pitching. Mark Buehrle has emerged as the Ace for Toronto as his 2.04 ERA is second in the American league, behind only the New York Yankees’ Masahiro Tanaka. The big surprise so far for the Jays has been 23-year-old Drew Hutchison. The Florida native owns a season mark of 4-4 with a 3.96 ERA. Buehrle and Hutchison will start the first two games against the Orioles. Although the Blue Birds have struggled the past week, losing four of their last five, they are still a dangerous team and could be trouble for the division hopefuls New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles.

The Orioles, on the other hand, have been an up and down team this season. Although they are second in the AL East, they are only two games above .500. Prior to the start of the season, the Orioles had what was considered the most dangerous lineup on paper. However, the injury to All-Star catcher Matt Wieters has proven to be a big obstacle for them. Wieters is scheduled to visit Dr. James Andrews on Monday to check out his throwing arm. He is still throwing every other day, but is still experiencing some discomfort. If Wieters goes under the knife to repair his arm, the Orioles will be forced to finish the season with rookie Caleb Joseph and newly acquired Nick Hundley.

Besides Wieters, both Chris Davis and Manny Machado have been struggling. Although Davis has ten homeruns, last year’s performance by him has put a lot of weight on his shoulders. The two former All-Stars are nowhere near the level of play that carried the team last year. Davis has already missed some of the season as he had a DL stint for an oblique that kept him out of play for a few weeks. Machado has not shown the same desire for the gaps that he had last year. He has a batting average below .220 and, in last night’s 6-0 win against the Boston Red Sox, he batted in the seven hole. Machado has been usually holding the second spot in the batting order. VP Dan Duquette has said that a demotion for Machado could be possible, if the third baseman does not start to pick up his play.

Although the Orioles have some problems, they are still within striking distance of first place Toronto and will have a chance to get even closer with the weekend’s series between the two. The Orioles are coming off a rubber match victory over the Red Sox that brought them within 5 of the Jays and increased their record to 33-31. Chris Tillman had a shaky, but great start against the Red Sox in the second game. He went six innings and gave up only one run, but he took the loss, as the Orioles’ bats were unable to get it going.

Kevin Gausman will start the first game of the Blue Jay series and he will look to add a second straight quality start. In his last start against the Oakland Athletics, the 23-year-old was beautiful. He got the win while holding one of the league’s best teams to one run on four hits, striking out 6. In game two of the series, Ubaldo Jimenez will get the ball and will look to start earning his money, as he has been anything but an “Ace” so far for the Orioles. The 50 million dollar man has pitched to an ERA over 5.00 and has yet to find his groove. The Orioles will also be hoping that Nelson Cruz will find his swing again, as the veteran has been struggling as of late. JJ Hardy is still looking for his first home run of the season. The short stop has hit at least 20 home runs in every season that he has been with the Orioles.

This series could be a game-changer for both teams. The Orioles could come away only trailing the first place Jays by a half game. Or, the Blue Jays could show the rest of the division that they own the AL East this year. Not many series in the last few years between these two have carried as much weight as this weekend’s series will, but Camden Yards will be most likely filled as if this series will decide the season.

AJ Risser is a writer for CouchRiderReport.net, follow him on Twitter.

June 12, 2014 0 comment