Bob Haynie: The Orioles Need To Find Consistency
After dropping two of three games to the Kansas City Royals over the weekend, the Baltimore Orioles enter Monday's day off with a 12-12 record. They are 5-6 at Camden Yards, their beautiful home venue.
I know it's still early in the season, but the Orioles continue their quest for consistency. Once they get that going, the extended winning streaks will follow.
Given the uncertain nature of their rotation and a lineup that has yet to be at full strength, will they eventually be able to click?
Through 24 games, the Orioles are hitting .265 as team. On the surface, that doesn't seem like a great average. Surprisingly, they are 5th-best in the majors in that category. Their .310 average with runners in scoring position leads all of baseball. The Birds, however, are still looking to find that power stroke. They have hit only 17 HR's which ties them with the Cleveland Indians for 24th overall.
As Baltimore struggles to hit HR's, the pitching staff has been generous in serving them up. Orioles' hurlers have given up 29 taters which ties with them with three other teams (Mets, Reds, Rockies) for 3rd-most in baseball. The staff ERA is 4.49 (26th in MLB) and their WHIP is 1.47 (tied with Twins for 28th).
The pitchers have also allowed 241 hits in 214.2 innings pitched. That is the league's 4th-worst total.
Defensively, the Orioles are still getting it done. They have committed the 3rd-fewest errors (10) and have the 3rd-highest fielding percentage (.989) in the major leagues.
Unfortunately, when the Birds do make an E, they pay for it. They are 0-7 in games in which they make an error.
Finding that consistency just got tougher as 1B Chris Davis was placed on the 15-day DL with a left oblique strain. On a positive note, 3B Manny Machado will probably be activated one day this week.
A .500 record isn't horrible and the Orioles are in second place in the American League East.
Obviously, they have to improve in some areas.
Needless to say, the 2014 Baltimore Orioles are still a work in progress.
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