Steve Davis: What's The Bigger Concern, Pitching Or Hitting?
I was asked that question about the Orioles today, which one I have more concerns about, pitching or hitting? As I ponder that question, let me point out the Orioles have a winning record, and if the season ended today, would be a playoff team.
For me, it's hands down the starting pitching. Now, I understand why some people are asking the question about the offense, when you consider Jones is hitting .234, Davis is hitting .232 and Alvarez is hitting .194. That's three guys that are supposed to be the meat of your order under-performing. That said, Machado and Trumbo are locked in, Wieters is hitting well, and Reimold and Kim are doing a nice job. The other guys will pick it up.
The rotation has made moments of doing well, but there's too many question marks. Tillman is pitching really. Gausman was excellent until the last couple of starts. Ubaldo is awful and it seems like his ceiling, if he turns it around, is mediocre. Wilson has done a good job, but doesn't have great stuff, so I'm not sure that he is a long-term solution. Wright has a very good stuff, but has a difficult time of consistently giving you 6 or 7 innings. Gallardo is due back soon, but who knows what he will give the team. No one is kicking the door down at the minors, and Worley is probably better than Ubaldo, but that doesn't mean he is a starter for a playoff team. The Orioles, since starting 7-0, are a game under .500.
The rotation needs to be better, but I am skeptical that the group they have is capable of being significantly better. The trade deadline is still a couple months away, and, frankly, the Orioles don't have a lot of trade bait anyway.
