Waiting for Dr. Longball

The Baltimore Orioles are 22-27 through 49 games this season. Through 49 games in 2006, the O's were...... 22-27. Despite this, there is still optimism for a winning campaign.

Orioles fielding has been solid. O's fielders have been charged with the fewest errors in the AL (21) which has them leading the AL in Fielding Percentage (.989). They are 5th in the AL in turning double plays.

O's pitching has been competitive. The only concern at this point is the ongoing struggles of reliever Danys Baez, who has recently formed the habit of throwing belt-high, middle of the plate fastballs in 2-0 counts. If the starters continue to perform well and the rest of the pen stays on the beam, having 1 struggling reliever on a 12 man staff is a problem you can take the time to work out.

O's pitching is 2nd in the AL in HR Allowed, 4th in Average Against and 6th in Earned Run Average. On the downside, they are 13th in Walks. This is the big contributor to 8th in WHIP and 9th in On Base Percentage. Solid fielding has diminished the ill effects of this charitable characteristic.

Starters Bedard and Trachsel have performed as would reasonably be expected with their respective track records. Jeremy Guthrie has been a wonderful surprise (11 Games, 5 starts, 2-1, 3.09 ERA, 1.10 WHIP). Daniel Cabrera still struggles with the Base on Balls, but has significantly improved in this regard. In 2006, he finished at 6.32 BB/9. Thus far in 2007, he's at 4.1 BB/9. The loss of Kris Benson (for the season) and Adam Loewen (at least for a couple months) hurts, but the rotation has absorbed these injuries well.

It is the Orioles (lack of) offense that is the primary contributor the Orioles 22-27 record. O's hitters are 8th in the AL in Batting Average, 7th in On Base Percentage, 7th in Hits and 6th in Bases on Balls. These numbers, combined with decent pitching and solid fielding, are good enough to fashion a winning record. However, the O's are 14th in the AL in Home Runs, 12th in Runs Scored and 12th in On Base + Slugging Percentage.

While there is clearly a power outage in Baltimore, the telling numbers for the O's offense are 5th in Total Plate Appearances, yet 9th in Total Pitches Seen. O's hitters are impatient. Many games they (as a team) seem to be in a hurry to make an out. The O's have a competitive lineup, not a great lineup. They are not talented enough to be free swingers. The more pitches thrown, the more mistake pitches thrown. Make the opposing pitcher work. Throughout the lineup, they're good enough to make pitchers pay for mistakes. They must give opposing pitchers more opportunities to make mistakes.

Earl would say, "What we need is a visit from Dr. Longball." Unfortunately for the Orioles, you can't make appointments with Dr. Longball.

You have to be patient and wait for him.