4. Who’s gonna pitch for us?

I’ve been around this organization for a long time and perhaps my favorite quote I’ve ever received occurred in December 2005, when the Orioles ignored an immense need to improve the rotation and bought catcher Ramon Hernandez as a free agent. In response to that, and to Miguel Tejada asking for a trade, then-Orioles third baseman Melvin Mora said in a phone conversation that he understood Tejada’s frustration, and then quipped, “Who’s gonna pitch for us?” Mora’s line set off a mini-firestorm within the organization at the time, but the sentiment still rings somewhat true now. In fact, with the way the Orioles have juggled pitchers from the minors to the majors in 2017 – they used 23 different hurlers in the first half, including 19 in relief – Mora’s question may be more apropos than ever. The Orioles have obviously had some injuries, but what was initially a Norfolk Shuttle by design – to take advantage of a larger bench and optionable relief pieces — has morphed into a turnstile of relievers who can’t maintain consistency in the bigs. That, and an overmatched rotation, has given the Orioles the second highest ERA in baseball in the first half. The revolving door should slow some in the second half. Zach Britton’s return means one fewer spot available on the staff. It should also mean more quality innings from the bullpen overall. It won’t matter, though, if the rotation fails to pitch deeper into games in the second half.

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