This really isn’t a time for mulligans. Every game counts for the Orioles at this point, so dropping one that they easily could have won is disheartening.
It’s particularly disheartening because they were beat up – 11-8 – by a last-place Toronto Blue Jays team that had lost four in a row and 10 of their past 12.
But the real reason Thursday night’s performance was a buzzkill: It was the starting pitching that collapsed again.
On the final night of the season in which the Orioles could add a player from another organization that would be eligible for the playoffs, it’s apparent that if the Orioles fail to climb into the second American League Wild Card spot, it will be squarely on the shoulders of the Orioles’ rotation.
Jeremy Hellickson, who was acquired in late July to help stabilize the rotation, was the culprit this time.
What appeared to be a solid outing Thursday became a nightmare for Hellickson in the fifth. He was handed a 5-2 lead, but allowed five runs to score with two outs. Previously, Hellickson had only allowed a two-run homer to Kendrys Morales – one of three by Morales on a seven-RBI night; Morales also homered twice against reliever Mychal Givens.
”I made that mistake to Morales and that was about it (before the fifth),” Hellickson said. “Command was just way off for me. Really haven’t had that poor command this year. Just really couldn’t get a feel for it. And the off-speed I couldn’t throw for strikes either.
The seven runs allowed and 4 2/3 innings pitched by Hellickson tied his worst performance as an Oriole (Aug. 18 versus the Los Angeles Angels) and his four walks matched his total in his first five Orioles games combined.
“I just fell behind on way too many guys. Too many walks,” said Hellickson, whose Orioles’ ERA in six starts is 6.55. “This has happened way too many times this year. I mean, two outs, no runs. Just like that, there was a five-spot up there. So, I’ve got to find a way to get that third out that inning.”
Hellickson has now had three quality starts for the Orioles and three clunkers – allowing six runs or more in each of those.
Some of my Twitter followers were chirping that manager Buck Showalter left Hellickson in the game too long.
But he’s a 30-year-old veteran who had just 88 pitches when he was pulled. He had two outs with one runner on in the fifth when he unraveled. It’s easy to point fingers in retrospect, but Hellickson has to go deeper there. Period. And he knows that.
“Yeah, I mean it goes back to I’ve just got to find a way to get that third out,” he said. “You’ve got, I think, a three-run lead, and I just can’t walk four guys with a lead like that. And also knowing we’re not gonna stop scoring, too. I’ve gotta get us out of that inning and get us back in the dugout.”
Call-ups for Friday, including Sisco and Alvarez
Rosters expand on Friday, and according to the Virginian-Pilot, the Orioles summoned four players from Triple-A Norfolk after Thursday night’s game: outfielder Joey Rickard, designated hitter Pedro Alvarez, reliever Jimmy Yacabonis and catcher Chance Sisco.
None of the four is a surprise, though both Sisco and Alvarez are not on the 40-man roster. The Orioles will add both Friday – they currently have 39 — so they must cut loose at least one member of their 40-man roster Friday. Another player will have to go when shortstop J.J. Hardy returns from the 60-day disabled list within the next few days.
Alvarez, 30, who played 109 games with the Orioles last year, has been at Norfolk all season. He hit .239 with 26 homers in 138 games there.
Sisco, 22, was the Orioles’ top prospect to begin the season. He hit .267 with seven homers in 97 games. He’ll be making his big league debut the first time he gets into a game with the Orioles.
The Orioles desperately wanted to add a third catcher, and it will be interesting to see how much playing time Sisco gets, or if he’ll solely be used as an emergency option.
Orioles manager Buck Showalter said there will be other promotions after this wave; the club would like to add a few more relievers.
Schoop hits century mark
Jonathan Schoop already had more RBIs in a season than any other second baseman in club history. With an eighth inning single, he became the first to ever reach the 100 RBI mark.
He’s the second American League hitter to get to 100 this year; his mentor Nelson Cruz of the Seattle Mariners has 103.
It’s just another impressive benchmark for what has been truly a breakout season for the 25-year-old Schoop.
No trades Thursday
Executive vice president Dan Duquette has made six trades in his first five Augusts with the team. He didn’t make one Thursday, though, the last day to acquire a player from another organization who could be used in the postseason.
The team they have now is the one that will have to get them to the Wild Card spot — and potentially beyond.
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Crap rolls down hill and in Os case it starts with Dan Duquette. The responsibility is his for failing to sign ANY quality pitchers during his tenure. Started with Wada and no end in sight.
You have to be kidding me. Same old song from the masses.
I guess the argument is whether you consider Chen/Gonzalez quality pitchers or if relievers are in your "ANY quality pitchers" category.
Why do you mention Wada but not mention Chen, who had four solid years for the Orioles? What about Miguel Gonzalez, who had three strong years? Duquette may not have a great track record for signing pitchers, but to say he hasn't signed any is clearly wrong.
What a frustrating way to lose a game. Hellickson looked pretty sharp early on and for it to blow up like that is tough to swallow. But that's been the M.O. for this rotation.
Really has. It unraveled quickly.
This last winning streak was fun to watch and got the Os back in the WC race. Liked that the team didnt give up after that somewhat disappointing west coast trip. Let's start another winning streak tonight! Go Os!!
Your enthusiasm is noted.
I hear pitchers talk about command and control, but I don't quite know what they mean. Could someone please explain? I presume they are two distinct ideas, but maybe they are synonyms. Thanks.
Control is basically throwing balls and strikes. Command is more about being able to locate your pitches where you want. A guy can have good control, meaning he is throwing strikes, but if he is not commanding his pitches, putting them where he wants to in and out of the strike zone, he can still get into trouble. There's a difference between a strike and a good strike.
Thanks for the tutorial. That helps.
I thought at the time Jeremy was left in there too long. My reasoning: Buck knew rosters expand today. Manage the bullpen like you would in a playoff game.
On a side note, they're in trouble if Givens and Brach both struggle at the same time.
It's not what's coming necessarily, EE. It's what has already occurred. Bad time to have to ask for extra outs. Even w potential reinforcements.
I am personnaly worried that our bullpen is getting worn out. Givens is showing signs of fatigue and Brach ihas been less reliable has the season goes on. I am not sure who is left that can step up and be that guy you can count on besides Castro. Trying to be optimistic but time is running out.
Fair concerns, co. Tho I will say Showalter has a way of getting the rest for guys that desperately need it. O'Day for instance looked spent in July and had a tremendous August.
I don't know what the answer is about Hellickson's erratic pitching performance, but under the Rays' coaching staff, the entire rotation was always a picture of consistency. Guess that's why Maddon carried them with him to the Cubs.
Well, they got 13 innings of shutout baseball tonight.
Why bring Hardy back? If he still requires injections into a sore elbow holding an already weak bat then why not let him continue rehabbing or retiring in the postseason/ offseason?
Duquette should have traded himself to Toronto before midnight. Touting Chen and Miggy as a body of work re: building a starting pitching staff is laughable. Year after year the starters have struggled under his guidance. Ubaldo is his legacy. The only thing that has kept the O's in contention is Buck's management of the bullpen year after year. Sure, Danny helped put together the bullpen. That's the ticket.
Let's go O's!