Pitching, Defense, and 3-Run Homers
by Nowick Gray
The great Earl Weaver is widely known for his winning formula: pitching, defense and the three-run homer. Nowadays -- when "budget-conscious" means signing a $6 million slugger or bullpen stopper and then being unable to trade, demote, or cut the player when their season goes in the tank -- we often hear talk around Baltimore of "Pitching and Defense" as the Oriole Way of winning ballgames. But missing in the shuffle of aggressive baserunning, attention to fundamentals, "National League style," extra infield practice, and a bench full of utility fielders, is the critical third part of the formula. Forgetting about the power game is sort of ... no, it's exactly like reaching on an error, stealing second, the next batter popping out trying to bunt, the next batter singling off the pitcher's leg to put runners on the corners, and the cleanup hitter bouncing into a 6-4-3 double play.
In spring training this year the talk of the hopeful Oriole fan (and player and management type) was of the power throughout the lineup. Every guy 1-9 was capable of hitting 20 homeruns. Now with two-thirds of the season gone, there are five guys (Mora, Millar, Markakis, Roberts and Tejada) on pace for 10-15 homers, and an equal number of players struggling to reach double digits by October. No wonder attention has shifted to "Pitching and Defense."
That consolation strategy might be just fine for making the best of a roster with no big bats in evidence, but let's hope it doesn't carry into the future as the modus operandi. Otherwise the Orioles will continue to be on the losing end of too many 3-2 and 6-4 contests. Having two weapons in your arsenal when a playoff-bound opponent has three does not help you win a ticket to the wild card race.
After whiffing on the trade market, Andy MacPhail admits the Orioles already have the most prized commodity: quality young starting pitchers. The best is yet to come, it's in the starting ranks, and overall the Orioles stand already at sixth in the AL in team ERA.
Now the rest of the equation must be solved. Defense isn't really the issue here: the Orioles rank second in the league in defensive efficiency (tough division: Toronto ranks first, Boston fourth, and NY sixth). The real problem in taking the Orioles' win potential to the next level is in the power department. They currently stand at 27 out of 30 ML teams, with just 80 dingers to date. Granted, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Angels have similar totals and both have inside tracks on playoff berths. So it is possible to win without big power ... at least until the playoffs begin. There a case can be made (see Bill James, mid-80s) that since hits are fewer, homeruns are a preferred way to score.
Okay, so we're not playoff material yet. Once we get within striking distance on the strength of our developing young starting staff and quality defense, we can pool the money we've been saving up to finally sign the big bopper we've been craving since Albert Belle; just as Atlanta did this week in signing Mark Teixeira for their playoff push. Heck, it may even be Teixeria himself at that point, fresh into free agency. Here's hoping that by then he'll have some power-hitting peers already on board in Baltimore.
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Today's sermon has been short and sweet; so in that spirit, I bring you my favorite Orioles Hangout quotes from the past month:
It's like there's one force bringing them [extra bats like House and Knott] in, and another force keeping them away.
--RVABird
I value the advantages we'll have on offense over what we gain on defense.
--NoVaO
Trading Cabrera makes a lot of sense.
Trading Bedard makes sense, but sad to do it.
Trading Guthrie makes no sense.
--MChance
Pitch whoever is hot and rested, and let them go until they're tired. Ignore everything else.
--Drungo
Every penny we spend on free agents should be spent on offense.
--Frobby
