Scott Garceau: The Ups and Downs of the O's Down 2015 Season
We thought it would be better than this, after winning 96 games and the AL East title in 2014 the Orioles came back to earth in 2015. The club collapsed in a 1-12 stretch in August and missed a chance to have a fourth straight winning season. Here are some of the ups and downs of the O's 2015 roller-coaster ride.
Thumbs Up
Chris Davis — If this is the end of his Orioles run "The Deputy" is going out in style. He's currently tied for the major league lead in home runs and is 3rd in the league in RBI's. The batting average that sunk below .200 last season is up about 60 points. With home runs trending down in baseball Davis's stock is trending up.
Manny Machado — The sky's the limit for Manny, after missing half of last season he came roaring back with a hot bat and his superb gold glove and rifle arm. He's a web gem waiting to happen at third base and his bat exploded for 30 homers, 30 doubles and a batting average near .290.
Jonathan Schoop — A knee injury kept him out from mid-April until early July, he's been terrific in the 2nd half hitting 15 home runs and turning double plays as well as any second baseman in the game. Schoop also raised his batting average over 60 points. He plays the game with youthful joy, fun to watch he'll only get better.
Darren O'Day, Zach Britton — The All-Star leaders of a very good Baltimore bullpen. Britton saved 34 of 38 save opportunities with the nastiest sinker in baseball. Trust me; no hitter in the game wants to see Britton in the 9th inning. Darren O'Day is often the guy who gets the Orioles to the 9th. O'Day's down under delivery strikes out 11.3 batters per 9 innings. His 0.97 WHIP and 1.57 ERA are among the best in the game.
Thumbs Down
Chris Tillman — Much was expected from the closest thing the Orioles had to an ace. After going 29-13 the past two years Tillman struggled from Jump Street this season. His ERA's the past 3 years 2.93, 3.71 and 3.34 this year the ERA ballooned to over 5.
Miguel Gonzalez, Bud Norris and Kevin Gausman — Tillman wasn't the only starter who went South in '15, Miguel Gonzalez had the worst of his 4 seasons in Baltimore. He had his first losing season and his ERA 3-something the previous 3 years is pushing 5. Bud Norris a 15 game winner a year ago was so bad the Orioles released him and Gausman who has a bright future never got going after being yoyo'd between Batimore, Norfolk and the bullpen in the first half of the season.
Matt Wieters — Tommy John recovery took a big bite out of the All-Star catcher. The arm wasn't the same and the bat was quiet with just 7 homers and 21 RBI's in 246 at bats. He should be better next year but where?
J.J. Hardy — A Gold Glove winner the past 3 years, Hardy can still make all the plays at shortstop but age (33) and an aching back have taken a toll on his bat. After averaging over 25 home runs in his first 3 years with the Orioles he's been in single digits the past 2 seasons. He's currently hitting a career low .213. His contract runs thru 2017 can he get healthy and be the hitter he once was?
Alejandro De Aza, Travis Snider, Steve Pierce, Jimmy Paredes, Delmon Young, Nolan Reimold, Chris Parmalee, Henry Urrrutia, Dariel Alvarex, Junior Lake (did I miss anybody?) and all the others who failed to give the Orioles any help on either side of Adam Jones in the Orioles outfield.
And now comes an ultra-important off-season where front-office decisions could determine the Orioles course for the next 4-6 years. Who comes and who goes will be closely monitored by the fan base and players like Adam Jones, Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop. If those core players don't like the club's direction at a later date they can opt not to be part of it.