Twelve Orioles Thoughts approaching final stretch of regular season

With the Orioles still chasing the first-place New York Yankees with 2 1/2 weeks to play in the regular season, I’ve offered a dozen thoughts, each in 50 words or less:

1. A week after enjoying their first three-game winning streak since mid-July, the Orioles have now suffered their first three-game slide since July 21-24. Even with a “softer” schedule, they aren’t finding any traction, going 5-5 against Colorado, Chicago, Tampa Bay, and Boston. Two steps forward, two steps back.

2. Remember first-half nitpicking about the walk rate and on-base percentage? Since the All-Star break, the Orioles surprisingly rank fourth in the majors in both. The problem is their slugging percentage falling from first in the first half (.452) to 14th (.411) since the break. Homers and especially doubles have dipped.

3. Given the crippling number of injuries, the Orioles couldn’t afford to have one of their two best players be a replacement-level hitter for nearly 2 1/2 months now. Picturing any kind of meaningful October run has to include Adley Rutschman looking like himself again. It’s been tough to watch.

4. Gunnar Henderson is back on track at the plate after an underwhelming August and recently set the Orioles’ single-season record for home runs by a shortstop, but his defense continues to be erratic. For perspective, Cal Ripken had 26 errors in his age-23 season. Henderson currently has 24.

5. The injury impact on the pitching has been obvious, but the list of absent position players headlined by Jordan Westburg has led to healthy regulars probably playing more than usual and sometimes in less favorable matchups, especially when you roster bench players who don’t really belong. It all adds up.

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6. Mike Elias couldn’t have predicted losing Westburg immediately after the trade deadline, but Connor Norby raking in Miami while Trevor Rogers is at Norfolk is dubious for the general manager. I’ll still point to the whiff pertaining to short-term opportunity cost more than the act of trading Norby itself.  

7. Danny Coulombe begins his rehab assignment with Norfolk on Wednesday, and his healthy return would be a significant development for a bullpen short of trustworthy arms for October. The question with all of these potential September returnees is how quickly they can look like themselves in terms of performance.

8. The bullpen isn’t bursting at the seams with options, but the clock is ticking on Craig Kimbrel, especially with Coulombe and Jacob Webb nearing returns. Are there even enough games left for Kimbrel to get on the kind of roll necessary to warrant consideration as a medium-leverage option for October? 

9. With Kimbrel falling apart and Webb landing on the injured list in early August, Yennier Cano deserves praise for the way he’s pitched in the second half. The strikeout and walk rates have improved substantially, and he’s fared better with inherited runners. He’s been outstanding down the stretch.  

10. On Monday, Anthony Santander became the first Oriole since Mark Trumbo in 2016 and the eighth switch-hitter in major league history to hit 40 home runs in a season. Not bad for a former Rule 5 pick earning himself a lot of money in a contract year.

11. Coby Mayo hasn’t hit in the majors yet and isn’t strong defensively, but why recall him if he wasn’t going to play regularly? Isn’t it crazy to remember not long ago when the organization had a perceived infield logjam as now Emmanuel Rivera and Nick Maton are starting September games?

12. No matter how uninspiring the Orioles have looked for 2 1/2 months, the American League remains too wide open to dimiss them. Get the bats going, welcome back some injured players, and identify four or five trustworthy relievers, and Baltimore would have as good a chance as anyone.