{"id":3022,"date":"2023-03-17T19:31:48","date_gmt":"2023-03-18T02:31:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/?p=3022"},"modified":"2023-03-17T22:48:56","modified_gmt":"2023-03-18T05:48:56","slug":"baltimore-orioles-2023-ready-to-fly-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/2023\/03\/17\/baltimore-orioles-2023-ready-to-fly-again\/","title":{"rendered":"Baltimore Orioles 2023: Ready To Fly Again?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Strong wings make Baltimore Orioles<\/strong><\/a> fly the best. Any ordinary ornithologist knows that. It has taken decades for executives in charge of Baltimore’s Baseball Birds to recognize what was once a given fact.<\/p>\n

Finally, the Orioles’ farm system is producing pitching prospects as well as position players. For the first time in years, the team’s outlook appears as bright as the vibrant colors on a real-to-life flying oriole.<\/p>\n

Stuck in the baseball meat grinder known as the American League East<\/a> with the offensive-oriented New York Yankees<\/a>, Toronto Blue Jays<\/a>, Tampa Bay Rays<\/a>, and Boston Red Sox<\/a>, the Orioles made great strides in 2022 and hope to continue moving up this year. They went 83-79 for their first winning season since 2016. That drought included three of the worst years in club history. In 2018, 2019, and 2021 they went a combined 153-333 (.315). Horrendous!<\/p>\n

Pitching was Key for Baltimore<\/h3>\n

Improved pitching, partly the by-product of moving the left-field wall out of band-box territory to a reasonable length from home plate, was key. The team ERA went from an unsightly 5.84 with more than 116 hits allowed than innings in 2021 to 3.97 and 27 fewer hits than innings pitched. Progress!<\/p>\n

A fine bullpen helped. Jorge Lopez<\/a><\/strong> had 19 saves, a 1.68 ERA, and made the all-star team before being dealt to the Minnesota Twins<\/strong><\/a> for more needed prospects. Gigantic Felix Bautista<\/a><\/strong> (6-foot-8, 285 pounds) was a huge force in a setup role and replaced Lopez as closer, getting 15 saves, a 2.19 ERA, and 88 strikeouts in 65 2\/3 innings while allowing only 38 hits. Little lefty Cionel Perez<\/a><\/strong> was big (7-1, 1.40 ERA) and right-handers Keegan Akin<\/a><\/strong>, Bryan Baker<\/a>,<\/strong> and Dillon Tate<\/a><\/strong> helped. Old friend Mychal Givens<\/a><\/strong> (2015-20 in Baltimore) was given a one-year deal as a free agent this winter to add depth.<\/p>\n

Still need starters<\/h2>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>