After an off-day that was anything but quiet for the Red Sox with the amateur draft held Monday night, the Red Sox are ready to get back on the field and continue their winning ways that they have recently found. The Sox will play host to the second place Baltimore Orioles for a three game series at Fenway Park and with the Orioles in a recent skid, the timing might be right for Boston to make their move up the AL East standings.
Currently just 3.0 games out of first and only 2.0 games back of the birds, this series could go a long way in helping to propel the Red Sox out of the basement in the ever so tight division.
The good news for the Red Sox is they’ll have their top three starters going for them and they should be plenty rested given the day off on Monday. While Jon Lester hasn’t been overly stimulating as of late, he still owns the Orioles with a career record of 14-0 with a stingy 2.47 ERA so you’d think game one bodes well for Boston. But Jason Hammel stymied the Sox in early May and struck out 8 in the outing so Lester and the Red Sox will have their work cut out for them.
As always we have a series preview Q&A for you courtesy of our good friends over at Birds Watcher. Dominic, the senior editor was gracious enough to answer some questions about the Orioles and we’re discussing their recent skid, potential trades the O’s could make and the impact Adam Jones has on this club.
1. The O’s have struggled over the last little while. What’s been the biggest reason for their struggles?
The Orioles aren’t getting the quality starts that they were getting earlier in the season out of their starting pitching. They also have had issues hitting with runners in scoring position, finishing many games going 1-for-10 or 1-for-11 with RISP. When your starting pitching isn’t making it out of the fifth inning after giving up four or five runs and your offense can’t keep up, you aren’t going to win many games.
2. How are fans reacting to this skid the team has encountered?
Most people do realize that teams go through stretches like this during the season. In fact, many people are hopeful to a point in that many analysts are saying that the division will be close all year. However of late some people are complaining about lack of depth, which I feel is misguided. The Orioles have much more depth than they’ve had in years. However when much of that depth is actually on the field as opposed to on the bench or even in the minors, it’s tough to win. The Orioles are currently playing with 1/3 of their starting outfield due to injury. That one player who’s in theory still there (Adam Jones), is having an MRI done on his wrist this morning. Whether he goes to the DL remains to be seen, but no team will be the same without the likes of Adam Jones and Nick Markakis (at the same time). Some Oriole fans don’t want to understand that.
3. The club recently locked up Adam Jones on a long term deal. Who is the next young talent to seek out an extension and who in your mind is an absolute must have?
On both counts, the answer is Matt Wieters. Very few teams have a power-hitting catcher the caliber of Wieters, and it would be detrimental to the team if he was allowed to walk at the end of his contract.
4. Jones was apparently feeling discomfort in his wrist. Is this a serious injury or just a minor scuff that is all part of the grueling season?
I’m no doctor, but I would think that (without knowing the results of the MRI) it might be something minor. Jones indicated that he had been feeling discomfort for a few weeks, and that tells me that it could be tendinitis or something like that. While that doesn’t necessarily mean that he won’t have to go to the DL, I don’t think it’s going to end up being anything that’ll jeopardize him playing the rest of the season.
5. The O’s were said to be interested in Roy Oswalt only to see him sign in Texas. Are there any other pieces/players the club might try and deal for prior to the deadline in July?
Dan Duquette is always looking at options. I’d like to see them deal for a starting pitcher, perhaps such as a Cole Hamels from the Phillies. Whether or not that’s feasible is another story, however someone like that would shore up the rotation just a bit.
6. Which players should the Red Sox be careful of that could change the game in one swing of the bat this series?
Assuming he’s able to play, Adam Jones would be one. The O’s also just dealt cash to the Yankees for triple-A 1B/OF Steve Pearce, who was immediately brought up to the bigs. Pearce was hitting .321 in triple-A, so he does have some power and a good eye. I’ve also noticed that Mark Reynolds has started to even out at the plate a bit, even hitting against the shift against Tampa on Sunday.