![The overall bullpen stats don't look too impressive, but you...]()
GAIL BURTON / Associated Press
The overall bullpen stats don't look too impressive, but you have to look behind the combined 4.76 ERA to see what was really going on. Zach Britton gave up three runs in a tune-up outing on Saturday night and proved again that he isn't the same pitcher in non-save situations, especially when circumstances conspire to keep him off the mound for more than a couple of games. He converted both his save opportunities and has given up just one earned run this season in nine save situations. Orioles relievers allowed six earned runs and 10 runs overall last week, but half of the 10 runs came in Tuesday's error-marred blowout and the rest also came in games in which the Orioles trailed when the phone rang in the pen.
![The O's are still trying to replicate the terrific defense...]()
Greg Fiume / Getty Images
The O's are still trying to replicate the terrific defense that helped them reach the playoffs two of the past three years, but Manny Machado hasn't been himself with the glove and overall infield stability will remain an issue as long as there is a revolving door at second base. The Orioles committed three errors in Tuesday's ugly loss to the Blue Jays and a total of five infield errors over the course of the week. Though the club's overall defensive ranking has improved a bit, the O's still rank 21st in the major leagues in fielding percentage.
![When you're not hitting and playing defense, it can be...]()
Mitchell Layton / Getty Images
When you're not hitting and playing defense, it can be tough on a pitching staff, but the Orioles rotation has stayed focused in spite of the illness that has temporarily knocked Bud Norris out of the rotation and the back soreness that made Chris Tillman unavailable on Sunday. Give rookie Mike Wright credit for giving the team a serious shot in the arm with his terrific major league debut, which improved on the already solid numbers put up by the rotation last week. Tillman was the only starter to pitch fewer than seven innings in a start and allow more than two earned runs. The other four starters who worked this week allowed a total of six earned runs over 36 innings. Which works out to a 1.50 ERA. Even including Tillman's performance (6 2/3 IP, 5 ER), the rotation ERA for the week was 2.32.
![It's tough to win when you don't score. The starting...]()
Mitchell Layton / Getty Images
It's tough to win when you don't score. The starting rotation delivered a very strong week under difficult circumstances, but the offensive inconsistency undermined what could have been a big turnaround week. Orioles hitters will need to show up for the Seattle Mariners series that begins on Tuesday night, because Nelson Cruz, Robinson Cano and the power-packed M's lineup can put some serious dents in your ballpark.
![It was another soft week for the Orioles offense, which...]()
GAIL BURTON / Associated Press
It was another soft week for the Orioles offense, which managed three runs or fewer in four of six games. The offensive slump dates back to the home-away-from-home series in Florida, a span of 15 games in which the Orioles scored no more than three runs in 9 of 15 games. This past week, Orioles hitters batted a combined .199 with a .255 on-base percentage. Only a couple of Oriole regulars – Jimmy Paredes and Manny Machado – were immune from the funk. Adam Jones closed out the week with a clutch two-run double on Sunday, but batted just .217, and Chris Davis managed just three hits and one walk in 22 plate appearances.
Every week, columnist Peter Schmuck will grade the performance of the Orioles in five categories. The letter grades are not directly tied to any particular statistic, but are representative of a cumulative evaluation of everything – tangible or intangible – that falls under that particular category.
