We've missed Rickard more than we think

[Babypowder]

Just an opinion, but it didn't seem like a lot of these quick innings were happening as often when Rickard was healthy. He seemed to work the count pretty well and make pitchers actually WORK to get him out. He really is the more ideal leadoff hitter than Jones. It would be too much to ask though to a Rule 5 draftee even if he were healthy.

6 percent walk rate, .319 OBP, ideal leadoff hitter.

.618 OPS vs RHP.

Sure, they probably have missed him in the role he's useful for: short side platoon/4th outfielder. That isn't a lot of missed value.

[Natty]

Maybe he was our good luck charm. We had the best record in the division. He also led the team in steals and making the pitcher pitch.

[Babypowder]

This team looked to be around a league average offense coming into this season, and I think most people expected that again. That's what they have been. Rickard's profile wouldn't have helped that. What people probably didn't expect was for the O's to be among the worst defensive teams in baseball, and for the starting staff to be as abysmal as it has been. That's the story here.