Getting the big hit: Josh Lester

[wildcard]

The O's often seem to get runners on base but can't drive them in.   They often don't get the big hit that opens up the game.   Yesterday that is just what Lester did.   He got the hit that made the score go from  3-0 to 6-0 (which included a Giant error).   

The thing that impressed me about Lester's hit was he did not swing for the fences.   He hit a single to right center with the bases loaded.   So often it seems the  O's take the big swing and fly out to the warning track.    I guess that is how Lester has 50 RBIs in 52 games in AAA.   Lester did what the O's needed.   He drove in the runs.  The O's could use a guy like that.

So Coulombe is expected back on Tuesday.   Someone has to be optioned.   Will it be Lester or Vavra?   And if Lester stays where  will that find at bats for him?   Do they give Gunnar more time for his back to heal?   All I have is questions.  No answers.

 

[Frobby]

4 minutes ago, wildcard said:

The O's often seem to get runners on base but can't drive them in.   They often don't get the big hit that opens up the game.   

The O’s have a .786 OPS with runners in scoring position.   They’re 4th in the AL in runs/game.   They’re doing just fine in getting runners in.  In fact, they’d scored 3 runs against the Giants in that inning before Lester ever came to bat.  

That said, Lester hit well in spring training and has hit well at Norfolk.   I agree it’s possible they’ll option Vavra rather than Lester.  

 

[RZNJ]

The Orioles have played Vavra at 3B before but went with Lester yesterday.   O’Hearn looks passable and maybe better than Vavra in RF.   Both O’Hearn and Lester have the ability to go deep.    Vavra is next off the island.

[ChosenOne21]

Driving in runners has not been shown to be a repeatable skill other than that people who generally hit the ball well tend to be good at it

[sportsfan8703]

59 minutes ago, RZNJ said:

The Orioles have played Vavra at 3B before but went with Lester yesterday.   O’Hearn looks passable and maybe better than Vavra in RF.   Both O’Hearn and Lester have the ability to go deep.    Vavra is next off the island.

Vavra has no role on this team even with injuries. He owns a lot of gloves and can take a pitch. Other than that, there’s not much there. 
 

Lester at least looks hitterish, and a threat to do damage. Vavra is basically our Brayvic Valera and should be included in any deal to just get him off the 40 man. At least Ole Brayvic could play SS. 

[LA2]

Guys like Lester, O'Hearn, and Hicks are beginning to make me nostalgic for Jim Dwyer, Benny Ayala, Terry Crowley, John Lowenstein et al. Or more recently, the Delmon Young of 2014....

[OsFanSinceThe80s]

15 minutes ago, LA2 said:

Guys like Lester, O'Hearn, and Hicks are beginning to make me nostalgic for Jim Dwyer, Benny Ayala, Terry Crowley, John Lowenstein et al. Or more recently, the Delmon Young of 2014....

Joe Orsulak too. 

[btdart20]

I tend to think Vavra’s time is short too.

Could Lester be auditioning for MIL?

I’m ready for Cowser over both of them though.

[Bahama O's Fan]

Let's give Lester a chance. Find out what we got. Send Vavra down. He's basically Frazier anyway. 

[BohKnowsBmore]

12 hours ago, Frobby said:

The O’s have a .786 OPS with runners in scoring position.   They’re 4th in the AL in runs/game.   They’re doing just fine in getting runners in.  In fact, they’d scored 3 runs against the Giants in that inning before Lester ever came to bat.  

That said, Lester hit well in spring training and has hit well at Norfolk.   I agree it’s possible they’ll option Vavra rather than Lester.  

 

I think the statement, "The O's often seem to get runners on base but can't drive them in.   They often don't get the big hit that opens up the game." is factually true. It just happens to be true for just about every other MLB team in history as well.

[Billy F-Face3]

11 hours ago, OsFanSinceThe80s said:

Joe Orsulak too. 

I wouldn't mind getting Larry Sheets' son, Gavin, on the team.

[LA2]

21 hours ago, OsFanSinceThe80s said:

Joe Orsulak too. 

Yes!--an important and underrated player during some odd Orioles years (1988-92). Glove and consistency made up for lack of power.

Juan Beniquez, Pat Kelly, Gary Roenicke....

Juan Beniquez's June 12th, 1986 stands out for me as one of the most surprising single-game performances ever by an Oriole (#1, of crse, will always be Tippy Martinez picking off three Blue Jays in the 9th inning). Beniquez was not a home run hitter (79 total in a long 17-season,  4,651 at-bats career) and was moreover 36-years old, but on that day he hit three solo shots against the Yankees. Definitely his peak as an Oriole, with his batting average climbing to .324 to boot.

He had only three home runs in 338 at-bats in his other 112 games that season, but after that game I kept expecting more.  A strange late blooming that lasted only one day.