Oakland Series II

[Frobby]

The O’s close their road trip with three games with Oakland.  We took 3 of 4 from the A’s way back in mid-April.  The likely pitching matchups appear to be:

Gibson (4.89 ERA) vs. Medina (5.31)

Irvin (4.92) vs. Waldichuk (6.07)

Bradish (3.18) vs. Sears (4.27)

Gibson allowed 1 run in 6.1 innings to get a win over the A’s in April.  He’s has 12 career starts against Oakland, with a 3.82 ERA.  We haven’t seen the rookie Medina this year. He’s been very good since June 9, throwing to a 3.71 ERA in that span.

Irvin got bombed by his former team in April, allowing 6 runs in 4 innings in a game the Orioles nevertheless won. Waldichuk yielded 3 runs in 6.1 innings to the O’s in April.  He’s been respectable since June 1, throwing to a 4.62 ERA, and his last two starts were very good.  

Bradish has not faced the A’s this year.  The O’s saw Sears in Baltimore, when he yielded 3 runs in 5 IP in a game the O’s won. He’s been pretty steady all year. 

If it comes down to the bullpens, the O’s have a huge advantage.  The O’s have the 7th best bullpen ERA in the majors at 3.77, while the A’s are the absolute worst in MLB at 5.50.   

Offensively, the O’s also have a big advantage at 4.83 runs/game and 104 OPS+, to Oakland’s 3.60 runs/game and 91 OPS+. 

In sum, the three starters we are facing have all done pretty well since June.  Oakland has a feeble offense and a poor bullpen.  I’m expecting some games that are low scoring into the middle innings, but hopefully we can push into the Oakland bullpen and take advantage from there.  The offense, which has seen a lot of good pitchers lately and has struggled a bit, needs to come to life this weekend. 

Edited August 17, 2023 by Frobby

[dystopia]

Don’t want to sound like I’m nitpicking but we took 3/4 in April. Anything less than 2/3 is unacceptable here and we really should be sweeping. 

[RavensNOsGuy]

2/3 is mandatory and less than that is unacceptable. They are almost 50 games under .500 and have 0 home field and advantage. Time for the lineup to step up and get more than 3 runs/game. Happy we are even 3-3 on the road trip given the lack of runs scored. Could easily be 1-5.

[Frobby]

15 minutes ago, dystopia said:

Don’t want to sound like I’m nitpicking but we took 3/4 in April. Anything less than 2/3 is unacceptable here and we really should be sweeping. 

Not a nitpick at all.  That’s important.  And in the 4th game, we won despite Irvin pitching terribly, so I was wrong that he hadn’t faced them.  I will edit my post. 

[OsFanSinceThe80s]

Orioles need to take care of business this weekend against the worst team in baseball. No excuse for not taking two out of three at least.

Edited August 17, 2023 by OsFanSinceThe80s

[Frobby]

I always find it funny when people say losing a series to a lesser team would be “unacceptable.”   Really?  If the O’s lose this series, what are you going to do?  Stop watching?  Stop going to games?  Give up on our season?  Should Hyde send the whole team to Norfolk?  

Oakland beat Atlanta 2 games to 1 this year, and swept the Brewers 3-0.  Are those teams disqualified from the playoffs for their “unacceptable” losses to Oakland.  

It would be very disappointing to lose this series.  It would hardly be unprecedented, and the season will go on either way.  I’m not planning on the team committing hare kari if they lose.  
 

[Since1984]

Two weeks ago, I was worried the O’s hadn’t faced enough adversity. Now that has changed. Henderson and Santander will hopefully pull through the recent slumps.

This team is good and we shall see how they come together to end the season! Exciting team to watch this season. 

[oriolediehard]

1 hour ago, dystopia said:

Don’t want to sound like I’m nitpicking but we took 3/4 in April. Anything less than 2/3 is unacceptable here and we really should be sweeping. 

I totally agree!!

[dystopia]

1 hour ago, Frobby said:

I always find it funny when people say losing a series to a lesser team would be “unacceptable.”   Really?  If the O’s lose this series, what are you going to do?  Stop watching?  Stop going to games?  Give up on our season?  Should Hyde send the whole team to Norfolk?  

Oakland beat Atlanta 2 games to 1 this year, and swept the Brewers 3-0.  Are those teams disqualified from the playoffs for their “unacceptable” losses to Oakland.  

It would be very disappointing to lose this series.  It would hardly be unprecedented, and the season will go on either way.  I’m not planning on the team committing hare kari if they lose.  
 

Maybe “pathetic” would be a better word to use. 

[eddie83]

Want 2/3 and would be nice to get a sweep. We do need to get the bats going. 
 

Feels like we hardly ever play well there. Lot of bad memories from games there. Want to beat them when they are down. 

[Billy F-Face3]

1 hour ago, Frobby said:

Irvin got bombed by his former team in April, allowing 6 runs in 4 innings in a game the Orioles nevertheless won. Waldichuk yielded 3 runs in 6.1 innings to the O’s in April.  He’s been respectable since June 1, throwing to a 4.62 ERA, and his last two starts were very good.  

1. Irvin has been a lot better since being recalled from Norfolk this season.

2. Irvin has been alot better pitching in the Oakland Coliseum where it's a cavernous pitcher's ballpark. In 2022 he pitched 102.5 innings there for a ERA of 3.07 and a 1.02 WHIP.

I really like our chances in this series. I will say that JP Sears has given us our fair share of competition. I noticed watching him at the end of last season in Camden Yards that Sears with his left hand likes to try and finish batter off with a 4 seamer up in the zone. That's something for Orioles hitters to be aware off, because they aren't going to be able to golf him a whole lot.

[Billy F-Face3]

Just now, Billy F-Face3 said:

1. Irvin has been a lot better since being recalled from Norfolk this season.

2. Irvin has been alot better pitching in the Oakland Coliseum where it's a cavernous pitcher's ballpark. In 2022 he pitched 102.5 innings there for a ERA of 3.07 and a 1.02 WHIP.

I really like our chances in this series. I will say that JP Sears has given us our fair share of competition. I noticed watching him at the end of last season in Camden Yards that Sears with his left hand likes to try and finish batter off with a 4 seamer up in the zone. That's something for Orioles hitters to be aware off, because they aren't going to be able to golf him a whole lot.

*to be aware of

[Moose Milligan]

This is a series we should take 2/3. Anything less would be a disappointment. 

[O's84]

Watch this be the series where our unswept streak ends. 

[FlipTheBird]

6 hours ago, Frobby said:

I always find it funny when people say losing a series to a lesser team would be “unacceptable.”   Really?  If the O’s lose this series, what are you going to do?  Stop watching?  Stop going to games?  Give up on our season?  Should Hyde send the whole team to Norfolk?  

Oakland beat Atlanta 2 games to 1 this year, and swept the Brewers 3-0.  Are those teams disqualified from the playoffs for their “unacceptable” losses to Oakland.  

It would be very disappointing to lose this series.  It would hardly be unprecedented, and the season will go on either way.  I’m not planning on the team committing hare kari if they lose.  
 

We’ve got folks here that make it sound like they’ll commit hare kari after a scoreless third inning.

Nothing brings out the crazy more than… the Orioles being successful. It’s truly astounding.