Albert Suarez 2024

[Just Regular]

That 6th inning was as thrilling as only a gross violation of Third Time Through The Order protocol induced by a bad bullpen and the 162-game grind can be!!

[Say O!]

Big Al still getting the Whiffs against his 4 seamer.  Another 11 today on 29 swings for  38% WHIFF rate.  

[Wavetrapper]

He certainly has been an unexpected contributor.  A great find off the scrap heap by somebody in the organization.  
 

You love to see good things happen to guys that hang in there.  

[dystopia]

This dude has been a godsend

[Aristotelian]

2 minutes ago, dystopia said:

This dude has been a godsend

Came here to say exactly the same thing. 

[Frobby]

Talk about a guy stepping up.  Grayson who?   You couldn’t have asked for more from Suarez these last three outings.  

One think I really appreciate is the guy is very calm out there.  
 

[eddie83]

It’s fair to criticize Elias over the pen but he and the FO deserve credit for Suarez. 
 

Guy has been huge for this team.  

[Wavetrapper]

It will be interesting to see if the extra day off via Povich helps Kremer and Burnes this week.  We need them to step up this week to offset Rogers.  

[Grt 2BA FL Gator]

22 minutes ago, eddie83 said:

It’s fair to criticize Elias over the pen but he and the FO deserve credit for Suarez. 
 

Guy has been huge for this team.  

Good point. Suarez has been massive.

Elias needs to tweak his bullpen approach I think. Reclamation projects were cool when there were no expectations.

But select scrap heap pickups like Suarez won’t cease to be relevant. 

[OsFanSinceThe80s]

Suarez won't win the Orioles MVP award this season, but I wouldn't blame any voters who vote for Suarez. The starting rotation would be completely lost without his presence and stepping up while Bradish and now Grayson are both on the IL.

Kremer hasn't stepped up this season and Burnes is in a mini-slump at the moment. Suarez is one of the key players helping keep the Orioles to stay in playoff contention.

[Roy Firestone]

3 hours ago, xmichaelx said:

A rotation of Burnes, Eflin, Rodriguez (when he returns), Suarez, and Povich is not that bad

The problem is it's rare for our starters to even complete 6...and then we have to turn it over to this pen. 

[bpilktree67]

1 hour ago, Grt 2BA FL Gator said:

Good point. Suarez has been massive.

Elias needs to tweak his bullpen approach I think. Reclamation projects were cool when there were no expectations.

But select scrap heap pickups like Suarez won’t cease to be relevant. 

The scrap heap guys haven’t been the problem as much as the veterans all star guys.  Kimbrel and Soto are two proven guys and former  all stars.  The scrap heap guys he has added are Smith, Coulumbe, Perez, Cano and Webb.  Who have been some of the better guys in the pen this year.  If Kimbrel was pitching like he did last year or even like he was the first half of this year it would help.  

[Say O!]

37 minutes ago, Roy Firestone said:

The problem is it's rare for our starters to even complete 6...and then we have to turn it over to this pen. 

Os are 5th in MLB for quality starts

[ChipTait]

2 hours ago, Say O! said:

Big Al still getting the Whiffs against his 4 seamer.  Another 11 today on 29 swings for  38% WHIFF rate.  

I was at the game today, and was amazed how cool and calm he was.  If he started three batters off with a first pitch strike, I missed two of them.  Yet he doesn't become flustered.  Just keeps his cool and collects outs.

[now]

Finally it appears he's getting appreciation and respect as a rotation stalwart--as he's been mostly overlooked or dismissed while we bemoan the loss of our more known starters. Takes time, I guess... and continued success, to override preconceptions.

BTW, his ERA (as he approaches qualifying IP) of 3.18 matches Ragans for #12 in the AL as of now.

Edited August 19 by now