Baltimore Orioles: ignore the heat, it’s still spring for the O’s

Brandon Hyde has no choice but to manage the Baltimore Orioles like the entire 2019 season is Extended Spring Training back in Sarasota, Florida.

It may be summer in Maryland – a hot and sweltering summer at that – but Brandon Hyde is managing the Baltimore Orioles‘ pitching staff like it’s still spring. If that sounds like a dig – it’s not.

With Dylan Bundy on the injured list and Andrew Cashner in Boston, Hyde has his newly-minted All-Star in John Means at the (relative) top of the rotation, but after that…**crickets**. GM Mike Elias gifted Hyde a toolbox full of journeymen with long names and short resumes (lookin’ at you, Asher Wojciechowski).

With a host of unproven pitchers and few promising upper-level arms ready for their proverbial close-up, Hyde leans on the Opener/Piggyback process for a few of his rotations slots out of necessity. To his credit, Elias’ leash with Hyde is long. Really, there is no leash. Hyde can run free, unencumbered by the burdensome expectation of wins that saddles most major league managers. At least for now.

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For Hyde and Elias, this entire season might as well be extended Spring Training. Starters aren’t working long into games, relievers are tasked with multiple innings, if not the brunt of game responsibility, and there’s been an open line to Norfolk so Hyde can rotate in fresh arms as needed.

It’s a great way for the Baltimore Orioles to see pitchers in different situations as they hope to uncover a diamond or two in the rough. John Means, for example, staked his claim to a rotation spot with a strong first half. Even three months of reliable – if inconclusive – results will probably keep Means in the rotation through the 2020 season – even if he struggles down the stretch.

Until the other rotation spots are claimed, Hyde can  run his staff like it’s March in Sarasota. Considering most of these guys wouldn’t break camp with another major league club, that’s appropriate.

Aaron Brooks, specifically, is being stretched out in-game after working as a long reliever in Oakland. He threw exactly two innings in each of his final six appearances with the Athletics, and they’d love if he could eventually shoulder a more significant inning count. He’s 29-years-old with a 5.33 career FIP.

Dan Straily, 30, was cut earlier this season by the Marlins. You heard me.

David Hess, 26, gave it an honest go for 13 starts, but after going 1-9 with a 7.15 ERA it’s hard to justify riding him towards a 20-loss season. Mike Maroth got there for the Tigers back in the day because he pitched well enough to deserve the look. That’s not the case here.

Jimmy Yacabonis, 27, is a guy that some in the organization think might have a future, but with a 5.29 ERA (5.75 FIP) he’s riding the line between “just competent enough to justify further innings” and “the David Hess Zone.”

Gabriel Ynoa, 26, missed most of 2018, so at least they have the “he’s still rounding into shape” buffer to prolong his stay in the majors. He’s only striking out 5.7 batters per nine while surrendering 11.4 hits/9 innings, a ratio he’ll have to turn around in a significant way to lock down a 2020 roster spot.

Ideally, the Baltimore Orioles would have higher-upside arms to run at the buzzsaw that is the American League East, but they simply don’t have those kinds of arms, and there’s not a lot of good in rushing younger arms up to participate in this slush-pile of a season.

Hyde will have to continue taking the season a couple innings at a time, hoping another Means or two earns their keep so that Hyde can earn his. The leash is long, but Hyde’s going to eventually usher a more competitive squad into Camden Yards. Spring can’t last forever.