Showalter plays down trade chances
Costs high, need for rotation help lessened by Bundy and Worley
Just as much of a trade-deadline tradition as the speculation and rumors are the denials that they’re affecting the teams in the clubhouse. Orioles manager Buck Showalter said as much Wednesday, indicating the turmoil is “way blown out of proportion.”
That, Showalter said, comes partly from the notion that it would be difficult to improve on a team that’s atop the American League as the deadline approaches and is finding prices a bit too high ahead of Monday’s nonwaiver deadline.
“I don’t think we’re really in a lot of big discussions,” Showalter said. “We’re not in the rumor mill, are we? We shouldn’t be.”
Asked about the stated intention of executive vice president Dan Duquette to add consistency to the Orioles starting rotation, Showalter addressed the issue of price.
“What are we giving up to get it?” Showalter said. “Dan and I, he’s brought a couple of things to me, but nothing that seemed imminent. A couple of them, I say, ‘Yeah, I like that guy. For what? No, of course we wouldn’t do that.’ You can get a pretty good starting pitcher for blank, and he’s gone at the end of the year. Dan and the organization have shown that they’ll go for it if it’s right, if they think it’s a big differencemaker and it really fills a real weakness.”
The need in the rotation has been lessened with the insertion of Dylan Bundy and swingman Vance Worley into starting roles, though Ubaldo Jimenez could make a play for getting his spot back with a strong outing tonight at the Minnesota Twins.
The Orioles staff has a 3.08 ERA since the All-Star break, with the rotation posting a 3.64 ERA in that stretch. Buck Showalter Schedule crunch: When the Orioles lost a day off for tonight’s makeup game, Showalter knew it would hurt. He said he hasn’t seen the effects on the team yet, but the Orioles have just one day off in the month after the All-Star break.
“One day is not going to do it,” Showalter said. “It’s ... the mental and emotional day off morethan anything. It’s been a challenge. I think every team, though, has their tale of woe. … We all know that there’s a way to fix it, but it’s decreasing games. When you decrease games, a lot of other things get decreased.”
The Orioles’ accommodation of the extra game means shaking up their rotation to help the bullpen with an eye toward the rest of the month. Showalter said Worley, who pitched seven innings of two-run ball to clinch a sweep of the Cleveland Indians on Sunday, will be available out of the bullpen tonight as Jimenez, with a 7.38 ERA, starts in his first appearance since July 8.
With Kevin Gausman, Yovani Gallardo and Chris Tillman scheduled to pitch this weekend in Toronto, the Orioles could reset the rotation Monday to build in more rest for Gausman and Bundy.
“We’ve got it mapped out the whole month, but very much subject to change,” Showalter said. “Vance has shown he’s capable of doing both. It’d be nice to have him there to kind of mix and match, which a lot of clubs are doing. We’re not the only one. I also want to make sure we’ve got Dylan covered and cover Jimenez tomorrow.” Davis stays in middle of order: Showalter has acknowledged the struggles of first baseman Chris Davis, but didn’t make a lineup move to try to shake him out of it. Davis entered Wednesday with no hits in 24 at-bats before bunting for a single in his first at-bat. But Showalter said playing an unfamiliar team such as the Colorado Rockies gives the club leeway to leave him batting fourth.
“If you watch how the opposition reacts to him, the walks are there,” Showalter said. “You’re not always going to have all nine guys clicking, but especially when you’re facing a team that really hasn’t seen guys, they’re making a lot of moves around Chris nowthat really helps the rest of the batting order. You kind of read what the other teams are thinking of him and where they’re attacking him, as far as moving him around.” Around the horn: Showalter said outfielder Julio Borbon, who was designated for assignment Tuesday, expressed interest in returning to the organization if he cleared waivers. … Maryland football coach DJ Durkin threw out the first pitch Wednesday. … The Orioles hosted Cyrus Hyatt with the Casey Cares Foundation for batting practice Wednesday. Cyrus, 5, who lives in Parkville, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in September. … Infielder Ryan Flaherty turned 30 on Wednesday.