Trending Topic for the Orioles: Errors

Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

“Sloppy.” That is the word I would use to describe the Orioles defense as of late. With the intent to give certain players some much needed rest, Showalter has been tinkering with his lineup as October baseball rapidly approaches. He is giving young players a chance to play and at the same time he is using the time to see who is the standout choice for second and third basemen.

Unfortunately, Showalter is not getting the results he wanted. In the past nine games, there has been six errors made by the Orioles’ third baseman (Jimmy Paredes– 2 errors; Ryan Flaherty– 2 errors; Kelly Johnson– 1 error; Alexi Casilla– 1 error). For a Baltimore Orioles team that prides itself on their defense, this is unacceptable.

Nobody is the clear choice in my mind for the team’s third baseman for Game 1 of the ALDS on Thursday. This is what I was worried about when it was announced that Chris Davis had been suspended for 25 games. It was Davis’ defensive abilities at third base that made him so important to the Orioles especially after Manny Machado was forced to have season-ending knee surgery yet again.

Have the Orioles lost their competitve edge? It is hard to say especially when you have the “B team” lineup out there with “B team relievers.” Seeing how angry Adam Jones got after that play at the plate got reversed in today’s game, you can tell Jonesy still has his edge.

However, these costly errors have Baltimore fans up in arms. That is why clinching the division so early in the month of September is both a blessing and a curse for these exact reasons.

The old saying in sports of “Defense wins championships” applies to baseball as well. In baseball, the margin for error is so small that even a single throwing error could be the difference between winning and losing a game… a division series… a pennant… and even a World Series.