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Baltimore Orioles: The Most And Least Helpful Players Of 2019

By Nick Stevens

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - MAY 08: Trey Mancini #16 of the Baltimore Orioles and teammates look on against the Boston Red Sox during the twelfth inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 08, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - MAY 08: Trey Mancini #16 of the Baltimore Orioles and teammates look on against the Boston Red Sox during the twelfth inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 08, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MD – APRIL 09: Richie Martin #1 of the Baltimore Orioles is tagged out at home plate by Josh Phegley #19 of the Oakland Athletics in the third inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 9, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) /

Which players are not giving the Baltimore Orioles help in winning ballgames?

Last season, only three hitters had a positive WPA for the Baltimore Orioles. I will give you a minute to take a guess at who you think they were………..have your guesses? Manny Machado is an easy guess, congratulations. If you had DJ Stewart and Luis Sardinas as your other two guesses, you win a prize. Sardinas reached base just four times in eight games for the O’s, but they made an impact.

The early numbers are more positive in 2019, comparatively speaking, but there are still a few players who haven’t been able to show up when needed.

Catcher Pedro Severino and his -0.84 WPA ranks last among O’s hitters. He’s been a positive addition to the team (.244 average, .333 OBP, five home runs) but he has been non-existent in key situations. Sevy is hitting .148 with runners in scoring position and has an OPS under .600 when hitting in a tied or within one run game. Most of his damage has come when the game is already out of hand. When the Orioles are ahead or behind by five or more runs, Severino is slashing .308/.400/.615.

Also finding their name at the bottom of this list- shortstop Richie Martin (-0.80) and infielder Jonathan Villar (-0.70).

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Pitchers who aren’t getting things done for the Baltimore Orioles.

Three pitchers currently have a WPA of -1.00 or higher, which is surprisingly low. Dan Straily, now a relief arm for the O’s, is at -1.02, Miguel Castro sits at -1.11, and starting pitcher David Hess leads the way at -1.47. This is what happens when you surrender 17 home runs in 10 appearances.

Overall, Hess is 1-6 with a 6.75 ERA (7.48 FIP) and 1.42 WHIP. As Brandon Hyde has recently mentioned, the only reason Hess is still in the starting rotation is that there is no one else to take his place. Dan Straily has already been relegated to the pen (I don’t care who replaces him, Straily should never pitch in an Orioles uniform again) and the major league ready options in AAA are non-existent. Keegan Akin has been dominant, but as Mike Elias proclaimed, Akin and Mountcastle aren’t going to be called up anytime soon.

Next. Andrew Cashner Doesn't Want To Be Traded. dark

Hang in there, O’s fans. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. The talent level in the farm system is trending up, the draft is just a few days away, and the international signing period is quickly approaching. The Orioles won’t land any of the top players in this year’s international class, but Mike Elias says they will be very active and make their presence known. Let’s see if all of this will pan out.

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