Legend Jim Palmer and Ryan Ripken have critical thoughts about the Orioles' pitching staff

YouTube podcaster Ryan Ripken recently posted a video assessing the Baltimore Orioles’ pitching staff at the start of the 2025 season. The son of Cal Ripken, Jr., the younger Ripken has expanded his video footprint to include several professional sports and fantasy football. Ripken points out that the Orioles’ starting pitching has not gotten deeper into games, so he replayed an interview with Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer on pitching in certain situations.

Palmer began by stating the philosophy of his era, with how pitchers pitched during his time in the big leagues. According to the Hall of Famer, if a pitcher is not overpowering or a power-pitcher, they should pitch to both sides of the plate. Palmer states that they don’t teach this anymore.

After talking with Orioles pitching coach Drew French in 2024, Palmer was asked to come to spring training. He asked French whether he could attend spring training to instruct the Birds' pitchers on throwing low and away. French responded that the average MLB pitcher misses the plate by nine inches.

After reviewing a videotape of modern pitchers, Palmer was amazed to find that he missed the plate by twelve inches. While Palmer pitched, a hurler survived by pitching to the outside and the inside part of the plate. However, if you happen to pitch under Chicago White Sox pitching coach Johnny Sain, it would be the way modern pitchers pitch today by spinning the ball. Palmer’s pitching coach, George Bamberger, said to always avoid the middle of the plate.

Jim Palmer has some thoughts about the current state of the Orioles pitching staff

Today’s pitchers often focus on their velocity and accuracy, considering how fast they can throw and whether they consistently throw strikes. Félix Bautista, for example, was always a power pitcher. He may, however, have a problem because he does not have a reputation for throwing quality pitches. Thus, it would be problematic if Bautista does not return to his overpowering ways.

Ripken reacted to the Palmer interview by assessing the Orioles’ current pitching situation. Ripken made it clear that the game has changed over the years. Therefore, the philosophy of pitching is different. According to Ripken, the old pitching philosophy is not better than today’s—it is different. Yet the basic concept remains today: try to develop the unexpected, find out what works for you, and pitch accordingly. Another essential principle that remains relevant today is maintaining a strategic location or pitching accurately, which helps keep hitters off balance. As Hall of Fame legend Warren Spahn stated, “Hitting is timing. Pitching is upsetting timing.”

Ripken highlighted the current state of the Orioles’ pitching. If, for example, the catcher sets up Felix Bautista to throw to the middle of the plate and misses by twelve inches one way or the other, the ball will be thrown at 100 miles per hour, which is a difficult pitch to hit. Combined with his devastating split fastball, “the Mountain” has two pitches to rely on. On the other hand, Dean Kremer has good control, but he is not an overpowering pitcher. Although Kremer has not walked many hitters, he has given up 21 hits. He has to do a better job of getting batters out. Charlie Morton has eight walks in his first three appearances. Although he gave up two home runs during those starts, they became two-run shots because of the walks.

One of Ripken’s chatters asks, "Don’t pitchers sacrifice command for velocity?" Ripken responded empathically, “Yes!” Yet it still comes down to knowing what works best for you. If you can be a power pitcher or a good off-speed hurler, pitch that way to keep hitters off balance. The bottom line for Ripken was to get batters out no matter what it takes. Moreover, while Major League Baseball has changed over the decades, some fundamental concepts remain unchanged.