masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgIt seems that after the playoffs, some Orioles fans are concerned about Zach Britton – and those concerns have something to do with Jim Johnson.
The thinking goes that when Johnson struggled at times during the 2012 playoffs, those carried over to his 2013 season when he saved 50 games, but suffered nine costly blown saves that led to his departure from the team.
Britton had some struggles during the 2014 playoffs. He gave up a run during a save against Detroit and threw just five strikes in 20…

It seems that after the playoffs, some Orioles fans are concerned about Zach Britton – and those concerns have something to do with Jim Johnson.

The thinking goes that when Johnson struggled at times during the 2012 playoffs, those carried over to his 2013 season when he saved 50 games, but suffered nine costly blown saves that led to his departure from the team.

Britton had some struggles during the 2014 playoffs. He gave up a run during a save against Detroit and threw just five strikes in 20 pitches in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series against Kansas City.

I don’t necessarily think history will repeat itself here nor do I buy the theory that Johnson’s performance in the 2012 playoffs derailed his 2013 season. After all, he began that year going 14-for-14 in save chances with an ERA of 0.95. So if his struggles began during the previous October, it had a delayed impact on him.

britton-hundley-fist-bump-sidebar.jpgBritton was outstanding after he moved into the closer’s role in mid-May. For the season, he went 3-2 with a 1.65 ERA and 37 saves in 41 chances.

He was one of three American League closers that recorded 30 or more saves with a save percentage of 90 percent or better. Kansas City’s Greg Holland saved a remarkable 95.8 percent (46-for-48) and Seattle’s Fernando Rodney saved 94.1 percent (48-for-51).

Britton’s 90.2 percent topped that of New York’s David Robertson, who was at 88.6 percent (39-of-44). Britton also had a better ERA and WHIP than Robertson, who some feel could get $50 million as a free agent.

In addition to his success closing, Britton was pretty much the best sinkerball pitcher in baseball this year.

Major league leaders in groundball percentage (minimum 50 innings):
75.3 percent – Zach Britton, Orioles
66.7 percent – Jeremy Affeldt, Giants
64.6 percent – Jared Hughes, Pirates

Britton proved he could get out hitters from both sides of the plate, giving up just a .170 average versus lefty batters and a .182 average against right-handed hitters.

Another positive for Britton were his many drama-free saves. No closer rolls through every inning 1-2-3, but Britton had a lot of low-pitch count saves.

Of his 37 saves, 32 came in 16 pitches or less, 28 came on 14 pitches or less and 23 came with 12 or fewer pitches. He got well over half his saves in a dozen pitches or less. There wasn’t even time to run to the kitchen.

Britton was a very good closer for the Orioles in 2014, a season that began with him out of options and not even certain of making the team. He showed high-end velocity with a spectacular groundball rate and got many saves with just a few pitches.

After watching Britton excel over 76 innings in the regular season, I see no reason to be too concerned with a few shaky postseason innings.