masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgWith the Orioles dealing with several injuries to young pitchers and also some position players in both the majors and the minors, some fans are questioning what is going on throughout the organization.

Are the Orioles doing something wrong with how they handle their young pitchers? Are there some issues with how the club handles its strength and conditioning programs with the young hurlers?

Does something going on here need to be fixed?

The talented young trio of Brian Matusz, Jake Arrieta…With the Orioles dealing with several injuries to young pitchers and also some position players in both the majors and the minors, some fans are questioning what is going on throughout the organization.

Are the Orioles doing something wrong with how they handle their young pitchers? Are there some issues with how the club handles its strength and conditioning programs with the young hurlers?

Does something going on here need to be fixed?

The talented young trio of Brian Matusz, Jake Arrieta and Zach Britton have all dealt with some injury issues during this season. None are currently on the Orioles’ active roster.

In separate interviews during the current homestand, manager Buck Showalter and Britton were both asked about the injury issues.

Here is what Showalter said when asked if the Orioles have any problems and/or issues with their strength and conditioning programs:

“If you look at the injuries, it’d be hard to make a case for that. It always happens, believe me, I came from a place in the Bronx where that was always talked about with a revolving door of strength and conditioning coaches, trainers and doctors. I’d find that hard to justify, but I’ve thought about it, everybody does, but no I don’t see that.

“If you take a look at the injuries we are having, some very similar things with what everybody around baseball is having. I am not gung-ho about what everybody else is having, I’m only concerned with the ones the Orioles are having. Brian (Roberts), I don’t know how you blame somebody for Brian’s concussion.

“You can take each one, ask me about it and I could tell how it happened and how it doesn’t really fit that mode. There have been some normal things like playing seven days a week really for what amounts to eight months,” Showalter said.

As for Britton, he was told some fans are questioning all the injuries and he was asked if he had any concern about that.

“No, not at all,” he said. “It hasn’t even crossed my mind. As a player, you kind of control a lot of things. If you are going to get injured, you will get injured and there is really not a whole lot anyone can do about it. But as long as you are in the weight room and not overdoing it, but do enough to maintain your stuff, you can maintain your strength and prevent injuries from happening.

“Something like this (his left shoulder strain), there is really nothing anyone can do. The doctor was saying, it’s just inflammation, you have thrown a lot and something happens. In my case, it is not really an injury, but standard inflammation.

“With everything that has happened the last three weeks, in my case, if I can just have a little break and rest my arm plus the mental aspect of it, just get away and take a little breather, I think it will be beneficial.”