masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThere are several things that can frustrate you when you watch the Orioles hitters:

*The lack of production, an obvious one.

*The fact they swing at so many pitches that are not strikes.

*The fact they can’t seem to adjust to a pitcher as the game wears on.

*The fact that some players recognition of pitches is poor and they chase so many breaking balls.

It would almost be better for the Orioles to face a 96 mile per hour flamethrower without good off-speed stuff. At least they could sit…There are several things that can frustrate you when you watch the Orioles hitters:

*The lack of production, an obvious one.

*The fact they swing at so many pitches that are not strikes.

*The fact they can’t seem to adjust to a pitcher as the game wears on.

*The fact that some players recognition of pitches is poor and they chase so many breaking balls.

It would almost be better for the Orioles to face a 96 mile per hour flamethrower without good off-speed stuff. At least they could sit dead red and catch one or two along the way.

But a pitcher with an assortment of pitches that knows how to use them seems to have the O’s eating out of the palm of his hand. He gets them to often expand the zone and seldom square up his pitches.

In the first three innings today, they have been quiet vs. Toronto starter Brett Cecil who has retired the first nine batters in a row on just 34 pitches.

Let’s see if they make any adjustments or get some better swings at him the second time around.

They have now gone 27 innings without an extra-base hit.

Update: Luke Scott’s at bat in the fifth was telling. He took two hittable fastballs in the 90 range, then on 0-2, swung at a curve in the dirt. Jones just struck out. Cecil would win the Cy Young if he could face this team every night. In a related note, I am watching this game much too closely at this point.

That is why I don’t get worked up like fans do sometimes when they get out on the first pitch. Luke’s best pitch to hit in that three-pitch sequence was a fastball down the middle that he took for 0-1.

In a second related note, Chris Tillman is throwing well but getting no offensive support. Welcome back to the Orioles, Chris.