68° F
May
21

What can the Orioles do to upgrade their offense?

If you live by the home run, you die by the home run. The Orioles hit the second most in baseball in 2012. They hit three -- all solo shots -- while scoring just 15 runs in six postseason games.<br> <br> Those three homers were hit by unlikely sources: Leadoff man Nate McLouth, rookie Manny Machado and Rule 5 pick Ryan Flaherty. The main brutes in their lineup couldn't get it going and, by Game 5 of the ALDS, were swinging from their heels, trying to hit a bases-empty grand slam on each pitch.<br> <br> It's pretty obvious this club needs more selectivity at the plate and better production with runners in scoring position. A high on-base percentage is a hallmark of a Dan Duquette club, and the 2012 team was among the worst in the AL. So that likely will be a focus in the offseason. But the Orioles aren't the only ones that covet OBP, and there aren't many free agents who could bring a big boost in that category.<br> <br> The best, of course, is troubled slugger Josh Hamilton, who will be the biggest free agent fish. He has a lifetime OBP of .363, would be the perfect cleanup hitter for the Orioles and could man left field. But he¿ll be exceptionally expensive and comes with plenty of risk -- including an eye-focusing condition that led to a disastrous end of 2012.<br> <br> It's more likely that Duquette will have to work his magic with "undervalued assets" to better the club's on-base and scoring possibilities.

If you live by the home run, you die by the home run. The Orioles hit the second most in baseball in 2012. They hit three -- all solo shots -- while scoring just 15 runs in six postseason games.

Those three homers were hit by unlikely sources: Leadoff man Nate McLouth, rookie Manny Machado and Rule 5 pick Ryan Flaherty. The main brutes in their lineup couldn't get it going and, by Game 5 of the ALDS, were swinging from their heels, trying to hit a bases-empty grand slam on each pitch.

It's pretty obvious this club needs more selectivity at the plate and better production with runners in scoring position. A high on-base percentage is a hallmark of a Dan Duquette club, and the 2012 team was among the worst in the AL. So that likely will be a focus in the offseason. But the Orioles aren't the only ones that covet OBP, and there aren't many free agents who could bring a big boost in that category.

The best, of course, is troubled slugger Josh Hamilton, who will be the biggest free agent fish. He has a lifetime OBP of .363, would be the perfect cleanup hitter for the Orioles and could man left field. But he¿ll be exceptionally expensive and comes with plenty of risk -- including an eye-focusing condition that led to a disastrous end of 2012.

It's more likely that Duquette will have to work his magic with "undervalued assets" to better the club's on-base and scoring possibilities.

  • Email E-mail
  • add to Twitter Twitter
  • add to Facebook Facebook
  • Home Delivery Home Delivery

ABOUT THE BLOGGERS



Eduardo A. Encina
Dan Connolly
David Selig
Peter Schmuck
Orioles Insider RSS feed
Follow @EddieInTheYard, @danconnollysun, @daveselig, @BaltSunSports

>>> Read more Schmuck Stops Here posts
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Google Plus
  • RSS Feeds
  • Mobile Alerts and Apps

Newsroom directory | Social Sun

MORE ORIOLES INSIDER

Pedro Strop's strong stretch comes to an end

Jim Johnson and Buck Showalter on Johnson's latest blown save

Miguel Gonzalez to start Tuesday's game against the Yankees

Hot-hitting Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy batting third against Yankees

Rays manager Joe Maddon calls Sunday's replay review 'baseball anarchy'

  >> More recent posts

Search our new database for every home run hit hit by the O's and the opposition — home and away — since 1992.

THE HIT LIST