Jorge Mateo, supervisor Brandon Hyde believes, nonetheless has a task to play for the Orioles. The veracity of that largely will depend on what the function is.
If it’s to be a right-handed-hitting shortstop who faces left-handed pitching and performs above-average protection, then the Orioles have an improve out there in prospect Joey Ortiz. But if it’s to be a flexible, often deployed bench piece with elite velocity that could possibly be important as a pinch-runner within the postseason, Baltimore lacks a transparent various.
Such is the dichotomy of Mateo, who was the Orioles’ finest hitter in April and one in all baseball’s worst since. His protection at shortstop nonetheless charges nicely however has dropped from the elite stage he performed ultimately season. He stays one of many sport’s quickest runners, however he reaches first base too occasionally to totally showcase that talent.
After posting a team-best 1.062 OPS by way of the primary month of the season, Mateo entered Sunday — when he began in heart area for the primary time within the two years since Baltimore claimed him on waivers — batting .158 with a .411 OPS and no house runs because the begin of May. Only one in all 235 gamers with as many plate appearances as Mateo has additionally gone homerless in that span, and none have a decrease OPS; the following closest participant was at .548.
Despite these offensive struggles, Hyde stated earlier than Sunday’s sport towards the New York Mets that Mateo’s skillset is “extremely valuable,” particularly presently of yr. He showcased precisely why within the fifth inning of a scoreless contest, lacing a line drive to heart area and — regardless of a gradual begin down the road pondering the ball was going to be caught — getting a triple out of it when it acquired previous heart fielder Rafael Ortega’s dive try. His velocity additionally put strain on third baseman Mark Vientos fielding Adley Rutschman’s groundball, resulting in a bobble and the sport’s first run.
“He’s a major, major factor for the other team because of his speed,” Hyde stated pregame. “Every workforce that’s trying to make postseason pushes is on the lookout for velocity. Speed, man that may play protection wherever, and Jorgie can try this.
“[When] he gets on base, he scores. So if he’s not starting, you pinch-run for somebody, it’s a big-time threat in a close game. I’m just trying to keep all options open with him.”
The Orioles’ September and postseason roster composition can be completely different than what they’ll have for the remainder of August. Rosters develop by two Sept. 1, and the format of the postseason permits Baltimore to make use of a four-man rotation and probably dedicate a roster spot to Mateo strictly for late-game conditions when a pinch-runner is required.
But it’s not as if Baltimore can set Mateo apart till then. He’s out of minor league choices, and his place on the roster, with the Orioles taking part in nearly each day and different gamers needing video games off for varied causes, means Hyde should discover locations to insert him within the lineup. Those have usually come towards left-handed pitchers, with Mateo beginning solely three of the Orioles’ previous 20 video games going through a right-handed starter. Saying Mateo has “lost some confidence against right-handed pitching,” Hyde famous he has nonetheless carried out nicely towards lefties. But Mateo’s .299/.340/.454 slash line off left-handers is essentially carried by his April efficiency; he entered Sunday hitting .258/.292/.323 with the platoon benefit since May 1.
“It’s a little difficult,” Mateo stated of his inconsistent taking part in time by way of interpreter Brandon Quinones. “It’s something that happens. It’s part of the game, but I’m looking to work through it and get out of it.”
The Orioles appear to be prepared to present him that chance, at the same time as Ortiz is pounding on the door at Triple-A. The group’s No. 7 prospect based on Baseball America, Ortiz is hitting .354 with a .976 OPS for Norfolk this season. He’s additionally considered a premier defender on the infield, a trait he’s proven in restricted alternatives with Baltimore this season.
But it’s unclear how a lot taking part in time he would obtain in Baltimore, with American League Rookie of the Year frontrunner Gunnar Henderson changing into the Orioles’ each day shortstop and fellow infield prospect Jordan Westburg seemingly locking down a extra common function. Capable of taking part in three spots on the infield, Ortiz nonetheless doesn’t fairly provide the flexibility of Mateo, whose expertise in heart made him really feel “comfortable” on the market this weekend regardless of not taking part in the place for Baltimore outdoors of spring coaching. Mateo led AL shortstops in Statcast’s outs above common final season and nonetheless charges positively within the metric this season, and in Hyde’s estimation, he performs heart area “like he’s been doing it his whole life,” partly due to his “elite, elite speed.”
“The most important thing is to always be on the field, regardless of where that is,” Mateo stated. “I think as long as you’re on the field, that’s what counts.”
Ortiz can be a comparatively quick runner, with an above-average dash velocity of 28.1 ft per second, however he’s no Mateo, whose common of 30.1 ft per second ranks seventh amongst greater than 500 certified main leaguers, based on Baseball Savant. No different Oriole tops 29.0. Despite his decreased taking part in time, Mateo entered Sunday tied for ninth within the majors with 25 steals; 10 got here earlier than May.
Given the frequency with which the Orioles play shut video games and the likelihood that development is magnified in September and October, Mateo seemingly nonetheless has a task to play. It simply gained’t be the one he’s held for many of this season.
“When they call on me to go out there, I’ll give my best,” Mateo stated. “Just happy to go out there whenever they call my name.”
What’s to come back?
The Orioles haven’t performed out of Eastern Time within the second half and solely as soon as have performed a workforce from outdoors of that point zone. That adjustments this week.
First, they welcome the reigning World Series champion Houston Astros to Camden Yards. The Astros are chasing the Texas Rangers within the AL West however are in wild-card place, giving Hyde’s workforce one more matchup with a playoff-caliber membership.
“I feel like we’ve been doing that almost every series,” he stated.
They’ll comply with it up with one other, touring to face the Seattle Mariners — the perfect AL workforce not at present in playoff place — to start a three-city journey out west with subsequent stops in San Diego and Oakland.
What was good?
The Orioles don’t return to Toronto once more this season. It’s price questioning whether or not Ryan Mountcastle can be allowed to cross the Canadian border in 2024.
Mountcastle continued to terrorize Blue Jays pitching by going 11-for-13 on this week’s collection on the Rogers Centre. The 26-year-old is hitting .344/.404/.651 in 49 profession video games towards Toronto, along with his efficiency placing him on a 162-game tempo for about 50 house runs, 40 doubles and 139 RBIs.
He hasn’t solely had success towards the Blue Jays of late, although. Mountcastle additionally had a success in every sport of the Orioles’ sweep of the Mets, leaving him with a .419/.465/.629 batting line since coming back from a month spent on the injured checklist with vertigo.
“It’s easier when you’re just seeing one baseball instead of three,” he quipped in Toronto.
Mountcastle was additionally concerned in maybe the Orioles’ most viral second of the week, when he, Rutschman, Colton Cowser and Gunnar Henderson arrived to Camden Yards on Friday in matching sun shades and tracksuits.
What wasn’t?
It’s troublesome to take situation with something in every week the Orioles went 6-1, stretched their lead within the AL East and averaged greater than six runs per sport whereas solely as soon as permitting greater than three. But Baltimore’s typical fill-ins for Mullins and Hicks confirmed the return of that pair could be welcome.
Cowser and Ryan McKenna mixed to go 5-for-28 (.179) on the week with 11 strikeouts towards three walks. With Mullins taking part in in rehabilitation video games and Hicks probably nearing his personal task, McKenna and Cowser could be taking part in to carry onto their roster spots.
On the farm
Top prospect Jackson Holliday spent a lot of final week on Double-A Bowie’s injured checklist with an sickness. He used the weekend to make up for misplaced time, going 6-for-12 with a pair of house runs.
The 19-year-old shortstop is hitting .396/.448/.642 in 13 Double-A video games and .342/.464/.543 throughout three ranges in his first full season after Baltimore drafted him first total final summer season.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com