Jeremy Guthrie has been the only consistent starting pitcher for the Orioles this season. He is 5-7 despite having a 3.49 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP which is pretty darn good. But, either the offense doesn’t score for him or the bullpen blows it for him as he hasn’t had much luck this season. Daniel Cabrera started the season well but he’s back to his old tricks of not throwing strikes. He is 6-5 with a 4.33 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP this year. Lefties Brian Burress (7-5, 5.02 ERA) and Garrett Olson (6-4, 5.65 ERA) have both been off more than on this season. Rookie righty Radhames Liz is a lot like Daniel Cabrera as he has great stuff but can’t throw a strike when he needs to. Liz is 3-2 with a 7.57 ERA and a 1.74 WHIP this year for the Orioles. If the rotation doesn’t improve soon the Orioles will have to being in some young pitching in trades for some veteran hitters.

The Orioles have veteran righty starter Steve Trachsel on a short leash. He has started 6 games for the Orioles this season and he is 1-4 with a 7.43 ERA and a 1.95 WHIP. The Orioles were probably hoping that Trachsel could net them a couple of prospects like last season at the trade deadline when they acquired Scott Moore and Rock Cherry from the Cubs for him. That won’t happen unless Trachsel gets things turned around soon.

The Orioles have decided to designate righty reliever Greg Aquino for assigment due to his poor pitching this season. Aquino worked in 6 games for the Orioles this season and he was 0-0 with a 14.21 ERA and a 2.84 WHIP. Aquino won’t be missed by the Orioles as many relievers have stepped up for them this season.

It’s about time for the Orioles to give up on using Daniel Cabrera as a starting pitcher and make him the closer for 2008.  With Chris Ray and Danys Baez out most, if not all of 2008, the Orioles have a need.  Cabrera has unhittable stuff and he might be able to handle coming in for 1 inning and throwing 100 mph gas.  Cabrera is having another rough season as a starter and he is 9-17 with a 5.51 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP.  In 194.1 innings, Cabrera has allowed 191 hits, walked 104 batters and whiffed 160.  For his career now, Cabrera has pitched in 115 games (114 starts) and he is 40-48 with a 4.97 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP.  Cabrera has now worked 651.1 innings in his career and he has allowed 610 hits, walked 384 batters and whiffed 550.  If the Orioles look at recent history they will see a few pitchers who were awful starting pitchers that turned into excellent stoppers when they could just let it all go for 1 inning at a time.  Jose Mesa was awful as a starter with the Orioles and Indians as he was 27-40 with a 5.03 ERA in that role.  The Indians converted him into a closer and he is 53-69 with 321 saves and a 3.97 ERA as a reliever.  LaTroy Hawkins was really stinky as a starting pitcher with the Twins as he was 26-44 with a 6.17 ERA.  Out of the bullpen however, Hawkins has been good as he is 30-32 with 75 saves and a 3.28 ERA.  Eric Gagne also wasn’t a great starter as he was 11-14 with a 4.61 ERA for the Dodgers.  Out of the bullpen, Gagne is 17-9 with 177 saves and a 2.47 ERA.  For Cabrera to be able to join these standout relievers he would have to throw strikes which has been a problem for him his whole career.  The Orioles are now 64-86 which has them in 4th place in the American League East only 2 games ahead of the Devil Rays for the basement.

The Orioles have released Paul Shuey and designated Rob Bell for assignment.  These guys were coming into games and pouring big gas cans on the fire!  Shuey pitched in 25 games for the Orioles this season and he was 0-1, with 1 save and a 9.82 ERA and a 2.10 WHIP!  Bell pitched in 21 games this season for the Orioles and he was 3-3 with a 6.49 ERA and a 1.82 WHIP.  The Orioles finally got smart and got rid of these two guys and it couldn’t have come soon enough.