Hall of Fame pitcher and current FOX Sports analyst John Smoltz is optimistic about the Orioles’ future despite a rough American League Division Series against the Rangers.
But the sweep does not take away from what the team did prior to the postseason. The Orioles won 101 games this season — the only team in the AL to win 100 or more — and more success is not out of the question for the team in coming years.
Catcher Adley Rutschman, outfielder Austin Hays and reliever Yennier Cano — all 2023 All-Stars — are already locked into the next season with the team. Other players under club control include infielder Gunnar Henderson and outfielder Anthony Santander, both of whom hit 28 home runs to lead the team.
Smoltz is confident in the team’s potential going forward.
“The Baltimore Orioles are set up to make continual runs,” Smoltz said on Glenn Clark Radio Oct. 13. “This will serve as a great learning experience for a lot of their young guys, for their organization, and I don’t see why they can’t be right in the same spot next year.”
Being swept by the Rangers was a result that surprised many baseball fans given the Orioles’ regular-season success. However, the Orioles weren’t the only team with a strong 162-game performance that struggled when playoffs arrived.
The three teams with the best regular-season records — the Braves, Dodgers and Orioles — recorded 100 or more wins in the regular season. But when it came to playoff performance, they slipped up, combining for only one win in 10 tries.
“Baseball is played in two different years. There’s the regular season and the postseason,” Smoltz said. “You play 162 games to have the overall best depth, you show why you’re the best team in the respective league and division.”
However, MLB changed its playoff rules in 2022, with the new format featuring six teams from each league instead of five. The top two teams from each league automatically advance to the divisional round.
The teams with a bye this year were the Astros, Braves, Dodgers and Orioles. In theory, the time off is a reward following a 162-game season. In this case, five days off may do more harm than good. Only the Astros advanced to the next round.
“I know what they tried to do,” Smoltz said. “They tried to create an advantage and reward the best records in baseball … but this has happened two straight years.”
Smoltz still has the utmost confidence in these teams going forward, especially the Orioles. He even goes as far as to compare them to his ’91 Atlanta Braves, who won 94 games after seven consecutive sub-.500 seasons.
“They’ve got way better pitching than we did — and we were known for our pitching, obviously,” Smoltz said. “It is only going to get better.”
Smoltz referenced how big of a fan he is of a number of the Orioles’ pitchers, listing Kyle Bradish, Grayson Rodriguez and Tyler Wells as a few of his favorites on the bump.
Now more than ever, with the Orioles missing All-Star closer Félix Bautista for all of 2024, they need to solidify their bullpen this offseason. Wells finished the 2023 season as a ninth-inning option, but Smoltz envisions him back in the starting rotation.
Wells posted a 3.64 ERA and 117 strikeouts and 118.2 innings in 2023, all career bests.
“I hope he goes to the rotation. This is a horse that can pitch above his No. 4 slot or No. 3 or whatever they decide,” Smoltz said. “Unless you’re going to make him a super utility reliever that pitches two and three innings at a pop, twice a week, I’d rather see him in the starting rotation.”
While the Orioles need to find a closer for 2024, Smoltz doesn’t think the club is limited to just Wells going forward. DL Hall left his mark in October as a reliever, recording six strikeouts in 3.1 postseason innings. The Orioles also have Cionel Pérez and Cano, both of whom saw time in the ninth inning following Bautista’s injury.
It’s unclear whether any of these pitchers will be the club’s closer next year, but Smoltz gave his thoughts on the matter.
“They have strength in numbers,” Smoltz said. “I think multiple closers are way more important with the way [relievers are] being used.”
For more from Smoltz, listen to the full interview here:
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