The Baltimore Orioles will make the playoffs this fall — but not prevail in them (“Now playoff-bound, the Orioles believe they can win it all. Why not?” Sept. 26).

The Orioles’ pitching has come around pretty well as of late, but winning requires runners crossing the plate. And these are numbers they can’t get lately, sometimes not at all. Why not? The team has relied on the long ball — home runs. Many Major League Baseball pitchers now have the “book” on O’s hitters and can shut them down. Thus, there is a high strikeout rate for Orioles batters.

No doubt it’s too late this season for Orioles’ hitters to relearn — if they were ever taught — situational hitting, a strategy that has been noted by on-air commentators when used by teams that beat us often. It requires discipline at the plate. The first hitter up must be patient, adjust his swing to the pitch and put the ball in play, possibly bunt. Sometimes, it will be a hit. Or a walk, of course, but the goal is to get on base. Then, a speedy runner can steal a base, possibly on a run-and-hit by the batter, and maybe you’ll force a throwing error by the catcher or an infielder. Next, perhaps, a fly out to move the runner along. Then, how about another sacrifice or perhaps another bunt to bring in a run. Employ the unexpected.

Risky? Sure. But strategy makes for exciting baseball — and it can win games — whereas your guys striking out each inning does not. And when hitters return to the bench having left two or three stranded on base, which happened in our losses to Detroit on Sept. 21 and 22, man, that’s really frustrating and irritating.

Whether Manager Brandon Hyde and the batting coaches can and will show enough imagination to try the unexpected during the next couple of weeks is, well, doubtful. And if they do, can they then sell it to the players who think their big swings will do it? Come on, Orioles, make runs happen!

— Bruce Knauff, Towson

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