‘The Blueprint'
Orioles work around Mark Trumbo's shortcomings in field
It took a week, but that plan has begun in Baltimore for the team's surprising slugger after some of his defensive warts showed in Boston. Whether he's the type of player who plays seven innings in right field, a full game out there, or becomes the team's designated hitter is still to be determined.
What matters to Trumbo and the Orioles is what he adds to the lineup, and his five home runs in as many days last week show just how important it is to have him in there, no matter what position is next to his name.
“I think there's still some unknown [about] what type of defender he's going to be out there, but we like the idea of him getting four and five at-bats every night,” manager Buck Showalter said. “He's been in a good spot since the first day he walked into Sarasota. The atmosphere he's in fits him well and the guys have really drawn to him. He fits the way we try to do things and need to do things. He's been a real solid contributor early on in the season. He's been good. It goes without saying.”
How good he has been has brought renewed attention to a player the Orioles acquired for catcher Steve Clevenger and was described by executive vice president Dan Duquette before spring training as a player whose best position was hitter.
Trumbo's five home runs were tied for second in the majors entering Saturday, his 11 RBIs were tied for fourth and his .400/.429/.800 line was fueled by the second-fastest average exit velocity in the majors, according to MLB Statcast data: 96.9 mph.
Over the first week of the regular season, Trumbo somewhat incredibly had nine singles but no extra-base hits and no RBIs. He also stole a base and was instinctive on the base paths, in addition to playing mostly clean defense in right field.
While he had the week of a small-ball player, he seemed to know the powerful week that followed was looming.
“If you're getting hits, I don't know anybody that's going to complain about that,” Trumbo said. “There were a few that weren't hit as hard, but there were a few that were hit as hard as I could hit a ball, just lower.
“So I think the team was probably fine with what I was doing, and I was obviously fine with it, knowing that at some point those balls that are hit lower might very well be hit a little bit higher. That's where all the damage is done.”
The damage, which began with a three-run home run to straightaway center field in Boston on Monday and continued through his Orioles-record two home runs in one inning Friday night, has left teammates in awe.
“Trumbo is a different level,” second baseman Jonathan Schoop said. “Respect, you know? He's got big pop.”
But other damage was done when some of the early worries about Trumbo's defense were realized. Starting in left field for the first time this season Monday, he was charged with an error after misjudging a fly ball. He had similar trouble on a ground-rule double that was caught in the wind down the left-field line later in the game.
Upon his move back to right field the next night, detractors pointed to a homer Trumbo lost in flight. He was lifted for a defensive replacement in both games, and after playing the full nine in right Wednesday night, he was the designated hitter in each of the first two games in Texas.
Trumbo is aware of his reputation and how teams deploy him.
After a long pause when asked about The Blueprint, he said, “It's obviously a strategic play. There are better defenders here than me, and with a lead, sometimes it probably makes more sense to have somebody with better foot speed and possibly more experience out there,” Trumbo said. “I obviously know that's the mindset.”
On Saturday night, Trumbo was back in right field to allow Pedro Alvarez to get a start against right-hander Colby Lewis. How long Trumbo stays out there is anyone's guess, especially after another fielding miscue — a key two-base error during the Rangers' six-run seventh.
It's all part of the plan to keep a hitter who has impressed with his approach and is typically at his best in the early part of the season.
“He's a very cerebral guy,” Showalter said. “He's not just some brute up there trying to see how far he can hit it. He has an idea when he goes up there what he's trying to do.”
The results have endeared Trumbo to fans in a way not seen since rent-a-slugger Nelson Cruz had a similarly big start for the Orioles in 2014.
“The showing people what you can do, I mean, obviously you want to perform to your capabilities,” Trumbo said. “But as far as winning new fans over or something like that, I don't have a huge track record but a little bit of one. I think more than anything, I just want to be a contributor.
“… I think if I'm having quality at-bats and driving in runs, then I'm doing my job — in addition to playing good defense.”
PREVIOUS ARTICLE
