Albernaz defends Orioles’ use of analytics: ‘I want more information’; Akin to open; O’s-Tigers lineups

BALTIMORE—Orioles manager Craig Albernaz is a firm devotee of analytics in baseball. MASN analyst Ben McDonald, was critical of what he says is the team’s overreliance on the practice after the team’s 5-3 loss to Tampa Bay on Wednesday.

“We can talk about analytics and what could happen and what should happen if you hit the ball hard,” McDonald said. “But I don’t care if you hit the ball hard. Like, I don’t care if you hit it hard and you hit it to somebody. You’re out. I don’t care how hard you throw ball four. I don’t care what your spin rate was on your breaking ball if you bounce it 3 feet in front of home plate. I don’t care.

“What I care about is, do you make plays? Do you make pitches? Do you get hits when it matters? And that’s what the Orioles are struggling to do right now. They are struggling to have all phases of the game go right at the same time. That’s where the struggle is. So, all this nonsense is eyewash to me about all this analytical stuff.

“You either do or you don’t. And right now, the Orioles don’t. They are not doing it, and they’re not playing well right now. That’s the bottom line.”

Albernaz didn’t directly answer McDonald, but said that he finds the use of analytics vital to doing his job.

“I want more information,” Albernaz said. “I love all the information. All it is is pieces to the puzzle. The more information you have, it helps you guide what’s happening in the game and your decision, but it’s not the end all, be all.

“You take all the information you have and then also you have to watch the game and players’ feedback and coaches’ feedback, then you make your decision.

“Analytics, numbers, data has been along since this game has started. It looks different now. It’s more granular than batting average and ERA. Now, there’s actually concrete data points that look underneath the hood of what the player is actually doing, and a lot of numbers are there for evaluation purposes.

“It’s more of taking the numbers and how can we get our players better. Can we find small margins for matchups that can either help us win the game or put our players in the best spot to succeed?”

Notes: Chris Bassitt will follow Keegan Akin, who will open Friday night’s game against the Tigers. Akin opened for Bassitt on May 10^th in a 2-1 Orioles win over the Athletics. … Jackson Holliday, who led off in 113 games last season, is batting ninth. Albernaz is “more than happy” with Gunnar Henderson and Taylor Ward in the first two positions of the order. “With Jackson, it’s coming out of a long rehab and getting his feet underneath them, getting back acclimated to big league pitching. Just like all our guys, if you produce and are playing well, you merit going up in the order. With Jackson we want to set him up for success and not put too much pressure on him out of the chute.”

Orioles-Tigers lineups

Orioles

Taylor Ward-LF

Gunnar Henderson-SS

Adley Rutschman-C

Pete Alonso-1B

Samuel Basallo-DH

Leody Taveras-CF

Colton Cowser-RF

Coby Mayo-3B

Jackson Holliday-2B

Keegan Akin-LHP

Tigers

Kevin McGonigle-SS

Dillon Dingler-C

Jahmai Jones-DH

Riley Greene-LF

Spencer Torkelson-1B

Wenceel Pérez-CF

Zach McKinstry-RF

Gage Workman-3B

Hao Yu-Lee-2B

Jack Flaherty-RHP

Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com