Calling the Pen: It’s time for Cowser to be an everyday player

Our Oriole writer, Rich Dubroff, is a patient man. I know because I often test his patience with observations about the Orioles that are less than flattering. They often frustrate me, and Rich is a reliable outlet. Because of the observations, or outbursts, he calls me Sunny Jack.

A recent moment came in the top of the seventh last Saturday when Leody Taveras dropped a Cedric Mullins fly ball in left-center that could have cost the Orioles in a game they trailed, 2-0. Fortunately, it didn’t and even more fortunate, manager Craig Albernaz called on the right pinch-hitters at the right time — getting a game-tying two-run homer from Samuel Basallo in the bottom of the eighth and a walk-off hit from Dylan Beavers in the 10th to defeat the Tampa Bay Rays, 3-2.

Nothing personal against Taveras, but I don’t understand why he’s playing ahead of Colton Cowser, who’s a superior outfielder and could be an impact player if he were an everyday player. Albernaz frustrated me in the same way when Jackson Holliday came back, and he was rotating with Jeremiah Jackson. The lefty/righty, analytics-driven lineups don’t help players develop and leave players who should be playing on the bench.

It’s an issue for Coby Mayo, who doesn’t have a position but crushes left-handed pitching. It’s a bigger issue for Cowser, who should have a position but is left to soak Beavers with cold water after his game-winning hit or sits on the bench a game after he delivered the only two hits the Orioles had against Tampa Bay on Sunday, including a home run.

I want my best players, and my best defense, on the field for the sprint to the finish. Because Taveras is a switch-hitter, he offers options late in the game if you need a pinch-hitter. But he should be used in right or left or coming off the bench, not Cowser, who offers more upside but needs to know he has the backing of Albernaz. That builds confidence, just as seeing more left-handers, and breaking balls, helps you become a better all-around hitter.

Albernaz should recognize that the Orioles are a better team with Cowser on the field, even though he can handle a cooler full of ice water with the best of them.