A new-look Orioles offense began to take shape in 2018

The transformation of the Orioles offense began in the final two months of the 2018 season. With one or two key additions, the Orioles pumped some needed speed into their lineup and began morphing into an offense that could be less dependent on homers.

As a new regime takes over at some point, perhaps we'll see a team producing fewer homers and strikeouts and an offense more reliant on contact, on-base skills and speed.

That will be music to the ears of some fans, but before you celebrate too much, the Red Sox specifically looked to add power to their lineup before 2018, and they went on to win the World Series. Of course, they already had a lineup featuring much more variety than Baltimore's.

The Orioles led the majors in homers in 2013, 2014 and 2016 and were second in 2012. They hit 232 in the 2017 season to rank fifth-best in the majors.

But during the 2018 regular season, when almost nothing went right, the Orioles didn't even mash many home runs. They hit 188 to rank ninth in the American League, and they were five under the league average. They went from one of the best homer teams in baseball to under AL average.

So maybe the time is right to pump more speed and on-base skill into the lineup.

When the Orioles added Jonathan Villar via a late July trade, a lot changed. The Orioles stole 32 bases in all of 2017 to rank last in the majors. They added Villar in a deal with Milwaukee on July 31, 2018. In the last two months of the season, the O's stole 43 bases. Villar had almost half of them, going 21-for-24.

Villar also encouraged his teammates to run, especially young center fielder Cedric Mullins. Mullins and Villar could team to give the Orioles a speedy top of the lineup in 2019, one with the ability to steal bases and to be aggressive.

Before the All-Star break, the Orioles had 36 steals - which already exceeded their 2017 total - but that rated just 12th-best in the American League. After the break, they stole 45 to rank fifth in the AL.

Villar had his best year stealing bases since he led the National League in 2016 with 62, and he stole them at a better percentage this summer. In 2016, Villar stole successfully at a 77.5 percent clip, and in 2017 that was 74.2. Last year, in stealing 35 of 40 between two teams, his percentage was 87.5. That could work.

Late last season, I asked Villar why he was stealing at a better percentage in 2018.

"I'm under more control, and I think about who is catching and who is pitching and in what situation we can run," Villar said. "What count we can run in? Also, what count the pitcher may throw a changeup or breaking ball, making it easier to steal the base than with a fastball."

Villar had the green light to run, he said, and had teammates who would also sometimes push the envelope on the bases, including Mullins, Craig Gentry, Jace Peterson and John Andreoli.

"We can change the team into a speed team," Villar said. "Our team right now has more speed, with a lot of fast guys. When I see someone steal a base I feel happy."

Villar seemed particularly excited to teach Mullins a few things. He told about one at-bat where he took two strikes because he wanted Mullins to run, but Mullins didn't. Villar added that he would work on communicating some signs with Mullins so the two were on the same page.

Playing more small ball - is it possible for the once homer-happy Orioles? It seems it is, and we saw the start of a change late last season.

McKenna got in: Orioles outfield prospect Ryan McKenna won the final vote to make the West roster for Saturday's Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game. He needed votes from the Orioles fan base, and they delivered for him.

McKenna had four hits for the second time in four games yesterday for Glendale. He went 4-for-6 with a double and homer. He is 10-for-17 in that four-game span. In 12 AFL games for the season, he's batting .404/.509/.702 with an OPS of 1.211. Yep, he deserved to play in that game, and now he will.

You did it @Orioles fans! @Ry_mac35 won the @BowmanCards Final Vote and is headed to the Fall Stars Game! https://t.co/5sQD5XwCUV

-- Arizona Fall League (@MLBazFallLeague) October 31, 2018

You guys are the best! Thank you @Orioles's fans and everyone who helped! Looking forward to representing y'all well!

-- Ryan McKenna (@Ry_mac35) October 31, 2018