Tale of the tape makes Britton feel closer to his previous self

Zach Britton's professional life can be tracked by the tiniest advancements since undergoing Achilles surgery in December. Shedding the protective boot, walking on an underwater treadmill, throwing off flat ground, getting back on a mound, participating in fielding drills without worrying about another blowout, starting an injury rehab assignment, leaving the disabled list.

Pitching on consecutive days in Atlanta was another noteworthy achievement, earning his first save after being charged with four runs in one-third of an inning in his previous outing. But perhaps just as important to Britton, and much more discreet, was the removal of the ankle tape Saturday afternoon that he's worn since coming out of the boot.

The Orioles already had gone through a meltdown in the eighth inning, surrendering five runs to fumble a 2-1 lead. Britton's scoreless ninth on 11 pitches largely went unnoticed during the rewrite (media) and venting (fans) process, but it was an important part of his gradual progression.

"Little things like that that people probably don't care about because I've been hearing it in the bullpen when I warm up, that no one cares about the issues that you're going through. They want you to play well. But there's little things that you go through," Britton said.

"I felt a little more natural without the ankle tape, so hopefully maybe it allows me to settle in a little bit more and just get back to feeling normal. But there's little things like that every day that I'm doing something where I feel a little closer to myself. But obviously, at the end of the day people just want to see you put up the results and I'm working on that, too. It's not that I'm just going out there and throwing stuff up there. I want to do well. It's just a matter of getting consistent with my delivery and all the other stuff will take care of itself."

Britton has made nine appearances this season and allowed six runs and eight hits in 8 2/3 innings. He's walked seven batters, including three in his debut back on June 12, and struck out seven.

"It's tough to gauge because if I was healthy going into the spring I probably would feel ahead of where I'm at now," Britton said. "And it's hard because you're doing it in the big leagues, where the stats matter and the hitters are 300 at-bats in. I see glimpses of, 'OK, there it is.' Like the other day, it's probably some of the best top to bottom sinker movement I've had, so you try to take those results.

"It's hard to look at the numbers for somebody who, that's always been the thing for me. I've always been conscious of trying to put up the best numbers. And you sit there and you talk to Buck (Showalter) and it's not the end goal. And you're like, 'Well, what's the end goal?' The end goal is being healthy and getting back to the level. So yeah, it's been a grind to get back to that and being comfortable."

The Orioles need Britton to be good in order to increase their chances of being competitive, especially with Darren O'Day and Richard Bleier lost to season-ending injuries, and avoiding the embarrassment of losing the most games in franchise history. But they also recognize him as one of their prime trade chips as they slip into a rebuild mode.

Executive vice president Dan Duquette didn't hide it recently when he stated, "I think Zach needs to pitch a little bit. He didn't have the benefit of the spring training period, so I think he needs to pitch a little bit for clubs to take a look at him and for him to get back to his previous high level."

Scouts are following Britton from city to city with orders to check his physical condition and whether his stuff is at least close to All-Star form, with projections for continued improvement as he keeps getting the ball. Multiple scouts from outside the organization have dismissed his ERA and walk total and pointed to the game of catchup that he's playing after surgery.

"Basically, what I've seen is he just needs time," said one scout. "This is like extended spring. The only thing is, he's been thrown into the fire and this is real, whereas he was in a relaxed atmosphere in spring training.

"As far as his delivery and everything, he's fine. From a psychological point of view he knows what this entire situation means, not only for the ballclub, but because he wants to present himself well for other suitors that may be interested in him. He just needs time. He's just not himself right now, but there is nothing structurally wrong or physically wrong. He's going to come around."

The scout said there wouldn't be this much scrutiny if Britton experienced a couple of hiccups in spring training, and the beatdown in Atlanta and Kyle Seager's home run on June 27 that resulted in a blown save against the Mariners should be treated the same.

"He'd just getting in shape, he'd be going through the routines and when the bell rings, he'd be ready to start," the scout said.

"Now, let's go back a couple years as we remember when the team was in limbo about who was going to be the closer. He had that good spring, but they started out with Tommy Hunter and there were still no signs that he was going to get the role and then he was thrown into it and he seized it and took off. He was in shape and ready for it.

"I don't foresee any problems. All of this other scuttlebutt, you have to dismiss that and know who he is. He's still the same guy. You see the movement on the ball. But right now he's trying to make it do a little more than what it is when he's relaxed. He's right really where he should be, because when he's relaxed that velocity's going to come up. I don't see anything wrong. I just think he needs a little bit more time."

The Orioles nearly had a deal done with the Astros last summer before concerns about the medicals on two of the four prospects prevented it from happening. A scout doubted that they will get the same type of return following the surgery and with Britton further removed from his 47-for-47 season and being a potential two-month rental.

He reasoned that the Orioles no longer will be negotiating from the same position of strength. But he's been filing positive reports on Britton.