Thoughts on coaches returning in 2018

Left-hander Tanner Scott allowed one hit and struck out four batters last night over two scoreless innings in the Arizona Fall League's Fall Stars Game.

Ryan Mountcastle, batting third and playing third base, doubled and drove in a run.

Meanwhile, the news that the Orioles were inviting back all of their coaches for the 2018 season drew mixed reactions on this blog and Twitter, which is exactly what should be expected. You can't get everyone on the same page. That would be boring - and a little crowded unless it's a really, really big page.

It's human nature to need someone to blame, one person to stand in front of the pointed finger. Or the raised one if you're especially angry. But a team doesn't lose 19 of his last 23 games and finish in last place unless it's a group effort.

The disaster was a dog pile.

Pitching coach Roger McDowell took some serious heat this summer for overseeing a rotation that posted the worst ERA in club history at 5.70. There were whispers over the summer that his job could be in jeopardy, less than one full season on the job, but manager Buck Showalter bristled and kept pointing to his track record.

McDowell's staffs in Atlanta ranked in the top five in ERA from 2009-2014 and led the majors with a 3.18 ERA in 2013. Braves relievers registered a 2.88 ERA from 2011-2014, the best mark in the bigs.

Kevin Gausman turned in his second consecutive split season, with much better numbers in the second half. It happened under former pitching coach Dave Wallace and it repeated under McDowell.

Ubaldo Jiménez registered WHIPs above 1.500 in three of his four seasons. The 6.81 ERA this summer was the highest of his career. The second-highest was 5.44 in 2016. Others also have tried and failed with Jiménez.

Wade Miley registered a 6.17 ERA in 11 starts with the Orioles last season following a trade with the Mariners and a 5.61 ERA this year in 32 starts. Chris Tillman needed an injection in his shoulder in December, began the season on the disabled list and never was right. How much of it should fall upon McDowell?

Same with Zach Britton, who twice went on the DL with a strained left forearm and had to be shut down in September with discomfort in his left knee. McDowell didn't Gillooly him.

If McDowell absorbs the blame for every failure, does he also get credit for Dylan Bundy's rise to staff ace? For Miguel Castro's emergence as one of the most valuable relievers on the staff? For Mychal Givens going 8-1 with a 2.75 ERA and 1.042 WHIP in 69 appearances?

Left-handers batted .366 against Givens last year. They hit .184 this season.

The acquisition of left-hander Richard Bleier in spring training barely drew notice, but he posted a 1.99 ERA in 57 games. He was the most reliable left-hander in the 'pen if you consider Britton's absences and Donnie Hart's demotions to Triple-A Norfolk.

Darren O'Day allowed only three runs in his last 25 appearances beginning on Aug. 2. I wonder how many people noticed. I've noticed a lot of bashing since the Orioles re-signed him.

Does McDowell get any credit for these improvements? Does bullpen coach Alan Mills, who also completed his first season in his new role?

Jeremy Hellickson was better with the Phillies than the Orioles. McDowell didn't suddenly ruin him. Hellickson points the finger at himself.

We could go back and forth all day. The good and the bad, and how much of it does or doesn't reflect poorly on McDowell and Mills.

It falls upon the front office to improve the rotation and on the pitchers to do their jobs. McDowell and Mills can only do so much. Side work, video, one-on-one talks. Part coach and part psychiatrist.

Fans calling for the hitting coach's head is a tradition in Baltimore. Every single one has come under fire since I joined the beat full-time in 1997. Rick Down had to go, Terry Crowley had to go, Jim Presley had to go, Scott Coolbaugh has to go.

Come to think of it, that's not a huge list considering the number of years, but you get my drift.

The roster is filled with hitters who live by the credo that you tee it high and let it fly. Coolbaugh can't tone down the aggression unless he grabs the bats and goes to home plate.

One of Coolbaugh's most important tasks is getting the aggression back in Chris Davis, who planted the bat on his shoulder. Otherwise, he'd love to see more walks from the lineup, more of a nod toward manufacturing runs rather than living and dying by the home run. He sees what we see. Doesn't make it any easier to correct.

If we're going to bury Coolbaugh for the seasons turned in by Davis and Mark Trumbo, we should throw him a parade for Jonathan Schoop's rise to Most Valuable Oriole. Trey Mancini will receive votes on the Rookie of the Year ballot. Welington Castillo posted career-highs with a .282 average and 20 home runs.

We could honor Coolbaugh for Tim Beckham's August and bury him for Beckham's September.

I'm on record as saying that I approve of keeping the coaches. Give them the necessary upgrades - the rotation especially comes to mind - and pin more of the responsibility on the players who occupy the roster.