O's game blog: Manto on Walker and a look at tonight's game
It is always fun to see a player make his major league debut and Christian Walker will do that tonight as he bats seventh and plays first base for the Orioles.
The club's minor league Player of the Year figures to see a lot of action in the remaining 11 regular-season games.
This season, his power numbers increased while he continued to hit for a high average. In 2013, Walker batted .300 with 11 homers and 56 RBIs. In 2014, he hit .288 with 26 homers and 96 RBIs between Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk.
I talked recently with Orioles minor league hitting coordinator Jeff Manto, who is in his first season with the team. He told me about meeting Walker back in spring training.
"I saw a guy that is eager to learn and listen," Manto said. "When I first met him, you could tell, and I don't how to explain this, you can look at a player's eyes and know this kid wants it.
"He said, 'Listen, I need to hit for more power.' He understood where he was in his career. We said, 'All we need you to do is use your legs a little bit more.' He was an upper-body hitter. He got on that and (Bowie coach) Butch Davis did a great job with him.
"I got to Bowie and saw he was hitting them halfway back in the trees. I was thinking he'd hit more homers, but not that far. He's made tremendous strides."
Walker has been called a complete hitter by scouts.
"He really is," Manto said. "I enjoy watching Walker hit, as a coach and fan. He makes adjustments pitch to pitch. We can't teach as a coach how to do that. It is one of the things you learn by instincts and reps and this kid is off the charts with making adjustments within the at-bat.
"It's all about solidifying a plan. It came together, and because of his approach to hitting, all the numbers can go up. His on-base, his RBIs and so forth. It's a byproduct of a good approach and good mechanics," Manto said.
As for tonight's game, Bud Norris (13-8, 3.74 ERA) pitches against lefty J.A. Happ (9-10, 4.28 ERA) in the Orioles' first game as American League East champions.
Norris has won his last seven decisions against AL East foes (over 10 starts) and the Birds are 11-1 in his 12 starts against the division this season. In the 12 starts, Norris is 7-1 with a 2.92 ERA and five quality starts.
In the six games of this homestand, O's pitchers have allowed just 10 total runs as the Orioles have gone 5-1. The team ERA is 1.61 and Baltimore pitchers have fanned 56 in 56 innings.
The Orioles are 9-6 versus Toronto this year and are 18-9 at home against the Blue Jays since 2012.
This season, his power numbers increased while he continued to hit for a high average. In 2013, Walker batted .300 with 11 homers and 56 RBIs. In 2014, he hit .288 with 26 homers and 96 RBIs between Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk.
I talked recently with Orioles minor league hitting coordinator Jeff Manto, who is in his first season with the team. He told me about meeting Walker back in spring training.
"I saw a guy that is eager to learn and listen," Manto said. "When I first met him, you could tell, and I don't how to explain this, you can look at a player's eyes and know this kid wants it.
"He said, 'Listen, I need to hit for more power.' He understood where he was in his career. We said, 'All we need you to do is use your legs a little bit more.' He was an upper-body hitter. He got on that and (Bowie coach) Butch Davis did a great job with him.
"I got to Bowie and saw he was hitting them halfway back in the trees. I was thinking he'd hit more homers, but not that far. He's made tremendous strides."
Walker has been called a complete hitter by scouts.
"He really is," Manto said. "I enjoy watching Walker hit, as a coach and fan. He makes adjustments pitch to pitch. We can't teach as a coach how to do that. It is one of the things you learn by instincts and reps and this kid is off the charts with making adjustments within the at-bat.
"It's all about solidifying a plan. It came together, and because of his approach to hitting, all the numbers can go up. His on-base, his RBIs and so forth. It's a byproduct of a good approach and good mechanics," Manto said.
As for tonight's game, Bud Norris (13-8, 3.74 ERA) pitches against lefty J.A. Happ (9-10, 4.28 ERA) in the Orioles' first game as American League East champions.
Norris has won his last seven decisions against AL East foes (over 10 starts) and the Birds are 11-1 in his 12 starts against the division this season. In the 12 starts, Norris is 7-1 with a 2.92 ERA and five quality starts.
In the six games of this homestand, O's pitchers have allowed just 10 total runs as the Orioles have gone 5-1. The team ERA is 1.61 and Baltimore pitchers have fanned 56 in 56 innings.
The Orioles are 9-6 versus Toronto this year and are 18-9 at home against the Blue Jays since 2012.
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