If the reigning American League Most Valuable Player gets plunked with an 88-mph fastball, does it even make a sound?
But if the pitch is thrown by Daniel Cabrera, the sound is pretty clear: it’s that of the Orioles telling the right-hander to call a cab and leave town.
The Orioles’ former prospect — a 6-foot-9, 270-pound specimen once armed with a fastball that traveled in excess of 90 mph — was rocked for seven runs on nine hits in 3 2/3 innings Sunday.
The Orioles tried to mount a comeback, but Cabrera’s awful start was too much to overcome in a 8-7 loss to the Yankees before 42,746 fans at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Sunday.
Thanks to an undeserved offensive outburst, Cabrera was spared his ninth loss of the season when the Orioles (61-68) tied the game at seven in the fifth inning before Robinson Cano blasted what turned out to be the game-winning home run off Jamie Walker (1-2).
The Orioles even came within 90 feet of tying it, but Yankees closer Mariano Rivera struck out Nick Markakis to end the game with Brian Roberts standing on third. But more than being swept by the Yankees (70-60), the story of the weekend was Cabrera’s continued ineffectiveness.
“I don’t have an answer for that question right now,” Cabrera said before refusing to comment about the decrease in his velocity.
Just as was the case in his previous start — a loss to Boston on Aug. 19 — Cabrera’s fastball was nowhere near the fear-inducing stuff with which his name had became synonymous.
Suddenly, the generous radar gun at Oriole Park at Camden Yards need only reach 94 when Cabrera takes the mound. Sunday, it seemed to be occasionally stuck on “FASTBALL 86.”
With his combination of size and arm strength, Cabrera was a valuable commodity. And when he began to pitch well this season, especially during a stretch in which he won three straight outings in mid-May, it appeared he had a future in this town.
But Sunday marked just the second time in Cabrera’s career he did not strike out a batter. The last time was July 25, 2004 —two months into his rookie season. Now, not even a month removed from the July 31 non-waiver trading deadline, it appears the days in Baltimore are dwindling for a pitcher who has a 5.24 earned-run average.
Cabrera, whose earned-run average this month in 7.73, made his 144th career start Sunday. A quick glance at the team’s pregame notes illustrates that 62 of those have been “quality starts,” defined by a pitcher six lasting or more innings and allowing three runs or less.
Sunday was the sixth time this year Cabrera lasted five innings or less, and allowed six or more runs.
Cabrera’s season might suggest the need for a new stat: “horrendous starts.”
“I don’t have an answer for it,” Orioles manger Dave Trembley said of Cabrera’s struggles. “If he wasn’t [healthy], he wouldn’t be out there.”
Sean Welsh is the Orioles beat writer for The Examiner. He can be reached at [email protected].
