Orioles Closers Can't Get Out The Yankees

After watching the Yankees tattoo Orioles new closer Jim Johnson (right) for 5 runs without recording an out today, I was thinking about all the Orioles closers in my lifetime who have faced the Yankees...and how NONE of them could ever get the Yankees out. So I tweeted:

@NoYoureATowel: I cannot remember an Orioles RP who was able to get Yankees out in my lifetime. It's really unbelievable what they've done against them.

At the exact same time, Yankees beat reporter for the New York Times, Tyler Kepner tweeted:

@TylerKepner: Who was the last good Orioles relief pitcher? Sammy Stewart? Year after year after year the Yankees just destroy their bullpen.

Well great minds think alike. The Baltimore closers really have been bad against the Yankees recently. Chris Ray is no longer the Orioles' closer and he still can't get out Yankees this year with an insane .609/.625/1.261 line this year with a 37.12 ERA and 5.625 WHIP. And, yes, I checked that line twice...it is an OPS against of 1.886. Jeez.

Here's a look back at the rest of the O's closers vs. the Yankees for a decade:

• 2008 - George Sherill - .375/.524/.563 against. 16.20 ERA, 3.300 WHIP

• 2007 - Chris Ray - .294/.429/.471 against. 11.25 ERA, 2.000 WHIP

• 2006 - Chris Ray - .296/.406/.630 against. 4.05 ERA, 1.950 WHIP

• 2005 - B.J. Ryan - .273/.400/.364 against. 6.23 ERA, 1.731 WHIP

• 2004 - Jorge Julio - .300/.464/.600 against. 7.20 ERA, 2.600 WHIP

• 2003 - Jorge Julio -.318/.444/.591 against. 6.75 ERA, 2.250 WHIP

• 2002 - Jorge Julio - .111/.167/.148 against. 0.00 ERA, 0.600 WHIP

• 2001 - Buddy Groom - .344/.344/.541 against. 6.43 ERA, 1.571 WHIP

• 2000 - Mike Timlin - .471/.500/.824 against. 14.73 ERA, 2.455 WHIP

• 1999 - Mike Timlin - .100/.182/.400 against. 2.70 ERA, 0.600 WHIP

• 1998 - Armando Benitez - 1.000/1.000/4.000 against. INF ERA, INF WHIP (that's right, he got no one out)

That's two good seasons in there and some ridiculous stinkers. Orioles closers really are AWFUL against the Yankees. The Yankees have dominated the Orioles the past decade, but part of the reason has to be how they've manhandled the back end of their bullpens.