Monthly Archives: October 2021

Baltimore Orioles’ Trey Mancini and Ryan Mountcastle honored

By virtue of the fact that Trey Mancini set foot on the field on Opening Day for the Baltimore Orioles, he was always going to be the comeback player of the year. That isn’t to say that there weren’t other great candidates out there, because there were. But nothing trumps beating cancer (during a global pandemic, no less) and coming back to play.

That came true this evening, as Mancini was voted the American League’s Comeback Player of the Year, as voted by the players. In short, these are player’s choice awards, so Mancini’s being recognized by his peers. Mancini on the honor:

It means the world. I’m so honored and humbled to receive this award. Especially when I got my diagnosis, I wasn’t totally sure that I’d be playing baseball again. So to be able to come back and play an entire season and receive this award just means everything to me.

Quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports

I don’t need to run down Mancini’s stats or accomplishments this year for Orioles fans. Everyone knows he deserves the honor based on the cancer diagnosis, and for his performance on the field. Everyone expected and knew that Mancini was the guy.

But what we didn’t know is that we’d be talking about another Oriole in a similar light this evening. Ryan Mountcastle was also chosen as the American League’s Most Outstanding Rookie. Again, this by his peers. Mountcastle on the award:

I didn’t really know what to expect going into this first full season. I had never hit that many before in the minor leagues or anything, but coming into this year and hitting 33 homers, it’s pretty cool. After the first month, I probably wouldn’t say I expected that, but I turned it back around and it feels good to be where I’m at.

Quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports

Again, these are players choice awards. But it speaks volumes about both Mancini and Mountcastle that they were recognized by their peers. The BBWAA awards in the same categories will be announced in early November.

But wait…THERE’S MORE! Former Oriole great, SS Mark Belanger (“The Blade”), was named the Curt Flood Award winner. The Flood Award goes to a former player (alive or deceased) who remained dedicated to the MLBPA, and the advancement of player’s rights. Belanger worked in the MLBPA offices after retiring, up until his untimely death from cancer in 1998.

Needless to say, the Orioles cleaned up on this round of awards!

Baltimore Orioles: American League Cheaters Series?

The Baltimore Orioles can take solace in the fact that they swept both ALCS participants (Houston and Boston) at their respective parks. At different points of the season, that is. That did happen.

That aside, Major League Baseball has a problem. I suspect that after the cheating scandals of 2017 and 2018, the last two teams MLB wanted squaring off in the ALCS are Boston and Houston. Yet, that’s what we have.

Mind you, both franchises received discipline for their transgressions prior to last season. I personally thought that the punishments were fair. What I didn’t expect was that these two teams would be meeting in 2021 for the right to play in the Fall Classic.

There’s no evidence of anyone having cheated this year. But the optics of this are poor for the league no matter how you spin it. This despite both teams being very good.

At the time (and we’re talking immediately prior to the pandemic), many fans thought the teams should receive postseason bans. I personally did not agree with that. This isn’t a college sport where you’re chosen by a committee for postseason play. You earn your way there by having a better record than anyone else.

So I’m not saying these teams shouldn’t be at this stage. Unless evidence of further cheating is brought forward, they earned it. I’m just saying the optics are bad. And given how much gambling has come into sports of late, that makes it even worse. But can it be helped? Not in the least.

Baltimore Orioles: Calls for mercy on a day of infamy

Today is a day most Baltimore Orioles’ fans won’t forget. It’s the anniversary of the famous “Jeffrey Maier home run” against the Birds in the 1996 MLB playoffs. It vaulted the New York Yankees to victory over the O’s, and an eventual victory in the series.

I’ve always said that if not for that botched home run/fan interference call, the Orioles would have won the World Series that year. The ‘96 team was that good, and they had that sort of synergy. Furthermore, I’ve always said that Orioles’ manager Davey Johnson should have played the game under protest. Let the league handle the matter – you just never know what would have happened.

I remember watching the game with my Dad and my sister that day. It was a late afternoon game, and my Dad came home to watch it with us; I was in high school. When Maier reached over the wall and gave Derek Jeter a home run, my Dad jumped off the sofa screaming right along with Orioles’ outfielder Tony Tarasco. I did something similar. It was a terrible call and it should have never been allowed to stand. But it did, and it cost the Orioles a World Series (in my view).

However the next day something happened which softened my view of umpire Al Garcia, who made the call: he apologized. He flat out admitted that he botched it. He said that if he could do it over again, he would have ruled fan interference.

Umpires don’t do that – for the most part. They didn’t do it then, and they don’t do it now. I’m sure that the stakes in the game played a role as to why Garcia came out and said that, but he said it. And that’s to his undying credit.

It doesn’t change what happened. And Garcia knew that. But for a guy to do that in a field of work whereby it’s expected that you don’t have to address your mistakes, I always felt that spoke volumes about Al Garcia as a person. And as an umpire.

Quite frankly, it’s that sort of integrity that Orioles fans should expect out of today’s umpires. I use the word integrity because Garcia proved he was fair by calling himself out like that. And that’s all anyone wants in officiating: FAIRNESS.

Baltimore Orioles: 2021 Season Recap

The Baltimore Orioles were forced to wait an extra day to open the 2021 season at Fenway Park due to early spring weather in Boston. But it was worth the wait; John Means pitched what was at the time his best outing as a pro, and the Orioles defeated Boston. They would go on to sweep the series. Unfortunately, that was probably the pinnacle of the season. In terms of a team effort, that is.

Not much was expected of this 2021 Orioles team. However their valleys were probably far deeper than anyone expected. Yet, their peaks were often pretty high as well. That’s often the trade-off you get when you rebuild. One week after that opening series they’d be swept by that same Boston team in their home-opening series.

This season was always going to be strange. The O’s were only allowed to sell 11K seats per game due to social distancing regulations at first. That changed on June 1st. But the Orioles struggled along to that point. They often looked somewhat respectable against some teams, but within their division, they struggled. They were swept by Boston twice in the first two months. They also struggled against New York and Tampa. They lost 15 straight games to close out May – a harbinger of things to come.

But May provided one unbelievable moment, that will be cherished by Orioles fans for generations. The Birds were in Seattle for a Wednesday afternoon matinee on May 5th, closing out a west coast road trip. John Means was on the mound, and low and behold…we saw the first Orioles’ no-hitter since the 1960’s. Throngs of Orioles fans had seen fanbase after fanbase celebrate their guys throwing no-no’s. Finally it was Birdland’s turn!

There were never too many wins built into this team. Pitching was shaky at best, be it starting or in relief. But the Orioles never gave up in games. And that speaks to their character. And at times, they seemed to learn from their mistakes. After being swept by Washington in late May, the Birds returned the favor in late July. Then they turned around and lost 21 consecutive games, two shy of the franchise record. But end of the day, they may have been bad, but they never quit.

One would think that in finishing the season 52-110, it would be tough to find bright spots (aside from the aforementioned John Means no-hitter). But the year was full of outstanding individual performances. Orioles fans got a good look at the future, starting with Cedric Mullins becoming the first 30-30 guy in Orioles’ history. That’s incredibly meaningful.

There’s also a lot of hope instilled in the likes of Ryan Mountcastle, who set a franchise record with 33 home runs as a rookie. When you look back at the players this franchise has had and you think that Mullins is the only 30-30 guy among them, and Mountcastle set a franchise record for a rookie, it would appear that there are some special guys in this current mix of Orioles. And let’s not forget Trey Mancini, who’s all but a shoo-in to be Comeback Player of the Year after returning from cancer last year.

However now the 2021 season fades to black. It’s all but a mere memory, as we watch the 2021 Postseason unfold before us. This while the Birds build towards Sarasota and spring training next February. And remember, hope ALWAYS springs eternal every season!

Baltimore Orioles: So what now?

Today is the first day of the 2021-22 off season for the Baltimore Orioles. It’s kind of amazing if you think about it; seems like yesterday we were excited about five thousand fans at Fenway Park on Opening Day with John Means pitching. Last year was by far the strangest season ever, but this season had it’s peculiarities also. Teams having to limit attendance was odd for sure.

So what comes next for the Orioles? The answer is, “nothing much.” Teams not involved in the postseason generally lay very low during October. And speaking for myself, I’m almost thankful for that. The MLB postseason is so compelling, and so fun to watch. Especially the Wild Card games, which this year feature New York and Boston on the American League side. You can just add this to the litany of moments between those two in the playoffs.

Speaking for myself, I stand firmly behind Dodger Blue in this postseason. They’ll of course take on the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Wild Card game on Wednesday night. Should be fun.

But back to the Orioles; certainly they’ll do some internal things, such as evaluate their coaching staff here and there. Perhaps even some player evaluations. Speaking of players, they’ll be taking their “exit physicals” this week as they all disperse for the off season. But don’t expect anything big to be announced regarding anything until after the World Series. That’s just how things work!

Baltimore Orioles: End of the line for 2021

Bruce Zimmerman got the start in Toronto this afternoon, but the Baltimore Orioles seemed intent on using everyone today. And given that it was the last day of the season, maybe that’s okay. Zimmerman’s line: .2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 1 K.

In a fashion that seemed typical against Toronto this year, the O’s fell 12-4. If it wasn’t Springer getting Toronto on the board, it was Springer with a grand slam. Not that it mattered. For this year, anyways.

Tyler Nevin did hit his first major league home run for the O’s today, a solo shot in the third inning. The O’s rallied late to make it 12-4, however this series was all Toronto. And today was no exception.

And with that, we enter the off season. The O’s finished with a record of 52-110, which earned them the number one pick in next year’s draft. Not exactly an “honor” you want, however it should help the organization at the end of the day.

And that’s the end – for now. So what comes next? Later this week I’ll publish a season recap. And we’ll enter the off season in earnest. It should be an active one, pending the league’s labor situation. This season was tough on everyone, but we made it through. And remember folks, hope always springs anew next year.

Here’s a parody of sorts for you! The Orioles’ next game is set for February 26, 2022 against the New York Yankees at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fl. Both teams are yet to announce a starting pitcher. Game time is TBD.

Baltimore Orioles: John Means hampered by common cold in final start

John Means made his final start of the year for the Baltimore Orioles this afternoon in Toronto. We didn’t find out until after the game, but Means was hampered by a cold in today’s game. Many would say that’s an excuse for his performance today. However I would submit that there’s a difference between an excuse and the truth. Means’ line: 3.0 IP, 7 H, 7 R (6 earned), 0 BB, 2 K.

I’ve heard a lot of current and former athletes talk on this topic. Many say common illnesses never bothered them. Former Washington quarterback Sonny Jurgensen once said that he always played better when he was a little bit sick. Because he had to concentrate harder, and that would make a difference.

Others can’t pull that off. It would appear that Means is in that category. And for the record, if I were an athlete I would be in the same boat. I’m the most miserable patient known to man when I’m sick! Brandon Hyde addressed Means’ outing after the game:

He gave us everything he had today, really gave us everything he had this year. And this is a small blip on Meansie’s season. Happy with his year. He’s still early on in his career. Looking forward to the adjustments he’s going to make going into next spring training. Even though he didn’t have a good one today, he had a really nice year.

Quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports

Toronto got on Means and the Orioles from the beginning. Guerrero smacked a two-run homer in the first inning. Hernandez added a solo shot later in the inning. Ryan McKenna would cut the lead to 3-1 in the second with an RBI-groundout.

But that was as close as the O’s would get. Springer’s three-run homer in the second broke the game wide open at 6-1. Toronto would also get homers from Bichette and Jansen. When the smoke cleared, they had defeated the O’s, 10-1.

The series and the season conclude tomorrow at Rogers Centre. Bruce Zimmerman gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Hyun Jin Ryu. Game time is set for just after 3 PM.