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.
Birdland Crush 