The Baltimore Orioles and other teams aren’t fans of doubleheaders, and not just because it’s double duty. Statistically more doubleheaders are split than anything else – so it’s almost like a guaranteed loss. Cade Povich got the start for the O’s in the nightcap, and with less than desirable results. Povich’s line: 4.1 IP, 7 H, 6 R (3 earned), 5 BB, 1 K.
On top of that, the Orioles and Toronto had to wait just over two hours to play the game. Following the first game the Orioles announced that there was “no start time” for the second game at that time, due to weather in the area. And it did rain. It doesn’t go as a rain delay, for the record. This given the fact that it was a doubleheader. It’s recorded as just the time the teams had between games.
Povich gave up an RBI-double to Clement in the first. But the Orioles immediately tied it up on a solo homer by Colton Cowser, who again was batting leadoff. However Toronto was determined to make sure that the law of averages for doubleheaders remained in tact. Berroa’s RBI-single in the second put them ahead 2-1.
Berroa ended up on third base on a Jordan Westburg error, and scored on a groundout by Springer. However Westburg made up for the error. He smacked a two-run homer in the second, re-tying the score. Errors are tough to get over, especially when you’re in a pennant race. But that’s one way to do it.
However Toronto would re-take the lead, and end up putting four more on the board. The Birds got an RBI-single from Colton Cowser in the last of the seventh, but fell in the long nightcap, 8-4. It’s tough to fathom that the Orioles actually won a game yesterday, yet lost a half game in the standings to New York. But it illustrates why teams don’t like doubleheaders.
All of that brings us to the trade deadline, which is 6 PM this evening. Thus far, contending teams have been “fleeced” by non-contenders in my view. Which doesn’t bode well for the Orioles in a sense. I think they’ll end up making a deal end of the day, however whomever it is will come at a pretty penny.
I would remind fans that the price for the Orioles WILL most certainly be higher than for other teams. You can look at any trade made and say that the Orioles could have offered a better return and gotten that player. However teams know that the Orioles’ farm system is loaded. So they’re going to try to take advantage of that.
I’m not saying they shouldn’t do anything more. They should, and I think they have to. I think they need a starter and a back end reliever – former Oriole Tanner Scott comes to mind. But they just have to be careful. You don’t want to roll the dice too much. The goal is to win the World Series. But you always have to keep half an eye on the future, and you don’t want to empty the tank in one fatal swoop. They need to have a tempered approach.
The series with Toronto continues this evening at Camden Yards. Corbin Burnes gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Toronto’s Chris Bassit. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.
Birdland Crush 