Trey Gibson started what might have been his final game for the Baltimore Orioles for the time being tonight. Dean Kremer is expected to be recalled off the IL to make the start in tomorrow’s game. I would expect Gibson to be the corresponding move. Gibson’s line: 2.2 IP, 7 H, 8 R, 6 BB, 5 K.
Trey Gibson didn’t totally NOT command the strike zone tonight. When he did, over the course of his short start, he recorded outs. But when he shifted to pitching on the fringes, he got hit HARD. Which mind you, is the EXACT OPPOSITE of what the idea of nibbling in an intended to do. I
t’s intended to induce putting the ball in play – resulting in an out, of course. Needless to say, they’re putting the ball in play against Oriole pitching this year. And last.
The teams traded runs in the first – Chicago on a Benintendi RBI-double, and the Birds on an RBI-single by Samuel Basallo. Benintendi reached base again to lead off the third, followed by a two-run home run by Montgomery which gave Chicago a 3-1 lead. And that home run was hit a LONG WAY. Off of a low slider, for the record.
Gonzalez’s two-RBI single later in the inning extended the lead to 5-1. That came on a pitch well on the lowest of the lower fringes of the strike zone. The ball hit its spot, but Gonzalez was waiting for it. It’s no mystery what the Orioles are doing, and that became more evident later in the inning when Perez’s there-run home run broke the game wide open at 8-3.
That came on a curve in the zone. However it was the first pitch of the at-bat. Why you would start an at-bat on a curve ball is beyond me. Pitchers at times do that so as to steal a first-pitch strike. It didn’t work. It hasn’t worked all year. When teams hit pitchers the way they do those of the Orioles, they either know exactly what’s coming, or they got lucky. Or both. Interpret as you wish.
Save for a Gonzalez RBI-double in the fourth off of Josh Walker, the Oriole bullpen was very solid. Especially Albert Suarez. People who want to stir trouble will argue that the ChiSox called off the dogs. Whether they did or didn’t is beside the point. The Orioles bullpen was strong tonight, which got the Orioles through. It also may have saved a reliever for tomorrow in a bad situation tonight.
The Birds did get an RBI-double by Dylan Beavers and an RBI-single by Pete Alonso in the fifth which cut the lead to 9-3. But again, the bullpen was strong tonight. It may have been the lone bright spot.
I maintain that you can’t nibble on the fringes of the plate. Opponents are well aware of the fact that the Orioles either want to do that, or have to do that. And guys are either ready for the nibble job, or they’re stealing signs. Or both. Either way, balls are going a long way.
So my point would be to attack the strike zone. If you do and they hit the ball a long way, then you know that you need better pitchers. And again, look at how many balls get hit strangely or at weird angles. Look at how many balls get buried in the corners, well away from outfielders – who are playing too deep to have a shot at the balls.
Could that be due in part to the fact that Orioles pitching is throwing so much off the plate and guys are going so far out of the zone that the balls come off the bat oddly? How many more strange bounces will we need to see before it’s understood that exactly the tactics that are meant to stop these things are causing them?
Incidentally, the same is true with the training staff. The Front Office dismissed Brian Ebert, who had been with the team for a long time – this after 2024, and after Ebert was on the All-Star staff that year. As soon as the “new regime” came in, it was injuries galore. So when exactly will they realize that something is off?
The series concludes tomorrow at Camden Yards. Neither side has announced a starter, although again it’s assumed to be Dean Kremer for the Orioles. Game time is set for just after 12:30 PM.
Birdland Crush 