Author Archives: Domenic Vadala

Welcome to Birdland Crush! Yes folks, for the record it's a spin off of the popular summer beverage native to the Mid-Atlantic Region - "orange crush." Nevertheless, I've been covering Orioles' baseball since 2009 in some capacity, and it's basically the greatest gig of all time so far as I'm concerned! But for those who aren't familiar with my work or bio, I'm familiar with pretty much every sport out there. But baseball is king - we all know that. So my hope is that you come back and check in after every Orioles' game, and throughout the off-season. I'm always on duty!

Baltimore Orioles: A polar win in Queens

Brandon Young was taxed with starting what was perhaps always going to be the most emotionally charged game of the season for the Baltimore Orioles. Pete Alonso returning as a visitor to play AGAINST the NY Mets was always circled on the calendar. This by both teams. Young’s line: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 5 BB, 6 K.

New York, the NL version of them at least, showed out for Alonso. Honestly, I’ve never seen such an outpouring of love for a returning player. We this all the time – players returning to where they had began their careers and were still well thought of – all the time. Never have I seen such an outpouring of admiration as we saw. From NY Mets’ fans this evening towards Pete Alonso.

And mind you, Alonso sits on 299 career home runs. He didn’t get his 500th HR tonight. But there’s two games left. And odds are it’s on both his and the fans’ radar. Again, I can’t stress enough the class that New York fans showed in the moment. Pete Alonso was truly a beloved player in Queens. And it was on display tonight.

Heston Kjerstad’s RBI-single in the second gave the Birds a 1-0 lead. That lasted until the fourth when Ewing’s solo home run dunked the O’s out of the lead, tying the game at two. (And yes, you see what I did there!) That tied the game, and we played on.

Gunnar Henderson smacked a solo homer in the eighth, which in essence won the game for the Orioles. The Birds continued to record outs on defense, which is exactly what you want in that circumstance. And the O’s went home, 2-1 winners.

The series continues tomorrow at Citi Field. Shane Baz gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by New York’s Shawn Manaea. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Solo home runs and outfield positioning

The Baltimore Orioles now find themselves in a situation where they need wins with few games remaining. They had the opportunity early today to get ah early lead for starter Trevor Rogers. And they couldn’t do it. Rogers’ line: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 5 K.

A single and two walks loaded the bases for the O’s before they even recorded an out. It also appeared they had taken a 1-0 lead when Coby Mayo walked with the bases loaded – but did he really?! The full count pitch was challenged by Toronto, and the challenge was upheld. It went from a 1-0 lead to one out and the bases still loaded.

But the O’s still had a shot to start on top. And they couldn’t do it. Two strikeouts ended the inning and let Toronto off the hook.

Toronto came out characteristically aggressive in the second inning. McAdoo got on base with a single, and promptly stole second base. He would score on an RBI-double by Gimenez later in the inning.

About that; I’ve said since at least last year that the O’s play their outfield too deep. I get the point; it’s easier to close in running forward that tracking the ball backwards. But look at how many fluke pops dump their way in front of the outfield. Furthermore, with pitchers being told to focus on spin rate more so than anything else, the ball at times does strange things off the bat.

And that’s what happened with that Gimenez hit. He blooped a ball shallow into the outfield, with Christian Encarnacion-Strand deflecting the ball off his glove, and left fielder Dylan Beavers not being able to get there in time. Maybe…just maybe…if Beavers is playing slightly more shallow, this isn’t an issue.

The O’s would even the score in the fifth on an RBI-single by Pete Alonso. But it was a short-lived tie. Toronto of course throws the script out the window, especially against the Orioles. The book says that solo home runs don’t hurt you. And yes, I agree with that sentiment. In the same way that surrendering a FG in the first quarter of an NFL game shouldn’t hurt you.

But that also assumes that you don’t surrender back-to-back-to-back solo home runs. That’s akin to a three-run home run. The culprits were Springer, Guerrero, and Okamoto. All three were on pitches smack in the middle of the strike zone. Mind you, the Orioles have had trouble all year with teams in effect knowing that they were pitching to the fringes of the plate. But right down Broadway isn’t the answer either.

The Orioles had a chance to bury Toronto early on. And they just couldn’t do it. Toronto on the other hand took advantage of the opportunities they were given. That’s the difference in this game. That might be the difference in the season.

That trend continued in the eighth when Toronto loaded the bases with two out, and the Orioles rewarded them by walking on a fifth run. To top that off, Springer smacked a bases-clearing double to extend it to 8-1. Should that ball have been caught? In my opinion, yes. But it homely under Dylan Beavers’ glove in left field. Could that have been due to the outfield playing too deep again?

As I said, I’ve said since at least last year that the outfielders were too far back. It seems to be proven and re-proven time and again. Whatever the algorithm is saying, it’s not working. And this has been the case over multiple managers, meaning that the directive may not be coming from the dugout.

The Orioles now head to Queens to open a three-game set with the NY Mets at Citi Field. Brandon Young gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by NY’s Jonah Tong. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Multi-run innings play both ways

The Baltimore Orioles won last night thanks to a big inning. Today it was Kyle Bradish who was victimized by one, in essence in reverse. Not as big an inning as the O’s pulled off last night, but big enough. Bradish’s line: 3.0 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 2 K.

Toronto got on the board early with Guerrero’s RBI-single in the first inning. That may have been the biggest mistake the Orioles made today. Guerrero’s had an awful season. Last thing they want is a series against them (the O’s) being the spot where he turned it on.

Kirk would add an RBI-single before the inning ended. However it was the third which did the Orioles in. Bateman led off the inning with a solo home run. Kirk would add a two-run shot later in the inning, after Guerrero returned to form by striking out. Toronto continued to threaten, but Bradish pitched out of it.

The O’s did get one back in the fourth when Christian Encarnacion-Strand reached on a fielding error, pushing a run across. That sequence also included a throwing error by Toronto, but they pitched out of the inning. Toronto would get that run back in the sixth on an RBI-double by Giminez.

The Orioles had thoughts of getting back into the game, however. Pete Alonso’s two-run home run in the seventh cut the lead to 6-3. But Toronto would load the bases in their half of the frame, and extended the lead and the final to 7-3 on a sac fly-RBI.

The O’s now find themselves at three games out of the final Wild Card spot. This makes tomorrow a must-win. The O’s of course will see Toronto once more before the season ends – at Camden Yards.

The series concludes tomorrow at Rogers Centre. Trevor Rogers gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Toronto’s Dylan Cease. Game time is set for just after 1 PM

Baltimore Orioles led by another big inning

For the second time in a week, the Baltimore Orioles won a game thanks to a big inning. Last night in Toronto, starter Chris Bassitt was the beneficiary. Granted, you would rather a more balanced attack across the entire game, but whatever gets the job done and wins the game. Bassitt’s line: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 5 K.

Dylan Beavers hit the second pitch of the ballgame out of the park, giving the O’s an early lead. Toronto threatened in the bottom of the inning, but Bassitt pitched out of it. Perhaps with an assist from a pickoff at first base by Samuel Basallo. Also a bizarre (non) challenge on what ended up being strike three to end the inning – also by Basallo.

The O’s used three base hits to load the bases to lead off the second. Keep in mind that over the course of the season, we’ve seen this happen and the O’s ground into a double-play, netting one run. But Heston Kjerstad broke that mold, lining an RBI-single to right field – and the bases remained loaded.

In the immediate aftermath, Colton Cowser’s two-RBI double extended the lead to 4-0. That brought Beavers back to the plate, and he complimented his first inning home run with a two-RBI single. All of that before the Orioles recorded an out in the second inning.

Bassitt pitched out of a few other jams along the way. He did give up a solo home run to Okamoto in the fourth. He began to tire in the sixth, putting a couple of runners in base. He left the game before recording an out, and reliever Josh Walker allowed on run to score – on an RBI-groundout. But he closed the inning down, and the O’s lead stood at 6-2.

Coby Mayo gave them what amounted to an insurance run with a solo homer in the seventh. They didn’t totally need that run, but it always helps. Toronto got an eleventh hour two run homer from Bateman in the last of the ninth, which needless to say made the Orioles nervous. But the closed out a 7-4 win north of the border.

The series continues this afternoon at Rogers Centre. Kyle Bradish gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Toronto’s Spencer Miles. Game time is set for just after 3 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Caddywampus innings always help

For once, the Baltimore Orioles put up runs for Shane Baz. He’s had some of the worst run support in the majors this year. At first it appeared the game was going in that direction. But things change quickly. Baz’s line: 5.2 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 1 BB, 5 K.

After a leadoff bloop hit, DeLauter smacked a two-run home run in the top of the first inning. That’s the sort of way Cleveland does things. And it’s how teams have beaten the Orioles all year. Get on base and find a way to get the run in. But two can play at that game.

The O’s put the first two runners on base in the third in typical Cleveland fashion. A bloop single and an infield hit. Cleveland starter Griffith then committed a throwing error trying to pick off Carlos Narvaez at first base. The sad thing is it at least appeared as if he may have picked him off – minus the bad throw.

That left two runners in scoring position with nobody out. Dylan Beavers’ two-run double immediately tied the game at two. After a subsequent single and a walk, the O’s had the bases loaded, again with nobody out. Christian Encarnacion-Strand was then hit by a pitch, giving the O’s the lead. That’s was followed by a Jackson Holliday RBI-single which extended the lead to 4-2.

That escalated quickly. Cleveland finally recorded an out on a sac fly-RBI by Rece Hinds. RBI-singles by Jeremiah Jackson and Leody Taveras extended the lead to 7-2. That finally chased Griffith from the game, following which an RBI-single by Dylan Beavers closed the scoring in the inning – and the O’s leading 8-2.

That’s the sort of inning which has evaded the O’s all year. And it began by guys just getting on base. And it continued by more and more guys getting on base. Get runners on base and anything can happen.

Baz would tire in the sixth, and surrendered a two-run homer to Lowe. That was followed later in the inning by an RBI-double by Bailey. That chased Baz, however he left with an 8-5 lead.

The O’s also took advantage of a major Cleveland mistake later on. Coby Mayo rightfully should have fouled out to end the sixth inning. However the ball was dropped by Ramirez, continuing the at-bat and the inning. Mayo smacked a solo homer on the next pitch.

Cleveland threatened in the eighth and ninth, but the Oriole bullpen held. With the 9-5 win, the Orioles took the series. They now have an off day tomorrow and head north of the border to Toronto on Friday.

Baltimore Orioles: Defensive miscues cost games

Brandon Young was only the most recent victim of the defensive miscues committed by the Baltimore Orioles. Not even necessarily on the field – although the stat line would disagree. But more so by whomever works out the lineup before the game. Young’s line: 3.2 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 2 BB, 2 K.

That’s not a good stat line. But Cleveland’s the sort of team who puts the ball in play and sort of plays things out. This as opposed to always trying to hit the ball hard.

Kwan led the game off with a double, and he scored on an RBI-single by Adell. One inning later Martinez led off the second with a triple. But it probably should have been a double; it was misplayed by Leody Taveras in the right field corner.

Martinez would score on an RBI-single by Bailey. Taveras would also misjudge a line drive later in the inning, leading a base hit. Bazzana’s three-run homer would extend the lead to 5-0. One inning later in the third Halpin’s RBI-single would extend the lead to 6-0.

Taveras is a center fielder by trade. The Orioles almost internally insert people anywhere they can if it helps their stats on offense. Defense matters also. And because the O’s didn’t pay attention to that, they found themselves in a 6-0 hole.

Samuel Basallo would ground out with the bases loaded in the fourth, cutting the lead to 6-1. In fairness to Taveras, he would bounce back in the fifth. His RBI-double in the fifth cut the lead to 6-2. Later in the inning Pete Alonso would cut it to a one-run lead with a three-run home run.

However a four-run seventh would seal the Orioles’ fate. To make matters worse, Gunnar Henderson would leave the game in the eighth after fouling a pitch off his food. If he misses time, the Orioles will find themselves in a world of trouble.

The series concludes tomorrow at Camden Yards. Shane Baz gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Foster Grittin. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Trevor Rogers played stopper

Trevor Rogers turned in perhaps the best quality start that one could turn in, and when the Baltimore Orioles direly needed it. Cleveland is a team that the Birds would in theory need to leapfrog to make it into the postseason. Rogers, along with Oriole bats which appeared to show signs of life, kept the O’s relevant in that fight today. Rogers’ line: 7.1 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 6 K.

After being swept by Boston over the weekend, this was exactly the sort of game the Orioles needed. Cleveland starter Cantillo struggled with control his entire outing. He flat out couldn’t find the strike zone the whole way. He hit Samuel Basallo with a pitch in the second, and then walked Receiver Hinds. That brought Dylan Beavers to the plate, who smacked an RBI-double to give the Orioles a 1-0 lead.

That kind of set the tone. Coby Mayo would smack a solo home run in the third, extending the lead to 2-0. Later in the inning, Cantillo would load the bases after two walks. Blaze Alexander would proceed to walk as well, this with the bases loaded. That extended the lead to 3-0.

Incidentally, that bases loaded walk came AFTER Cantillo was lifted, Cleveland had seen enough by that point, and went to their bullpen. But the Birds didn’t stop there. Pete Alonso would also draw a bases loaded walk, and the O’s led 4-0.

You would have liked to have seen some sort of bases-clearing knock in there somewhere. But when you’ve lost six straight and your playoff chances are flailing (on Labor Day at that), you have to start somewhere. One way or the other, the O’s extended their lead in that sequence.

Rogers experienced a slight hiccup in the sixth when he allowed an RBI-double in the sixth. This of course with two outs. But he induced a fly out immediately after, ending the inning.

But the Orioles didn’t allow that to stop them. Coby Mayo smacked a two-run home run in the last of the sixth, which acted as insurance runs. It was Mayo’s first multi-home run game of his career. Needless to say, it made a huge difference.

Clevaland, among other teams, is known for inducing soft contact. With Andrew Kitteredge on to close the game, Cleveland put two runners on by way of very soft contact. That led to a three-run homer by Lowe. Cutting the lead to 6-4.

It also caused the Orioles to use another reliever. But they ultimately closed out a 6-4 win. Largely on the heels of Trevor Rogers and Coby Mayo. In terms of the standings it keeps the O’s relevant. For now. It also snaps a six-game losing streak.

The series continues tomorrow at Camden Yards. Brandon Yoing gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Cleveland’s Tanner Bibee. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Computers are crashing the Birds

It’s tough for Baltimore Orioles’ fans to blame Kyle Bradish for today’s loss. Sadly, not only was it the Birds’ sixth straight loss, but it also completed a four-game sweep at the hands of Boston. Bradish’s line: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R (0 earned), 4 BB, 3 K.

Bradish pitched well enough to win – as far as four inning outings go. But he was failed by a few things. For starters, Boston fouled off pitch after pitch. Whether it was ticking a ball as it went into the catcher’s mitt, or smacking tape measure foul balls. That drive up Bradish’s pitch count big time.

And similar to other starters, it’s not Bradish’s fault that the offense isn’t clicking. There’s nothing he can do about that. One good note in that front; Christian Encarnacion-Strand gave the Orioles the lead in the first with an RBI-double. That was the Orioles’ first run since late on Thursday.

Things actually seemed to be progressing well in the second, as the O’s recorded two outs with one on. But Bradish worked around that, and induced a ground ball by Monasterio….until, his efforts were foiled. Gunnar Henderson booted the ball and the fielding error left two on and two out.

Predictably, White smacked a three-run home run in the next at-bat, giving Boston a 3-1 lead. All three of those runs are unearned. Defense has been a problem all season long. In this instance, it came from a source in Henderson from whom one might expect better. But it’s happened all year.

It’s easy to say that Bradish may have thrown a sinker that didn’t sink to White. But he was failed by the defense behind him. That’s glaring. You also might consider that catcher Adley Rutschman may have had some advance knowledge on Bradish. Or overall on the O’s in terms of pitch selection in certain situations. Another reason to never trade in the division.

One other point to that effect. The O’s had Rece Hinds (who was called up to replace Luis Robert who went to the IL before the game) for aboard with a double in the fifth. He was promptly picked off by Rutschman at second.

That’s no coincidence. Rutschman knows what the Orioles do. He’s been a part of it. He may well have known the O’s were eyeing third before the O’s did. Which is scary. Again, don’t trade in the division.

Lastly, it’s not Bradish’s fault that his mound opponent, Tolle, was outstanding. He surrendered four hits and one run. He struck out 12. For what it’s worth, the Orioles sat Samuel Basallo in three of the four games against Boston (at the beginning of the game). Against three southpaws.

Could Basallo have done any worse than what we saw out of the Oriole offense this series? Marching up is one thing. Doing it all game and every game from the get go is another. Cleveland is throwing a lefty tomorrow also, for what that’s worth.

You don’t sign Basallo to the extension to which the Orioles signed him last year only to sit him due to a computer. For all I know the results would have been worse, but at a certain point you have to play all your cards. Numbers and Sabre metrics be damned.

The Orioles either have an inability to buck the trends, or they aren’t being allowed to do so. Tolle struck out 12 – do we not think that Adley Rutschman may have told the pitching staff how Oriole bats might react to certain pitches? (The O’s struck out 17 times total today.) Tolle threw a steady diet of four-seam fastballs. And the Orioles bit every time.

On a side note, I’m convinced that there’s some algorithm which says there’s a better probability of winning if you don’t use ABS challenges. Because the Orioles seem to infernally refuse to use them. They okay the game where they flare at the umpire and indirectly question the strike zone.

Again, it would stand to reason that the algorithm says that’s better. Or the app. Everything has an app now. To be blunt, baseball is won the same way it always has been. Since the dead ball era until now. It’s timeless. It’s part of the fabric of our country. You win games the old fashion way. Not in aerospace. There’s nothing about this game that’s “aggressively modern.” Someone should understand that.

The ao’s now stay at home to open a three-game set with Cleveland at Camden Yards. Trevor Rogers gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Cleveland’s Joey Cantillo. Game time is set for just after 1:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Craig Albernaz broke the script

Chris Bassitt took the loss this evening, but in reality the Baltimore Orioles’ offense took the loss. There’s no scenario in which you can win a game while scoring zero runs. None. Bassitt’s line: 5.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 6 K.

There appears to be some sort of sudden issue with Oriole bats. The Birds just can’t get anything going over the course of the past week. It’s almost as if all of their equity was spent when Colton Cowser climbed the wall in Denver. Because not many runs have scored since then.

Manager Craig Albernaz played a role in this loss. But not in a way that one might think. With two outs in the sixth Bassitt loaded the bases, prompting Albernaz to go out to the mound – presumably to change pitchers. However Bassitt appeared to talk him out of lifting him.

To be clear, this is a case of a manager doing EXACTLY what I think a manager should be doing: going with a gut instinct. It shows feel for the game, which is something that ALL MANAGERS need to have. Again, this is something that’s IMPERATIVE in baseball.

But when Artificial Intelligence, among other computer programs, removes the need for any sort of feel for the game, you should expect that managers won’t have it. The results say that Alberbaz should have lifted Bassitt when he wanted to. Because Boston took a 2-0 lead on White’s subsequent two-RBI single.

To add insult to injury, that was a softly-hit single; not something you can predict. Boston just did what came naturally, while the Orioles either remained guided by Sabre Metrics, or overrode those Sabre Metrics in a performative manner. Either is detrimental. Neither is good.

Wong would add an RBI-single before the inning ended which rode the lead to 3-0. One inning later Kiner-Filefa’s two-RBI double extended the lead to 5-0. End of the day the big story here is that the O’s couldn’t muster a run. They loaded the bases in the eighth but Pete Alonso struck out.

I’m not sure what sort of Artificial Intelligence is being used, but it’s working to opponents’ benefit. You have to have the aforementioned feel for the game. Granted, Craig Albernaz made a gut decision in keeping Bassitt in. And I applaud him for bucking the technology. However said technology also removes the need for feel for the game – in theory. It automates everything.

Point being, many managers don’t know how to have feel for the ballgame – because Sabre metrics have removed their need to have it. Work with me here folks…perhaps if that’s a muscle that opposing teams occasionally exercised, it would come more naturally to Craig Albernaz.

By going off the script, we don’t know if Albernaz would have still lost the game – had he stayed on script. But maybe it would be easier to switch into manual mode if he were allowed to do it more often. Maybe it would work better. Interpret as you wish.

The series concludes tomorrow at Camden Yards. Kyle Bradish gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Payton Tolle. Game time is set for just after 1:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Shane Baz is snakebitten

Sometimes you have to wonder if Shane Baz of the Baltimore Orioles is snakebitten. Tonight was a typical start for him in 2026. In short, he needed to be absolutely perfect. And he was – minus one pitch. Baz’s line: 6.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 6 K.

Those are outstanding numbers. An OUTSTANDING stat line for a game. Any pitcher in baseball would take that on any given day. Heck, any manager would take that for his pitcher. It’s NOT on Baz that the O’s couldn’t get anything going offensively.

Baz gave up a solo home run to Gasper on the second pitch of the game. That’s the only mistake he made. Solo home runs aren’t supposed to hurt you. Tonight they cost Shane Baz and the Orioles the game.

On top of that, Baz picked up his teammates. Boston put two on thanks to a Jackson Holliday error in the third, but Baz got them out of it. Anytime Boston threatened, Baz (and the bullpen) pitched out of it. He made a mistake on the second pitch of the game. And it cost him and the O’s the game.

You can’t under any circumstances blame a starter for a game like this. I’ve heard people suggest that there is some culpability because a starter like Baz knows he’s got a thin margin. But…is it reasonable to expect that he has to be perfect?

On a side note, I find it strange that Samuel Basallo wasn’t in the starting lineup for the second straight day. I understand matchups, and why that’s important. But Basallo’s been a huge part of this team’s offense. They signed him to a large extension a year ago. And…the best place for him is starting a game on the bench?

The series continues tomorrow at Camden Yards. Chris Bassitt gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Sonny Gray. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.