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: Buck Showalter will not be returning (updated, Duquette out as well)

The rumors about now former Baltimore Orioles’ manager Buck Showalter can now be put to rest. Multiple team media sources have confirmed that Showalter will not be returning to the organization. His contract expires at the end of this month.

Showalter apparently met multiple times with John and Lou Angelos, as recently as this morning. There was also apparently talk of him accepting another position within the organization. But it wasn’t to be, which is presumably his choice. It’s unclear whether or not Showalter intends to manage again, return to a media role, or what he intends to do. All that’s clear now is that he’s out and the O’s will have a new man in the dugout next season.

There is one point I want to make, however. Regardless of anything, Buck Showalter isn’t being fired. There are multiple outlets (including ESPN) reporting that he’s being fired. Perhaps we’re talking semantics, but he isn’t being fired. His contract is up, and both parties have completed their obligations to one another. The endgame is the same in that he’s no longer going to be the manager. But to say he’s being fired is 100% inaccurate. More as it comes.

Update, 6PM: According to THE ATHLETIC’s Ken Rosenthal, Dan Duquette is expected to not be retained after his contract is up, along with Showalter. Interesting turn of events for someone who was previously thought to be safe. More as it comes!

Baltimore Orioles 2018: It all came crashing down

Opening Day dawned a bright one for Buck Showalter and his Baltimore Orioles. It was a beautiful day, and Oriole Park at Camden Yards was expected to be full. Come the end of the day, the team had done it’s part – with Adam Jones smacking a walk off homer in extra innings to start the season off right with an Opening Day win against Minnesota.

Fast-forward to the middle of July, and the Orioles were quickly looking to sell off the likes of Manny Machado and any other pieces for which they could get a positive return. That Opening Day win ended up being the highlight of the season. A season in which the Orioles hoped they would contend. But one in which everything came crashing to a halt at once.

They say that you can’t win a pennant in April, but you sure can lose one. I’m not sure when it became evident that the 2018 Orioles weren’t going to make it over the finish line. Admittedly I personally believed that the skill on the team would progress back to the players’ mean numbers. In the case of Adam Jones, they somewhat did. But then you have Chris Davis, who at .168, finished with the worst average in major league history.

With the exception of an early season series win in the Bronx, anything that could go wrong for the 2018 Orioles did go wrong. Again, I personally believed that it was nary impossible for the mental errors and overall bad luck of this team to continue. But I was wrong. The Orioles’ two big spring signings, pitchers Andrew Cashner and Alex Cobb, started slow. Part of that was due to little to no time in spring training. Part of it was also due to the fact that when they (and numerous other starters) finally did have good outings, the bats were quiet.

If the Orioles weren’t swept in a series they would perhaps salvage a win in the final game. That seemed to be the pattern up until the end, and including the final series against Houston. So the O’s made the tough decision to be sellers at the trade deadline, trading the likes of Manny Machado and others. The O’s got 15 prospects back, and very much dedicated themselves to a full re-build.

And that’s perhaps the silver lining of this season, as the franchise was newly dedicated to the future. However the path to get to that point was difficult. And once they had re-tooled the roster a bit, it certainly didn’t get any easier. There was seemingly no mercy wherever the Orioles turned over the course of the season.

However the hope coming out of 2018 was the fact that if the organization plays its cards right, there could be sunnier days on the horizon. The Orioles appear firmly planted in attempting to build the team from the ground up, in the manner that Houston and the Chicago Cubs did. Can that be done successfully in the AL East? Beats the heck out of me.

Again, the highlight of the year was Adam Jones’ walk off homer on Opening Day. But it was Jones who also gave us an additional moment to remember on the season’s penultimate day. Many fans had looked forward to that day since perhaps April or May – as the misery would end. However the entire final weekend turned into a love fest between Adam Jones and the city of Baltimore (with Jones’ contract expiring and him appearing set on becoming a free agent). And perhaps…

…the fans themselves were reminded of why they loved this team so much. Win or lose, the Orioles are special. And that’s partly because the fans are special. While there was a lot of grousing (and justifiably so) from the fan base over the course of the summer, the scene this past Sunday at Camden Yards involving Adam Jones left Orioles fans wanting more. Begging for summer to extend even just one more day. That’s obviously not possible. However it shouldn’t go unsaid that when this team heads to Sarasota in February, hope will spring eternal.

Baltimore Orioles: Might the O’s have more than just new players?

As we wait for the promised word on what happens with the Baltimore Orioles’ coaches and front office staff, I read a very interesting article yesterday. Peter Angelos, while in ailing health, is the owner of the Orioles. In reality his sons John and Lou have been running the team from an ownership perspective for much of the year, and appear to be the heirs apparent when their father passes away. But will that truly be the case?

Thom Loverro of The Washington Times published this article in Sunday’s newspaper. You can read the article if you’d like, however the gist of it is that there appears to be no guarantee that the Angelos brothers will be allowed to own the team. And if Loverro’s to be believed, odds are actually against those ends.

Thom Loverro’s a well-respected journalist who’s covered MLB for some time. He works for the Times, as well as WJFK radio in DC – which happens to be the flagship station of the Washington Nationals. But while the Nationals claim they have an ax to grind with the Orioles/MASN, again keep in mind that Loverro does have credibility attached to his name. He also knows a lot of mover’s and shaker’s in the league office; so he might not necessarily be speaking off the cusp.

In short, the Nationals feel that they got a raw deal in the MASN contract. The fact is that they did – but they agreed to it. You can’t go back on a deal just because you wake up one day and realize it’s unfair. However it’s also become evident that the league itself not only wants the Nationals out of the deal, but has potentially been working behind the scenes for that to happen since the beginning.

MLB didn’t want to face Peter Angelos in court (can’t blame them there). So one has to wonder if it’s mere coincidence that this starts to come up in earnest now that he’s in failing health. But that aside, Loverro’s point is a very valid one. 75% of current owners have to approve either a transfer of ownership from Peter Angelos to his sons, OR approve the sons as the new owners upon Peter’s death – assuming that they inherit the team per his will. (For the record, Peter Angelos is simply the majority owner. There are minority owners as well, his partners.)

So the message may well be that the league wants the Angelos’ to play ball in the MASN deal, or MLB could force a sale. Peter Angelos in his prime would tie something like that up in court, and perhaps justifiably so. But his sons may not be him. They may be great people for the record, but they may not be the lawyer that he was.

This is all speculation, of course. But as I said, Loverro is in fact a reputable source. He isn’t the type of journalist who would pick a topic of this severity off the top of his head just to write about it. Incidentally, MLB tends to approve heirs as owners – for the most part. The Steinbrenner brothers of course got approved as owners of the Yankees, and just this year none other than the Washington Nationals formally changed ownership. Ted Lerner (who’s still alive) transferred the team to his son Mark (and it was approved by the necessary 75% vote).

There’s a lot involved in this, and not one party is 100% guilty or innocent. There are a lot of fans who are probably hoping that the league takes the team away from the Angelos’. However there is a flip side; what if it’s sold to a person or group who has no loyalty to the city? There are Baltimoreans such as Steve Bisciotti or Kevin Plank who could probably afford to purchase the Orioles. But…is there a guarantee that’s who would buy it?

Look no further than the Baltimore Colts for what could happen. Robert Irsay, and out of town businessman with no loyalty to the city, owned the team. Eventually he proves his disloyalty to Baltimore by moving the team. A local could certainly do that as well. But it would seem far less likely.

At the end of the day, this is a pretty heavy topic. My personal stance is that it wouldn’t surprise me if part of the whole “cutting payroll” idea is a move being made for the eventual sale of the team. Loverro actually said it could happen as quickly as this winter. That seems awful quick, but at the end of the day who really knows? From the standpoint of the fans, so long as the team heads in the right direction and most importantly remains the Baltimore Orioles, that’s all that’s really important.

Baltimore Orioles: Past the end of the line

Yesterday was both amazing and tough for the Baltimore Orioles and their fans alike. Especially the likes of Adam Jones and Buck Showalter. Neither is expected to return, although we should always throw in the term but you never know. And if the love fest we saw yesterday is any indication, I think most fans would be fine with that.

Specifically regarding Showalter, rumor has it that a formal decision and/or announcement is expected sooner rather than later. So in theory that could come as early as today. If in fact Buck’s out, I wouldn’t necessarily expect a new manager to be hired immediately. Most teams wait until the conclusion of the World Series to make those hires, first off because odds are some of the coaches involved could be candidates. But it allows the post-season to take center stage as opposed to a team not involved.

Showalter’s contract runs through the end of October, so he’s not going anywhere in the immediacy of today. And he’ll still be on hand and have the title of manager on October 27th when he and his wife Angela host the annual Kids Peace Trick-or-Trot. While yesterday’s festivities focused more on Adam Jones, that might be a great opportunity for fans to say goodbye to Buck if in fact he’s out.

This season was trying on everyone involved, yes including writers. There were times back in June where I looked to this day. However the Orioles always have a way of pulling you back in, and we certainly saw that yesterday. And regardless of whether a season was good or bad, there’s always a sad finality when the tarp goes on the field for the final time.

But that’s especially true this year with the circumstances surrounding the end of the season. I said this a lot yesterday, but nobody does nostalgia like the Orioles. And that’s quite frankly due to the fact that Baltimore is special. The people are special, and the teams are special. When the litany of trades went down this past summer I reminded fans that Baltimore really loves to embrace it’s athletes. And the next generation of athletes waiting to be embraced may well have been acquired in those trades.

The nickname “Smalltimore” doesn’t exist for nothing. Players come here, and in many cases become a part of the community. Adam Jones certainly did. They start families here, their kids go to school with your kids, you attend community meetings with them, etc. That’s what makes days like yesterday so hard. But it should also serve as a reminder that this isn’t just any team or any city. It’s the Baltimore Orioles. And they’re a special part of a special community.

There is a silver lining to 2018 for those who love regular season baseball. It doesn’t involve the Orioles, but the regular season isn’t quite done yet. Milwaukee will travel to Wrigley Field to play the Chicago Cubs at 1 PM this afternoon, and Colorado will travel to Chavez Ravine to play the LA Dodgers at 4 PM. Those games will decide the NL Central and West champions respectively. The losers will square off in the NL Wild Card game – tomorrow.

These games are playoff games for all intents and purposes. They’re certainly being treated as such, and justifiably so. But on paper, they actually go down as “regular season game 163.” Former 2018 Orioles Jonathan Schoop (Milwaukee) and Manny Machado (LAD) will be playing today. And the 2018 post-season is littered with former Orioles.

As for me, the season never really ends. Anyone who’s read me for some time knows that I’ll give you a full season recap at some point this week. It may not be pretty, but I’ll do it. I always take a few days after the season ends before doing that however, if for no other reason than to “digest” the entire thing. But you’ll get it – later this week, as I said.

In closing for today, I do want to thank you the fans. Certainly this season wasn’t what we thought it would be, but I appreciate any and all who read this column even once. And stick with me, as in typical Baltimore fashion, I don’t take days off!

Baltimore Orioles: It’s so hard to say goodbye to yesterday

At the end of the day for Adam Jones, Buck Showalter, the rest of the Baltimore Orioles, and the Orioles’ fans, it was the memories that counted. Certainly not of this forgettable season. But of the past ten or so years. Nobody does nostalgia like the Orioles, and that was on display once again in this afternoon’s series finale.

For the record, the O’s took the series finale with Houston and the season finale, 4-0. Lost in the shuffle of this game’s backstory is the fact that the three Oriole pitchers combined for a one-hitter. This stellar effort was spearheaded by starter Jimmy Yacabonis, who certainly made a strong case to have a shot at a starting rotation spot coming out of spring training next year. Yacabonis’ line: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K.

Again, the details are unimportant. But the Birds put up their four runs in the fourth inning. And that was all they needed. Trey Mancini‘s RBI-single gave them a 1-0 lead, and he would later score on Tim Beckham‘s RBI-double. Renato Nunez would add an RBI-double of his own, and he would later score on a wild pitch. And as they say, that’s your ballgame!

Well…not quite. Everyone knows the stakes, and they certainly had nothing to do with today’s game. Buck Showalter started the day by putting Adam Jones in center field for one last time, albeit just for the first inning before he went back to right. That meant that Jones would get to lead the team onto the field, potentially for the final time. However when the time came, Jones realized that his teammates had stayed back…

…Jones was the only person on the field, and his teammates stood behind him applauding from the dugout – along with the almost 25K people in attendance. It was a poignant moment; as I said, nobody does nostalgia like the Orioles. The Houston dugout stood and applauded along with the Orioles, as did…the umpires. THE UMPIRES were standing at home plate politely clapping for Adam Jones. Honestly, I can’t say I’ve ever seen that.

Jones was given a well-deserved standing ovation everytime he came to the plate. The stat book shows that he went 0-for-4, but who among us really cares? Jones on the the day (all quotes courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports):

I appreciate everybody’s support. I just show up to work every day, so I appreciate the people who appreciate it.

Eleven years here, a lot of games, a lot of blood, sweat and tears, so I greatly appreciate it from the fans’ standpoint. My teammates for sending me out there on an island all by myself. I didn’t know that was going to happen. Buck for letting me have an inning in center field, where I started at.

It’s been a cool weekend. Like I said, I’m very appreciative and humbled that people concur. Now the game’s over, the season’s over and the next chapter starts. Time to be a full-time father.

Speaking of Buck, he in theory was the day’s other “honoree.” Needless to say, it’s tough to honor managers the way that the crowd did with Adam Jones. And Buck’s not the type of guy who would want that. According to multiple reports, he met with an ownership representative late last night. It’s unclear what that means, but if his comments are to be believed he himself is unsure of his status for next year even now.

There was one “Buck moment.” He came out to argue a HBP, and a smattering of applause gained some momentum. When asked about it after the game, Showalter stayed true to form:

We won the game. They were happy we won. I’m not going to go there. Thanks. You know how much it means to me.

Needless to say, Buck Showalter will always mean something to the fans here in Baltimore. He managed the Orioles for longer than he managed any other franchise. He also managed Adam Jones for longer than he ever managed any other player. The connection will always be strong.

Buck sent Jones back out for the ninth inning in right field, but before the inning could begin he substituted for him, allowing the fans to pay homage to Jones. The game stopped for about five minutes, while Jones embraced each of his teammates and coaches, while the crowd gave him a final Standing O. Needless to say, it was a moment that nobody (player, coach, fan, or writer) who was there will ever forget.

Let the record state the as miserable as the 2018 season was for the Baltimore Orioles, they won on the last day. But again, today it was the memories that counted more than anything else. Adam Jones and Buck Showalter are forever a part of Baltimore. And Baltimore’s forever a part of them. Does that mean they’re irreplaceable? Absolutely not. They would never suggest that they are. But they, along with the memories of the past 8-10 years are a part of the Baltimore story.

And incidentally, it’s a beautiful story. I’d like to hope and believe that I tell my part of it as well as I can. But while time will go on, today was hard for a lot of people. It was hard in a beautiful kind of way. Yet while time goes on, let us not forget the closing strains of a well-known Boyz II Men song:

And I’ll take with me the memories, to be my sunshine after the rain. It’s so hard to say goodbye to yesterday.

Baltimore Orioles: The candle in the wind

Make no mistake that today’s game will long be remembered by Baltimore Orioles fans. And while we can’t say right now that it won’t be remembered for the game itself or for the final score, odds are that’s the case. All of the signs point to today being the final game for Adam Jones and manager Buck Showalter in an Orioles’ uniform.

I’ve touched on this more and more as September’s gone on. And odds are we’ll touch on it more after the season. We’ve seen “heavy figures” come to the end of the line in Baltimore before – Ripken, Weaver, Murray, and others. They were all sent off with a proud hand.

Where today’s festivities rank in Orioles’ lore is up to the individual. However assuming in fact that these two titans in Oriole history are seeing their final moments in the orange and black today, they’ll stand together as the faces of this era of Orioles baseball. And make no mistake, regardless of the team’s record, they go out winners.

In his typical aw shucks manner, Buck Showalter once said that “it was ready to pop when I got here.” Meaning that the Orioles had a good team already, and were on the rise. And that’s probably true in a way. However he added the one thing that had been missing since 1997: PRIDE.

He restored pride in the organization – not only for the players on the roster, but also for the fans. While other managers certainly meant well, it was Buck who pulled the proverbial sword out of the stone. His was a name that came with automatic credibility. And people bought in almost immediately. One of those people? Adam Jones.

Showalter and Jones were the perfect match. Buck was a skilled instructor who took pride in everything he did, and Jones was a willing pupil. However the thing that they both shared was a sense of humor and a joie de vivre that was unmatched. While they both took their jobs seriously, neither took themselves too seriously. Without Buck Showalter, Jones might well have ended up a very decent journeyman outfielder. And without Adam Jones, Showalter might well have been another name in a long litany of failed managers in Baltimore.

Orioles fans returned to the promise land of the postseason on the coattails of Jones and Showalter in 2012 – a season that shocked the world. Two years later in 2014 the O’s once again did what at one time would have been unthinkable in winning the AL East. Tack on a third playoff appearance in 2016, and this duo presided over one of the more prosperous era’s in “recent” franchise history.

But today we light a candle for those times. I’m reminded of T.H. White’s The Once and Future King, which is in reality an epic comprised of four books. The final one is The Candle in the Wind, which deals with the fall of the legendary King Arthur and Camelot…which incidentally, is pretty much what we’ve seen in 2018.

No, I’m not comparing baseball to Arthurian Legend – well, maybe I am. Just a bit. However the crassest of crass fans will see this as an era in which Jones couldn’t hit low-and-away sliders, and Buck left his best reliever in the bullpen in the 2016 AL Wild Card Game. Those people would also probably claim that King Arthur didn’t have what it took to defeat Sir Mordred.

But the really great fans that we know exist in this fan base will see this moment as that of the wizard Merlin peeking into Arthur’s tent at the very end of the story, to comfort him in his moment of need. The era itself is over. It was over the moment trades started going down. But today is the chance to light up the sky one final time and to pay homage to a time that will long be remembered as a Camelot-like era at Camden Yards.

On a selfish note, it’s a time that I’ll personally always remember fondly. I grew up as a writer during the Jones/Showalter timeframe. Many of the great moments and games over that period allowed me the opportunity to wax poetic in a similar manner that I am now. (What, you thought I enjoyed writing blase’ columns about blow out losses?!) Many of those moments will be chronicled as time goes on this off season.

So I encourage fans to buy tickets to this afternoon’s game. Yes, it’s your final chance to see Adam Jones and Buck Showalter (perhaps), but also a chance to see the end of an era. And an era that should be remembered fondly at that. Today’s game is certainly the proverbial candle in the wind for that era. So when we think back on these times, …don’t let it be forgot, that once there was a spot, for one brief shining moment that was known as Camelot.

Baltimore Orioles fall in nightcap, head to the end of the line

The Baltimore Orioles dropped the second game of yesterday’s doubleheader, once again behind a quality start from a starter. Yefry Ramirez wasn’t perfect, but he put the team in a spot to win. Ramirez’s line: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 4 K.

Houston took the lead early on Styles’ solo homer in the first. The O’s would tie the game an inning later on Austin Wynns‘ RBI-single. Wynns was also thrown out trying to advance to second.

Ramirez loaded the bases in the fourth, and ended up walking in a run to give Houston a 2-1 lead. He would surrender another solo homer to McCann in the sixth, and the Birds trailed 3-1. The O’s would try to rally in the seventh with the bases loaded, but they could only muster one run. And that came on a wild pitch. And Houston made the Orioles pay for their neglect, with Marisnick’s two-run homer in the eighth to run the final to 5-2

Obviously that sets up a very reflective day today at Camden Yards, with both Buck Showalter and Adam Jones potentially putting on the orange and black for the final time. To be clear, Showalter hasn’t spoken to ownership about his status for next season. We’ve heard reports of his departure and so forth, but nothing official.

However after last night’s game, none other than Adam Jones talked about what could be next for the tenured manager (quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports):

I just think ever since he came here on Aug. 3, 2010, the franchise just gained a little more accountability, gained an edge for some time and it’s the end of an era on his part, too. A great manager, a great tenure. I don’t know if he’s going to coach or manage again, but he’s got grandchildren. Hell, go golf. Relax and go sit on the golf course.

That didn’t sound like someone who thought Buck would be back. However it’s a valid point, and one I’ve brought up myself regarding Showalter. It’s unclear if he himself wants to continue doing this. He became a grandfather for the first time last year. That seems like it would be a game-changer for anyone. So he may be in a different mindset now as opposed to in 2010.

As difficult as this season’s been for the team, I always find myself feeling a bit strange when we get to this point. Win or lose, I’ve been peppering fans with game recaps and analysis since February in the Florida Grapefruit League – and will do so again starting in a few months! It’s been a long road. And one that was made longer by the strains of this season. It just feels strange to say that there’ll be no game to cover tomorrow. But them’s the facts.

The series with Houston and of course the season will culminate this afternoon at Camden Yards. Jimmy Yacabonis gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Houston’s Charlie Morton. Game time is set for just after 3 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Dylan Bundy closes 2018 with a quality start

Dylan Bundy closed a disappointing 2018 with the Baltimore Orioles in the same manner that he seemed to spend much of 2018. Bundy turned in a quality start, but yet the Birds managed to fall. Bundy didn’t get tagged with the loss mercifully, however he certainly pitched well enough for the team to have won. Bundy’s line: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 7 K.

Bundy and Houston starter Verlander pitched to a scoreless tie through five innings. And that’s a testament to Dylan Bundy, to go toe-to-toe with one of the best pitchers in baseball over that period. However Bundy allowed a two-run homer to Springer in the sixth, giving Houston a 2-0 lead. Correa would tack on a solo homer, and the O’s trailed 3-0.

Bundy in essence threw two bad pitches. That’s the sad thing, and as I said it’s largely indicative of Bundy’s season (and that of other Orioles’ starters). There were numerous games this year in which the starting pitcher did exactly what he was supposed to do: put the team in a spot to win the game. In many cases pitching to a quality start. Only to lose or not get a decision. This season the margin for error was literally none. One bad pitch, and it seemed the Birds were doomed to failure.

The Orioles did battle back, however. DJ Stewart smacked a three-run homer in the last of the seventh which tied the game at three. Orioles fans should be excited at the prospect of Stewart in the lineup going into next year. He’s shown a lot of immediate promise both in the field and at the plate. He’s definitely someone to watch in Sarasota next year.

However Houston also showed why they’re the defending champions. Correa haunted them again in the eighth after a two-out walk, smacking an RBI-double. The Orioles threatened in the ninth, however Houston came up with a big double-play and then a strikeout to end the game. However it shouldn’t go unnoticed that these Orioles played Houston tough once again, taking them all the way to the end of the game.

Does that mean anything in the here and now? Not in the least. This season’s realistically been over since mid-May. However it does say something going into next season. Obviously it remains to be seen how the roster is made up and who’s leading the team in the dugout, but the spirits remain strong.

The series will continue in the blink of an eye with Game Two of this traditional doubleheader at Camden Yards. Yefry Ramirez gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Houston’s Dallas Keuchel. The game starts…let’s just say in short order!

Baltimore Orioles: David Hess finishes 2018 strong

Baltimore Orioles fans had to be encouraged by what they saw out of starter David Hess last night – albeit in a losing effort. Hess’ line: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 4 K. And that’s a great manner for Hess to close his rookie season, which of course began back in May when he started the first leg of a doubleheader.

These final outings are important, because one way or the other it’s the lasting memory of this season for all of these guys until they report to spring training next year. Let that sink in for a moment; the next time you’ll see these guys in action will be in the Florida Grapefruit League. And who knows what the roster and/or coaching staff looks like at that point.

The O’s took an early 1-0 lead on Adam Jones‘ RBI-double. That lead held up until the sixth inning, when Hess gave up a solo homer to Reddick. However Hess came back out and pitched an additional inning, ending up non-decisioned on the day. Houston would later take a 2-1 lead on Gonzalez’s RBI-single in the eighth, sending the O’s off to defeat yet again. They almost tied it in the ninth, however a diving catch in center field robbed Nunez of a game-tying hit. I’m not sure how many times I’ve said this, but Houston flat out doesn’t give up.

Manager Buck Showalter spoke after the game, and had many of the same impressions that I expressed here regarding David Hess (quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports):

He was really good. That was fun to watch. It was good to see him end on a good note. I really wanted him to have a good outing. That was good to see. I told him that. I didn’t want to push it any more than that. Anytime you see a young pitcher go against a good team for a third time around the batting order and still be able to get outs, that’s good to see.

Don’t downplay the affect of having an outing like that be the final look a player gets this season. Indubitably Hess will spend a lot of time analyzing his various outings this year in the off season. But when he gets to the end of the line, this is what will cross his mind.

The O’s will have a long day today with a single-admission doubleheader against Houston at Camden Yards. Dylan Bundy gets the start in game on for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Houston’s Justin Verlander. Game time is set for just after 4 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Disjointed final weekend

The final weekend of Baltimore Orioles’ baseball for 2018 would have in theory kicked off last night, however the game was postphoned due to rain. And rain that wasn’t looking to let up at that. Even though this weekend’s opponent, the Houston Astros, have already clinched their division title, seedings for home field advantage are still on the line across baseball.

So last night’s game does in fact need to be played, and it will be – as part of a traditional doubleheader tomorrow. Game one begins at 4 PM, with game two starting approximately 20-30 minutes after the completion of the first game. It’s a single-admission event, so if you already had tickets for Saturday’s game you’ll get two for the price of one. If you had tickets for Thursday you could certainly exchange them for Saturday.

I can only imagine the Orioles’ view of having to play that game, and in the form of a doubleheader at that. But that’s how it works sometimes. You have no choice but to deal with it. Regardless of anyone’s record, it’s also somewhat fitting in a year that’s seen so many cancellations and postphonements due to weather across the league.

One thing of interest that did come from yesterday was Buck Showalter‘s comments about his contract situation. He outwardly isn’t worried about his situation, even with his contract ending at the end of next month (quote courtesy of Brit Ghiroli, mlb.com):

It won’t be difficult. In the whole scheme of life, it shouldn’t be. Shame on me if it is. Do you know how good they’ve been to me? I’m not ever going to forget that, regardless of what happens.

Interesting perspective to say the least. His underlying point is that there’s more to life than just this job – or any job. And before Orioles’ fans call out ownership or management on anything, I would recommend they heed what Showalter said about how well he’s been treated. He has no incentive to say that aside from the fact that it’s probably how he truly feels.

So the series with Houston will open tonight at Camden Yards. David Hess gets the call for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Houston’s Gerritt Cole. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.