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: Manny Machado meets Chicago

Much of the trade speculation involving the Baltimore Orioles and Manny Machado has him going to the Chicago Cubs. The team on the north side of Chicago is certainly interested, but as with anything else it boils down to the price. However Machado certainly made a name for himself in the Windy City last night with a tape measure home run.

Andrew Cashner made it through the necessary number of innings to qualify for the win last night before growing tired. Cashner’s line: 5.0 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 4 K. The game was a scoreless draw for almost four innings before the O’s got on the board with the aforementioned homer off the bat of Machado. And this was a long home run, folks. In a pitcher’s park at that.

The question is whether or not doing that in the Cubs’ backyard will help to convince them. My personal prediction is that Machado ends up on the Cubs, and potentially this week at that. The question is whether or not they’re willing to give the Orioles the haul they want for him. Or if the Orioles are willing to budge just a little on said haul.

Mark Trumbo would also smack a solo homer one inning later in the fifth to give the O’s a 2-0 lead. However Chicago would also get on the board that inning on an Abreu RBI-double. The Birds caught a break that inning however, as Chicago opted to send the trail runner in an attempt to tie the score. And Mancini’s throw nailed the runner at home plate, preserving the lead and ending the inning.

But the Orioles got their two-run lead back in the sixth on a solo home run by Adam Jones. However Cashner appeared gassed at that point, putting a few runners on in the last of the sixth. Garcia’s RBI-double cut the Orioles’ lead to 3-2, and on came Mychal Givens in relief – with two on and nobody out. And Givens pitched out of it, preserving the Orioles’ lead. That almost single-handedly won the game for the O’s.

After the game Adam Jones commented on how all facets of the team came together to win this game (quote courtesy of Jeff Arnold, mlb.com):

Today was a total team win … When you use every facet of your team, you generally do well. So it was good to see.

The series continues tonight in Chicago Kevin Gausman gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Chicago’s James Shields. Game time is set for just after 8 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Is fair now foul and up now down?

The Baltimore Orioles are in Chicago to take on the ChiSox, who of course share a city with the Chicago Cubs. That would be a team that’s apparently hot for Manny Machado. Since the Winter Meetings last December, the Orioles have been willing to trade Machado…for the right price. They’ve yet to see that price.

That aside, selling Machado would indicate that the franchise is potentially looking to sell players off and start over. I really hesitate to use the word rebuild, because in a sports sense I’m not a fan of it. It’s one thing to “warm-over” your team. But are fans really going to stand for a true rebuild? You know, where you tear EVERYTHING down and build it back up?

I’ve always said that’s a tough sell to fans. You’re asking people to continually spend their money to come out to the ballpark and pay big league prices for what amounts to a non-big league roster. And while someone such as myself might see the benefit of becoming entrenched with a group of players from the get-go, I’m in the minority. Most people want that big league product, and they want it now. That’s why the Orioles have never committed to rebuilding over the years – because it’s a tough sell to fans.

But I’ve noticed something in the past few years that challenges that line of thinking. Heck, everything else I know to be true in baseball is getting challenged (including the concept of a nine-inning game), why not that also?! The 2016 Yankees were a veteran team and they decided to cut ties with several players mid-year. The haul they got back included the likes of a guy named Judge. They went on to contend for the wild card that year.

The Tampa Rays of this year sold off what few big name players they had in the off season. They wiped the slate totally clean. And they’re playing way over their heads. In general I’m not a fan of youth, because I don’t want to deal with the on and off-the-field mistakes. But are the current youth different than before?

The answer is mixed. Young kids are always going to mess up here and there. And in saying that I suppose I’m talking more off the field than on. I’m talking about things such as Sidney Ponson‘s various driving violations among other things. That’s the type of thing that neither the Orioles, nor the fans want to have to deal with. No matter how good the player could be.

However many of these young players are also able to provide a shot in the arm to teams. Again, look at the 2016 NY Yankees, and this year’s Tampa team. In terms of wins and losses, they’re actually better than they were with the vets. Why is that?

You might chalk it up to youthful exuberance, however I need something a bit more tangible than an emotional argument. The fact is that college baseball as an institution is getting much stronger than it was even 20 years ago. I don’t think it’ll ever reach the point of being as popular as football or basketball, but it’s growing in popularity. And that means that there’s better coaching out there, and skill.

Point being that players are more ready when they get to the big leagues than they previously were. They have a stronger skill set, because they have solid foundations – both from the minors and from college. That makes a world of difference.

I still say that a full rebuild is too tough a sell to a fan base. Because what if it doesn’t work? What if you exchange your talent for what turns out to be lemons? You’re kind of up a creek without a paddle – that’s what happens.

Baltimore Orioles’ double-digit hits equals no runs

It’s pretty tough to blame Chris Davis for the Baltimore Orioles’ woes this afternoon – which is what many fans have been apt to do lately. Davis was on the bench the entire game, getting the day off. While the O’s racked up double-digit hits (13, to be exact), none of those runs crossed the plate. And all but one of those hits was a single, for what that’s worth.

David Hess made the second start of his career, and while he took the loss he looked similar to how he did in his first start. Hess’ line: 4.2 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 4 K. Hess is a guy who pitches-to-contact, which is fine in a sense. However when Boston makes contact, they really make contact. And the bats offensively didn’t do him any favors to say the least.

Boston took the lead in the second inning on a Martinez solo homer, which barely wrapped itself around the Pesky Pole in right field. That’s 303 feet from home plate, and it appeared to travel 303.5 feet. But a homer’s a homer, and Boston had the lead.

And when you hold your opponent to zero runs, that’s really all you need. But the BoSox would get two two-run homers in the fifth inning, which helped do the O’s in. Benintendi smacked the first one, followed later in the inning by Martinez again. And that’s your ballgame, folks.

The Orioles left 14 men on base in the game, which can’t be allowed to continue. There were various points where they had two runners on and were unable to score. Again, that won’t win you any games. Ironically, they even got a hit with a runner in scoring position – and didn’t score a run. That really drives home how inefficient the offense was today.

In general people shouldn’t worry about the bats. This is a team that can score runs in bunches, which is something that we’ve seen – even this year. But it didn’t happen in this game today. And obviously you don’t want to go on another long losing streak.

One thing that does need to happen is that the O’s need to find a way to keep David Hess on the roster and in the rotation. Yes he showed that he could be hurt by the long ball today, but they can work with that. He throws strikes and he has good control. Until he proves or shows that he shouldn’t be in the big leagues, he should remain here.

The O’s now head to the south side of Chicago to open up a four-game set with the ChiSox. Andrew Cashner gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Chicago’s Hector Santisago. Game time is set for just after 8 PM.

Baltimore Orioles fall on a rainy night at Fenway

No folks, that wasn’t the Preakness you watched last night, it was the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway. I do question how the game was allowed to start and go on, and I suspect that starter Dylan Bundy might have as well. It was a sloppy night, which at various points including what was just shy of driving rain. Bundy’s line: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 8 K.

The O’s did hold the lead in this game for a short while, on a third inning sac fly-RBI by Jonathan Schoop. However that came with the bases loaded, and that was the only run the Birds were able to score in that sequence. Did the rain possibly have a role in that?

Ultimately the conditions do play into how the Orioles’ offense looks. They don’t like cold or rain. Boston likes to come off as much more of a man for all seasons type of team. Now I’m not suggesting that this game was played to give Boston an advantage. Starts, rain delays, etc. are up to the home team until the game starts. Once the umpire says PLAY BALL! the decision to delay or cancel lies with them – and thus the league.

Boston would tie the game at one an inning after the O’s took the lead on a Devers solo homer. However Bundy pitched out of that inning without any further problems. It wasn’t until the fifth that the weather started to take it’s toll. Betts smacked a two-run homer that gave Boston a 3-1 lead. Benintendi would follow with a solo shot of his own, and the O’s trailed 4-1.

However the Orioles did try to battle back. Pedro Alvarez smacked a two-run home run in the sixth that brought them to within one. But an inning later Benintendi came to bat again and responded with a two-RBI single, prompting Boston to a 6-3 victory. After the game Buck Showalter made a good point regarding reading stats and scores vs. watching the games. Statistics don’t always tell you the bottom line as you think it might Bundy actually pitched fairly well, although the stats might indicate otherwise (quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports):

You watch his outing, you’ll pull up a box score tomorrow and somebody will think he didn’t pitch particularly well and that’s why you go to the games. I thought he pitched Betts well and just made one mistake on him. It’s just the execution of the pitches. They’re hitting mistakes that we’re throwing and it’s been a challenge for us keeping it in the park.

The O’s will attempt to split the series at Fenway in this afternoon’s series finale. David Hess will be called back up to get the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Eduardo Rodriguez. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Baltimore Orioles, Alex Cobb get it right at “The Fens”

The Baltimore Orioles got a look at the version of Alex Cobb for which they signed up when they inked him back in spring training. It wasn’t perfect per se, but few outings at Fenway Park are going to be for any pitcher. But it was good enough to win last night – and that’s all that’s important. Cobb’s line: 6.1 IP, 10 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 3 K.

The Birds got on the board early on a Trumbo RBI-groundout in the first inning. Cobb gave up ten hits on the day, however for the most part the Birds were able to get out of those base runner situations unscathed. And that’s the key in baseball – getting yourself out of trouble.

Cobb in effect made one bad pitch – and it ended up being a solo homer off the bat of Betts in the third inning. Other than that, he worked out of most situations that arose. One inning after that homer the Birds got the lead back – and then some. Adam Jones‘ two-RBI single gave the O’s a 3-1 lead. Jones would also take second on a throwing error. Manny Machado would also add a two-run scoring single.

And just like that, the Orioles led 5-1 at Fenway Park. And it was due to a big inning, which was exactly how it had to be. Fenway’s been a tough place for the Birds to play the past few years. So had the lead been one or two runs, it might have been tougher to manage. But a big inning put everyone at east just a bit – including Cobb.

And sure enough, Boston did make a bit of a run. They would add two runs in the fifth to cut the lead to 5-3. However Jonathan Schoop would smack a solo homer in the seventh, extending the Birds’ lead to 6-3. And Boston came back again in the eighth –  on a Nunez RBI-double. But Trumbo’s RBI-double in the ninth inning ran the score to 7-4, which held up in the last of the ninth.

This was the Orioles’ first road victory on the season at a place other than Yankee Stadium. It was also Cobb’s first victory as an Oriole, which he addressed after the game (quote courtesy of Rich Dubroff, mlb.com):

Baseball is a crazy game, and you could have won some of those games, but I believe that when you have the ball in your hand, you have the ability to win a ballgame. I love the win. I love that column next to your name when you feel like you really show that you put your team in a position to win multiple nights.

The series continues this evening at Fenway Park. Dylan Bundy gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Rick Porcello. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Sour grapes?

Baltimore Orioles’ manager Buck Showalter didn’t hold back on his opinion of home plate umpire Tony Randazzo’s strike zone after last night’s game (all quotes courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports):

Kevin’s got a bubblegum card, too. Those pitches, I’m very biased, but I didn’t think he got a fair shake tonight.

It’s rare that you hear a big league manager be quite that clandestine about his displeasure with the strike zone after a game. And in fact, during the course of the game Showalter appeared to be woofing about the strike zone fairly vehemently. And after one pitch, Kevin Gausman stood on the mound with his hands in the air as if to say how is that not a strike?!

Gausman also had some interesting comments himself with regard to the stolen bases that occurred against him:

I thought it was weird that two of the three times they stole on me, I was picking,” Gausman said. “It kind of raises some eyebrows as to how they knew and those types of things, but that’s all on me. It’s one of the things that we can control.

These comments are spot on by both Showalter and Gausman. The strike zone did appear to differentiate between Gausman and Boston’s David Price. I don’t question Randazzo’s integrity, not do I think Showalter is. I think he was just inconsistent. And it was noticeable.

However comments such as these are also tough sells. They come off as sour grapes, correct as they might be. In Gausman’s case, he passive-aggressively accused Boston of stealing signs. And it kind of makes sense that they would do that – nobody had stolen on Gausman all year. That and he had a rookie catcher behind the plate with him.

However it also boils down to much of what I said last night. Boston’s not the type of team that’s going to sit back and let the game come to them. They reach out and take not only what’s theirs, but what’s yours. So in Gausman’s case if he’s picking and doesn’t step off, Boston’s going to take that and thus take second base.

This is not to say that the Orioles should start stealing signs. However when an opportunity presents itself, they need to take advantage of it. When guys get on base, they need to find a way to get them home – among other things. Were Showalter and Gausman’s comments spot on last night? Yes. Should they have been made? I suppose it just matters how you want to come off.

Baltimore Orioles: Sometimes you have to will good things to happen

The Baltimore Orioles probably went into this evening’s game hoping perhaps to win behind Kevin Gausman. The Boston Red Sox went into this evening’s game ready to impose their will in order to win the game. There is a difference. Gausman’s line: 4.2 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 2 BB, 6 K.

Adam Jones made what appeared to be a bid for an early first inning home run. However the Boston defense made a great play, which foreshadowed the entire evening. No matter where the Orioles hit the ball, they were prepared. And when Boston would get someone on first base, it may as well have been a double – because they stole at will against Gausman. They had obviously studied Gausman and his rhythm, and they exploited what they found.

However instead of taking the Jones drive and thinking that Boston’s Price was suseptible on this night, the Birds were unable to do what I described above. In essence, exploit their will. And the result was indicative of that inability.

Boston took an early 2-0 lead on Martinez’s two-run homer in the first. However Gausman would actually settle down a bit, not giving up another run until the fifth on Benintendi’s sac fly-RBI. However later in the inning Bogaerts would effectively end the game, smacking a three-run homer over the Green Monster in left field.

The Orioles would get two back in the ninth on Manny Machado‘s two-run homer, cutting the lead to 6-2. But that was as close as the O’s would get. And as I said, Boston imposed what they wanted to do in this game – and the Orioles allowed it.

Part of how teams like Boston beat you is because you push too hard. Ask Danny Valencia, who smacked a single in the fifth. He was thrown out trying to extend that into a double. And it wasn’t even close. Even when things aren’t going well, when you press even harder you still play right into the hands of your opponents.

Boston had a certain swagger in this game from the outset, which the Orioles have never really had – even when things were going really well. They run to first base as opposed to walking after a base on balls. Now in theory that shouldn’t mean anything; however it probably shows that they want to be out there competing and so forth. Does it mean that the Orioles don’t? I’m not willing to say that, because I’m not in guys’ heads. But again, sometimes you have to will good things to happen.

And take me at my word folks, and don’t read into what I’m saying. I’m not suggesting that the O’s are going through the motions – because they walk to first on base on balls’ or for any other reason. I’m just saying that there’s a certain spring in Boston’s step, for better or for worse. I think that the Oriole players are the ultimate professionals, and I don’t believe that they’re going through the motions per se. But as I said, sometimes you have to will good things to happen.

The series continues tomorrow evening at Fenway Park. Alex Cobb gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Drew Pomeranz. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Two-out rally haunts the Birds

I’ve been saying since spring training that the Baltimore Orioles had an uncanny problem with two outs. Heck, I’ve been saying it for years. And this afternoon it haunted Andrew Cashner, who wasn’t even here for most of that time. It just seems that this team lets up with they hit two outs in an inning, or two strikes in a count. I know that’s not the case, however the fact is that when they get put on the ropes per se, opponents seem to thrive against this team.

Cashner pitched very well this afternoon against Philadelphia. Certainly well enough to win. Cashner’s line: 5.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 6 K. If you’re keeping track at home, that’s one out shy of a quality start. But given the weather conditions and intermittent rain that surrounded the ballpark for most of the day, it’s as quality a start as any other. He put his team in a spot to win the game – that’s all you can ask of a starter.

Adam Jones gave the Orioles the lead early with a solo homer in the first inning. However after that Philadelphia wratcheted things up defensively, and kept them off the board. But that was fine in a sense – until Philadelphia got on the board themselves, that is.

They tied it in the sixth on a Hernandez solo homer. However Cashner recorded two quick outs after that, giving false hope that all was okay. Then Philadelphia put a couple of runners on, starting with a walk – again, with two outs. I’m the first one to tell you that I’m not exactly thinking that a two out walk or base hit is going to start a rally. Especially with how Cashner was pitching. You get a strikeout or a ground ball in the infield, and you should be good to go.

And Cashner and the Birds got that ground ball. But it split two defenders in a shift off the bat of Franco, giving Philadelphia a 2-1 lead. And again, that’s a lesson that people such as myself and especially the Orioles might never learn. You HAVE to take those two out base runners seriously, or you risk a big inning.

Florimon would add an RBI-single of his own, and Hoskins an RBI-double. And when the smoke cleared, Philadelphia led 4-1. The O’s would load the bases in the eighth, but were unable to push anything across, falling to a 4-1 loss.

I would submit that the coaching staff needs to look at the approach of the pitchers and even the fielders with two strikes and two outs. I don’t think that they aren’t playing hard per se, but maybe they’re doing something unconsciously that’s making it easier for the opponent to make some noise. Mind you folks, this isn’t scientific. It’s just something I’ve noticed for years about this team.

The O’s now head back out on the road to open up a big four-game series in Boston. Kevin Gausman gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s David Price. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

Baltimore Orioles rained out

The Baltimore Orioles waited out a three hour plus rain delay before their game with Philadelphia was finally rained out. It will be made up at 7 PM on July 12th. The weather is also in question tomorrow, and the start time has been moved from 12:35 to 12:05 PM.

Some might question what the use of that is. In order to move a game time more than 30 minutes, you have to get the approval of both teams and the MLBPA. So while I do question what 30 minutes will do, the O’s are moving the game up by as much time as they can without any further approval. Andrew Cashner is now listed as tomorrow’s starter – weather permitting.

Baltimore Orioles open a huge stretch for 2018

The debate about whether the Baltimore Orioles should sell or not (and when) rages on as Philadelphia rolls into town this evening for a short two game series. In fact, this is a series that will last about a day-and-a-half, as tomorrow’s game is an afternoon affair. Players and coaches alike aren’t fans of these two-game sets. It’s only one game less than a regular series, however it’s somewhat disruptive to the normal grind.

At 13-28, people are saying sell, sell, sell. And almost conveniently, whatever return the Orioles got in a sale would probably not be enough for some people. But I digress. Dan Duquette said he wanted to wait things out until about Memorial Day before making any big decisions. We now enter a stretch that will leave us right at that point.

Philadelphia’s a good team, but they could also be suseptable here and there, especially with a young manager. The Orioles would do well to sweep them, however statistically most of these two-game sets end in splits. The Birds then head to Boston for four games (one of which is a makeup game). The O’s are playing better, and Boston’s looked ever-so-slightly more pedestrian than they did the first time the two teams met. Might the Birds have a shot at splitting that series also?

Let’s say that happened – just for conversation’s sake. That would put them at either 17-30 or 16-31; still not exactly competing for the division title. However look past that – the O’s head to the south side of Chicago for four games. The ChiSox are looking worse than the Orioles, who at least can say that they’ve seen an uptick in their play the last week or so. Would three-of-four be a stretch?

Following the Chicago series, the O’s head to Tampa for three games over the physical weekend days on Memorial Day weekend. The Birds just finished up with Tampa, who while having the spunk and audacity of youth, is still a young team. Again, would it be a stretch to say they could take two-of-three?

If things occurred just as I said above, the O’s would be at either 22-32 or 21-33. And we’d literally be at Memorial Day, when Washington comes to town. Many of you will say that the record would still indicate a sell-off is necessary. And I’m on record as saying that I think the Birds should consider selling Machado right now (IF they get the proper return, that is). But it would be interesting to see what people would be saying if the O’s were able to string together a few positive series’ in the next week-and-a-half or so.

And here’s the other thing; a lot of people out there refuse to look just a bit deeper and thus past the tips of their noses (no matter how long) at this team. It’s all fine and dandy to simply read the box score and/or look at the standings and callously suggest that you know what’s going on or what the story is. Let’s keep in mind that this Orioles team was incredibly nick’d up the first five weeks or so of the season. The likes of Schoop, Beckham, Trumbo, Britton, and O’Day were on the DL. Some of them still are. Now they have Schoop and Trumbo back, and that at least has the offense looking better.

They also had just about everything go wrong in games that could have gone wrong. And I’m not talking about errors, many of which could be attributed to some of the aforementioned injuries. I’m talking about balls taking weird hops, instant replay overturns that shouldn’t have happened, strike zones changing, etc. So what, am I saying that the Orioles are actually a team in contention in disguise?

No, not at all. I’m saying that there are intangibles in games, all of which seemed to break the opponent’s way regarding the Orioles for some time. You’re never as bad as you’re made out to be when things are really going poorly. The Orioles are an example of that. And when things are going well, you’re never really as good as you think. As I said above, Boston’s looked just a bit more human over the past couple of weeks.

Mind you folks, when I went through the litany of games and series’ above, those weren’t predictions. Those were me saying what was possible and where it would leave the Birds. If they’re going to end up with a respectable record, they have to start shaving space off between wins and losses. And you do that by winning series’.

The series with Philadelphia opens tonight at Camden Yards. Andrew Cashner gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Philadelphia’s Nick Pivetta. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.