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 bitten by big innings again

The Baltimore Orioles ended up being swept this afternoon in Pittsburgh behind starter Chris Bassitt. Keep in mind, Bassitt wasn’t stellar in his first outing, but struggled even more this afternoon on an admittedly dreary day at PNC Park. Bassitt’s line: 2.0 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 2 BB, 0 K.

The zero strikeouts sticks out at me. Bassitt seemed to all but be trying NOT to throw the ball in the strike zone. Which is a lot of what we saw from Oriole starters last year. If you recall, the Birds lost by over 20 runs last year on Easter Sunday, an early indication that their pitching strategy wasn’t cutting it. To make matters worse, the game appeared to start well with a Taylor Ward single. He was immediately thrown out attempting to steal.

That set the tone for sure. Bassit hit the first hitter he faced, and later in the inning O’Hearn gave Pittsburgh a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer. Bassitt would load the bases with nobody out in the second. He then induced what should have been a force out at home plate, save for the fact that the ball smacked off his leg. And everyone was safe.

Bassitt was checked out and was okay, despite the third run surrendered. However he would later surrender a sac fly-RBI, and a two-run homer to O’Hearn. And the O’s trailed 6-0 before Bassitt exited.

Granted, the third run is one of those what can you do sort of moments. Obviously you’re happy Bassitt wasn’t seriously hurt, that more than anything else. But plays like that seem to happen when things aren’t going well. O’Hearn had a great series against his former team. Why? Could it be because he was at least familiar with the Orioles’ at times infernal dedication to analytics?

Manager Craig Alberbaz earned his first managerial ejection after Blaze Alexander appeared to be quick pitched. Needless to say, that was more to show the players that he was still fighting, which is good. The Orioles did get on the board in the fourth on Pete Alonso’s RBI-double.

Cade Povich, just called up from Norfolk, followed Bassitt. And make no mistake that despite surrendering a two-run homer to Cruz in the sixth, he was the MVP today. He pitched 5.2 innings and really spared the bullpen any further unnecessary use. The O’s would get an RBI-single by Jeremiah Jackson in the seventh, but fell 8-2.

The Orioles now head to Chicago to open a three-game set with the ChiSox at Rate Field. The Birds are yet to name a starter, but whomever he is will be opposed by Chicago’s Erick Fedde. Game time is set for 7:40 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Mishaps, stranded runners, and poor challenges

Shane Baz labored almost through six innings for the Baltimore Orioles this afternoon in Pittsburgh. The Birds have found this Pittsburgh lineup, which they should know well after the spring, to be very pesky the last two days. But needless to say, Baz put the O’s in a spot to win today. Baz’s line: 5.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R (0 earned), 3 BB, 5 K.

Dylan Beavers got the Orioles on the board in the fourth with an RBI-single. Following a Coby Mayo walk, Leos Taveres would single him home with an RBI of his own. The Birds were unable to push anything else across, and led 2-0.

The only real mistake Baz made was a fielding error in the last of the fourth. That’s runner would later score on Horowitz’s sacrifice fly, cutting the lead to 2-1. The O’s were poised to tack on some insurance in the seventh, however Adley Rutschman lined out to O’Hearn in right field- O’Hearn, who made about the play of his life. That’s sometimes how the ball bounces.

The O’s also had Coby Mayo aboard in the eighth, representing another insurance run. Mayo was promptly picked off of first, erasing the threat. That’s the sort of day it was for the O’s.

Anthony Nunez pitched the eighth, and surrendered an infield single. Could have been an out, but it was mishandled by Coby Mayo at third – ruled a base hit. However that base runner haunted the O’s. Magnum came up with two runners on, and hit an infield RBI-single to second. The ball bounced over the head of Nunez and died in the infield.

That’s what happens when things aren’t flowing well for you. Replay that exact scenario again and it’s an out – ending the inning. But the ball bounced just enough to get in for a base hit.

Gunnar Henderson struck out to end the top of the ninth, but called for an ABS challenge. The call was upheld as a strike, as it appeared from the get go. This on the heels of a Coby Mayo ABS challenge early in the game, on a similar pitch. The Orioles used up all of their challenges on pitches that appeared to be strikes from the beginning.

Which is why it was frustrating in the last of the ninth with one down, when Ryan Helsley appeared to strike out Yorke. However the ball was ruled outside. Replays backed up that it was in the strike zone. Helsley couldn’t challenge, and it remained a ball. Yorke hit the next ball into left field and over the outfield’s head to win it 3-2 for Pittsburgh.

The Orioles are a better team than Pittsburgh on paper. But if you can’t execute the fundamentals in a game, such as getting a runner home, you make it tough to win. And yes, that makes it tougher to fathom when balls take bad bounces on you – which they did on the Orioles today.

You also have to be conservative with these challenges. The Mayo and Henderson challenges should have never happened. Helsley struck Yorke out, and could have used a challenge in that instance. But there was no recourse. Be smart. Play it safe. Don’t challenge for the sake of challenging.

The series concludes tomorrow at PNC Park. Chris Bassitt gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Pittsburgh’s Braxton Ashcroft. Game time is set for just after 1:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Big innings bite you

It’s tough being the opposition in someone else’s Opening Day, as the Baltimore Orioles were today in Pittsburgh. Kyle Bradish had an easy first inning, and a not-so-easy second inning. And that made all the difference. Bradish’s line: 4.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 6 K.

Following a walk to lead off the second, Bradish had Pittsburgh’s Griffin in a deep two-strike count. Griffin of course is the top prospect in baseball, and was making his big league debut. And with a lot of fanfare at that. He took full advantage.

He hit a Bradish pitch that was off the plate, and ended up with an RBI-double. That was followed by subsequent RBI-singles and a double, and the O’s trailed, 4-0. Now to be fair, Bradish corrected himself. But you can’t give up big innings in games.

However Oriole bats did show some life. Needless to say, the Birds didn’t exactly go quietly. Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman smacked RBI-doubles in the fifth to cut the lead in half. However something interesting happened in the bottom of the inning…

…Pittsburgh put two on with one out. Dietrich Enns uncorked a wild pitch, but only the lead runner advanced – which is a massive base running mistake. With a ground ball double-play ending the inning, Enns induced a pop fly to O’Hearn, and that sac fly-RBI extended the lead to 5-2.

Did O’Hearn, a former Oriole, have an idea of how his old team would pitch him in that moment? Possible. Also not possible. But interesting that a mistake turned into a good thing for the team which made it.

Taylor Ward would get the Birds back to within two with an RBI-double in the seventh. Gunnar Henderson was down to his and the team’s final strike in the ninth, before he uncorked a solo home run. That only narrowed the Pittsburgh victory to one run, at 5-4.

The series continues tomorrow at PNC Park. Shane Baz gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Pittsburgh’s Carmen Mlodzinski. Game time is set for just after 4 PM,

Baltimore Orioles: Zach Eflin injured in Birds’ loss

To be clear, NOBODY should be sounding the alarm at the Baltimore Orioles’ 2-3 record. We’re five games in. RELAX. What should concern folks is the fact that starter Zach Eflin left tonight’s game with a shoulder injury. Eflin’s line: 3.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 7 K,

Seven strikeouts over three innings plus is something that’s fairly noteworthy in my view. The lone run that Eflin gave up was a solo home run by Duran. But he righted himself. And solo home runs don’t hurt you.

However with two on and two outs in the fourth, manager Craig Albernaz and the training staff came out to tend to Eflin. Following a discussion, Eflin was lifted from the ballgame. The Orioles later said he left the game with right elbow discomfort.

As was seemingly the case last night, the Orioles would tie the game and then Texas would pop back on top. Pete Alonso’s solo homer in the fourth tied the game at one. However Langford’s RBI-triple and Seager’s RBI-single in the fifth gave Texas another lead at 3-1.

However the difference between this game and perhaps games last year was the fact that the O’s battled back. Gunnar Henderson’s two-RBI double tied the game back up at three. But Texas wasn’t about to be messed with. Nimmo’s RBI-single in the sixth gave them the lead back at 4-3.

They would extend that to 7-3 on a three-run home run in the seventh by Jansen. Seager would also add a solo shot in the ninth. The O’s would get two back in the last of the ninth on Taylor Ward’s two-RBI double in the last of the ninth, but that was too little too late. Texas wasn’t too much, and they now look to sweep tomorrow.

The ironic part was that Zach Eflin was always going to start tonight. Texas’ deGrom was a late add to the starting lineup. Yet it was deGrom who was in command. And Eflin, coming off of back surgery, who left the game early.

The Orioles now enter into a wait and see situation with Eflin. Perhaps it’s only tendinitis. Obviously we’ll find out. The good news is that the Orioles have good depth in the form of Dean Kremer or Cade Povich in the minors. The bad news is that this season is literally starting off the way last year did, especially when you add in the likes of Jackson Holliday and Jordan Westburg. And injuries decimated this team last year. Craig Alberbaz said after the game that it would probably be an IL situation.

There’s also some concern about the Orioles’ bullpen, this after tonight’s game. It was far from perfect. However the bullpen was also not used tonight as it was intended – given that they were tapped earlier than one would have thought due to the Eflin injury. This isn’t to say that recording outs shouldn’t be the expectation.

What the Orioles CANNOT do is what they did last year. Again, we’re five games in – RELAX, folks. However I said ad hoc last season that the Birds over-invested in analytics. From where they played their fielders, to which pitch was thrown. And opponents took full advantage; illustrated by first pitch sliders away going for home runs, or splitting outfielders. You have to have a proper happy medium between analytics and feel for the game. Mike Elias’ job should depend on it.

The series concludes tomorrow afternoon at Camden Yards. Trevor Rogers gets the start for the O’s, and Texas has not announced a starter. Game time is set for just after 12:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles clipped by soft contact

It’s uncanny how many times the Baltimore Orioles have fallen the past couple of years at the hands of soft contact. We saw it again tonight in Chris Bassitt’s maiden start in Baltimore, against Texas. Bassitt’s line: 4.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 BB, 3 K.

Bassitt struggled with his control, uncharacteristically putting runners on base. Even when he recorded outs, he went deep into counts and ticked his pitch count up. Ironically the first run of the game came on the heels of a Bassitt error. Burger hit a comebacker in the first inning with a runner on third, but Bassitt’s throw home came in hot. The error gave Texas a 1-0 lead.

And that right there illustrates this game – and my point. Opponents getting aboard on little flairs barely getting over the infielders’ heads. And here on a comebacker the Oriole pitcher is trying to gun the runner out at home, and the throw is so hard it’s errant.

But the Orioles got on the board in the first as well, albeit by more traditional ways. Gunnar Henderson’s solo homer tied the game at one. However Bassitt struggled with his control, as I said above. With two on in the second Nimmo’s RBI-single gave Texas the lead back at 2-1. However an RBI-single by Burger and a sac fly-RBI by Pederson later in the inning ran the score to 4-1.

Gunnar Henderson’s RBI-single in the fifth cut the lead to 4-2. However that was all the Birds could muster. Texas would tack on an insurance run in the ninth on Smith’s RBI-single. That came on the heels of an infield hit that put a runner in scoring position.

It was that sort of game for the O’s. Whether it was soft contact or infield hits, Texas found ways to get on base. And they took advantage. This while the Orioles struggled against Texas starter Jack Leiter, who was outstanding. He’s also the son of former big league pitcher Al Leiter. And he looked a lot like his old man tonight.

The series continues tomorrow night at Camden Yards. Zach Eflin gets the start for the O’s, and Texas is yet to announce a starter. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: All’s well in the end

Shane Baz made his club debut this afternoon for the Baltimore Orioles in the rubber match against Minnesota. It wasn’t the stellar performance that one might have wanted in his team debut, or in a game right after signing a big contract extension. But it was an odd game overall, that had many twists and turns. Baz’s line: 5.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 0 BB, 4 K.

Baz loaded the bases in the second inning with nobody out. Minnesota would push a run across on an RBI-single by Larnach. Later in the inning Gary’s three-RBI double extended the lead to 4-0. Moral of the story: don’t put runners on base.

Oriole bats had been quiet for the first two games of the season. But they strung together a couple of hits in the fourth, bringing Tyler O’Neill to the plate. And O’Neill smacked the first home run of the season for the O’s, this of the three-run variety. That cut the lead to 4-3, and suddenly the home team was on business.

The O’s briefly took the lead in the sixth on a two-RBI double by Dylan Beavers. Admittedly I thought that moment needed a more tenured hitter – such as Colton Cowser – who was on the bench. But Beavers got the job done, and the Birds held a lead. However one inning later Minnesota’s Lewis smacked a solo homer, tying the game at six.

Yet it was Pete Alonso, the Orioles’ big acquisition this off-season, who put them back on top. Following a walk and a base hit in the seventh, Alonso’s RBI-single gave the O’s a 6-5 lead. Adley Rutschman would add a pinch-hit RBI-double, and Coby Mayo an RBI-single. Minnesota would tack on a run in the ninth, but the O’s took the series finale, 8-6.

Despite the angst of yesterday, the O’s took two-of-three in the season’s opening series. That means nothing more than face value. But you’d rather that than the alternative.

The O’s welcome in Texas tomorrow evening at Camden Yards. Chris Bassitt gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Texas’ Jack Leiter. Game tune is set for just after 6:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles haunted by small ball

Small ball has been the Baltimore Orioles’ bugaboo for years. It worked for them on Thursday – Opening Day. Not so much today in Kyle Bradish’s season debut. Bradish’s line: 4.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R (2 earned), 3 BB, 4 K.

There are worse stat lines than this. But Bradish appeared to lose his release point at various times, and he did struggle with control. It was also 46 degrees at first pitch, feeling more like 40. However the O’s did get on the board first, with Jeremiah Jackson’s RBI-single playing Colton Cowser and giving the Birds a 1-0 lead.

For most of the game the O’s seemed to be gunning for the long ball. And as I wrote many times last year, that’s how you win games in the AL East. However many of these central division teams play that slappy style of baseball – they manufacture runs. Today was no exception.

Buxton got aboard with a single (also the result of a manager’s challenge) in the fourth. He made the rare move of tagging up and trying for second base on a routine fly out. Admittedly, I was taken back by this, as players don’t normally attempt that. Buxton did, and it worked.

During the next at-bat, Adley Rutschman caught Buxton napping at second. However an errant throw allowed him to take third on the error. He would later score on a sac fly-RBI, tying the game.

Much of this style of baseball hinges on catching your opponent off guard. Ironically it’s almost as if playing the long ball game is predictable. Nevertheless in the fifth it was the small ball Minnesota Twins who took the lead – with a two-run homer. Ironic twist of fate in a sense.

Minnesota would also tack on an insurance run in the seventh with an RBI-single by Clemens. One very positive note for the Orioles in this 4-1 loss was the major league debut of Anthony Nunez. He pitched the eighth and ninth innings, and sent all six hitters he faced down.

The series concludes tomorrow afternoon at Camden Yards. Shane Baz gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Minnesota’s Bailey Ober. Game time is set for just after 1:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles lock up Shane Baz

Shane Baz hasn’t thrown a pitch in Baltimore yet, but he has signed a contract extension with the Baltimore Orioles. While the team hasn’t announced the extension, Baz is reported to have signed a five-year deal worth $68 million.

That’s a good thing. BUT…it mate have been prudent to have at least allowed Baz to throw a pitch for the O’s before doing an extension. But needless to say, the Orioles got their man.

Baltimore Orioles ace Opening Day

Opening Day dawned for the Baltimore Orioles and starter Trevor Rogers. Make no mistake, it’s one game. There are 161 to go. Rogers was as good as advertised today in his role as staff ace, and the bats did just enough. Rogers’ line: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 5 K.

Rogers did pitch out of a couple of jams, but it wasn’t necessary too much. He induced a ground ball double-play to get out of the third, as well as the fourth. He also induced a double-play in the seventh to erase a threat and record two outs.

But the Orioles weren’t able to do much offensively either. However the eventually got into the Minnesota bullpen. Samuel Basallo singled in the seventh, and then went to third on a Tyler O’Neill single. Either runners at the corners Colton Cowser’s sac fly-RBI gave the Birds a 1-0 lead.

Not many people had the Orioles playing and winning with small ball today on their bingo card. But Blaze Alexander’s RBI-single drove home a second run, extending the lead to 2-0. And that was also big because Keaschall would get Minnesota on the board with a sac fly-RBI in the eighth.

Ryan Helsley came on for the save in the ninth, and allowed one base hit. But he largely shut Minnesota down, starting the Orioles off 1-0 on the season. Again, end of the day it’s one of 161. But it’s a win.

And a big win. You always want to look good on Opening Day. Especially at home, and especially with a new manager. That begins the Craig Alberbnaz era off on a winning note. Needless to say, that’s a big deal going into a scheduled off day tomorrow.

Baltimore Orioles 2026 season preview

Opening Day, 2026 for the Baltimore Orioles. And all of Major League Baseball. This afternoon the Birds open the 2026 season under new manager, Craig Albernaz.

It goes without saying that the Orioles need for 2026 to have fewer injuries than 2025. That’s already been challenging, as Jordan Westburg and Jackson Holliday are already on the IL. However Holliday at least should return soon.

End of the day, it boils down to pitching for the Orioles. Given the lineup, we know that the run production will be there – barring injuries. This is an Orioles team which added Pete Alonso at first base. That’s 40 home runs and 100 RBI infused into the lineup. Not to mention better role players and utility men on the bench.

The Birds will go as far as their pitching takes them this year. And I scoff at the contemporary idea that bullpens could mean more now. Bullpen’s matter, but not as much as starters. The O’s beefed up their rotation with the likes of Shane Baz and Chris Bassitt this offseason. Combine that with Zach Eflin and Kyle Bradish coming back, and the rotation is much deeper this year. Look no further than the fact that Dean Kremer’s starting the season in AAA.

End of the day, this season will have great moments. Also some tough ones. Again, you have to hope that the injury situation doesn’t wind up being the same as last year. I maintain that, combined with an over-reliance on analytics, tanked last year more than anything. That cannot be allowed to happen again.

So where does this season, which dawns brightly this afternoon, culminate? Obviously I can’t predict the future with any amount of accuracy. The Orioles and Boston got better this offseason. New York sort of stood pat, and Toronto probably took a step backwards. My prediction is that Boston wins the AL East. But that the Orioles at the very least contend for a Wild Card.

Whatever happens, the season and the opening series against Minnesota begins this afternoon at Camden Yards. Trevor Rogers gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Minnesota’s Joe Ryan. Game time is set for just after 3 PM.