Baltimore Orioles: When common sense fails

The Baltimore Orioles got a decent start so to speak out of Gabriel Ynoa this evening. The numbers don’t indicate that, but Ynoa was also the victim of some hard luck. Ynoa’s line: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R (3 earned), 2 BB, 1 K.

The O’s started the season with six of their first nine games against New York. At the time, New York had their share of the injuries – as they do now. I suggested that the Orioles were lucky to be seeing their AL East rival while they had some injury problems.

What I couldn’t have known is that no matter who New York plugged into their lineup was going to succeed. Guys would be coming up from the minors and smacking home runs at will. It’s one thing to have a next man up philosophy and have guys play well. But whomever put on the pinstripes ended up being flat out dominant. Much to the chagrin of nearly every other team.

New York took a 1-0 lead on a second inning homer by Romine. However Trey Mancini‘s RBI-single in the third tied the game at one. However one inning later the O’s has two runners on, one of which (in the form of Jace Peterson) was at third. The O’s attempted a double-steal, and Peterson was called out at home plate.

However the Orioles challenged the call. In my personal view it wasn’t even close – replays clearly seemed to show that Peterson slid across home plate well before the tag was put on. However the call was upheld on review, ending the inning.

That was a key turning point in the game. It definitely put the Orioles a bit off-center for a spell. Trey Mancini was so angry that he had to be restrained from going on the field and saying something he would regret. In seeing the replay, it seems to be common sense that the runner was safe. Peterson clearly beat the tag. But the Orioles would argue that common sense failed them this evening.

As I said and as I tweeted during the game, that was a major turning point. Or perhaps a launching point. Because New York took full advantage of the opportunity they were given, and took the lead in the fifth. By the end of the sixth, they had extended it to 6-1.

In full, New York smacked five home runs in this game. That’s something that’s plagued Orioles’ pitching all year. But all five of those homers came from the bottom of the order. And the majority of them came on the bats of guys who in essence are fill-in’s. It’s one thing to fill in admirably for a regular player. These guys are flat out playing like world beaters.

However the Orioles battle back. Jace Peterson smacked a two-run homer in the sixth – and this time the league office allowed the run he represented to cross home plate (if you can believe that). Chris Davis would add a sac fly-RBI later in the inning, which was followed by a two-run homer by Jonathan Villar which tied the game at six.

The Orioles has battled back against the pinstripes and tied the game. Brandon Hyde correctly saw that a lefty hitter in Ford would lead the seventh off for New York. So he correctly brought in southpaw Paul Fry to face Ford. Again, common sense. And good sound baseball rationale.

But common sense once again bit the Orioles. Ford would homer against Fry, as would Tauchman. Those homers gave New York a 9-6 lead, which turned into a 9-6 victory.

Again, that foul call at the plate set the tone for the rest of the game. While the Orioles came back, they were off-center for the remainder of the evening. And while you have to admire some of these guys from New York who are tearing it up when they have no business doing so, from the opponent’s perspective it.’a frustrating to see. Regardless of what the Orioles did, New York was ready for them.

If you’re inclined to suggest that the play at the plate could and should have been overcame, you’re right to say that. However keep in mind that the Orioles would have left 2-1 had that call been reversed as it should have been. Not to mention that the inning would have continued. You just never know what would have happened. For the record, Jonathan Villar managed to hit for the cycle tonight, becoming the fifth Oriole in history to do so.

The series continues tomorrow night at Camden Yards. Asher Wojchiekowski gets the start for the Birds, and New York is yet to announce a starter. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

UPDATE: Brandon Hyde said after the game that he felt the non-overturned call at home plate was “pathetic.”

Baltimore Orioles hold Toronto accountable for mistakes yet again

The Baltimore Orioles used Jimmy Yacabonis this afternoon as an opener in the series finale against Toronto. Yacabonis didn’t particularly have the greatest outing as an opener, but he didn’t surrender a run. And he was helped in the same manner that the Birds were helped last night: Toronto got overzealous and took a stupid risk. Yacabonis’ line: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K.

Yacabonis loaded the bases with nobody out in the first inning. He then induced a grounder to Chris Davis at first, who gunned the runner out at home plate. With the bases still loaded, Smoak flew out to Anthony Santander in left field. That should have given Toronto a 1-0 lead – on a sac fly. However they made an unforced error on the base paths when Guriel decided to tag up and take third. Santander threw him out, and home plate umpire Brian O’Nora ruled that the out was recorded before the runner crossed the plate. That nullified the run.

The teams traded RBI-singles in the last of the first and top of the second. However that missed run by Toronto loomed large. And their mistakes continued. The Orioles got the lead in the last of the second when Jonathan Villar reached on a fielding error, allowing a run to score and giving the O’s a 2-1 lead.

Later in that second inning the O’s got a two-RBI double from Trey Mancini, extending their lead to 4-1. Toronto would get one back in the fifth, however the last of the fifth saw the O’s net two runs on walks. Sisco and Davis both walked with the bases loaded, giving the Birds a 6-2 lead.

Toronto would make things interesting however. They would smack back-to-back homers in the seventh, along with an RBI-double. But the Orioles bullpen preserved the lead, and the Birds closed out a one-run victory.

So if you think back to that base-running blunder by Toronto in the first inning, it made a huge difference. It’s never fair to say all things being the same, however if that game played out the same way with Toronto having scored that run, it would have gone to extra innings. This is two games in a row that the Orioles got fat on Toronto taking dumb risks in games, and losing out.

This isn’t to say that the O’s can only win when their opponent makes mistakes. Because you still have to hold them accountable for their errors. The Orioles are starting to do that, and it’s a good sign.

Tomorrow the Orioles open a three-game set at Camden Yards against the New York Yankees. Gabriel Ynoa gets the start for the Al’s, and NY is yet to announce a starter. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Toronto gambles – and loses

The Baltimore Orioles entered last night’s game trying to snap a two-game losing streak. Unfortunately they were playing an upstart Toronto team that was telling the Orioles and the rest of baseball that they belong. They had taken it to the Orioles in two consecutive games, and won five straight overall. Dylan Bundywas taxed with trying to stop them last night. Bundy’s line: 5.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 7 K.

Toronto took a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI-double by Guerrero. They extended their lead to 2-0 on a third inning solo homer by Galvis. However unlike the first two games of this series, the Orioles overcame that.

The O’s were actually held hitless until the fifth, and that first hit was a solo home run by Jonathan Villar. After a couple of runners got on base following that home run, Trey Mancini strode to the plate. And Mancini smacked a three-run homer which put the Orioles in the lead at 4-2. It was Mancini’s 26th homer of the season. Wherever his home run total stands at the end of the year, it’ll be a new single-season career high.

However Toronto would tie the game in the seventh on a two-run homer by McGuire. Following the homer Bichette would get on base with a single. That brought Galvis to the plate. He smacked a double into the left field corner. However Toronto decided to gamble and send the runner home from first. Anthony Santander dug the ball out of the corner, and threw it to Richie Martin. And Martin related it home to Pedro Severino, who apparently tagged the runner Bichette after he had crossed the plate.

Toronto has gambled on these young Orioles fielder’s not being able to get the ball back in to nail the runner, and it worked. They had a 5-4 lead. However that lead was incredibly short-lived. The Orioles saw something on the replay, and challenged the call. The umpires agreed with the Orioles – Severino had actually tagged the runner out before he crossed home plate. So the game remained tied.

However in the bottom of that seventh inning Hanser Alberto‘s RBI-single put the Birds back in the lead. Mancini would add an RBI-groundout, and the O’s went home with a 7-4 victory. This snapped the aforementioned two game losing streak.

Make no mistake that the challenged play at the plate played a huge role. Toronto took what I would have deemed a stupid risk. At first it appeared that they got away with it. But that ultimately wasn’t the case. And that moment changed the momentum of the game, propelling the Orioles to victory.

The series concludes this afternoon at Camden Yards. Jimmy Yacabonis gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Toronto’s Sean Reid-Foley. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Baltimore Orioles finding bugaboo in fundamentals

Aaron Brooks got the start for the Baltimore Orioles last night, and with mixed results at that. He wasn’t good, but certainly not horrible. But the Birds fins themselves in a situation where they want guys to step up and take a spot in the rotation. I wouldn’t say Brooks did that last night, or since he’s been here – to this point. Brooks’ line: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 4 K.

Brooks threw 30 pitches in the first inning, but rebounded in the second and threw only ten. Guerrero’s RBI-single have Toronto a 1-0 lead. Jace Peterson tried to throw the runner out at home plate from left field. There was never going to be a play at the plate, yet he threw home anyways, allowing Guerrero to go to second base. He would later score on Galvis’ RBI-single.

It’s small fundamentals as such which have plagued the O’s for some time. This isn’t to say that they should immediately surrender runs when hits come with runners on base. But fielder’s have to evaluate the situation; in that particular case, Peterson had no chance to throw the runner out. So by trying to do so and allowing another runner to get into scoring position, he assisted in netting the opponent an additional run. Good intentions for sure, but those are things that you have to get right in games.

Toronto would net fourth and sixth inning solo homers by Galvis and Drury respectively. However in the seventh Chris Davis brought the O’s to within two with a two-run homer. However that’s as close as they got. Fisher added an RBI-single in the ninth for Toronto, who went into win the game 5-2.

If you remove that second first inning run (which came on the heels of Peterson trying to nail the runner at home plate), the Orioles still lose by two – all things being the same. But as I said above, small fundamentals like that do make a difference in games. Maybe it this game per se. However had this been a one-run game…you get the point. And opposing teams have seemingly never been in the mood to let the Orioles off the hook when they make lapses like that.

The series continues this evening at Camden Yards. Dylan Bundy gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Toronto’s Thomas Pannone. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Trey Mancini hits career high in homers in loss

The Baltimore Orioles returned home last night following a long west coast swing. In doing so, they ran into a buzz saw called the Toronto Blue Jays. As it turned out, Asher Wojchiekowski was plagued by a sore hip throughout his outing. The O’s said after the game that he’s expected to be fine. Wojciechowski’s line: 4.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 5 K.

Wojchiekowski gave up a two-run homer to Guerrero in the third, an RBI-single to Bichette in the fourth, and a solo homer to Grichuk in the fifth. Wojchiekowski wasn’t on point last night (with the sore hip being duly noted), however Toronto also ended the night with five home runs and eleven runs total. Regardless of who the Orioles trotted out there, Toronto hitters were smacking around.

Jonathan Villar got the Orioles on the board in the last of the fifth with a fielder’s choice-RBI. But the aforementioned Bichette and Guerrero hit the Orioles hard all night. Something about the sons of famous Dad’s that wasn’t sitting right with the Orioles last night. Guerrero also homered in the eighth, giving him two on the night.

Trey Mancini also smacked a solo homer in the last of the eighth for the Birds, giving him 25 on the season. That’s a new career high for Mancini, who’s progression as a hitter has been upwards since making his debut. And that’s good news for the Orioles.

Mancini of course was the subject of a few muted trade rumors as the deadline approached, but he’s still an Oriole. And he’s said that he’s happy about that. So are the Orioles.

I’ve said on numerous occasions that trading Mancini would be a huge mistake for the Orioles. He’s the type of player around whom you want to build. Now on the flip side he would probably net the most return in terms of players. But you have to look past that.

It’s short-sighted to suggest that simply because Mancini’s been a part of two consecutive last place finishes (assuming that’s the eventual case this year) the O’s should ship him out. His numbers speak for themselves. You want to keep a guy like him. On top of that, he seems to like playing in Baltimore and he seems to like the organization. He’s a keeper.

The series with Toronto continues tonight at Camden Yards. Aaron Brooks gets the start for the O’s, and Toronto is yet to announce a starter. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

Baltimore Orioles stand pat at the deadline

The Baltimore Orioles in essence made no moves yesterday at the 4:00 PM EST trading deadline. They sent pitcher Dan Straily to the Philadelphia Phillies for cash considerations. That’s considered a minor league move, so again nothing major. As I alluded, the Orioles pretty much stood pat.

There were multiple deals on the table involving multiple players, however the Birds neglected to take any of them. Which tells you that the return package wasn’t sufficient for Elias and company. Even teams in the Orioles’ situation aren’t going to just give players away. That isn’t how it works.

In the wake of their successful road trip, the O’s will tonight open up a four-game set at Camden Yards against Toronto. The Birds are yet to announce a starter, whereas Toronto will start Trent Thornton. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

Baltimore Orioles bead home winners on the bat of Chris Davis

The Baltimore Orioles’ west coast road trip was already a success before yesterday’s game. Now some might disagree, but the fact that they hadn’t embarrassed themselves and looked good in numerous wins was a good sign. But as Tom Eshelman opened for the Birds yesterday, there was a yearn to make a decent west coast swing a good one. Eshelman’s line: 4.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 5 K.

Eshelman surrendered four runs early to San Diego, putting the Birds in an early hole. But as suddenly as San Diego had struck, the tide turned and the Orioles began to strike back. Jace Peterson‘s RBI-single in the fourth inning got the O’s on the board, cutting the San Diego lead to 4-1. However later in the inning Richie Martin added a two-RBI single, which cut the lead to 4-3.

Martin’s two-RBI single was a key turning point. There’s a big difference between holding a three-run lead and a one-run lead. However San Diego would get a run back one inning later on an infield RBI-single, which the Orioles challenged at first base. However while it appeared that the runner could have been out, the ruling was that there wasn’t enough evidence to overturn the ruling on the field.

However two innings later Hanser Alberto tied it with a two-RBI single. Incidentally, that came with two runners in scoring position. That’s known as a clutch hit.

And it didn’t end there. The game was tied, and one inning later in the eighth Chris Davis was coming to the plate. Now there was a time when that would have struck fear into opposing pitchers. Those days are past. Davis has been 0-for-3 with three strikeouts to that point. Which is why San Diego opted to pitch-to-contact on Davis.

But Davis is still good enough to hit the ball out of the ballpark if he does get a pitch and he’s able to get a hold of it. And that.’a exactly what he did on a hanging slider, and he muscled it out of the ballpark. Again, we call that a clutch hit given the fact that the game was tied, and it was in a late inning.

Trey Mancini added a two-RBI single later in the inning, and the O’s closed out an 8-5 victory in San Diego. They completed their nine-game west coast swing at five wins and four losses. For a team that’s supposed to be the worst in baseball, that’s pretty good. And for the record, they aren’t the worst team in baseball anymore. That distinction now belongs to Detroit. The O’s are moving up in the world!

Baltimore Orioles: David Hess struggles in big league return

The Baltimore Orioles recalled RHP David Hess in advance of last night’s game in San Diego. Unfortunately for the O’s, Hess’ start didn’t exactly go as planned. Hess’ line: 4.2 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 0 BB, 7 K.

Hess gave up back-to-back homers to Tatis and Reyes, literally on the first two pitches of the game. Not exactly an auspicious beginning. Anthony Santander‘s third inning RBI-single cut the lead to 2-1. Unfortunately for the O’s however, that’s as close as they would get.

Hess would surrender two third inning homers as well. A two-run shot to Hosmer, and a solo home run to Urias. And that ended his night. Hosmer would also add a three-run shot in the seventh to run the final score to 8-1.

Now if there’s anything positive that can be taken away from this start for Hess, it’s his seven strikeouts. Over just under five innings, that’a pretty impressive. However while Hess will take the seven strikeouts as a positive thing, it’s also indicative of the larger problem in this start.

In effect, Hess was getting too much of the strike zone. That’s why the first two hitters smacked homers – the ball was right smack in the middle of the zone. If you’re overpowering people that might be one thing. And in many cases Hess was. You don’t get seven strikeouts without overflowing people here and there.

But in at least four other cases the hitters got to Hess and smacked homers. And this illustrates one of the many reasons why pitching in fact is so challenging. Needless to say, it’s not for the faint of heart. You want to throw strikes. But if you get too much of the strike zone, you’re going to find yourself in trouble more often than not. And that’a what happened to Hess last night.

The short series in San Diego and the Kong west coast swing concludes this afternoon at Petro Park. Tom Eshelman gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by San Diego’s Dinelson Lamet. Game time is set for just after 3:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Any trades involving the Birds?

With the MLB trade deadline this week, the question appears to be whether the Baltimore Orioles will make a move. Reliever Mychal Givens appears to be the biggest trade chip the Orioles currently have. According to numerous sources multiple teams have expressed interest.

The Orioles are willing to move Givens. Heck, I think with a few exceptions they’d move anyone. However they’re not going to give the guy away. So it really boils down to what kind of compensation they’re going to get in return.

One might ask why the Orioles would think they could get for a reliever. And I think that the answer to that is a decent return. While Givens may not net them what they got for relievers last year, keep in mind why a team would be looking to trade for Givens: for the postseason.

Bullpens have turned into an integral part of the game across the board. Heck, you can’t even finish a spring training game if you don’t have bullpen relievers. Much less in the regular season. But the bullpen is much more important in the post season, as starters and all pitchers are on a tighter leash.

Many managers will lift their starters in the third or fourth inning if they aren’t working out. Then it falls to the bullpen. Givens would also be a set up man on a contending team. And that’s tough to find.

So the O’s might well get a couple of prospects for a reliever like Givens. What they do with those prospects remains to be seen.

Baltimore Orioles can’t complete sweep, settle for series win

The Baltimore Orioles will have to settle for simply taking the series in Anaheim this weekend. The Birds took three-of-four, including of course their epic 16 inning win on Thursday night in the series opener. Dylan Bundy wasn’t exactly “on” per se, but he did put the Orioles in a spot to win the game. And that’s all you can ask of a starting pitcher. Bundy’s line: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 3 K.

The O’s actually fell behind early in this one, following Thaiss’ second inning two-run homer. However they soon came to within one at 2-1 when Jonathan Villar smacked an RBI-double in the third. Incidentally, Anaheim starter Pena appeared to leave the game in the second when a blister popped on his throwing hand. However he got some quick treatment on it, and stayed in the game. Anaheim was direly in need of a long outing, so kudos to him.

Villar would later tie the game at two in the fifth inning with an RBI-single. But it was Trey Mancini who got the O’s thinking that they could complete the sweep later in the inning. His two-RBI single gave the Orioles the lead at 4-2.

With how the Orioles had pitched in this series, one might have thought that was a safe lead. But sometimes you just don’t have it on certain days. Bundy surrendered a two-run homer to Pinole in the last of the sixth, tying the game.

The Orioles would eventually fall on a walk off homer by Thaiss in the last of the ninth. Look at it as you wish, but this was an incredibly successful series for the Orioles. Perhaps the best series of the season. They took three-of-four from a team on the west coast, and the one game they dropped wasn’t lost until the last of the ninth inning. On a walk off home run.

This Oriole team grew up this weekend in Anaheim. They’ve been trending well since the beginning of the month, but I really believe that at some point (perhaps next year or the year after) we’ll look back at this series as when they started taking a step forward in the rebuilding process. While they lost today, there’s nary any negative which can be spun out of this series from the Orioles’ standpoint.

The Birds now head off to their last stop on the west coast swing, a two-game set with San Diego at Petco Park. The O’s are yet to announce a starter, and Sam Diego will throw Chris Paddack. Game time is set for just after 10 PM.