Baltimore Orioles: Houston finds ways to beat you

The Baltimore Orioles have struggled with Houston for years. No matter the circumstance, the venue, or who’s starting for whom, the Birds can’t seem to find a way to beat Houston. They always seem to play them in the midst of a slump as well, but one way or the other they find ways to beat the Orioles.

And the Los Angeles Dodgers got a bit of that medicine in last night’s epic World Series game, won by Houston, 13-12. The two teams combined for seven home runs, and Houston finally won it in walk off fashion (with a single) in extra innings. However keep in mind that Houston’s a small ball team. Yet, they just won a World Series game where the two sides combined for seven homers…

…and that’s sometimes how they would beat the Orioles (among other teams). They seem to at times assume the identity of their opponent in a sense. The games the Orioles play against them at Minute Maid Park seem to be typical small ball games. However when Houston comes up to the Orioles’ home turf they suddenly try to out-slug the Birds. And it works.

Again, Los Angeles found that out last night. Houston’s just a very nimble team in that they can beat you however. It’s almost as if they allow the opponent to choose how the game’s going to go (small ball or power), and they’re comfortable beating you either way. One way or the other, it has them one game from becoming world champions.

Baltimore Orioles: White elephant at the hot corner

Manny Machado is the white elephant in the room right now for the Baltimore Orioles. This is a topic that we’re going to cover a lot this off season – so hunker down and be ready! Consider this a “preliminary conversation” about it in a sense.

Machado will be entering the final year of his contract in 2018. There’s no question that he would have been at his peak value last off season if the Orioles wanted to trade him. However the fact is that they could still get a haul for the Gold Glove nominee. And when I say that, I mean perhaps a top pitching prospect that’s ready for the big leagues right now.

It really boils down to whether or not the Orioles feel they can compete in 2018 or not. If 2012-2017 are any indication, they’ll either go to the playoffs or be in contention until the bitter end. And that’s something that a lot of people seem to conveniently forget about this past year’s team; they were eliminated from contention one week before the end of the regular season. They were far from a walking disaster.

Now with that said, there’s another factor that was unexpected in that discussion. The New York Yankees weren’t expected to compete this past year. The fact that they not only competed but went to the post season might have changed the dynamic of the division for 2018. One way or the other, it’s something to consider.

On the flip side, they (along with Boston) will be changing managers this coming year. When you change managers you really never know what you’re going to get. What was thought to be a championship team could fall back to the pack. And the same is true in reverse. It’s really an unknown in terms of how the team responds and performs.

And with that said, there’s also now a “manager situation” in Baltimore. Buck Showalter will be entering the final year of his contract next season. Does Showalter sign an extension? Retire? Move to the front office? This furthers the point about whether the Orioles can compete next year. If Showalter decides he’s stepping down at the end of his contract, perhaps they err on the side of making a run at it in 2018. And make no mistake that Buck’s status plays a role in this decision.

My stance has always been that Manny Machado should be an Oriole for life. Now there is obviously a chance that the two sides take a detour to that end in a sense. The idea of trading him now with a wink and a nod – in hopes of re-signing him after the season is out there. In essence, renting him to another team. However that’s risky…his new team would own his rights until the end of next season.

Time will tell. But needless to say, this is going to be a popular topic as we move through the off season.

Baltimore Orioles: Stay hungry my friends

Adam Jones of the Baltimore Orioles is hosting his fifth annual Purple Tailgate this year. Personally I think it’s an awesome event, and it brings together both of Baltimore’s professional sports franchises. The event will be held from 3:30 – 8 PM on Monday, November 27th, prior to the Baltimore Ravens taking on the Houston Texans.

You can see the list of vendors, entertainment, etc, as well as buy tickets by clicking here. Proceeds go to the Boys and Girls Club of Baltimore. The event will be held at 152 W. Ostend St, Baltimore, MD. 21230.

One new twist for this season is that it’s taking place before a Monday night game at M & T Bank Stadium. In the past it’s always been before a Sunday afternoon game, however this year Jones decided to take his signature event to prime time. Ideally of course, the Ravens will rally a bit and still be in contention for something come Thanksgiving weekend.

If you decide to attend the event, I guarantee you that you’ll be well fed. Adam Jones is a well-known foodie, and the list of vendors supplying food is second to none. And at the end of the day, it’s Jones bringing Baltimore’s sports together for a good cause. And that in and of itself is worth supporting.

Baltimore Orioles: Did Buck Showalter luck out after last year?

There was a very small but boisterous group of Baltimore Orioles fans who wanted Buck Showalter shown the door after last year’s AL Wild Card Game. We all remember; he left Britton in the bullpen while the O’s lost in walk off fashion. It’s something that’s debated to this day.

One week ago Washington let go of Dusty Baker, and now yesterday the NY Yankees let go of Joe Girardi. Or let me correct that; their contracts were up and the teams neglected to offer them new ones. Girardi is a guy that Orioles fans have always loved to hate. And for now at least, they won’t have to deal with him anymore.

The criticism of Baker being scapegoated because of how he handled games in the post season is well documented. And the fact is that while Girardi had New York within a game of the World Series, he botched a potential instant replay call that could have changed the outcome of the series. Do these “transgressions” equate to things that should cost these men their jobs? In my mind the answer is no.

But is this now the way of the world? One mistake and you’re gone? If these two very high-profile dismissals (or non-renewals) are any indication, it could very well mean that. The World Series is going to be won by either Houston or Los Angeles; and both are flawed. And managed by flawed men.

I would just submit that if we’re now in the business of not bringing managers back because of one mistake, it means we’re toeing a very fine line. It means that the only acceptable outcome of a season is to win the World Series. And that means that Buck Showalter really lucked out – if in fact all of that is the case.

Baltimore Orioles: First pitch for the ages

The Baltimore Orioles got a feel for Fernando-mania for one year: 1993 to be exact. Fernando Valenzuela pitched in Baltimore that year, although certainly not with the success that he had with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Valenzuela will always be thought of as a Dodger, which is how it should be.

That aside, Valenzuela and former Los Angeles catcher Steve Yeager combined last night to make one of the most memorable first pitch ceremonies in history before game two of the World Series. The Dodgers feinted as if they were going to have legendary broadcaster Vin Scully throw out the first pitch. Scully made his way to the mound, mic in hand (speaking to the crowd the entire time), and appeared poised to toss out the first ball before the game.

Upon arriving at the mound, Scully called for a catcher; cue Yeager running out onto the field. However Scully pulled the old bait and switch on the crowd, “going to the bullpen” to find a wiry lefty to do the honors instead of him. Enter Fernando Valenzuela. And of course once Valenzuela had thrown the pitch, Yeager, Valenzuela, and Scully led the crowd in Scully’s timeless tradition of saying it’s time for Dodger baseball.

That was about as well done a first pitch ceremony as I’ve ever seen. Franchises such as the Los Angeles Dodgers are in fact timeless. And it was obvious that they worked very hard to channel some of the history of the franchise in that moment last night. Vin Scully of course is in his first year of retirement after a lengthy career with the franchise – spanning back to the old Brooklyn days. He literally called games with the great Red Barber, and of course made the move to L.A. with the team. And the rest is history.

That ceremony last night tapped into the romanticism of the game, and that’s a big deal. There aren’t many franchises who have the history to pull something like that off, but Los Angeles is one of them. And they did it very well. Anything involving Vin Scully is going to get a kudos, because I’m not sure if there’s a more beloved announcer in the history of the game.

Scully was the last of his generation calling games, a generation that also includes Baltimore’s Chuck Thompson. Ironically, both broadcasters did some national work. Yet Thompson is considered much more of a local guy than Scully ever was. You could go to other cities and your average fan might not know Chuck Thompson. But they all know Vin Scully. However both of their trademarks (it’s time for Dodger baseball, and ain’t the beer cold!) are beloved in both of their circles.

Nevertheless, for anyone such as myself who loves tapping into the history of the game, that was a very moving ceremony. And I suspect the city of Houston has a couple of wild cards up it’s sleeves once the series (now tied at one game a piece) gets there as well. Everything’s bigger in Texas, right?!

Baltimore Orioles: Former Bird, Rich Hill, starts in the Fall Classic

The Baltimore Orioles acquired Rich Hill from the Chicago Cubs in 2009. Hill was shut down early with shoulder problems, but went 3-3 in 14 games, with a 7.80 ERA. In case you don’t remember his stint with the Birds, let’s just say that the numbers aren’t indicative of how much he struggled.

Hill bounced around a few more times over the years, before landing on the west coast with Oakland and eventually the Los Angeles Dodgers last season. Since being in that Cali sunshine, he’s thrived. In total last year he went 12-5, and this year (exclusively in Los Angeles) he posted a 12-8 record. Hill will start in game two of the World Series for Los Angeles this evening.

This isn’t an Arrieta-like case where the Orioles couldn’t seem to get him square but he literally took off once he left. However Hill is a classic change of air guy…it just took him several changes of air to get himself to where he is now. At 37 years old, he’s been one of the more dominant pitchers in the game the past two seasons.

Most fans I suspect will barely remember Hill’s stint in Baltimore, but it did happen. The three games that he won were even struggles. However to go from riding the triple-A shuttle with several different teams to pitching in the World Series has to be quite a transformation for Hill. Best wishes and good luck to him!

Baltimore Orioles: Is the power going out?

The Baltimore Orioles had to re-sign Chris Davis when they did. The guy had quickly turned into one of the best power hitters in the game. At the time and still, I thought that was the right move. But was it?

The last four ALCS’ have been won by teams who specialized in small ball. In that mix are the Kansas City Royals, who won it twice. This is not to say that power isn’t a part of their respective games, because it is. It has to be. The home run will always be a part of baseball. But their mentality was different.

If you have the bases loaded and someone grounds into a double-play (with nobody out), teams like the Orioles see that as a loss. They only netted one run when they had a shot at a big inning. And I agree with that type of mentality.

However teams such as Houston or Kansas City see that as a win. Now the opponent has to score two in order to beat you. That’s their mentality, and they stick to it.

These are teams who are also not afraid of giving away outs early in games to score runs. Get ’em on, get ’em over, get ’em in. The Orioles’ philosophy is to get as many people on base as you can and then bring them all home in one fatal swoop. And sometimes that works out, but sometimes it doesn’t, either.

Now with this said, notice I said that the last four American League Champions were small ball teams. Only one of those teams (the 2015 Royals) won the world series. So while small ball might well get you there, you probably don’t want to rely on it in the fall classic. This year, that of course would bode well for Los Angeles.

Baltimore Orioles: More Chance Sisco in 2018?

The Baltimore Orioles brought Chance Sisco to the big leagues as a September call-up this year. And the results were very favorable for the young catcher. Sisco hit .333 in 18 at-bats with two homers, four RBI, and an OBP of .455.

The Orioles of course let Matt Wieters walk after last season, and he ended up in Washington. They then signed Welington Castillo, who was this year’s starting catcher. To be clear, Castillo had a solid season and for the most part was good for the Orioles behind the plate. And that’s part of the reason why he’s expected to turn down his $7 million option and become a free agent.

So this opens the door for Sisco in a sense. He didn’t come up with the fanfare that Wieters did, however he’s been a prospect about whom the Orioles have been excited for some time. In ten games behind the plate at the big league level, he turned in a perfect fielding percentage.

The question is whether or not this is the time to fully commit to Sisco as a full-fledge Oriole as opposed to just a prospect. I’d be curious to know how much (if at all) that decision lies with Castillo. Would the Orioles go with the hand of experience if they could get Castillo back cheaply? I suspect they would. You’d prefer not to have to go through on-the-job-training, even with a hot prospect.

But having Sisco waiting in the wings also them options. If Castillo ends up elsewhere, Sisco could easily find himself splitting catching duties with Caleb Joseph. Only time will tell.

Baltimore Orioles: Role reversal in the Fall Classic

Many Baltimore Orioles fans are probably waking up this morning happy to see that the hated New York Yankees have been bounced from the post season. They were defeated last night by the score of 4-0 in Game 7 of the ALCS. The Houston Astros will now advance to the World Series to represent the American League against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

I do find a bit of irony in this matchup, as it’s two teams who seemingly stand for the inverse of what their league is all about. When I think of small ball, I think of National League clubs. That isn’t to say that it doesn’t exist in the American League, because it very much does. Cleveland, Minnesota, Kansas City, and yes Houston all play their share of small ball. And for the record, this is the fourth consecutive year that a small ball team will represent the American League in the World Series.

Los Angeles on the other hand is a power-hitting club. Again, that isn’t to say that there aren’t other teams who rely on power in the National League. The Chicago Cubs and Washington Nationals both win games by hitting a lot of home runs. Chicks dig the long ball, as they say.

But for the most part small ball is the National League’s game, and power that of the American League. And that’s in essence done by design. The National League forces pitchers to hit, which incidentally is something I support. I’d love to see the DH struck from the game across-the-board. (I also know that’s not happening anytime soon.) So with all of the strategy that comes with that, it’s natural that small ball would rule the day in the NL.

It’s also natural that in the absence of that strategy in the American League, it would be more based on power. The American sports fan yearns for the big play. Whether it’s a big touchdown, a slam dunk, or in this case the home run ball. It puts people in the seats, and keeps them cheering.

Small ball will once again meet power in this year’s fall classic. Each side will just be represented differently than one might have otherwise expected.

Baltimore Orioles: Dusty Baker deserved better down the pike

When I think of Baltimore Orioles’ opponents, few were as classy as Dusty Baker down I-95 in Washington DC. Similar to Buck Showalter, Baker was an accomplished baseball man who managed the game the right way. And again, he was about as classy a competitor as you’re going to see.

His contract was up after this year, and Washington made no attempts to re-sign him. In fact, I would argue that they made it well understood that he’d be “taken care of” after the season. Now that after the season is here, Washington announced that they would not be retaining Baker.

Dusty Baker won that team two consecutive division titles. That’s unprecedented in the history of that franchise. After those accomplishments, you don’t treat someone like Baker like that. I’m sorry, you just don’t.

And I’m not talking from a baseball perspective. I’m talking as a guy who watched his father and grandfather manage people from a young age. They always treated their employees like family. And that comes off as the exact opposite from how the Nationals did Dusty Baker yesterday. And in reality for much of the season.

That comment above, you just don’t treat someone like that, is kind of what rings in my head when I think of this situation. Many want to say that Baker could have handled situations in the NLDS games – who knows maybe he could have. Others say that the team was so good that anyone could manage them. Again, maybe they could.

But it’s not about that. It’s about how managers treat their employees. And in my view Dusty Baker the employee was done wrong.