Baltimore Orioles need to be ready to roll

The Baltimore Orioles will open the second half of the season tonight as league play resumes across Major League Baseball. The Birds were a bit dismayed at the schedule towards the end of the first half, with in essence having to visit five different cities (including a short stop back in Baltimore). However on the flip side they get to open the second half with an eleven-game homestand, starting tonight against the Chicago Cubs.

The northsiders come to Baltimore every six years with interleague play, so there is some interest in this series. Especially with Chicago being defending World Series champions. How many times in your lifetime have you seen that term?!

In Chicago, the Birds see a team that could have struggled more so than they have. Last Sunday Chicago’s Lester gave up ten runs in .2 innings pitched to start the game (in the first inning). So their pitching hasn’t been quite up to snuff either.

However they do have strong bats, much like those of the Orioles. Speaking of which, the Birds will get Chris Davis back starting tonight, which is good news. They’re going to need a strong second half out of him if they’re going to make a run at things. But ultimately they need the pitching to smooth out.

The good news for the Orioles is that there isn’t one team in the AL East that hasn’t gone through a long losing streak this year. So the O’s are far from out of it. If they can get things ramped up quickly, they’ll be in good shape.

The series with Chicago opens tonight at Camden Yards. Kevin Gausman gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Chicago’s Mike Montgomery. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Should MLB handle delays and weather?

Unless you count Chris Davis going 0-for-4 as Delmarva’s DH last night in his final rehab start, there’s not much going on for the Baltimore Orioles. I wouldn’t worry too much about Davis not hitting minor league pitching. Rehab starts are all about getting back into the groove of playing, and making sure that the player feels okay physically. Davis will be playing first base for the Orioles tomorrow night when the season resumes.

But with the league in essence shut down, there was an interesting situation last week down in D.C. regarding a weather delay. Fans will remember that the Orioles themselves were the “victims” of a rain-out a Nationals Park in May, on a night when it was barely raining. It had rained all day, and in buckets at that. But when 7 PM came around, it was merely a light drizzle.

Similarly last week, Washington delayed the start of their game against Atlanta due to the potential of a system being in the area. Long story short, it rained for about 15 minutes total, and the game began just after 10 PM. For much of the delay, the field wasn’t even covered.

In the Orioles’ case, the idea that Washington did this as a matter of gamesmanship was insinuated lightly. In essence it was “hinted at.” But Atlanta came right out and said that they think it was handled the way it was as a matter of gamesmanship. Now on one hand, weather isn’t an exact science, and teams can only use the information that they’ve given. That should go without saying. But on the other hand, due to the way the rules are there is the chance that a team could do that.

In the Orioles’ case I don’t think there was any other reason to reschedule the game than a wet field and less-than-ideal conditions. Because the way it was rescheduled had Washington surrendering their off day following a long west coast trip. Not exactly ideal for the home team.

But that aside, the issue in my mind is that in all weather delays, the decision is literally left up to the home team. That is until the umpire says PLAY BALL! Once that happens (in essence once the game starts), delays are decided by the umpiring crew – mainly the crew chief. I would submit that should be the case uniformly and across-the-board.

I believe that cancellations are decided upon by the two teams and the umpiring crew, however the simple act of delaying the start of the game is up to the home team. I suspect that most teams do consult with the visitors and perhaps even the umpires as well in these cases, however the decision soley rests with the home team.

MLB needs to change this so as to avoid the semblance of a team delaying a game and hoping for a cancellation for selfish reasons. Regardless of the motives, Washington really botched this situation last week. They didn’t communicate at all with fans other than saying thanks for your patience, and by the time they finally saw fit to start the game, most fans were literally at home in bed.

Removing the home team from this decision and resting it with MLB would alleviate situations like these. Washington isn’t the only team that’s had this happened. Numerous teams have lengthy rain delays only to start the game well after it’s scheduled time. But perhaps the league making that decision would add just a bit of common sense to the mix.

Baltimore Orioles’ Jonathan Schoop doubles, scores in ASG

If there’s one thing that Baltimore Orioles fans should take away from the MLB all-star game, it’s that Jonathan Schoop played a major role in the outcome. The lone Orioles’ representative in the game didn’t start, but was a factor once he got in the game. Both offensively and defensively.

Schoop entered the game as a substitute at second base in the alst of the fourth, and immediately made an impact. A runner tried to tag up and go to second base on a long fly ball out, and Boston’s Betts relayed the ballinto Schoop and second to nail the runner. One might question why the runner tried to advance, however runs were tough to coe by last night.

Schoop hit third in the top of the fifth, and with two outs and two strikes on him he pulled a tight grounder over the bag at third for a double. A few moments later Schoop scored the first run of the game on an RBI-single by Minnesota’s Sano. The National League would tie the game up on a solo homer by St. Louis’ Molina in the sixth, and the game went to extra innings. Seattle’s Cano smacked a solo homer of his own in the top of the tenth, which propelled the American League to victory.

For the first time in years, the all-star game truly was an exhibition. It no longer decides home field advantage in the World Series. And I’ll be honest; at first I thought it was a good idea because it gave a little bit of emphasis to the game. However as time went on players and coaches started taking it a bit more seriously than they should have given the stakes and what winning and losing could mean.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting that baseball shouldn’t be taken seriously, and that games should be treated as little league affairs just designed for them to have fun per se. It’s a serious business and each game matters. But the all-star game was always supposed to be just an exhibition for the fans, and a fun atmosphere for the players. So perhaps it’s a good thing that it’s back to truly being that way.

The other thing that stood out to me about this year’s contest was that it was a pitcher’s duel. In the past we’ve seen all-star games with final scores such as 10-8 or 14-11. However this was a game that seemed to truly showcase the pitching talent in the league. But of course at the end of the day, it was power that decided the game.

This was the first all-star game for Schoop, who looked very comfortable out there both in the field and at the plate. And while he wasn’t voted in by the fans, his selection was well-deserved. I’m also a proponent of having every team represented on the rosters. I disagree with how the NBA does their all-star selections; it ends up that only four or five teams in each conference get representation.

I also believe that every player on the roster should get into the game somehow. Preferably in an at-bat or to pitch an inning. But even if the guy only pitches to one batter, or comes in as a pinch-runner, I think every player should see the field. Every fan in my opinion has the right to sit down and watch the all-star game knowing that a member of his home team is on the roster and participates in the game. That’s part of how the game grows itself.

MLB will remain in pause-mode for the next two days before the season resumes on Friday. For the Orioles, that rest is well-needed given the grueling nature of the first half. For what it’s worth, this was the American League’s fifth consecutive all-star game win.

Baltimore Orioles: Chris Davis begins rehab

Chris Davis of the Baltimore Orioles reported to Nymeo Field (known to those of us of a certain age as Harry Grove Stadium) in Frederick yesterday afternoon to play first base for the Frederick Keys. In doing so, Davis began his injury rehab assignment to work his way back to the Orioles.

In five plate appearances, Davis went 1-for-4 with a double, a walk, and a run scored. Many fans are going to point to the fact that he struck out twice (once swinging), and wonder what the heck is going on to where he can’t even hit single-A pitching. However keep in mind that these rehab starts aren’t so much about statistics as they are just getting back into the groove of playing, and ensuring that there are no medical setbacks.

Davis of course has been on the DL since June 13th with a strained oblique. He’s expected to report to single-A Delmarva for a rehab assignment on Wednesday evening. If all goes well there, odds are he’ll be the starting first baseman for the Orioles on Friday night when the schedule resumes and the Chicago Cubs come to town.

Incidentally, this rehab start for Davis was kind of a big deal to the locals. The Keys played a getaway day matinee yesterday which started at 2 PM. In general, you might have a few hundred people at a game like that in the minors. The ballpark was packed yesterday with 4K+ people. So when a player of Davis’ stature comes for a rehab assignent, it’s often a boom for the farm team.

Baltimore Orioles ride Adam Jones’ bat into the break

While the past two months have been trying for the Baltimore Orioles and Adam Jones, they finished the first half strong. In the wake of Saturday’s victory, they decided to go a step further and dismantled Minnesota in the series finale. While the Birds go into the all-star break now two games under .500, splitting that series in the Twin Cities gives them just a bit of wind in their sails.

Ubaldo Jimenez put the Orioles in a spot to win the game yesterday, really only struggling in one inning. Jimenez’s line: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 BB, 3 K. But Jimenez had the lead before even taking their field, as Jones smacked a three-run home run in the top of the first inning to put the O’s ahead to stay. ne inning later an RBI-double by Joseph and an RBI-single by Smith would run the score to 5-0 early on.

However Minnesota’s a team that can bleed you by paper cuts. A small in here or there is seemingly all they need. Jimenez loaded the bases in the last of the second, and walked Dozier to bring Minnesota’s first run to the plate. Grossman would follow with a two-RBI single, and then Kepler’s RBI-double would bring Minnesota to within one at 5-4.

Even though Jimenez got out of the inning with the lead, I suspect that most people probably felt Minnesota had the Orioles right where they wanted them at that moment. Jimenez was obviously on the ropes, and while the Orioles’ offense had been good to that point they had probably run their course for the day – right?

The fact that the Orioles themselves didn’t take that attitude is a good sign. They kept on fighting. Jones added a second homer, this one of the solo variety, in the fifth inning. Caleb Joseph would tag on a two-RBI single later in the inning to run the score to 8-4, and Ruben Tejada‘s RBI-double sent it to 9-4.

That little four-run splurge in the fourth inning was all the reminder the Birds needed of the game earlier in the season against Minnesota at Camden Yards where they surredered a seven-run lead. So they kept the pressure on and kept scoring. That’s not to say they ran up the score, because they weren’t trying to manufacture runs per se, but the hits just kept on coming.

Manny Machado added an RBI-single in the eighth, and Jones another as well on a sac fly-RBI. Minnesota would tack one on as well on a Polanco ground out, running the final to 11-5. Needless to say, the first half was far from perfect. But it ended on a positive note for the Orioles.

This is an Oriole team that’s had a tough tie taking momentum from a win and playing it forward. The fact that they’re off until Friday doesn’t make it an easier. However one has to hope and believe that the rest will do them good. And on the other end they’ll find a Chicago Cubs team that’s struggling even more. There are problems in the Oriole rotation, however Chicago gave up ten runs in the first inning yesterday!

Baltimore Orioles snap losing streak with Jonathan Schoop at short

A lot of Baltimore Orioles fans had to wonder what was going on when they noticed Jonathan Schoop playing shortstop yesterday afternoon. Admittedly, I raised an eyebrow at the move also. However when you’ve lost five straight games and things are turning south, you might as well shake up the lineup here and there. That’s what the Orioles did – and if the result is any indication, it worked.

I wouldn’t expect to see Schoop at short often, however it should put the Orioles at ease knowing that he can play there. What also should put the Orioles at ease was Wade Miley‘s outing in yesterday’s game. Miley’s line: 5.2 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 4 K. Obviously the O’s would prefer Miley to go deeper into games, however this start is about par for the course for him. The difference is that he only gave up one run.

The O’s trailed in this game before they took a lead, on the heels of Sano’s solo homer in the last of the third. But one inning later it was the shortstop, Schoop, who put the O’s in the lead for good. His two-run home run gave the Birds a 2-1 lead. And the best news for Oriole bats? They added on.

Manny Machado continued his hot streak with an RBI-double in the sixth. He would later score on an error that allowed Trumbo to reach. For once it seemed the opponent was making a few mistakes in the game, and the O’s were holding them accountable.

And ironically, it was the end of the sixth inning which may have decided the game. Miley gave way to O’Day, who promptly hit a batter to load the bases with two outs. You have to believe that Minnesota had to just know that this was the part of the story where they stand up and seize control of the game from the Orioles, never to look back. So when O’Day, who wasn’t at his best yesterday, powered a fastball past Escobar to end the inning, you could almost see the shock on the faces of the Minnesota players.

Trumbo would smack a solo home run in the eighth to offer the Orioles even more of a cushion, and the Birds cruised to a 5-1 victory. That of course snapped a five-game losing streak, and for the Orioles’ sake perhaps restored some semblance of normalcy to the clubhouse. Inicidentally, the fact that Trumbo has started to heat up just a bit in the last week bodes well for the Orioles as they head into the second half. They just have to hope that it continues.

The Birds will try to earn a split with Minnesota in this afternoon’s series finale at Target Field. Ubaldo Jimenez gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Minnesota’s Kyle Gibson. Game time is set for just after 2 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Issues behind the scenes?

With their recent struggles, many fans have taken to saying that the Baltimore Orioles aren’t very good. I don’t buy that. For the most part, this year’s roster was identical to last year’s team that went to the post-season. Notice I said for the most part. There are always differences. But are we to believe they just got lucky last year?

This year’s team has been decimated by injuries to this point, which is part of why I think it would be a mistake to sell. If you sell, you potentially ruin your chances next year. And in fact, the Birds are still in the race at this point with a lot of season left to play and the likes of Davis and Hardy looking to return.

But last night’s loss makes one wonder if there isn’t some sort of strife going on in the Orioles’ clubhouse. It’s tough to imagine what that could be, but blowing a six-run lead is as much mental as it is anything else. Kevin Gausman looked good through three innings, but then fell apart. Gausman’s line: 4.0 IP, 9 H, 6 R (5 earned), 0 BB, 7 K.

The O’s took an early 2-0 lead when Seth Smith and Manny Machado led the game off with back-to-back homers. The O’s appeared poised to break that four-game losing streak, and Gausman started mowing people down when he came in. Machado also smacked a three-run homer in the top of the third, giving the O’s a 5-0 lead. Later in the inning Mancini’s RBI-single ran it to 6-0.

But it was almost as if someone turned a switch off for Gausman and on for Minnesota. They started smacking single after single and getting guys on base. Rosario’s RBI-single cut the lead to 6-1, and then Gausman hit Giminez by a pitch with the bases loaded. Suddenly it was 6-2, and Gausman was starting to melt down.

One inning later Grossman’s RBI-double cut the lead to 6-3, and Kepler’s RBI-single made it 6-4 (following a Machado throwing error). Vargas’ two-RBI double tied the game, however the writing was already on the wall for the O’s. Later in the inning Giminez came back up, and smacked an RBI-single which gave Minnesota the lead at 7-6. They would add on two in the eighth to beat the Oriole 9-6.

Minnesota’s one of those teams who love to play small ball. A single here, a double or a hit batsman there, and suddenly you’re staring traffic on the base paths in the face. There was something about Gausman that just clicked for them in those fourth and fifth innings. Which that can sometimes happen after guys have gotten a look at a pitcher once (or twice) through the order. But coughing up a six-run lead is still fairly incriminating.

But again, it does make you wonder if there isn’t some internal issue in the clubhouse. Because even the likes of Manny Machado can’t seem to get out of his own way at times – with his error last night for example. The Orioles’ clubhouse has always been incredibly tight-knit, so it does make you wonder.

Again, it’s also fair to say that while this was in essence the same team as last year, it’s not currently the same team. Half of the starting infield is on the DL currently, as have been numerous pieces of the bullpen for much of the first half. So in that sense it’s been a tough go.

The series in Minnesota continues this afternoon at Target Field. Wade Miley gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Minnesota’s Aldaberto Mejia. Game time is set for just after 2 PM.

Baltimore Orioles’ mistakes starting to snowball

The Baltimore Orioles were looking to be in the driver’s seat for awhile last night. Dylan Bundy seemed to be dealing, and they actually had an early lead. However one faux pas was seeingly all it took to reverse all of that momentum and had the Orioles another loss. Bundy’s line: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 2 BB, 4 K.

The O’s got on the board first on a two-run homer by Mark Trumbo in the second inning. You kind of saw that as a trend-setter at the time, because perhaps it would set the tone for the game. And as I said, Bundy seemed to be pitching well, and the outlook was bright for the Birds in this game. Then the third inning happened.

For starters, the O’s had the bases loaded (with two outs) in that third inning, and Trumbo ended it by grounding out. It seems that leaving the bases loaded angers the baseball God’s these days, and they quickly took their wrath out on the Orioles. As is usually the case, it started innocently enough…with a hit batsman to start the last of the third.

But after a base hit and a strikeout, Minnesota had two on and one out. That brought Grossman to the plate, and he rolled over on a pitch and sent a grounder to Trey Mancini at first. And while this doesn’t go as an error, Mancini did commit an unforced rookie mistake. He tried to throw to second base to either nail the lead runner or hopefully start a double-play which would have ended the inning.

However Buxton (who was previously on first) is a fast runner, and he was safe at second base. There just wasn’t time to relay the throw back to first to nail the runner, and the bases were suddenly loaded with one down. Now mind you, had Mancini just taken the out at first there still would have been two runners in scoring position. However there would have been two outs.

Subsequently, Minnesota took advantage of the Orioles’ mistake – because of course they did. Sano’s RBI-single cut the lead to 2-1, and a moment later Kepler’s two-RBI single gave Minnesota a 3-2 lead. Escobar then smacked a two-RBI triple, that almost became an inside-the-park home run with the strange way it bounced off the wall and rolled around in the outfield. And in that sense on that play the O’s were victims of circumstance; when you’re going poorly those are the things that happen.

Polanco would later ground into a force out which scored Escobar, running Minnesota’s lead to 6-2. It’s important to note that all things being equal, most of these runs would have scored had Mancini taken that out at first base. While that mistake seemed to spook Bundy a bit, he also needed to pitch out of that jam. And he couldn’t do it.

And the sad thing is that Minnesota managed to score only in that third inning. The Orioles dropped this game after giving up runs in only one inning of the game. However they did battle back, which is a good sign. Janish’s RBI-groundout in the fourth cut the lead to 6-3, and Kim’s sac fly-RBI in the sixth cut it to 6-4 – the eventual final. And perhaps they also had an opportunity to take the lead in the seventh, but they once again left the bases loaded.

I don’t want to beat Mancini up too badly over that one mistake, because in fact it was a rookie mistake. He had a lapse in judgement as a result of trying to make a play that would have helped his team. And I’ll be honest; when the ball was first hit I thought it would be a double-play to end the inning. So while I’m not a big league first baseman, I would have made the same mistake had I been there.

As I said, Bundy still was tasked with pitching out of that, and he couldn’t do it. However this shows you one of the areas in which the Orioles miss Chris Davis. I suspect that had he been there he probably would have made the veteran move and taken the out. But you have to play the hand you’re dealt; and the O’s are doing their best to do just that.

The series continues tonight at Target Field. Kevin Gausman will get the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Minnesota’s Felix Jorge. Game time is set for just after 8 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Jayson Aquino strong in loss

Jayson Aquino came up from the minors yesterday to make a spot start in place of Tillman (who was on paternity leave) for the Baltimore Orioles. If you’re judging him based on the result of the game, he was an apt failure. If you’re judging him on his stat line, he was so-so. However savvy fans will judge him based on how he pitched, and he pitched pretty well. Aquino’s line: 5.1 IP, 5 H 4 R (3 earned), 0 BB, 7 K.

Aquino threw strikes, and while a few pitches were hung in the zone, that’s going to happen here and there. Milwaukee got on the board in the second inning when Broxton reached on a fielding error by Machado to take a 1-0 lead. That would be the unearned run given up by Aquino…

…however that’s not to say that the other runs were totally within his realm of control either. Santana’s RBI-single in the fourth was deflected by the shortstop Tejada and trickled into left field. Had Tejada come up with that, odds are it would have been a base hit because of the angle of the play. But it would have saved a run.

Later in that fourth inning Broxton smacked a two-run homer, attesting for the final two Milwaukee runs. Aquino and the Orioles’ bullpen held them down the rest of the way. The real story of the loss was that Oriole bats still couldn’t muster anything of note. And that’s something that I know is frustrating a lot of fans to death – the offense is supposed to be one of the strengths of this team.

But it’s fair to point out that this offense is in fact designed to function…when it’s functioning. There are some major pieces that are on the DL right now. The Orioles are missing the likes of Hardy, Flaherty, and Davis. (On the defensive side they just got Britton back last night.) The good news is that the Birds do in fact have depth. But when your depth is suddenly all on the field at the same time, that makes it tough to compete.

Also keep in mind that the players who are not on the DL have also had their nics and cuts. Jones has seemingly been nursing an injury for two months, and at one point he had to miss four or five games. Machado had to miss a few games with an injury as well. So this is a team that truly hasn’t had the opportunity to fire on all cylinders for some time.

Incidentally, the O’s let their opponent off the hook again last night. They had the bases juiced in the second inning with nobody out – and couldn’t score. It’s moments like those which are key in games. Not only do you come away with nothing, but it gives the opponent a bit of an inflated ego in that they got away with something. But that aside, the O’s aren’t being let off the hook for their mistakes in games. In fact, their mistakes are being magnified. So they need to start holding their opponents accountable, otherwise they can’t return to their winning ways.

The O’s will try to move on from being swept in Milwaukee as they open up a four-game set in Minnesota tonight at Target Field. Dylan Bundy will get the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Minnesota’s Jose Berrios. Game time is set for just after 8 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Injuries pile up in another loss

While pitching has been part of the story of the Baltimore Orioles’ season thus far, you can also point to injuries as playing a factor. In yesterday’s 6-2 loss on the Fourth of July to Milwaukee, they had to lift Mark Trumbo mid-game after he fouled a ball off his calf. An MRI returned negative (which is obviously a good thing), but the O’s are being cautious.

Ubaldo Jimenez struggled, but not to the point of being blown out of the water in the game. Jimenez’s line: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 7 K. The problem of course has been that the Orioles are literally held accountable for each and every one of their mistakes, while they can’t hold their opponents in the same accountability. Jimenez walked a man with two outs in the last of the second – relatively innocent in a way…

…but yet that’s a base runner for the opposition. That brought Vogt to the plate, and he smacked a two-run homer. Arcia added an RBI-single, and the O’s trailed 3-0. Milwaukee would add two solo home runs in the fifth as well.

Rickard’s RBI-single in the seventh and Schoop’s solo homer in the ninth attested for the Birds’ two lone runs. Milwaukee’s Thames would also add a solo shot in the seventh, and the Orioles fell 6-2. There’s something that’s just not clicking for the Orioles, and yes it begins with starting pitching. However as I said, the O’s are being held accountable for just about all of their mistakes. And their opponents are being let off the hook.

As an example, Trumbo sent a dying quail into right field in the second inning following an Adam Jones double. The ball was flat out dropped by Milwaukee’s Villar. He had a play on it, and he flat out dropped the ball. Jones, perhaps rightly, tried to advance to third base. Villar gunned the ball to third, and sure enough Jones overslid the bag and was tagged out.

Not only were the O’s not able to hold Milwaukee accountable for the dropped ball, but they literally found a way to turn Milwaukee’s mistake into theirs. Jones knew that the play was going to be close, so he came hot into the bag. And that was what caused him to overslide the bag. The Orioles’ aggression is often being used against them.

And again, the injury situation doesn’t help. Trumbo is only the latest Oriole to get nic’d up. Jones has battled injuries all year, Machado had to miss a few games earlier this year, Davis and Hardy are on the DL, not to mention Britton (who’s expected to be activated today), among others. It’s almost a miracle that the Orioles are close to .500 if you look at it in that light.

Chris Tillman would have stated tonight’s game, but he’s on paternity leave. He’s with his wife, who’s expected to give birth to their first child at any time. While it’s tough to lose a starter at any point along the way, we certainly send our best wishes to Chris and wife.

The O’s will try to salvage a game in this series this evening at Miller Park. Jayson Aquino was called up from Norfolk and will get the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Milwaukee’s Matt Garza. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.