Baltimore Orioles: Back at it

The Baltimore Orioles will play game two of 162 late this afternoon against Anaheim. It can be a tough thing coming back from an emotional game like what we saw Thursday. There was very much a vibe around the park and the team that things were different. And as I said previously, the city really needed that at that moment. And still.

Luckily, the league gives you a day off after Opening Day. It’s really more of a rain date, but you get the point. After a day like Thursday, it helps the players and coaches resettle themselves. Or re-center, perhaps. Ultimately I think it’s helpful no matter how you spin it. It’s also a longish day with no baseball.

Again, the series with Anaheim continues today at Camden Yards. Grayson Rodriguez gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Anaheim’s Griggin Canning. Game time is set for just after 4 PM.

Baltimore Orioles 2024 season preview

Baltimore Orioles’ Opening Day has arrived. This afternoon we’re going to play one of the most awaited games in the last six months, with the O’s opening the regular season against the Los Angeles Angels. What will the 2024 season be? We’ll find out – starting today.

The Birds of course are the defending AL East Champions. And their goal for 2024 for starters should be to repeat as division champions. Meaning their attitude HAS to be hey last year was last year and it’s over. BUT…if you want to win the AL East this year, you have to come and get that pennant from us.

And that race for the division pennant begins in earnest today. Despite injuries to John Means and Kyle Bradish to start the season, Orioles’ pitching is expected to be strong. Of course anchored by today’s starter, Corbin Burnes. And backed up by the Orioles’ bullpen.

But it’s the skill and heart of Oriole bats that led them last season. And that’s expected to be the case again. Adley Rutschman, Ryan Mountcastle, Cedric Mullins, Anthony Santander and others are all aiming for similar seasons as in 2023. Not to mention 2023 Rookie of the Year Gunnar Henderson, and the defending AL Manager of the Year, Brandon Hyde.

The Orioles learned to fly high in the sky in 2023. That was a season which is a tough act to follow. However the 2024 Orioles will find themselves up to the task. It’s the same core group, but with more experience under their belt.

So how does this season end? Nobody knows. I predict that the Orioles will repeat as champions of the AL East in 2024. Beyond that? Maybe get yourselves out and get some cold weather gear. October in Baltimore can at times be nippy. Get your popcorn ready.

The season-opening series against Anaheim opens this afternoon at Camden Yards. (Also known as Opening Day.) The aforementioned Corbin Burnes gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Anaheim’s Patrick Sandoval. Game time is set for just after 3 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Grand opening

The Baltimore Orioles picked up right where they left off in the regular season last year with today’s Opening Day game. And you have to figure, this has been a week for the ages in Baltimore between new owner David Rubenstein taking over, the tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, and now Opening Day behind starter Corbin Burnes. And what a start it was. Burnes’ line: 6.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 11 K.

Ironically the O’s at first made everyone wait before pouncing. Trout smacked a solo homer in the first inning. That quieted the buzz in the crowd, but not for long. The Birds loaded the bases in the last of the first, and they tied the game on a fielder’s choice-RBI by Anthony Santander. They then took the lead on Jordan Westburg’s RBI-single.

And the game could have ended there and it would have been the same result. But the O’s appeared on a mission today, perhaps trying to prove their early exit from the postseason last year meant nothing. You also have to feel good for Jordan Westburg, who was on his first Opening Day roster today. And he made an impact in the ballgame.

Adley Rutschman smacked a two-RBI single in the second, and the rout was on. Santander added a sac fly-RBI, chasing Anaheim starter Sandoval. In the second inning. With the O’s leading 5-1. Tack on a two-run homer by Anthony Santander, and the Birds led 7-1.

Tack on a sac fly-RBI by Ryan Mountcastle in the sixth, and the score pushed to 8-1. Cedric Mullins added his own homer, this of the three-run variety in the seventh – and it was 11-1. Anaheim would tack on two in the eighth as a result of a throwing error, but the Birds went home 11-3 winners on Opening Day.

Ironically, you could argue that Corbin Burnes was the unsung hero today. Take a look at that stat line. After giving up the early home run, he mowed ‘em down. He struck out eleven and walked none.

Needless to say, there are 161 games to go. This is only one of 162. But they all count. Make no mistake, there are some days coming where the O’s will struggle. But you have to like how things got started.

I want to highlight how much the city needed this game to go the way it did today. Baltimore awoke two days ago to news reports of its truly iconic Francis Scott Key Bridge having fallen. However out of those ruins came great stories of first responders who cleared the bridge, saving lives. And then the Orioles, equally iconic, show up for their city today. That’s Baltimore folks. And you have to love it.

May we always remember those who were killed in the collapse of the Key Bridge, and their families.

Baltimore Orioles: Best spring in franchise history

Grayson Rodriguez had a great outing this afternoon in Ft. Myers, as the Baltimore Orioles completed the best spring training in franchise history. Perhaps it’s a hollow fact, as wins and losses mean nothing in the spring. But it’s a fact none the less; the Birds finished with 23 wins this Grapefruit League season, the last of which came today. Rodriguez’s line: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K.

Gunnar Henderson got the Orioles on the board early with a solo homer in the first inning. One inning later Ramon Urias’ sac fly-RBI would extend the lead to 2-0. Minnesota would the the score at two with runs in the fourth and fifth innings, but that was the biggest threat the Orioles saw today.

Ryan O’Hearn would smack an RBI-double in the sixth to give the Birds the lead back at 3-2. Interestingly enough, the O’s started Janes McCann behind the plate today, and he was subbed out halfway through for Adley Rutschman. And it was Rutschman who delivered the big blast.

His three-run homer in the seventh inning blew the game wide open, giving the O’s a 6-3 lead. One inning later Jordan Westburg added a two-RBI single. Minnesota would tack one on in the last of the ninth, but the Orioles closed out an 8-3 win on the final day of Grapefruit League play.

Again, for what it’s worth the O’s had the best spring of their existence. It’s a nice stat, but it’s meaningless. What counts are the next 162 games – and onwards. But needless to say, the Orioles had a successful camp, and are set up nicely for the regular season.

Baltimore Orioles drop a pitcher’s duel in Ft. Myers

Albert Suarez got the start for the Baltimore Orioles this evening in Ft. Myers, Fl against Boston. Suarez has been one of many strong points for the Birds this spring, and him getting a start this late in the Grapefruit League season makes one wonder if he’s not under serious consideration for a roster spot. More realistically, he’s probably slated for triple-A as roster depth. But I digress. Suarez’s line: 4.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 3 K.

Boston took a 1-0 lead in the last of the second on an RBI-single by Abreu. However whether or not that run should have scored is another story. Rafaela had smacked a two-out double, sliding into second on a close play. It was a close call for sure, but the call was safe, with no shot at replay in the spring.

MASN analyst Dave Johnson made a really great point. Orioles’ second baseman Kolton Wong appeared to apply the tag, and then feinted like he was going to tag the runner after the fact. The throw beat the runner, who may well have been out. But in feinting like he was going to tag the runner, he inadvertently told the umpire that he hadn’t tagged the runner the first time. Which could have played into the runner being called safe.

It was a bang-bang play either way. However that’s the sort of thing that could cost you a game in the regular season. Honestly, my personal opinion was that the runner was out. But in a regular season game, would there have been enough evidence to overturn the call on the field? Probably not. It’s little things like that which can make a difference.

The Orioles advanced Michael Perez into scoring position in the sixth, and he would score on an errant pickoff attempt. An inning later the Birds would take a short-lived 2-1 lead on an RBI-double by Ryan McKenna. However Boston would put two across in the last of the seventh, giving them a 3-2 win over the O’s this evening.

The Orioles return to Sarasota tomorrow night to take on Pittsburgh at Ed Smith Stadium. Corbin Burnes gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Pittsburgh’s Jared Jones. Game time is set for just after 6 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: The runs kept on coming in

Dean Kremer had a couple of tough innings in terms of pitch count for the Baltimore Orioles against Philadelphia this evening in Sarasota. This by pitch count standards. While his numbers were good, he didn’t pitch as deep into the game as the O’s probably wanted. Kremer’s line: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 5 K.

However Oriole bats picked up the slack. Anthony Santander gave the O’s a 3-0 lead in the last of the first inning with a three-run homer. Ryan O’Hearn followed with a solo shot, and Jorge Mateo’s RBI-single extended the lead to 5-0. This in the first inning.

And it didn’t end there. Gunnar Henderson smacked a two-run homer in the second, extending the lead to 7-0. And folks, that one was a SHOT. Needless to say, Gunnar’s ready for Opening Day.

Philadelphia would get on the board in the third on an RBI-triple by Marsh. Philadelphia would put three additional runs on the board in the sixth and seventh, cutting the lead to 7-4. Yennier Cano surrendered two of those runs, providing maybe one thing to watch – is the bullpen slightly shaky? Personally I say no. But Cano and others had some issues locating their pitches in those middle innings. Time will tell.

But again, the O’s didn’t let that phase them. Jorge Mateo smacked an RBI-double in the last of the seventh, followed by Colton Cowser pushing a run across on a botched fielder’s choice by Philadelphia. When the smoke cleared, the O’s had run the score to 13-4. This included an RBI-single by Heston Kjerstad in the seventh, along with a two-RBI double by Tyler Nevin.

The fact that the O’s kept tacking runs on is a promising sign. Because come the regular season, the opponents won’t be rotating guys in and out, and focusing more on getting their work in than winning the game. So keep adding on runs come the regular season like they did tonight, and they’ll be in good shape.

The O’s travel to JetBlue Park in Ft. Myers tomorrow night to take on Boston. Albert Suarez gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Cooper Criswell. Game time is set for just after 6 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: All “Rhodes” lead to Opening Day

Tyler Wells took to the mound in the final Sunday afternoon game at Ed Smith Stadium this spring for the Baltimore Orioles, this against Atlanta. The fact that’s even “a thing” might be a bit of a reach, but work with me. Wells looked good today, as we enter the last week of Grapefruit League play. Wells’ line: 4.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 6 K.

Wells gave up a solo homer in the top of the first inning to Austin Riley, which was his only hiccup on the afternoon. But Wells kept Atlanta scoreless for the rest of his outing. They would tack on what they thought was an insurance run in the seventh on Evans’ RBI-single, extending their lead to 2-0.

However last year, this was a team that did its best work after the seventh inning. And today, albeit an exhibition game, proved to be no exception. Reserve outfielder John Rhodes immediately tied the game with a two-run homer in the seventh. One inning later the Birds would bat around, and blow the top off the ballgame. Gunnar Henderson’s eighth inning RBI-double gave the O’s a 3-2 lead.

But in showing something else in common with last year’s team, the 2024 Orioles weren’t going to just assume the lead was safe. Michael Perez would smack a two-RBI double later in the inning to extend the lead to 5-2. But they still didn’t take their foot off the gas.

Rhodes would come up to bat again in that eighth inning, smacking another two-run homer Coby Mayo would add an RBI-double running the final to 9-2. You could argue that things got out of hand in a sense. But good teams win games like that. And the Orioles are going to be a good team.

The Birds are off tomorrow, their final off day of the spring. They’ll head to Dunedin on Tuesday to take on Toronto.

Baltimore Orioles walk Boston off, Coby Mayo makes the case for inclusion

The Baltimore Orioles sent ace designate Corbin Burnes to the mound this afternoon in Sarasota against Boston. For the most part, the results were positive. The second inning can be classified as this is why we play these spring games; which speaks for itself in that it’s very true. Spring training baseball isn’t supposed to be perfect. Burnes’ line: 5.0 IL, 4 H, 4 R (3 earned), 0 BB, 2 K.

The O’s got off to an early lead. Ramon Urias and Jorge Mateo smacked RBI-singles in the last of the first, and the Birds led 2-0. However Boston would strike right back with solo homers by Dalbec and Abreu in the second, tying the game.

Later in the inning following a single and a force out, Corbin Burnes would commit a throwing error trying to pick the runner off first. This sending the runner to second. Heineman would follow with a run-scoring single, giving Boston a 3-2 lead.

And later in the inning with Heineman at second, Burnes would do the same thing. Heineman would go to third, and later scored on Guthrie’s sacrifice fly. Boston led 4-2 after two as a result.

Two throwing errors isn’t exactly how Burnes wanted his outing to go. But again you have to file that under at least it wasn’t the regular season. Yes, he also threw two home runs. So there’s that as well. But overall he grabbed the bull by the horns today and pitched well.

His final three innings of work were scoreless. And the Birds did register one more run for him in the last of the fifth, when Ramon Urias walked with the bases loaded. However the O’s still trailed Boston, 4-3.

Coby Mayo once again made his case to be on the Opening Day roster this afternoon. He was four-for-four today with a run scored. It seems that whenever he comes up to bat he’s finding a way to put the ball in play and get on base. He’s set on making Brandon Hyde’s, Mike Elias’, and others’ jobs tough – by having a great spring and making a case for his inclusion on the roster.

I say this recognizing that sometimes guys look amazing in spring, and not so much in the regular season. Jake Fox comes to mind from years ago. The difference with Mayo is he’s young. Would he be blinded by the bright lights of the regular season, and the orange carpet of Opening Day? Tough to say. But needless to say he’s making it tough for them to decide to send him to Norfolk in just over a week.

On top of that, Mayo’s final at-bat of the game was a single in the ninth inning. That set things up nicely for the Orioles, who would tie the game on Judge Fabian’s RBI-single. Later in the inning Dylan Beavers would follow suit, winning it 5-4 for the Birds.

The O’s will have a split squad day tomorrow, with the “B squad” going to Lakeland to take on Detroit and the “A squad” staying in Sarasota as Atlanta comes into Ed Smith Stadium. Tyler Wells gets the start for the Orioles, and Atlanta is yet to announce a starter. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Cole Irvin with a rough outing in Birds’ loss

The Baltimore Orioles had an interesting start to tonight’s game against Atlanta in Sarasota. They jumped out to an early lead for starter Cole Irvin, who promptly gave the lead back over the next couple of innings. Probably shouldn’t have happened, but it did. Irvin’s line: 3.2 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 4 H, 3 K.

The O’s promptly loaded the bases in the first, and Jordan Westburg grounded into a force out, scoring a run. Heston Kjerstad and James McCann followed with RBI-singles, and Kolton Wong added two-RBI double. The O’s put a five-spot on the board in the first.

You would have thought that would be enough to add to the major league’s best spring record. But it wasn’t. Atlanta started to chip away immediately.

Aegis smacked a two-run homer in the second, followed by a solo shot by Luplow. One inning later they would get to within one at 5-4 on an RBI-single by Kelenic. He would score later in the inning on a two-RBI double by Guillome, and the Birds trailed.

For his part, Cole Irvin took his first bad outing in stride:

Didn’t get the swings that I thought I would but overall the responses that we’re getting from hitters are good. Little by little, chip away and take the good with the bad. I’m definitely not happy results-wise, but it’s spring training. It doesn’t hurt you right now.

Quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports

Pitchers are going to have bad outings. Even the goos ones. As Irvin himself said, you have to take the good with the bad. Good life advice also, and we all know that sports is partly a euphemism for real life.

I’ve said this for years, but pitchers are going to have approximately 30 starts over the course of the season – APPROXIMATELY 30. Ten will generally be really good. Ten will be really bad, and ten will be in the middle. So while this isn’t the regular season, it’s just a bad outing for Irvin. And again as I’ve said many times, those ten “in the middle starts” are where the success or failure of your season will lie.

The O’s would surrender an RBI-single to Conley in the ninth, closing out the scoring. The Birds fall to a mere 15-4 on the spring. So consider that, today was only their fourth loss on the spring.

Tomorrow the O’s head to Bradenton’s Lecom Park to take on Pittsburgh. Grayson Rodriguez gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Pittsburgh’s Marco Gonzalez. Game time is set for just after 3 PM.

Baltimore Orioles tie Toronto in a Sarasota homer parade

Corbin Burnes got the ball this afternoon in Sarasota against Toronto, on the day the Baltimore Orioles announced he would be their Opening Day starter. Burnes cruised through two innings, but had some struggles at the end. But so did every other pitcher today. Burnes’ line: 3.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 1 BB, 2 K.

The Orioles got on the board early. Adley Rutschman led off for the Birds in the last of the first with a solo homer. It was merely a harbinger of what was to come. Toronto’s Clement would touch up Burnes in the third with a two-run homer, giving them a 3-1 lead.

But today was all about the long ball. Colton Cowser’s two-run homer in the last of three tied the game at three. But an inning later Toronto struck back, with Serven hitting a two-run shot of his own, followed by James McCann in the last of the fourth bringing the O’s back to within one.

Across the board, the teams hit six home runs this afternoon in Sarasota. They would trade homers in the sixth, with Ramon Urias’ solo shot bringing the Birds back to within one at 6-5. The O’s would tie the game when TT Bowens grounded into a fielder’s choice in the seventh, and the runner from third was safe at home plate.

But that was the end of the scoring. The two sides agreed to end the game after nine innings, and it culminated in a tie. But no less than six homers in the game – which can happen here and there in Florida. The wind has something to do with it, last I checked.

If you think that’s a lot, the O’s and Toronto played split squad games both in Sarasota and Dunedin today. In the Dunedin game, the O’s defeated Toronto 11-6, in a game that featured five homers. Including one by Jackson Holliday.

The Orioles head to Tampa tomorrow to take on New York at Steinbrenner Field. Julio Tehran gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by New York’s Will Warren. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.