Baltimore Orioles trade Gregory Soto

The Baltimore Orioles have traded reliever Gregory Soto to the New York Mets. In return, they received RHP Wellington Arecena and RHP Carmen Foster. Soto is a free agent after this year.

Both relievers the Orioles are receiving are minor league farm hands. Arecena has been in single A, and Foster both at double and triple A. It’s unclear where the O’s will be sending these players, or if one or bother of them will be sent to the big leagues. For what it’s worth, both players have sub-3.00 ERA’s at their respective levels.

Baltimore Orioles: Bottom of the order and two outs

Zach Eflin came off the IL this evening to make the start for the Baltimore Orioles. And the Birds got a decent outing out of Eflin, who did his job. He put the team in a spot to win. Eflin’s line: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 5 K.

The Orioles almost set the tone for the game in the first inning. Jackson Holliday drew a leadoff walk, but Jordan Westburg immediately grounded into a double-play. On the first pitch.

The O’s would then put runners at second and third in the third inning with nobody out. Jacob Stallings grounded into a fielder’s choice, leaving one out and runners at first and second. Subsequently, Cedric Mullins was picked off of second. What began as a promising inning, had two quick outs.

The Orioles would manufacture a run in the fourth and take a 1-0 lead on a sac fly-RBI by Ryan O’Hearn. However Cleveland would strike back in their half of the frame on a two-RBI single by Mazardo. In theory to that point, the Orioles had outplayed Cleveland. But Cleveland took advantage of the opportunity they had. The O’s did not.

On the flip side, that Mazardo two-run single was a very softly hit bloop. The Orioles hit several scathing liners this evening, and Cleveland made great plays in the field. Only to get burned again on balls that were hit and placed with soft contact. So far as I know, there isn’t a computer program or AI app that can defend against that as of yet.

But the O’s did tie the score. Jackson Holliday smacked a solo home run in the sixth, and the game was knotted at two. The O’s brought Colin Selby in from the bullpen in the last of the eighth, and he recorded two quick outs.

But rallies start against the Orioles with two outs. Throw in the fact that the bottom of the order is up, and you could have a problem. Naylor’s two-out double put a runner in scoring position. It also split the defenders and went all the way to the wall. It would stand to reason that the Orioles’ analytics told them how to best position their outfielders. Naylor just found a way to beat the computer.

That would bring Kwan to the plate, and his RBI-single T gave Cleveland a 3-2 lead. To make matters worse, when the O’s came to bat in the ninth the Cleveland closer was given multiple close pitches. The pitches were in the zone, but on the fringes. And Cleveland hitters had similar pitches called balls.

What the Orioles are doing with two outs that’s leading them astray is beyond me. But opposing teams have taken advantage all year. That could be coincidence for sure. But odds are there’s something facilitating opposing teams’ ease with Oriole pitching with two outs. Especially the bottom of orders.

The O’s will try to salvage one in the series finale tomorrow at Progressive Field. Charlie Morton gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Cleveland’s Logan Allen. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Small details…

The Baltimore Orioles in effect played tonight as a bullpen game with Brandon Young on the mound. Young was better than his last outing when he struggled against Miami before the break. But the O’s had to go to the bullpen early, well before they should have. Young’s line: 4.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 3 K.

Young gave up a solo home run to Ramirez in the first, and an RBI-single to Mazardo in the third. Both of those occurred with two outs. That’s of course been a huge problem for the Orioles this year. There’s something that opponents are seeing in their analytics that’s giving them an edge with two outs. And the O’s are unable to figure out what those tendencies are.

The Orioles did load the bases in the fifth, and Jacob Stallings grounded into a double-play, netting the Birds a run. Most people scoff at that. However when you look at how many catchers the Orioles have used this year and at the fact that Stallings as a result might not have otherwise been in the big leagues, you’ll take a run that came at a price of two outs.

But that was all the Birds could push across that inning, and Cleveland pushed the issue by scoring a third run in the bottom of the inning. However the Orioles still had a rally in them. Ramon Laureano hit a no doubter out of the park in the sixth, cutting the lead to 3-2. But Cleveland would push it to 5-2 with two runs in the sixth.

The wheels came off in a sense in the seventh. Not totally, but work with me. Ramon Urias led off the inning with a single, which he inexplicably tried to stretch into a double. And he was thrown out. So as opposed to a runner on first with nobody out, they had nobody on with one out. Not ideal.

Urias was trying to be aggressive. Many people say that wins games. Maybe it does. But what truly wins games is playing snart. Adhering to small details. Trying to stretch a single into a double is far from playing smart. You can’t give away base runners.

Jackson Holliday would add an RBI-single later in the inning, however imagine what could have been had the Orioles not tried to press. And on top of that, Cleveland added a sixth run in the home half of the inning. And the O’s fell 6-3, dropping game two of the series.

The Urias play was one thing. But it shows a lack of attention to detail. Aggressiveness is fine – within reason. You have to take what the defense gives you. Lest you surrender your position entirely.

The series continues tomorrow night at Progressive Field. Zach Eflin comes off the IL to make the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Cleveland’s Slade Cecconi. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Somehow always a step behind

Tomoyuki Sugano was lackluster for the Baltimore Orioles tonight. Despite being gifted a three-run lead before even taking the field, he couldn’t hold it. He just couldn’t find the strike zone and had little command. Sugano’s line: 3.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R (3 earned), 4 BB, 4 K.

As I said, Sugano had the lead before he stepped on the field at Cleveland’s Progressive Field. Gunnar Henderson’s RBI-single in the first inning gave the Birds a 1-0 lead. Ramon Laureano added a two-RBI single before the inning ended, and the O’s led 3-0.

But Sugano gave the lead right back. Ramirez’s three-run home run tied the game back up at three in the last of the first. And Laureano would come back up to bat in the third. And he would smack a two-run home run, giving the Birds a 5-3 lead.

But Cleveland would net a run in the fourth, and Naylor would tie the game at five in the fifth with a solo home run. They would take the lead in the sixth on a solo home run by Manzardo. On top of that, Cleveland would walk in two runs in the seventh. This just before Rocchio smacked a two-RBI single, securing Cleveland’s 10-5 win.

As I said, Cleveland walked in two runs in the seventh. In both cases the hitters sat back and waited for the Oriole reliever to throw a pitch out of the strike zone. It was almost as if they knew the Orioles weren’t going to “give in,”

On the flip side, several previously hard-throwing relievers on Cleveland’s side were throwing soft fastballs and getting strikes – some called and others swinging. It seems that Cleveland was thinking backwards. They knew the analytics said this. So they did that. That’s the danger in relying so heavily on analytics.

The series continues tomorrow night at Progressive Field. Brandon Young gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Cleveland’s Joey Cantillo. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Add-on runs help

Trevor Rogers gave the Baltimore Orioles another quality start this afternoon at Steinbrenner Field. The Birds of course had dropped the first two games of the series, and were looking to salvage one. If anything, Rogers’ outing may have been shortened by a seventh inning rain delay. Rogers’ line: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 3 K.

Jackson Holliday hit the second pitch of the ballgame over the wall for a solo home run, giving the O’s a 1-0 lead. Two innings later catcher Alex Jackson would follow with a solo shot of his own. But the inning didn’t end there. Following a walk and a single, Gunnar Henderson’s two-RBI double gave the O’s a 4-0 lead.

True to form however, Tampa battled back. Camiero’s RBI-single on the home half of the third cut the lead to 4-1. One inning later Jansen smacked a solo homer cutting it to 4-2. Tampa also put some guys on behind that and continued to threaten. Which is par for the course for them, especially given that they tried to give the Orioles an out, and Alex Jackson’s errant throw to get the lead runner at second (on a bunt) ended up in center field at one point.

However Tampa made an unforced error. Simpson, who as we know has blinding speed, popped up a bunt to Trevor Rogers with one out and runners at the corners. It was an obvious attempt bunt for a base hit, but it seemed a little pointless. It didn’t appear to be a squeeze play, which means it’s possible that someone missed a sign. It could also be Tampa trying too hard to by overly cute or outside the box. But it didn’t work either way, and Kim ended the inning with a fly out.

But, Tampa still edged closer. Even when it seems the Orioles beat them, it’s as if they think they’re never out of it. Their stock and trade is to claw their way back into games. Luckily it appeared that the O’s were having none of that today.

Ryan O’Hearn’s solo home run in the sixth gave the Orioles a much-needed add-on run. And you need those against anyone. But especially against an opponent like Tampa. The Orioles needed a couple last night and couldn’t do it. They did today, and it paid.

Following a two hour and 36 minute rain delay, they resumed play. Tampa would score a third run on an RBI-single by Wall in the ninth. Tampa would then load the bases before Felix Bautista recorded the third out to end the game. Make no mistake, that tack on run mattered.

Ramon Laureano was ejected in the third inning – he also owns the team’s only other ejection this year. He clearly checked his swing on a two-strike count; if anything, he was closer to not taking the bat off his shoulders than he was at offering. He slammed his helmet down at home plate, and was ejected after being rung up on an appeal to first base.

Interim manager Tony Mansolino also earned his first ejection as a skipper in that sequence when he came out to protect Laureano. One prevailing thought was that Laureano thought he was the third out in the inning and was merely throwing his helmet at what he thought was the end of the inning. Either way it wasn’t a good call by the umpiring crew.

The Orioles now head to Cleveland to open a four-game set at Progressive Field. Tomoyuki Sugano gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Cleveland’s Tanner Bibee. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: If you don’t take it, someone else will

Dean Kremer pitched to a quality start for the Baltimore Orioles tonight. And when your starter goes all out and you still can’t get the win, that’s a huge problem. Kremer did everything he could to put the O’s in a spot to win. They just couldn’t reach out and take it. Kremer’s line, 7.0 IP 3 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 6 K.

The Orioles led this game from the beginning, and for most of the way. They started the game with a single and a double, and then scored on Gunnar Henderson’s sac fly-RBI. Ryan O’Hearn’s subsequent RBI-single extended the Orioles’ lead to 2-0.

But Oriole bats quieted down after that. For the entire game, they were 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position. This over nine hits. The Orioles got them on, but couldn’t get them in.

Kremer did allow a run in the seventh on an RBI-groundout by Lowe. I can’t stress enough that Kremer was great tonight. Your the only thing that matters is the final score and screw everything else crowd will discount that. But Kremer did the job of every starting pitcher; he put his team in a spot to win the game.

Tampa of course is chock full of speed. Kim got aboard in the eighth and stole second base. He would tie the game at two on Simpson’s RBI-single. A couple of walks and stolen bases later, the bases were loaded. And Tampa for sure had a lot of speed on the base paths.

The Orioles played the infield in with the bases loaded and one out. Aranda grounded the ball to Ryan O’Hearn at first. He immediately threw home, knowing that he might not have the time to turn two in the infield. However the throw was errant to home plate, netting Tampa two runs.

The speed Tampa had on the base paths may have provided an additional sense of urgency for O’Hearn. Maybe he rushed the throw. But the point remains that the speed on the base paths had an effect. And it cost the Orioles the game…

…in a sense. They did tack on a run in the ninth on Cedric Mullins’ pinch-hit bloop RBI-single. He would later steal second base, and Jackson Holliday came within a hair of a go-ahead home run. But the park held it, and the O’s fell 4-3.

The Birds had opportunities. Between that and Kremer’s strong outing, this was a game they should have won. But they never seized the moment and added on before it was too late. Tampa on the flip side did just that. If you don’t take opportunities that life presents, someone else will take it from you. Regardless of who you are.

The series concludes tomorrow at Steinbrenner Field. Trevor Rogers gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Tampa’s Ryan Pepiot. Game time is set for just after 12 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Curtain comes up on the second half

The Baltimore Orioles will open the second half of the season this evening at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. Needless to say, there are a lot of things the Birds hope are different than the first half. Beginning and ending with injuries.

Perhaps this season was cursed last year when the Orioles had three pitchers undergo Tommy John’s. I would put that thought forward, along with an obtuse over-reliance on analytics. This to the point of opposing teams actually using that to their own advantage. If the computer says you’re going to do this, you know your opponent is prepared for it. So instead you work on doing that and you catch them off guard.

Nevertheless, there are still games to be played. That begins tonight. If the Orioles feel they can somehow make a run back into the playoff race, that effort does as well.

The series with Tampa begins this evening at Steinbrenner Field. Charlie Morton gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Tampa’s Taj Bradley. Game time is set for just after 7:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles banking on the luck of the Irish

The Baltimore Orioles selected Ike Irish this evening out of Auburn University with the 19th pick in the MLB draft. At first glance it’s a curious pick – Irish is a catcher, and the Birds already have Adley Rutschman. But at second glance, he’s also an outfielder.

Irish is a career .350 hitter at Auburn, which boasts the likes of Frank Thomas and perhaps the greatest pure athlete in my lifetime, Bo Jackson. (Also Charles Barkley of the NBA.) Not to mention Orioles’ hall of Famer Gregg Olson. He also has a career .987 fielding percentage.

Irish is a catcher by trade, but he also plays right field. I suspect he won’t be catching in the farm system anytime soon with the logjam the Orioles have at that position. But time will tell. Either way, Irish is the team’s first pick.

Baltimore Orioles grounded entering the break

Brandon Young and the Baltimore Orioles had to wait an extra hour and 38 minutes to start this afternoon’s first half finale against Miami. The skies opened up over Camden Yards – and the O’s. Young probably wishes the game had been rained out at this point. Young’s line: 4.1 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 0 BB, 4 K.

Young gave perhaps his best start as a pro earlier this past week against New York. Today was a different story. The O’s had a halfway decent start in that Jackson Holliday led off with a base hit and went to second on a passed ball. He was later picked off of second. Ramon Laureano also ran into the third out in the second trying to steal third.

But it was Miami’s Stowers, who the Orioles traded last year (as part of the Trevor Rogers trade), who owned the day. His solo homer in the first gave Miami a 1-0 lead. The following inning Brandon Young would get to two outs before back-to-back doubles extended the lead to 2-0.

That brought Stowers back to the plate, and he smacked his second home run of the game against his old team, this of the two-run variety. To show Miami wasn’t kidding, Lopez’s solo shot gave them a 5-0 lead. All that with two outs.

But Stowers wanted to prove his point. In the fifth he added a third home run, once again of the two-run variety. At least that one came before two outs. But Stowers didn’t want to leave Baltimore. As evidenced by his play today.

Two-out rallies have been a problem for the O’s for years. Young was heavy on four-seam fastballs on the fringes of the plate today; did Miami bank on that? Perhaps. Young could have also missed his spots. Having said that, he didn’t walk anyone. So I suspect he was throwing it where he intended. Miami would plate three additional runs, and Ramon Laureano’s solo homer got the O’s on the board in the 8th. But the Orioles fell today, 11-1.

End of the day this was a game that snowballed. Stowers finished with three homers and six RBI. And until the aforementioned Laureano homer, the O’s could never get anything going.

Needless to say, the first half wasn’t what anyone wanted. The team was decimated by injuries, and will continue to be. But they played well at the tail end of the first half – despite today. Do they have a stretch run in them at 43-52? That’s asking a lot. But you have to start somewhere.

Baltimore Orioles: Bottom of the order sinks the Birds

Trevor Rogers and the Baltimore Orioles overall should go down as hard-luck losers this afternoon. Rogers gave up one run in what appeared to be a pitcher’s duel – at first. The major damage came later. Rogers’ line: 6.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 8 K.

It’s a shame that an outing like that doesn’t yield a win. Or at the very least a no decision. But that’s how the ball bounces sometimes in baseball. Rogers I’m sure would have at the very least liked to beat his former team. Needless to say, he still dominated them.

Rogers surrendered a base hit with two outs in the seventh, and was lifted. The next hitter was hit by a Gregory Soto pitch, and Hill’s RBI-single broke a 0-0 tie and gave Miami a 1-0 lead. One inning later Sanchez’s RBI-single ran it to 2-0.

The bottom of the order didn’t come up again until the top of the ninth with two outs. Needless to say, Miami was still in a save situation with only a two-run lead. Stowers, a former Oriole, got aboard with a two-out single and promptly stole second base. That brought Hill to the plate again, and he grounded a ball sharply to Gunnar Henderson, who was only able to knock the ball down…

…he came set to throw to first, but froze. Stowers was running with two outs, and he didn’t stop. Henderson fired home, but was unable to nail Stowers at the plate.

Somewhere there was a miscommunication. Stowers just kept on motoring around, even though he was never known as a runner when he was with the Orioles. Edwards would smack a two-run homer before the end of the inning, and Miami took game two of the series, 6-0.

This was a close game until the bottom of the order came up. It’s been a problem for the Orioles all year – the bottom of orders across the board. That and two-out rallies. But end of the day, you won’t win them all.

The series and the first half concludes tomorrow at Camden Yards. Brandon Young gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Miami’s Eury Perez. Game time is set for just after 1:30 PM.