Baltimore Orioles sunk on homer parade

Matt Harvey’s numbers make his start look worse than it was for the Baltimore Orioles last night in Tampa. He put the O’s in a position to win, save for a couple of errant pitches. Overall he was good. Harvey’s line: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 1 BB, 6 K.

The O’s put runners at the corners in the first, and took a 1-0 lead on Cedric Mullins’ sac bunt-RBI. However that lead only lasted until the fourth. Meadows’ two-RBI triple gave Tampa a 2-1 lead. One inning later Kiermaier’s solo homer ran it to 3-1.

Lowe would smack a solo shot of his own in the fifth, and Wendle an RBI-double. And in typical Tampa fashion, they find ways to score against the Orioles that you just wouldn’t expect. Phillips’ inside-the-park homer counts as that sort of thing. Tampa has a lot of speed, and sometimes the ball does funny things when it rattles around in the outfield after hitting the wall.

Tampa would net three more runs on two homers in the sixth and seventh. Trey Mancini would get one back for the O’s on an RBI-double in the eighth. Brandon Hyde said after the game that the team was still fighting and trying to stay upbeat:

I think we’re handling it the best we possibility can, to be honest with you. I thought the energy in our dugout tonight was unbelievable for a team that’s winning as many games as we have, just our record. I think our clubhouse is still positive, I think our coaching staff has done a great job of trying to stay positive through these rough stretches that we’ve gone through. I think the effort is there, I do. I think we’re playing hard. We’re not executing and we make bad pitches during bad times and we’re trying too hard at the plate in big moments and that isn’t how it works in this game. Our strike zone discipline at the plate is an issue and when guys are over-aggressive it doesn’t lead to big innings.

Quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports

The series continues tonight at Tropicana Field. John Means gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Tampa’s Drew Rasmussen. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: It all goes the other way in a losing streak

In four innings of work, Keegan Akin threw one bad pitch for the Baltimore Orioles. However you can probably excuse that in the sense that it was tough for both teams to know where the strike zone was. Home plate umpire Greg Gibson kept everyone on their toes with what appeared to be a revolving strike zone. Amin’s line: 4.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 2 K.

Anthony Santander got the Birds on the board before Akin even took the mound. He reached first on a base hit, and went to second on a throwing error, the same error which allowed an Oriole run to score. However the Birds also then had two runners in scoring position with one down. And that was the only run they netted.

Akin seemed to get squeezed immediately. He walked a batter following a base hit in the last of the first, this after appearing to throw strike three. That seemed to get to him, and he uncorked a wild pitch – allowing the runners to advance. They would later score on Martinez’s three-run homer.

As the title suggests, when you’re in the midst of a losing streak, things go the other way. The Birds could have had a big first inning. Instead they let Boston off the hook. And Akin couldn’t adjust to the strike zone, although as we would later find out it was going to be tough for any Oriole pitcher to adjust.

Boston would also put three across in the sixth. Oriole pitching issued three walks in the inning, one of which walked in a run. All three had pitches in the sequence which should have been a called strike three. But they were called balls. Again, when things aren’t going well, borderline calls usually go against you.

Jorge Mateo’s seventh inning RBI-single got the O’s to within 6-2, but that was about it. They fell into an 11-game losing streak, not aided by the strike zone today. However you also need to adjust to the strike zone. Now I’ll grant you that it seemed to move around. However the O’s also tried to nibble on just about every corner of the plate for the entire game. That didn’t seem to work.

Manager Brandon Hyde addressed adjusting to the zone indirectly while giving kudos to Boston:

I just see how much better we have to get in our strike zone discipline. You watch them (and) compared to us, they’re hitters and they’re more experienced. They have a bunch of guys who have been in the postseason and have won a lot of games. But there’s just a level of understanding the strike zone and understanding what the pitcher is trying to do and not chase, not let pitchers off the hook. They got squeezed, there’s no doubt about it, but they weren’t swinging on balls on the edges and were continuing to get them. And we just have a tough time having innings like that because we are in swing mode and good pitchers can pitch to that.

Quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports

The O’s now head to Tampa for the first of four games at Tropicana Field. Matt Harvey gets the start for the O’s, and Tampa is yet to announce a starter. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: It seems useless

It really didn’t matter who the Baltimore Orioles started yesterday – for the record, it was Jorge Lopez. They looked beaten before the game even got underway. Boston started scoring, and basically didn’t really stop until the game itself ended. Lopez’s line: 3.1 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 2 BB, 1 K.

Boston scored on a wild pitch in the first, followed by a three-run homer by Devers. Verdugo added an RBI-single in the second, followed by an RBI/l-double by Bogaerts. At that point it was 6-0, and while Boston still had a ways to go the game appeared already over.

Austin Hays and Trey Mancini did offer up back-to-back homers in the third. However that was only a brief respite from the onslaught Boston was bringing. They cut the O’s a break and only posted one in the fourth, but if the game wasn’t already out of hand, a seven-run Boston fifth made it so. When the dust settled, the O’s fell 16-2.

Now you can’t blame Boston, for the record. At a certain point they stopped trying to manufacture runs. But the hits kept on coming, and they kept scoring. It’s the Orioles’ job to put a stop to that. And they couldn’t do it.

Manager Brandon Hyde said after the game that the team just needs to get better across the board:

We really have no choice, except to come out and play hard and do our best to try to stay in games and try to compete and try to win as many games as we can. That’s been the mindset here. We haven’t pitched very well of late. We’re not scoring a ton of runs, either. We’ve just got to get better in all areas. We’re a long ways away.

Quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports

The series concludes this afternoon at Fenway Park. Keegan Akin gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Eduardo Rodriguez. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Spenser Watkins struggles in Fenway debut

Spencer Watkins of the Baltimore Orioles is only the latest pitcher to struggle in his debut at Fenway Park. Guys have grown up watching games there on television, knowing what the park symbolizes in the sport, and knowing that big green wall is behind them. And as a result many guys struggle. Watkins’ line: 4.0 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 3 BB, 1 K.

Watkins struggled with his control, evidenced by the three walks and only one strikeout. Now to his credit, Watkins said after the game that the venue didn’t make a difference. However Fenway’s a tough play to pitch for the best pitchers, much less a rookie. But needless to say, Watkins said the right things on pitching at Fenway:

Same as every other place. Of course, Fenway is Fenway. Any baseball player can go onto that field and be a little bit wide-eyed, but I felt like it was more so me just staying focused mentally. Was there crowd noise? Absolutely, but there’s crowd noise everywhere. I think it’s just a matter of me staying focused mentally.

Quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports

Boston started their party in the second inning. They got an RBI-single from Duran, an RBI-double from Dalbec, and a sac fly-RBI from Hernandez. This after Watkins loaded the bases with nobody out. The Birds’ line offensive bright spot came in the third, when Richie Martin smacked his first home run in two years – a solo shot.

Boston would add homers in the last of the fourth, sixth, and seventh. And they would take game one of this series, 8-1. It‘s the Orioles’ ninth straight loss.

The series continues this afternoon at Fenway Park. Jorge Lopez gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Chris Sale. Game time is set for just after 4 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Free Shoeless Joe

The Baltimore Orioles played in the late afternoon yesterday, allowing for fans to watch the “Field of Dreams Game” between the Yankees and White Sox in Dyersville, Iowa. First and foremost, I think the game was incredibly well produced. Kevin Costner coming out of the cornfield followed by the players, the game itself being played at dusk in a cornfield, and a walk off home run into said corn. As Costner said, “it was perfect.”

The movie Field of Dreams is incredibly special to those of us who play, follow, or write about baseball. Personally my favorite moment and the most poignant for me has always been when Ray sees his Dad removing the catcher’s gear and he says, “…oh my God…it’s my father.” At that moment it’s manifested both to Ray and the audience what the true meaning of the voice’s messages, and thus the story was. It’s not about baseball, and it’s not about Shoeless Joe Jackson. It’s about father’s and son’s. And not only is that the greatest story ever told, but it’s the very essence of the game.

Field of Dreams is my favorite movie. Nothing could ever top it; so I’m glad that Major League Baseball is in effect embracing it, and in essence bringing it to life. I’m glad that they appear committed at least to do it again next year, although I’m not sure they could ever come close to the spectacle that they put on last night. That is unless maybe the real Shoeless Joe and his friends came back and played.

To harp on that point for a moment however, it’s not lost on me that Shoeless Joe Jackson remains in a state of banishment in Major League Baseball. You hear part of the story in the movie itself; Jackson and seven of his teammates fixed the 1919 World Series – called the Blacksox Scandal. As Ray tells his daughter, he did take their money, however there’s no proof that he ever did anything to lose any of the games. He even hit the series’ sole home run.

However as we’ve found out in modern times, it’s disputable as to whether or not Jackson ever took the money. There are numerous reports, including those of the seven other players involved, saying that Jackson refused the money. And that he tried to report the fraud to the team as it was happening. Yet he was still thrown out of baseball, and remains ineligible for the Hall of Fame.

I guess I would submit that if MLB wants to make the Field of Dreams game such a huge part of the narrative, should we not maybe consider re-instating Shoeless Joe? And I suppose I say that for purposes of Hall of Fame induction. I think it would be a great ending to that story, for baseball to be one with the legend of Shoeless Joe once again.

It’s been suggested formally on numerous occasions, including to current commissioner Rob Manfred. However they’ve always scoffed at the idea. So let me be only the latest person to say it: FREE SHOELESS JOE!!!

Baltimore Orioles: Even John Means looked pedestrian against Detroit

One might have thought that John Means might have been just what the doctor ordered for the Baltimore Orioles against Detroit. But even Means couldn’t put a stop to the Birds’ losing ways against Detroit. Means’ line: 4.2 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 1 BB, 3 K.

The Orioles actually held the lead in this game early on. Cedric Mullins in effect stole home plate in the first inning during a rundown. It was an incentive way to get a run across, and it was very much against the run of play from the first twins games. And I suspect that was the intention.

But that didn’t do much to rally the team in a sense. Detroit tied the game in the fourth on an RBI-double by Candelario. Later in the inning Nunez smacked a two-run homer, giving Detroit a 3-1 lead. Further into the inning, Reyes’ two-run homer ran jt to 5-1.

The good news is that even in a losing effort, the Orioles tried to fight back. DJ Stewart homered twice, in the fourth and the sixth. Both were solo’s. But Stewart’s had a decent series against Detroit, and he appears to be heating up. Unfortunately those homers were sandwhiched by Detroit’s Grossman smacking one of his own (a solo shot). The O’s would add one in the seventh, but fell 6-4.

Means said after the game that he tried to dial his fastball back a bit yesterday after firing it hard in his last outing:

You know, I really tried to slow down a little bit today. Just try to kick it back into first gear. I felt my last outing, I was pretty jumpy and a little too aggressive. I thought today I would slow it down. I thought it was pretty good for the first few innings and that one inning, I was missing my spots. Physically, I feel good. My mechanics, I’m going kind of going back and forth on certain things and trying to get back in that rhythm I went on before. Trying some different things out. I’m not going to quit.

Quote courtesy of Steve Melewski, MASNsports

Sometimes pitchers do things like that. And sometimes it works. Detroit hitters could have been waiting for blazing fastballs in the game. Instead they were waiting for whatever Means threw. Sometimes that sort of strategy can work; yesterday it didn’t.

The O’s now head to Fenway Park in Boston for a three-game series. Spenser Watkins gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Nick Pivetta. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Chris Davis retires

Chris Davis, formerly of the Baltimore Orioles, released this statement this morning:

The Orioles then subsequently released this statement:

So there you have it folks, Chris Davis is retiring. Perhaps the one piece that was “semi-left over” from the 2012-2016 era. I don’t need to tell folks of Davis’ recent struggles, because they’ve been well-documented over the years. However so were his immense highs.

It’s my hope that Orioles fans will remember Davis as hitting 50 home runs one year, as opposed to not even coming close to the Mendoza Line. Perhaps more poignantly, until his final appearance in a major league game, he remained an above-average big league first baseman.

That’s not something you’re going to hear covered in a lot of commentary about this today. Most people will talk about his massive contract and how he never lived up to it. But that’s only at the plate. Davis ALWAYS earned his keep in the field. As a first baseman, he has a career fielding percentage of .995. He’s also 1-0 as a pitcher – who could forget the game against Boston where he came into pitch in extra innings, earning the win?!

But going back to Davis as a fielder for a moment, he played parts of six seasons at third base as well. When Mark Reynolds was struggling at the hot corner in 2011-2012, Davis was asked to go across the diamond to play at the hot corner, leaving first base to Reynolds. Not only did he do it, but he fielded at a .911 clip at third. That doesn’t sound great, but for a first baseman I see it as outstanding.

Point being, he was a team player. He was willing to play wherever the Orioles wanted him to play – including the outfield. And in the aforementioned example, Reynolds turned out to be a pretty decent first baseman also. It was a win-win.

Davis was traded to the Orioles from Texas mid-2011, and the rest is history. He and his wife Jill were always very generous with their time when it came to charities in the Baltimore area. Even when his hitting tailed off significantly, he always represented the very best of Baltimore and of the Orioles. Best wishes in retirement, Chris. I hope I speak on behalf of the team and the fans when I say you’ll always have a special place in Baltimore’s heart.

Baltimore Orioles fall again to Detroit

Matt Harvey became only the most recent Baltimore Orioles’ starter to ensure a long rain delay before taking the field against Detroit. Storms rolled into the Baltimore area, forcing the tarp on the field. The delay lasted about an hour and fifteen minutes. Harvey’s line: 5.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 5 K.

Harvey cruised along and kept Detroit off the board for the most part. Towards the end of his outing Detroit caused him trouble. Cabrera’s solo homer in the fifth gave Detroit a 1-0 lead. Goodrum added a two-RBI double later in the inning, and after five innings Harvey and the O’s trailed 3-0.

One very positive thing out of this start was that Harvey apparently didn’t experience any discomfort in his knee, which had bothered him last week at Yankee Stadium:

It’s not a serious issue. It’s just something that’s kind of crept up on me a little bit. But it definitely wasn’t an issue at all.

Quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports

Detroit would also net a sac fly-RBI in the sixth. They would score another on a wild pitch, running the score to 5-0. Anthony Santander would smack a two-run homer for the O’s in the last of the eighth, but the Birds fel again to Detroit, this time. 5-2.

A silver lining here would be that they weren’t blown out. The Orioles snapped a streak of six games in which they had surrendered nine runs or more. It’s been a struggle of late for the O’s. But that also comes and goes in waves. A couple of weeks ago they were riding high when. They swept Washington at home. And I predict that at some point in the near future, the fortunes will turn back around.

The series concludes this afternoon at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. John Means gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Detroit’s Matt Manning. Game time is set for just after 4 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Rain delays and ineffectiveness

Keegan Akin got another start for the Baltimore Orioles last night against Detroit, and with the same results we’ve been conditioned to expect. Akin has been much better out of the bullpen, but the Orioles needed a starter last night. And he was the man. Following a two-hour two-hour rain delay before the game, he was ineffective. Akin’s line: 3.0 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 1 BB, 5 K.

Akin surrendered two runs in the second, and four in the third. Many of his pitches were coming in right down Broadway. Straight and centered; basically squared up. All Detroit had to do was hit them. And they did.

On two separate occasions a Detroit base runner was able to score from first on a double – a statistical oddity in a park like Camden Yards. But the lengthy rain delay and the epic-type storms that came through probably slowed down the track a bit. Meaning that rolling balls rolled slower, allowing guys to score from first.

The game wasn’t void of Oriole highlights, however. Anthony Santander smacked solo homers in the second and in the fourth. The Birds trailed 6-2 after that second home run. It appeared that the damage was already done.

But the Orioles did appear to at least try to make a run at it. To their credit. DJ Stewart also smacked a solo homer in the last of the fourth, his first home run since June. Cedric Mullins was also able to score in the fifth on a throwing error. This cut the Detroit lead to 6-4.

However Detroit would shut the Orioles down in terms of doing further damage later in the game. Candelario would also smack a two-run homer in the eighth, and Grossmab an RBI-single in the ninth, giving Detroit a 9-4 win on a rainy night in Baltimore.

The series continues tonight at Camden Yards. Matt Harvey gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Detroit’s Tarik Skubal. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Did Brandon Hyde outthink himself in the eighth inning?

The Baltimore Orioles needed innings out of starter Jorge Lopez this afternoon. On consecutive days, Tampa had all but forced the Orioles’ newly constructed bullpen to implode on consecutive nights. Luckily the Orioles’ starter was able to go deeper into the game, perhaps sparing the ‘pen a bit. Lopez’s line: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 K.

I’m his last two starts we’ve seen Lopez seemingly find his “happy place” in a sense. He’s been able to make it six innings, and he’s been lifted before he could fall apart. And in terms of wins and losses, that’s made a world of difference. Again for the record, that’s Lopez’s second consecutive quality start.

The Orioles never trailed in this game. And early on we got to see a pretty cool moment. Cedric Mullins smacked a solo home run on the first pitch in the last of the first inning. That have the O’s a 1-0 lead, and they never looked back.

But that wasn’t all. That gave Mullins 20 homers on the season. He already has 22 stolen bases, so Mullins officially joins the 20/20 club. Shouldn’t be a shock, for the American League’s starting Center fielder in the All-Star game.

Richie Martin’s RBI-single in the second gave the O’s a 2-0 lead. However that doesn’t happen if Jorge Mateo isn’t hit by a pitch and he doesn’t steal second base. In case you haven’t followed the games or this column thus far this weekend, the guy’s legit fast. The Orioles somehow stumbled into having him on the roster, and for that they’re really lucky.

Austin Hays’ RBI-single later in that second inning scored Martin, and extended the Orioles’ lead to 3-0. However Lowe’s solo homer in the third put a bit of pressure back on the Orioles. And luckily, they answered the call.

Anthony Santander smacked a solo homer of his own in the last of the third. But unfortunately the team last ended up in essence trading homers, as Meadows smacked a solo shot in the fourth. Austin Hays would add an RBI-single in the last of the fourth, giving the Birds a 5-3 lead.

However that was cut to 5-3 in the seventh on Phillips’ RBI-single. And it’s been the eighth inning that’s killed this team this weekend in this series. Whatever Tampa’s needed to win, they’ve gotten in the eighth. And unfortunately for the O’s, today was no exception.

Paul Fry entered to pitch the top of the eighth, and promptly loaded the bases. After he surrendered two runs (including walking one in) to tie the game at five, he gave way to Dillon Tate. And state gave up a grand slam to Phillips, giving Tampa a 9-5 lead. And a 9-6 win (Santander’s RBI-double in the ninth have the Orioles six) sweeping the series.

Both Paul Fry and Dillon Tate have been struggling. Whether that’s confidence or something mechanical is beyond me. I suppose my question would be why did Brandon Hyde have them in the game in those situations?

Specifically, Fry – not that Tate isn’t accountable also, but he inherited the bases loaded, and a confident Tampa team as it was. With two on and nobody out, why would Hyde allow Fry (a southpaw) to pitch to Cruz (a right-handed hitter who hits left-handers very well) in that situation?

The answer is because he had to. You have to pitch to three hitters unless the inning ends. But knowing that Cruz was due up, was a struggling Fry the right guy to insert in that instance? And was a struggling Tate the right guy to bring in behind him?

For the record, Cruz drew a walk. But you get my point. Ultimately Fry and Tate may have been the best poor options. But ultimately no matter how you spin it, all the parts combined cost the Orioles the game.