Baltimore Orioles: Seven-run third equals a sweep at The Fens

Coming into this series most people probably thought that if there was a sweep it would have been Boston sweeping the Baltimore Orioles. Just by default, if nothing else. Boston isn’t expected to be much better than the Birds, but…they’re Boston. But the O’s won the first two games, and Bruce Zimmerman was a “beneficiary of circumstance” in the finale. Zimmerman’s line: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 5 K.

This game was over fast. Zimmerman blew balls by Boston hitters, and the Orioles weren’t about to waste his effort. Anthony Santander smacked an RBI-single, and Maikel Franco a two-RBI double in the first, giving the Birds a 3-0 lead.

Offensively the O’s took the second inning off, but then loaded the bases again in the third. Freddy Galvis walked with the bases loaded, running it to 4-0. But they wanted more…

…and they got it. Later in the inning Austin Hays‘ two-RBI double ran the score to 6-0. However unfortunately for the O’s, Jays had to leave the game. The Orioles later termed it hamstring discomfort. Hopefully it isn’t too serious.

But the Orioles still weren’t done. Trey Mancini‘s two-RBI double later in that third inning ran it to 8-0. Cedric Mullins would score on a passed ball later in the inning, and Ryan Mountcastle an RBI-single. When the smoke cleared, the O’s led 10-0 after three.

Boston did put up a couple of nominal runs. Hernandez’s sac fly-RBI in the last of the third cut the Orioles’ lead to 10-1. Martinez smacked a solo homer in the fourth, and an RBI-double in the sixth. But the competitive part of the game was over after the seven-run third put up by the Birds.

Cedric Mullins had a great game for the Orioles. Due to the long third inning, he has six at-bats; and he got on base in all six of them. Five hits and a walk, including a double whereby he later scored on Anthony Santander’s RBI-double in the ninth.

Ironically the sheer number of runs kind of overshadows the effort Bruce Zimmerman put forth out there today. Zimmerman dominated a very potent lineup this afternoon, in his first ever start for his hometown team. And that’s very consistent with the entire team, who dominated in their entire series against Boston at Fenway Park. For the record, out of the three games in Boston, two netted quality starts (including today).

The Orioles now head to New York to open up a three-game set against the NYY at Yankee Stadium. Jorge Lopez gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by New York’s Jordan Montgomery. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles win the series in Boston

Matt Harvey began his major league comeback this afternoon at Fenway Park with the Baltimore Orioles. Harvey came to within one o it of getting the win, and in reality only did not because he was lifted before the necessary five innings. Harvey’s line: 4.2 IP, 6 H, 1 2 R, 1 BB, 2 K.

This was a pitcher’s duel in the first part of the game. Nobody got on the board until the fourth inning. And in fact, it was the Orioles who got on the board. Maikel Franco‘s two-run single gave the O’s a 2-0 lead.

The important thing to note there is that Franco’s hit came with two runners in scoring position. So it’s a hit with RISP. It also came on the heels of a Boston error and a passed ball. On one hand one might argue that the O’s wouldn’t have netted two runs without Boston’s mistakes. But on the other hand, they’re also holding Boston accountable for said mistakes.

Boston would get a run back in the bottom of the fourth on a sac fly-RBI by Gonzalez, however the O’s weren’t about to get themselves nervous over that. Anthony Santander‘s fifth inning RBI-single brought them back to being two up at 3-1. Boston would battle back in the last of the fifth however with Martinez’s infield RBI-single. That’s the play that eventually chased Harvey from the game. The ball bounced off of Harvey, allowing a run to score – not really much he could have done about it.

The O’s would add an insurance run in the seventh on a sac fly-RBI Trey Mancini. That’s also noteworthy, as for the second straight game the O’s put up an insurance run. And as we get into the season, that makes a difference.

When Harvey was lifted the O’s turned to Adam Plutko, who of course was acquired by trade and added to the final roster in the waning days of spring training. In fact, that trade occurred one week ago today. Plutko pitched 2.1 innings, and got the win on the afternoon.

We also saw Cesar Valdez in the closers role for the first time. And while he put the tying run on base, he closed out the inning, and a second win in as many games for the O’s. Regardless of what happens tomorrow, the Orioles have won their season-opening series in Boston.

The series concludes tomorrow at Fenway Park. Bruce Zimmerman gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Garrett Richards. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: John Means with a performance for all time on Opening Day

We saw history this afternoon for the Baltimore Orioles. John Means provided one of the greatest if not the greatest Opening Day performances in franchise history, against Boston at Fenway Park. Means surrendered a base hit on the first at-bat of the ballgame, had a runner reach on an error to start the second, and then proceeded to retire the following 18 hitters in a row. Means’ line: 7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K.

I suppose that where this ranks in terms of all-time performances by an Orioles’ pitcher on Opening Day is in the eyes of the beholder. But it’s certainly the best in my lifetime that I’ve ever seen. Means of course lost his father during last season, and also witnessed the birth of his son this past off season. Needless to say, it was an emotional moment for him to take the mound today. But there can be little doubt that he had his number one fan behind him in the sky.

The only drawback to today’s game, at least at first, was that Boston’s Eovaldi seemed to match Means pitch-for-pitch. The Orioles did have a few balls trickle through for base hits, but Boston would always seem to squash the rally. But eventually the O’s got more traffic on the bases and chased Eovaldi.

The O’s had the bases loaded with one out in the top of the sixth. Ryan Mountcastle, making his first ever Opening Day start (as the DH), came to the plate, and sent a deep shot towards left. It bounced off the green monster, netting Mountcastle and the Orioles a two-RBI double. And that’s key; obviously you can’t win if you don’t score (no matter how good your pitching is). But you don’t want to waste a performance like what Means put on today – whether it’s Opening Day, the last game, or anywhere in between.

The O’s would get in insurance run in the eighth on an RBI-single by Anthony Santander. And that’s just as key of a thing as the aforementioned two-RBI single by Mountcastle. You always want insurance runs; you want as many runs as you can possibly get. But especially in a park like Fenway. As the ultimate hitter’s park, you can never be too careful.

So a day late, but the O’s start the season 1-0. However you never want to put too much emphasis into one game – especially Opening Day. But the story du jour is John Means. Heck, he might be the story du jour across the entire league. Needless to say, it’s a game Means will never forget. And given his personal circumstances, it probably will resonate just a bit louder than it otherwise would have.

But make no mistake it would have resonated loudly anyways. It was an absolute virtuoso performance on all fronts. And make no mistake that it goes down in franchise history as one of the best ever by an Opening Day starter.

The series continues tomorrow afternoon at Fenway Park. Matt Harvey gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Tanner Houck Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: 2021 season preview (updated)

It’s here folks; Opening Day for the Baltimore Orioles. Obviously the team begins today on the road, however hope springs eternal on Opening Day. Anything can happen.

The question is, what WILL happen for the Birds this year? The outlook isn’t exactly brilliant if you listen to various outlets. However the hope is that the entire team looks at things in the manner of second starter, Matt Harvey. On numerous occasions during the spring, he said that he didn’t buy into the idea of a rebuild. His goal is to win everyday.

The biggest weakness this team has is going to be starting pitching. Now that’s an awful spot to have your biggest weakness. However first off, we just don’t know how the rotation will turn as time goes on. Maybe guys out-perform themselves. But one strength might well be the bullpen.

And we’ve seen in the past how manager Brandon Hyde has been willing to use the bullpen in non-traditional ways. That goes from pulling starters after just three or four innings, to using an “opener.” It’s not cut and dry. And that’s what bothers traditionalists such as myself. But if it helps the team to win more games, maybe it’s worth it.

Austin Hays, Cedric Mullins, and others all had great springs. The Oriole outfield also looks to be a strength this year. The infield is a bit more undefined, although getting Trey Mancini back will be a big plus. Maikel Franco will also be an upgrade at the hot corner.

However it always boils down to pitching. Matt Harvey was a decent addition. The success or failure however of the likes of Bruce Zimmerman and Dean Kremer may well have a lot to do with the success or failure of this season. And unfortunately, the competition is tough. But that’s always the case in the AL East.

I can’t give you a won/loss prediction. There are too many intangibles, and too much can happen. We don’t know what happens to this team regarding injuries. Or to other teams in the division for that matter. But I’ll say the same thing I said last season, which is that they won’t finish in last place.

And it starts today, on Opening Day against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. John Means gets the call for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Nathan Eovaldi. Game time is set for just after 2 PM.

Update: Due to inclement weather in the Boston area today, Opening Day has been postponed until tomorrow. The O’s will open the season tomorrow at 2 PM against Boston at Fenway Park.

Baltimore Orioles: Camp breaks and north we go

With an 8-3 loss to Tampa this afternoon in Sarasota, the Baltimore Orioles break camp with a record of 10-17. That translates as a .377 win percentage, which translates to between 59-60 wins over 162 games played. That might be where the Orioles end up, and it might not be. Keep in mind that often these spring games are controlled scrimmages, and nothing more. But nevertheless, the Birds closed Grapefruit League play with a 10-17 record.

The Orioles’ starting rotation will be as follows (some of these names we already knew): John Means, Matt Harvey, Bruce Zimmerman, Jorge Lopez, and Dean Kremer. It’s also worth mentioning that we don’t know how the rotation will be used. In the past, Hyde’s shown a willingness to use starters as “openers,” or to pull them quickly if the situation warrants it. So whether or not all of these guys are going to be looking to go seven or eight innings in games is another story.

The Orioles will have an off day tomorrow, and a team workout on Wednesday, after which they’ll fly to Boston for Thursday’s Opening Day game at Fenway Park. That rotation will be tested early with three games at Fenway, and then three in New York against one of the best lineups in baseball. I suspect if they can head for home next week for the home opener with a .500 record, they’ll be satisfied.

Once the final roster is set, stay tuned for my 2021 season preview. depending on the timing it may well be on Thursday. Who knows – time will tell. But one way or the other, the regular season starts Thursday!

Baltimore Orioles fall in penultimate spring game

The Baltimore Orioles played the Pittsburgh Pirates this afternoon in Sarasota for the eighth and final time this spring. With MLB going to “pod scheduling” in the Grapefruit League to cut down on travel, these two got together a lot due to their proximity. You have to play someone. They sent Matt Harvey out for the final time in the spring, and with semi-decent results. Harvey’s line: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 K.

Harvey of course is going to be the Birds’ number two starter, and will get the nod Saturday afternoon at Fenway Park. Baltimore-native Bruce Zimmerman will start game three, Manager Brandon Hyde announced before the game (quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports):

He’s pitched outstanding in camp. Really feel like he’s had a really good spring training. He’s had some good starts here, he’s pitched outstanding on the back field that you guys haven’t seen, in a B game and some other things that he’s done.

I really like his stuff. I think this guy’s a four-pitch guy, he’s pounded the strike zone all spring, his velocity’s ticked up, his breaking balls have been sharper, and he’s healthy and ready to go. So he’s earned it with how he’s pitched this spring and looking forward to watching him pitch.

As for today’s game, maybe it’s not shocking that two teams who have seen one another seven other times this spring would play a ho-hum type of game today. They’ve certainly gotten to know one another’s rosters, almost to the point of having a joint camp. Every time you turned around the O’s were either going to Bradenton, or Pittsburgh was coming to Sarasota.

Stokes’ RBI-single in the first and Frazier’s in the second gave Pittsburgh a 2-0 lead. The Birds would notch a run in the last of the fourth on a sac fly by Austin Wynns. And that’s IT. The O’s fell to Pittsburgh 2-1. If you’re looking for a stat, the O’s went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position. But does it really matter?! Some games are like that! This one was, and to be honest it was probably the most baldly vanilla game of the spring.

The Orioles will close Grapefruit League play tomorrow at Ed Smith Stadium against Tampa (in a game which won’t be covered by local media). Bruce Zimmerman gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Tampa’s Rich Hill. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: John Means smacked around in final spring outing

The Baltimore Orioles sent John Means to the mound for his final start of the spring in North Port, FL against Atlanta this evening. Means wasn’t as sharp as he would have liked. Now where close. Means’ line: 3.2 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 3 K.

However we found out something interesting after Means left the game. He mentioned that he and a few other Orioles received the COVID vaccine earlier today. And as a result he started feeling tired during his outing.

A lot of people will question this and wonder why an athlete would get the COVID vaccine this close to the season. First and foremost, it goes without saying that if you want the shot, you should get it whenever it’s made available to you. But…would you rather he had gotten it Thursday morning before his Opening Day start? So I think the timing is fine. And it won’t shock me when this is only the first time we hear about a player not being 100% due to getting the vaccine shot.

Means surrendered a solo homer to Acuna in the first inning. Three innings later Riley’s bases-clearing double extended the lead to 4-1. Jackson’s RBI-double later in the inning chased Means, and have Atlanta a 5-1 lead.

Ramon Urias‘ RBI-single in the fifth accounted for the Birds’ first run on the night. Adley Rutschman‘s RBI-double in the eighth accounted for their second. And Atlanta would plate three more runs in the last of the fifth and in the seventh. And those additional runs were of the insurance type, as Tyler Nevin‘s thre-run homer in the eighth for the O’s closer. But still no cigar, as the O’s dropped this one 8-5.

The bit about Means getting the COVID vaccine sounds like an excuse. Maybe it is. However as I said that’s something Orioles’ fans should be thankful that he and his teammates did during spring training. And it won’t be the last time we see a player having this issue.

The Orioles made a trade before tonight’s game. The sent cash considerations to Cleveland for RHP Adam Plutko. Over four years in Cleveland he has a .520 win percentage, and a 5.05 ERA. As a corresponding move they designated Yolmer Sanchez for assignment.

No indication what this means for the pitching staff or the infield. It’s an interesting time to make a trade, but it’s not surprising to see them picking up additional pitching. Either way, Plutko’s coming.

The Orioles will return to Ed Smith Stadium tomorrow afternoon to take on the Pittsburgh Pirates. Matt Harvey gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Pittsburgh’s Mitch Keller. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Intangibles and situational baseball win games

The Baltimore Orioles sent Jorge Lopez to the mound in Tampa tonight against their AL East rival New York Yankees. Odds are if he wasn’t already on the final roster, Lopez pitched his way onto it. Whether it’s as a starter or reliever remains to be seen. But Lopez had a solid outing against one of the American League’s most potent lineups. Lopez’s line: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K.

In terms of winning or losing the game (which is meaningless), the issue was that New York pitching was just as good. For quite awhile we appeared headed for a tie. Then the seventh inning happened…

…the top of the seventh, that is. Ramon Urias came in as a pinch runner following a base hit. Urias would steal second, which was huge in the grand scheme of things. In a tie or a close game anytime someone can swipe a base late like that, it can often be the difference between winning and losing.

Urias’ stolen base meant Austin Hays was hitting with a runner in scoring position. And he picked up where he left off last night, smacking an RBI-single and giving the O’s a 1-0 lead. Again, that stolen base set up the base hit. And those are intangibles in games that are valuable.

The O’s would also nab two additional runs on wild pitches during the seventh inning, and they kept NY off the board the rest of the way. Chris Shaw would add an insurance run with an RBI-single in the ninth. New York would also get on the board in the nineth, but the O’s closed out a 4-1 victory. However Austin Hays has shown some excellent understanding of the little things that can win games in the last 24 hours. If this continues into the regular season, teams are going to have a big problem on their hands.

Before the game the Birds made a signing and a roster move. They signed P Wade LeBlanc to a major league contract for 2021 (after previously releasing him. To make room for LeBlanc, they transferred Chris Davis to the 60-day DL. So that solves the Davis problem – for now.

The Orioles will head to CoolToday Park in North Port, FL tomorrow night to take on the Atlanta Braves. John Means gets the start for the Birds (his final tune up before Opening Day at Fenway Park), and he’ll be opposed by Atlanta’s Max Fried. Game time is set for just after 6 PM.

Baltimore Orioles win a donnybrook behind Austin Hays’ heroics

Keegan Akin struggled a bit for the Baltimore Orioles tonight against Pittsburgh in Sarasota. But it was far from a pitcher’s type of game to begin with. Just about every pitcher on both sides saw struggles in this game. Akin’s line: 2.1 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 2 BB, 3 K.

Pittsburgh put two runs on the board in the first with an RBI-single and an RBI-double. But let’s go back to that RBI-single for a moment; Pittsburgh had two runners in scoring position. So that should have scored two runs…

…however the single went to right field. And Austin Hays came up throwing, nailing the trail runner at home plate. That’s the sort of thing that doesn’t stand out in a box score, but can be the difference between winning and losing. Hays would also pull a similar stunt to end the third inning, on what should have been a sac fly. Instead, Hays nailed the runner at the plate, ending the inning.

Pittsburgh would get a third run on an RBI-double in the second. But then the O’s started the comeback. Pedro Severino‘s RBI-single in the last of the second cut the lead to 3-1. Trey Mancini would tie the game at three with a two-RBI double.

But the O’s weren’t done yet in the second inning. Ryan Mountcastle strode to the plate with two on, and promptly sent a three-run homer over the center field fence. That have the Birds a short-lived lead, as Pittsburgh would tie it up again in the third. And that brings me back to Hays ending the third with a double-play once again. That rightfully should have given Pittsburgh the lead. However it kept the game tied at six. In a regular season game, that’s a massive moment, which again doesn’t show up on the line score.

And Hays still wasn’t done. In the last of the fourth his three-run homer out the O’s back in the lead at 9-6. While Pittsburgh would get a run back in the seventh, Pedro Severino would add an insurance run in the seventh with an RBI-double, and Pittsburgh would put two across in the eighth. This, and of course Hays’ heroics, closed out a 10-9 win for the Birds.

This might have been the best individual game performance of the spring for the Orioles. Maybe even in the entire Grapefruit League this year. As I said above, these are key factors in games that can often make a difference between a win and a loss. If Hays goes on to dazzle in this manner this season, remember this game in the spring.

Earlier this morning the Orioles selected P Matt Harvey‘s contract and put him on the 40-man roster. Harvey of course signed a minor league contract with the team, and is now assured of going north once camp breaks. So he’ll be on the roster on April 1st in Boston.

The O’s will head to Tampa tomorrow night to take on the New York Yankees at George Steinbrenner Field. Jorge Lopez gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by New York’s Gerrit Cole. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Zac Lowther makes an impact in loss

The Baltimore Orioles sent Dean Kremer to the mound this evening against Boston at JetBlue Park. Due to an elongated at-bat, he had a slightly laborious first inning. Other than that and a two-run homer, he was fairly solid. Kremer’s line: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 5 K.

Kremer pitched out of a runners-at-the-corners situation in the first inning. And after coming out of the game he indicated that he appreciated that opportunity AP as to show he could compete (quote courtesy of Steve Melewski, MASNsports):

If you’re a guy that is cruising through spring training with no real challenge, then when you do get that challenge during the season, it can be a step backwards for you. I’m glad I’m competing and trying to run through it.
It’s a very valid point in a sense. You always want to be somewhat wary of guys who have everything fall right into place on the shiny tops of their heads. They aren’t battle tested. And when something happens when it really counts, it could be a problem.

Kremer gave up a two-run homer to Renfroe in the last of the third. And that was in essence the game. Boston shut down Oriole bats, and the Orioles shut down Boston’s offense for the remainder of the night.

However it was almost worse than 2-0. Boston loaded the bases in the top of the seventh with nobody out. Obviously in a real game at that point (seventh inning), the situation may well call for a new pitcher. So it’s not out of the realm of possibility that the O’s find themselves in this scenario down the road once the regular season starts. And they tabbed prospect Zac Lowther to pitch them out of it.

Lowther immediately induced a line drive out to second base for the first out. He then induced a ground ball double-play (5-4-3) to end the inning. That was the highlight of the game for the Orioles. Bringing a reliever into that situation and having him hold things right where they were. Lowther also finished out the game.

The Orioles return home to Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota tomorrow night to take on the Pittsburgh Pirates. Keegan Akin gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Pittsburgh’s Sean Poppen. Game time is set for just after 6 PM.