Elbows stink, Kimbrel keeps making history, and Orioles interested in reunion with reliever.
Good Morning, Birdland!
Losing is never fun, and that is certainly the case when it comes at the end of an 11-inning affair that included a lengthy rain delay. But losses happen in a 162-game season. It’s baseball. You can’t get too worked up day-to-day.
Something that does warrant an emotional response are major injuries. The Orioles have had their share already this year. John Means and Tyler Wells are both out with UCL tears that will require surgery and lengthy recoveries. That news came just two weeks ago.
The team will be hoping they avoided even more bad news on Friday night as Kyle Bradish exited after five innings and just 74 pitches. O’s manager Brandon Hyde simply said “his elbow was bothering him.”
That is never a sentence you want to hear, but even more so given the context. Everyone understands that Bradish was pitching with a UCL sprain. That was revealed to the public at the start of spring training. The righty did not need surgery, but instead received platelet-rich plasma injections. The entire situation hampered his offseason workouts and delayed his regular season until May 2.
Bradish has not pitched like someone carrying an injury. In fact, he has been the absolute best version of himself. And the trio of him, Corbin Burnes, and Grayson Rodriguez has the potential to carry these Orioles to a deep playoff run. While the losses of Wells and Means have certainly hurt, an extended absence of Bradish would be a punch to the gut for an Orioles team that has the potential to be truly special.
The Orioles have already been rumored to be shopping for starting pitching. A Bradish injury would only further incentivize them to do something significant to land a top-end hurler with years of team control.
Links
Bradish forced to exit start against Phils with elbow discomfort | MLB.com
More information and quotes from around the clubhouse on Bradish’s early exit. I’m taking the Austin Hays approach of simply praying that nothing serious has taken place in the righty’s elbow.
Orioles’ top prospect Jackson Holliday (elbow) placed on IL | ESPN
What is happening to everyone’s elbows? Has the kryptonite of the Mike Elias era finally been uncovered? Fortunately, reports indicate that this is a minor issue and Holliday will be back in short order.
Orioles right-hander Dean Kremer to get rehab start in Norfolk on Sunday | Baltimore Baseball
Hey, some good news! Kremer won’t be confused for a Bradish-level ace, but he has proven himself to be a solid, competitive major league starter. The Orioles will need another one of those no matter the condition of Bradish’s elbow.
Kimbrel and Westburg venturing into impressive territories | Roch Kubatko
The Orioles aren’t strangers to signing players on a Hall of Fame trajectory late in their careers. Names like Vladimir Guerrero, Jim Thome, and Sammy Sosa come to mind. But it is rare for those players to step in and play a significant role for the O’s. Kimbrel has had his ups and downs this season, but he has generally been quite solid. It’s neat to see him climb the various all-time lists night after night.
Yankees, Dodgers, Phillies, Orioles Among Teams Interested In Tanner Scott | MLB Trade Rumors
Scott was a polarizing player during his time here. His velocity from the left side is undeniable, but so are as control issues. It’s never a bad idea to bring this sort of talent to a team, but the cost probably shouldn’t be too crazy.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
No former Orioles were born on this day, but some other interesting people were, including Wade Boggs (b. 1958), Ice Cube (b. 1969), Neil Patrick Harris (b. 1973), Tim Lincecum (b. 1984), and Mo Salah (b. 1992).
This day in O’s history
1997 – The Orioles complete a sweep of the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field in what had the potential to be a World Series preview. Instead, both teams would fall in their respective League Championship Series.