Gunnar looked good last night. I would like to keep that Gunnar around.
Happy Tuesday, Camden Chatters! I hope you enjoyed your evening last night, whether you were watching the Orioles or doing something else valuable with your time.
If you watched that game, did you stay up til the end? It was a real humdinger. A doozy. A ripsnorter. Trevor Rogers not only had to pitch, he also had to hit! The Orioles lost their DH when Gary Sánchez replaced Chadwick Tromp, who exited with an injury. Yes, another injured catcher. That position is cursed this year.
The Rangers tied the game late due to some defensive shenanigans, but the Orioles chose to save their biggest hits for extra innings. They scored three in the 10th on home runs by Gunnar Henderson and Colton Cowser and four more in the 11th in a rally that started with pinch hitter Luis Vázquez getting a hit and finished with a double from Gunnar. To get all of the details on the big win, check out Paul Folkemer’s recap. Just don’t ask me about Keegan Akin.
It’s no secret that the Orioles have had a ton of injuries this year. Just before the game last night, Roch Kubatko published a post with the status of many of these players and it is grim. And that was before Chadwick Tromp hurt himself in the game.
The first bit of news is that Zach Eflin is going on the IL with back soreness and Brandon Young is taking his place. Eflin has had his troubles but Young just hasn’t looked ready when we’ve seen him so far this year. In addition, Charlie Morton is being pushed back a few days due to elbow tendinitis, which means that Young is starting against Jacob deGrom. If you want to skip that game, I give you permission.
There was a time this year that I wouldn’t believe I’d be disappointed to see Morton missing a start. But he’s been very good lately, so of course he’s hurt.
But wait, there’s more. Cade Povich, on the IL with a sore hip, was pulled from his rehab start and shut down. His hip is not better. And Jorge Mateo, who is on the IL with a sore elbow, was pulled from his rehab game with a bad hamstring. He is also shut down.
But the news isn’t all bad. Jordan Westburg and his sore finger could be back in the lineup tonight. And Tyler O’Neill is doing well in rehab and could be activated on this road trip.
Links
Trevor Rogers: How the Orioles rebuilt the pitcher from the ground up – The Baltimore Banner
You might have noticed that Trevor Rogers looks like a different pitcher this year. Jon Meoli details what went into his improvement.
Futures Game: Enrique Bradfield Jr., Keagan Gillies to represent Orioles – The Baltimore Banner
With the All-Star Game comes the Futures Game. The Orioles will have two reps.
Birthdays and History
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You have two Orioles birthday buddies, and they’re both fun ones. Nelson Cruz (45) and Jamie Walker (54) are both celebrating today.
Nelson Cruz hit 40 home runs with an OPS+ of 137 in 2014, his only season with the Orioles. He was a spring training signing who took a one-year deal to re-establish his value after taking a 50-game suspension for PEDs as a result of the Biogenesis investigation. The gamble worked out for both Cruz and the Orioles as he was a big part of their division-winning team.
The Orioles didn’t want to sign Cruz, who was turning 34, to a four-year deal. At the time, it made sense. But Cruz went on to play for nine more years! He hit 267 home runs after leaving the Orioles.
Jamie Walker was one of several relief pitchers who received ill-advised multi-year contracts in the early aughts. Walker’s first season with the Orioles, in 2017, was good. He appeared in 81 games out of the bullpen with a 3.23 ERA. His last two years were not good at all. But he was 36 and 37 years old so I blame the Orioles for giving him that contract. Walker always had a fun personality and was good for a quote. His most memorable line was when he announced that “if it fits in a skillet, I kill it.”
On this day in 1957, the Orioles had the first Z battery in Major League history when pitcher George Zuverink and catcher Frank Zupo teamed up in a game against the Yankees.
In 1967, Jim Palmer gave up a grand slam! Luckily, it didn’t affect his place in baseball history as it happened in the minors where Palmer was rehabbing from a back injury.
In 1994, the Orioles and Angels combined to hit 11 home runs in the 14-7 Orioles’ win. Baltimore’s dingers were hit by Rafael Palmeiro, Leo Gómez, Jeffrey Hammonds (2), Cal Ripken, and Chris Hoiles. Mike Mussina got the win despite allowing seven runs in five innings.