The Orioles just won a series against a bad team. Can they build on it?
Happy Tuesday, Camden Chatters! I hope you had a nice, relaxing off day. After wrapping up their road trip on a high note, the Orioles are back in Baltimore to face the team that swept them five days ago. The Orioles scored five runs in three games in Minnesota last week, which isn’t going to win many games. I would rather that not happen again this week.
That’s assuming that these games get played. If you’ve seen the weather forecast for the week, you know it might be iffy. It’s going to rain, today especially. This is the only time the Twins come to town this year, so if one game is postponed, we might be looking at a doubleheader. Doubleheaders are more fun when your team is good, though.
Speaking of good, who has had a good last week? Gunnar Henderson, of course. He’s been getting better and better, and over his last seven games he has five extra bases, including two home runs. Jackson Holliday is also having a good week. He hit two home runs as well and put up an OBP of .379.
And of course, there is Ryan O’Hearn. O’Hearn continues to defy my expectations. He’s been the best hitter on the team with a .950 OPS, and he’s been even better over the last 10 games. If he, Holliday, and Gunnar, can keep things up it’ll go a long way to getting the Orioles back to a respectable condition.
Of course, they have to be in a lineup with other guys. As good as Cedric Mullins started the season, that’s how bad he’s been the last two weeks. He hasn’t been able to hit a thing in some time. Adley Rutschman has been better than Mullins, but not good enough to make a difference. It’s hard to imagine an Orioles team playing well that doesn’t include these guys being a big part of it.
I guess I just keep waiting for the Orioles to put things together. I felt less optimistic going into the season than some people, but I wouldn’t say I felt they’d be bad. I still think they can be good. Maybe they’ll start tonight.
Links
Orioles coaches can’t get off easy for team’s inconsistent hitting approach – The Baltimore Banner
Kyle Goon is looking for someone to blame.
If Orioles need a scapegoat, is Brandon Hyde really to blame? – Baltimore Sun
I mean, maybe not. But also, this team has got to do something.
Will Orioles give Coby Mayo a longer trial? | MAILBAG – BaltimoreBaseball.com
Rich Dubroff would not be surprised to see Coby Mayo get traded.
4 impact deadline trades Orioles can make to kickstart rebuild – Birds Watcher
OK, a few things here. REBUILD?? Get the heck out of here with that word. Also, aside from Zach Eflin, nobody is trading anything for the guys listed in this article.
Birthdays and History
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You have five Orioles birthday buddies, including David Hernández, who turns 40. Hernández was part of Dave Trembley’s so-called cavalry, He appeared in 61 games with the Orioles from 2009-2010 with a 4.93 ERA. He was traded to the Diamondbacks in December 2010 for Mark Reynolds and had a few good seasons in their bullpen before bouncing around until 2019.
Also celebrating today are shortstop-turned-pitcher Mychal Givens (35), 2008 four-gamer Ryan Bukvich (47), outfielder Lyle Mouton (56), and 1986 Oriole Juan Beníquez (75). In 113 games, Beníquez played all three outfield positions, third base, first base, and DH.
On this day in 2007, the Orioles lost in a walk-off to the Red Sox in the Mother’s Day Massacre. They took a 5-0 lead into the ninth inning with Jeremy Guthrie going eight shutout innings. Guthrie started the ninth inning and was pulled with one out in the ninth after a batter reached on an error. Danys Báez and Chris Ray combined to allow the Red Sox to come all the way back before they could record two measly outs.
In 2018, the Orioles defeated the Rays 17-1. The offense knocked out Blake Snell in the fourth inning with five runs allowed. Snell’s replacement was the current injured Oriole, Andrew Kittredge. Kittredge gave up six runs without recording an out. Joey Rickard homered twice and had five RBI. Trey Mancini and Danny Valencia also went deep. It was a four-hit day for Valencia. Manny Machado had three hits. Dylan Bundy pitched seven shutout innings.
And on this day one year ago, the Orioles fell to the Blue Jays 3-2 in ten innings. Corbin Burnes allowed one run in six innings. Yennier Cano blew the save by allowing a home run to Daulton Varsho. Jacob Webb took the loss. Adley Rutschman hit two solo homers for the Orioles’ only runs.